SERAPHINA'S POV
He has that look on his face, similar to Artemis when he doesn't get what he wants as soon as he asks for it; confused by my rejection of an offer that probably sounded great to him and baffled that I'd have the courage to even refuse at all.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm grateful for the offer, that you saw something in me to bring that up, but I'm afraid that I'll have to decline, your majesty," I repeat again, clearer than the first time.
He's still bewildered, getting a bit ticked off by my response, but he remains silent for a while, deep in thought, staring me down and trying to figure me out.
"Might I ask why?"
"Though I want all those things for myself, I'd rather do them my own way without having to answer to anyone I can't disobey. I want freedom and autonomy to do what I have to do for the human race, even when it doesn't benefit the werewolves," I respond curtly.
His frown cracks with a small smile of amusement.
"It's not wise to refuse an offer, especially one coming from the king himself, over something as flimsy as freedom. Nothing and no one is truly free. If at all you want to represent your people, you'd need protection that only I would be able to offer you, child."
"Thank you for thinking of my safety, but I'd like to stick to my initial choice and decline once more," I say again.
This time he sits back against the backrest of his chair, trying to figure me out again like I'm some crazy unsolvable puzzle placed in front of him.
And then he breaks out into laughter, full and hearty, holding onto his chest. It lasts for a second before he wipes the tears from his eyes and looks at me.
"You remind me so much of someone I know but haven't spoken to in a long time, someone so dear to my heart," he says out of nowhere.
The look in his eyes is strangely sad and longing, and I immediately think of his mate, Artemis' mother, the person that hasn't woken up from her coma in 16 years.
I feel sad for both of them all of a sudden. I never had a mother, but I can't imagine what it feels like to have one and see them lifeless and still for so many years.
I'm almost moved by the emotions before I remind myself once more that I need to get back to Artemis, and that he's probably waiting for me right now.
"If you'll excuse me, your majesty."
I bow, turning to walk out the door now that he's said what needs to be said, and I've given him my answer.
Though he doesn't let me get too far.
I've only taken two steps when he speaks again, this time in a different tone, darker than before.
"Are you refusing also because of my son?"
I pause, not making another step, once he says those words, slowly turning to meet the cool blank expression on his face, void of the previous emotions he had displayed.
I'm silent for a while.
He sighs.
"Don't be surprised, my dear. My relationship with that boy is already strained. I know someone like him would not hold back in feeding you poisonous words about how terrible I am as a father and a person, all just to get you on his side. However, my son is an emotionally immature child without a good head on his shoulders. I advise you to focus on your own future."
My fists clench at the side, hearing him speak ill of his own son, unaware of all the efforts he's put into being better, how hard it is being in his position for all these years, second-guessing himself and feeling as though his own father would trade him in if he had the chance.
It makes me angry, livid at the thought.
I take steps forward.
"You're wrong about Artemis. You haven't seen him in the past few months, how much he's changed and started working on himself. Artemis is so much better than you give him credit for, and he doesn't deserve your harsh criticism."
He scoffs right in my face, frowning with annoyance at how much I praise his own son.
"You're being impractical right now, girl, and all for what? Some flimsy entanglement you have with Artemis?"
His harsh words catch me off guard again, and I bite back any response I can mutter in the moment.
"I know everything that happens in this school, including your interesting fling with my child, and I must say I'm disappointed in your tastes. I imagined someone as smart and cunning as you are would be drawn to a more practical and reasonable person like Lucian."
He doesn't even bother hiding his obvious preference for Lucian over Artemis, and I realize just how true every word he's said about his father is. How cold and cruel he becomes when it comes down to Artemis, to the point of suggesting I consider someone else besides him.
I feel pain shooting across my chest on his behalf, heartbroken from words he can say with so much ease.
"I like you, Sera. You're smart and brave, and you have way too much potential and a sense of how the world works, so I will give you a piece of advice for your sake as someone who cares." He leans closer again, showing the seriousness in his words now.
I almost roll my eyes while he patronizes me with words meant to buy my favor.
"Give up on Artemis, take my offer and have your own life. This thing with him wouldn't ever work even if the story was different."
"Sadly, that's another offer I'll have to reject," I say more sternly, grinding my teeth and trying so hard not to come off as disrespectful - he is still the king.
He smiles again, eyes filled with sadness and pity, like he really wants things to work out for me, and he can tell they won't just by looking at my face.
"Four in one night, you're a special girl," he comments, referring to how many times I've declined him. "Too bad you'll be regretting that decision of yours in a few minutes from now."
I watch him silently, the way he stares at me like he knows something I don't - something that's looming over my head.
The dread I feel in my chest heightens again, morphing into anxiety, and suddenly, I feel too choked up to remain standing, here in this office with this man who isn't Artemis.
I don't want to be here anymore.
I feel sick.
"I apologize for my rudeness, your majesty, but I must excuse myself right now." I say with haste, just as the world around me begins to spin, and bile rises up in my throat.
I turn around and briskly walk out before he can refuse and stop me, before his guard can chase after me and pin me down to listen to any more of his grating advice.
I walk back to the balcony, hoping to see Artemis waiting by the door patiently, but he isn't there. There's no trace of another living being, so I think he's back in the banquet hall.
Maybe he searched for me and decided to ask Jasper.
So I rush there, almost running, wanting to see him, hold him until I'm comforted, and this feeling in my chest goes away once and for all.
I step back into the hall, searching for him, but there's not a single trace of his attire.
I search until I spot Jasper and Olivia.
He whispers words to her flirtatiously, and she rejects him each time, seemingly bored with their discussion.
However, the second she sees me drawing closer with panic in my eyes, she sits up straight.
"Where's Artemis?" I ask them, hoping they could point me towards his direction or say they saw him, but their faces become confused.
"I thought he was with you," Olivia speaks up, looking at me with furrowed brows.
"Yeah, I left him with you last," Jasper adds.
At this point, I'm breathing fast, my hands are sweaty, and I continue to chant to myself that nothing's wrong again, but I don't believe it this time.
Something is wrong.
The sound of utensils clinking on glass echoes in the hall amidst all the chattering around, and the mumbling of the crowd slowly seizes. Eyes turn towards the direction of the sound to Mr. Jermaine hitting his glass cup with a fork lightly.
All sound finally seizes, all eyes are focused on him, except mine.
I'm still looking for Artemis.
"His Majesty Alpha King Silvan Sinclair will now make his announcement," he says loudly enough for everyone to hear before he steps aside, and King Silvan steps forward.
Somehow he's already here, about to make his speech, and Artemis isn't.
"Good evening, proud wolves of Crimson Fire, citizens of our precious Wolfdom, sons and daughters of the moon goddess," he greets the crowd with his charismatic smile, drawing their hearts to him.
I don't buy it one bit; I only want to find Artemis.
"I am happy to be here in your presence as we celebrate the beginning of an era, the first of its kind, and what better way to kick-start such than with a wonderful announcement that affects the politics of the people."
The crowd begins to murmur with excitement bustling in the air, and I just want it all to end. I don't want to be here anymore.
I just want to find my Artemis.
"Please, join me to celebrate the precious engagement between my son and heir, Prince Artemis Sinclair, and his precious mate, Kamila Wildheart."