My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 364: Crave Me

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Chapter 364

~Dristan’s POV~

My jaw clenched the moment Father reminded me of my mission the way he always did, slow and deliberate, like a verdict.

"Emperor Mind Control," my father’s deep voice echoed in the room, sending fear down my spine as my mind did a mental jog, tossing me back to the past.

The words dragged me back—cold training grounds, nights that never ended, the way breath steamed in the dark while I forced my mind to3W1 bend to a command.

I remembered practicing nonstop until my hands bled, and I perfected it while my peers slept. All because a witch’s blood raced through my veins and the powers coursed through me even with my power as an heir.

The Blood Witch.

The lamp on his desk threw our shadows long across the floor. The room felt colder, smaller.

"You used it early," Father said. The accusation was simple and precise, leaving no room for excuses.

I didn’t dodge it. "Yes. Twice." Saying it out loud made it smaller and larger at once. "Two girls. They were targeting Valerie—making lies, pushing her. I stopped them. I hypnotized them and walked away. That’s all. I never put anyone into a coma. I never—" My voice tightened. "Not like Marianne."

He stared at me like I’d admitted treason. "Twice? You think that makes it acceptable? We taught you restraint so you could finish the mission. Not to act on impulse."

"I know why you trained me," I said. "I remember the orders. I remember the plan. But those girls—they were dangerous to her. I reacted. I protected her." I kept my voice flat. No pleading.

He slammed his palm on the desk. The sound cut the room. "Do you understand what you’ve done? You used forbidden power in a public place. The White Witches are involved now. Rumors, investigations—this was not to be revealed."

"I understand." I met his eyes.

"This Valerie girl—since she came, you’ve not been able to think straight. Things have gone awry because of her. When would you see that she is the problem?"

My nostrils flared. Soren was not having it with Dad.

"Valerie isn’t the problem. She never has been. If anything, she’s made me..." I paused, the words tasting dangerous as my hand curled at my side. "...She’s the one I need to protect. If anyone tries to hurt her again, assassin or accident, I will not stand by. I will take them down."

For a long beat he said nothing. Then his face went a shade redder, pride and fury wrestling there as they moved through shapes—disappointment, calculation.

"You would turn against your own blood for a mate?"

"If it comes to that, yes." My voice didn’t shake. "I’ll take down whoever threatens her. Even if that means taking you down first."

Father’s eyes blazed red briefly and when I did not react or challenge him, he calmed down. I wasn’t fighting him, yet anyway.

Silence bled through the room. I heard my own breath, felt the pulse at my throat. Father’s jaw worked. For a second, I thought I’d crossed a line he wouldn’t forgive.

Then he exhaled slowly. "You’re reckless," he said finally. "You will remember your place."

"Maybe," I replied. "But I know what I’m protecting. The mission continues. I’ll have the heirs when the time is right. Don’t mistake my restraint for weakness."

He studied me like a blacksmith testing metal. "See that you don’t force my hand, son." He let out a slow breath. "You will be disciplined. You will be watched."

"Do what you must," I enunciated. "But touch her, and I will make you regret it."

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~Valerie’s POV~

For a heartbeat, I couldn’t move. The five cloaked figures stood perfectly still, their faces hidden, their shadows long in the flickering light. Then, without warning, fire roared up around me in a perfect circle.

I stumbled back, shielding my face from the heat. "What—"

"You have successfully passed your second quest," the center figure declared, voice echoing strangely through the clearing. "Your third quest shall be communicated to you soon."

Their words came from nowhere and everywhere, vibrating through the air rather than spoken aloud. No mouths moved. No faces shifted. Just sound.

Before I could respond, another voice—rough, older—cut in. "Make no mistake. The third and final test will not be a walk in the yard. It will be deadly. Kill or be killed."

A chill ran down my spine even as the flames flickered higher. My throat felt dry. I swallowed hard, forcing myself not to show fear.

Then came a softer tone, almost melodic. "She’s brave, I’ll give her that. But bravery won’t save you this time, Valerie. Only determination. Only conviction."

My fingers curled into a fist, nails biting into my palm. "This is the most they’ve spoken," I whispered to Astra in my mind.

"Guess they like you," she replied dryly.

Before I could respond, laughter echoed—distorted, overlapping, like several voices tangled together. The sound clawed at the inside of my skull. I pressed a hand to my temple, grimacing.

Something sharp cut through the smoke. A scent—sweet, heavy, almost floral. Belladonna. My vision blurred. My pulse quickened. "Astra," I hissed, but my voice came out weak.

"I smell it too. Don’t breathe—"

Too late. The air thickened into a swirling mist, spreading fast. The figures blurred, melting into shadows as the fire dimmed to embers. My head spun, the world tipping sideways. I tried to take a step, but my knees gave out.

Darkness swallowed everything.

When I opened my eyes, I was staring at the ceiling of my room. My sheets were twisted around me, damp with sweat. I sat up sharply, my heart pounding.

"What the hell..." I murmured, clutching the coin still in my palm. It glinted faintly in the moonlight filtering through the curtains.

"How did I get here?" I whispered. Astra was silent.

A knock sounded at the door—sharp, familiar. I turned toward it, glancing at my watch. 11:30 p.m.

Then Solstice’s voice came through, calm and measured. "Valerie... we need to talk."

The knock came again, firmer this time.

I hesitated before crossing the room, my bare feet brushing over the cool marble floor. My pulse hadn’t settled since the vision—or whatever that was—and the coin still felt warm in my palm.

I tucked it under my pillow but paused and hurried to place it in my drawer before opening the door.

"Solstice?"

She stood there in her nightwear, hair a bit messy, pillow hugged tight to her chest. Her eyes softened when she saw me. "Hey," she said with a small smile. "I couldn’t sleep."

For a second, I just blinked at her, confusion pulling at my brow. Then she laughed lightly, a sound too soft for the hour. "I was hoping we could have a sleepover," she said, tilting her head. "Like old times, between cousins?"

That made me smile despite everything. "Yeah," I murmured, stepping back to let her in. "Come on."

She slipped past me, her bare feet silent against the floor. I shut the door and turned to see her sitting cross-legged on my bed, pillow in her lap. Her smile faltered a little, and I felt it—the heaviness she tried to hide.

"Solstice," I said quietly, folding my arms. "Something’s wrong. What is it?"

She flopped backward onto my bed with a long sigh, staring at the ceiling. "Since I came back to school, it’s like you and I just... drifted apart." Her voice cracked a bit. "We used to tell each other everything."

I exhaled slowly, sitting beside her. "I know. I’m sorry. Things have been... a lot since you came. So much keeps happening, I can barely breathe."

She turned her head toward me. "Would you at least share some of it with me?"

I smiled faintly, shaking my head. "Not tonight. I’m tired."

Solstice gave a small smirk. "We have all night, you know..."

I grabbed my pillow and smacked it straight into her face before she could finish. "I said I’m tired."

She burst out laughing, muffled by the pillow. I smiled, some of the tension easing out of the room. "So," I said, leaning back, "how’s your mate?"

That shut her up quickly. She sat up, cheeks pink, eyes darting away.

"What?" I teased. "You look like you swallowed a secret."

She rubbed her neck. "How do I even explain this? It’s... awkward."

My brows rose. "Awkward?"

"Yeah. You know how Riven—uh—said he had feelings for you?"

I frowned. "He didn’t openly confess, exactly. More like... implied it."

She sighed and patted the bed beside her. "Sit. Please."

Without further ado, I did.

"Riven and I talked," she said softly. "We’re not rejecting each other, but... well..."

My stomach twisted. "Well, what?"

Her silence stretched.

I groaned. "Please tell me this isn’t because of me. Because honestly, I have six mates who would probably go berserk if another guy so much as breathed near me."

Solstice’s smile was faint, but her eyes didn’t match it. "I just wish he’d crave me the way your mates crave you."