True Alpha’s Chosen Mate - Chapter 249

Hugo stood in the open hallway, eyes on the training grounds. Torches were lit on each corner, giving light to everyone who was still busy, either walking around or still training. He snapped his brows and glanced at his side when he felt Elizabeth’s presence.

“And to what do I owe the pleasure?” he humored, peeling his eyes away from Elizabeth back to the warriors from a distance. “Don’t tell me this is a concern about Ivo.”

Elizabeth’s eyelashes fluttered ever so tenderly, eyes glinting. “Father gave you the authority to lead this group. I don’t remember him giving it to Ivo.”

“What do you mean, sister?” he frowned, feigning ignorance of what she was grumbling about.

“Stop relying on Ivo.” She gave him a sharp side-eye. “I’m saying this not because my hands are itching to hunt, but this will become a problem in the long run.”

A momentary silence embraced the two of them as they both gazed at the warriors. Both stood straight, expression cold and distant.

“You’ve been a Grand Duke for a long time and you had always trusted your judgment. If you’re having second thoughts because you don’t want to take responsibility, then I’m very disappointed in you,” she spoke after a minute of silence as her expression grew sharper.

Hugo pressed his lips into a thin line as he glanced at her discreetly. His lips parted, wanting to humor her for a bit, but Silas’ voice reached their ear.

“What are you two doing in here?” asked Silas, approaching from the side, while Elizabeth and Hugo turned their heads in his direction. Behind Silas were Tomas and Azazel.

“Are you arguing? Vic looks like she will snap your neck, Hugh.” Tomas pointed out bluntly before grinning deviously, casting Azazel a knowing look. The latter bit his lip and looked away, not wanting to get caught up in trouble Tomas was boldly stepping into.

“What if we are, Tom? Want to join in?” Elizabeth arched a brow, causing Tomas to clear his throat and look away. If Cora was already scary, Elizabeth was a different type of crazy. Hanging him by his feet on the top of the tallest castle in the palace wasn’t even the worst punishment he could think of.

“Thought so.” She smirked before shifting her eyes back to Silas.

The latter also let out a dry chuckle while glancing at Tomas. “That’s what you get for playing too much.”

“Tsk.” Tomas frowned and rolled his eyes. He was older than Elizabeth, but how could she intimidate him?

As Silas and Elizabeth snickered, Hugo remained silent. Azazel snuck a look at him, only to see him staring at the people on the training grounds.

‘He’s still the same,’ Azazel thought, mentally nodding his head before darting his eyes between these siblings. ‘What a good relationship they had. The emperor surely loved his children and thought them the right ways and meaning of family.’

Well, even vampires were like this. Vampires lived a timeless life, so their family was very important to them, since they only had each other until the end. Wasn’t that the reason the late emperor of Hendrik did all foolish things just to bring back the dead?

“Hugo, are you alright?” asked Silas when he noticed that his brother had been silent.

Usually, Hugo was the first to throw shade at Tomas, but lately, he was even more silent than Daniel. They already believed it was because he was worried about Rinnie, but they still wanted to make sure he was alright. They were brothers, after all.

“I am, Silas.” Hugo glanced at Silas and nodded before pointing in a direction ahead. “Can you and Elizabeth spar over there?”

“Huh?” Silas tilted his head. Not just him, but Elizabeth also furrowed her brows while Tomas frowned. That was a very random request.

“You want me and Silas to spar?” asked Elizabeth, just to confirm if she heard him correctly. When Hugo nodded nonchalantly, she laughed in ridicule. “Is this your new method of abusing the power you hold?”

“Come on, Vic.” Hugo blinked innocently. “I just want to see you and Silas spar. You too, Tom, I want to see how skilled you are.”

The three Tempest even Azazel could only look at him with strange eyes. There was no trace of evidence he was trying to abuse his power. He truly wanted to see them spar like a child.

“This guy…” Elizabeth grumbled, but Silas planted a palm on her shoulder, making her set her eyes at him.

Silas sported a short smile. “It’s been a while since we spar. Why don’t we let off some steam? I’m stronger, just in case you’re not aware.”

“Silas.”

“Are you scared, Vic?” Tomas chimed in with a smug grin before he shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s alright if that is the case. Silas, let’s spar! I actually need to do some stretching.”

With that being said, Silas and Tomas just cast her a look before marching to the training grounds. As they did, Tomas called Azazel to join them. Azazel snapped his eyes, glancing at the irritated Elizabeth before following Tomas and Silas. He glanced at Hugo, and his expression was still the same.

“Damn it!” she cursed through her gritted teeth, glaring daggers at Hugo. It would be better if Hugo was asking with arrogance, but he was asking seriously. Now the three of them — Elizabeth, Tomas, and Silas — were more concerned about Hugo’s state of mind.

She knew the only reason Tomas and Silas agreed was to make sure Hugo was still in his right state of mind. Her glinting eyes remained on Hugo, but the latter only sport the same misplaced innocence.

“This is bad,” she grumbled before stomping her way to follow them. But as the four of them approached the training ground leisurely, they halted upon hearing Ivo’s voice.

“Your Grace, Princess Sally is safe.”

Their eyes dilated almost instantly upon sensing the dark aura looming behind them the second Ivo uttered his report. But just as they looked back, their breath hitched as a dark shadow went past them like a bolt of lightning.

CRASH!