Chapter 496: A Strange Offer and possible Alliance
A beautiful woman in her mid-thirties placed several cups of steaming tea onto the antique marble table with slight grooves from years of use. "Please enjoy." Her calm and delicate voice carried a tone of respect instead of arrogance, like the maids from earlier.
Nikolai looked up at her with an awkward smile. "Thanks." He lifted the cup, and the sweet scent of almonds and tea mixed with fresh blood. "Hmm... is this your blood?" Her cheeks flushed when he asked, while opposite him, Black Bear and Loric made a strange face.
"Can you not seduce my maids, Volkov?"
"Ah, forgive me, master!" The mature maid bowed, her plump breasts fighting to escape her tight maid outfit.
"It’s fine, return."
Despite warning Nikolai about teasing the maids. The perverted old wolf also enjoyed the sight, as she quickly departed with a soft squeak. Loric observed her movements until she left the room and then turned back to Nikolai slowly.
"Ahem! Forgive me, she’s one of my most trustworthy maids."
"...No problem."
It was obvious that the great elder held a long, complex history with the maid. He didn’t want to pursue the subject further. So he changed the subject while sipping the tea.
"What did you mean by fighting together?"
Loric’s silver eyes lingered on the steaming cup between his claws for a long breath before answering. The playful grin he’d worn during their clash had faded; what remained was something steady and serene.
"Exactly what it sounds like," Loric said at last. His voice carried the weight of a man long forced to swallow his own pride. "You think the Silver Clan betrayed the Volkovs out of greed or cowardice. That we knelt by choice. But tell me, Patriarch... what do you know of the vampires... no, the Nosferatu’s blood contract?"
Nikolai clenched his jaw, listening carefully. "Nothing... I just thought they were like normal oaths that every clan has."
Loric’s lips curved upward. "Their contracts are pure evil. Dogs, wolves, bears... entire clans. Killian was not just a fighter; he was our leash. Every Great Elder under him. Which included Vernan here, were forced to sign a blood covenant with him. A clever one. Not only would it keep us from moving against him, but if one of us rebelled, our families would burn first."
Nikolai’s gaze flicked towards Vernan.
The Black Bear’s true name amused him a lot.
The hulking bear kept his head low, one massive hand rubbing his neck where Nikolai’s fangs had pierced. His shame was almost visible from his reactions, but beneath those feelings, the way he looked at Nikolai changed.
"Hm?"
The bear looked up with soft eyes.
"I..." Vernan’s deep voice faltered, uncharacteristically quiet. "I wanted to crush you, even now I still do. But when you struck me... that first hit made me lose my head. I lost control like I haven’t done since I was a cub." He huffed out a laugh with an awkward smile. "Guess that’s what happens when you forget to avoid underestimating your opponent."
I never expected him to be like this...
Loric nodded at the humble sight of Vernan, then looked back at Nikolai. "When you raged through our halls earlier, you didn’t just beat our pride. You also saved us in a way. Your aura burned the contracts. The moment Killian fell his contracts became weaker, and the bonds on every Elder tied to him unraveled. The weaker ones you drained? They were spies sent from the mainland clan."
Nikolai’s eyes narrowed. "That sounds a bit convenient for me though."
"Exactly." Loric leaned forward, his silver hair catching the lantern light. "The Silver Clan isn’t free because we wanted to be. We’re free because you broke the chain. And I for one don’t intend to shackle us again."
Nikolai set his cup down slowly, black eyes glinting. "So?"
"I want our clan to survive," Loric corrected himself with a dry chuckle. "But yes, it might be better to call it an alliance if you prefer. The Londis branch of the Silver Clan offer to stand behind the Volkov clan. No more sly games or tests, we will support you in the final battle against those crazy vampires."
Nikolai closed his eyes, listening to the silence with a sense of peace.
What should I do?
Can I really trust them?
Loric remained silent, sipping his tea, while Vernan suddenly rumbled with a low growl. He pointed at Nikolai. "I will support you, to prove our seriousness allow me to act as your bodyguard."
Nikolai tapped the table with his pointed claws.
Slowly, he lingered on his thoughts, testing their composure and patience.
He couldn’t believe this offer and found it quite beneficial to him.
However, one thing lingered on his mind, and it was about the reason for this trip, which was directed by his father as if planned.
Dad...
Did you know it would end up like this from the start?
Nikolai drew a crescent moon in the marble table, drawing the sharp glare of Loric. But when he looked up, the poor patriarch recoiled with a smile. It would be so easy to laugh in their faces. Easy to bear his fangs and mock them, before attacking them and solving things through might, like usual.
But something in Loric’s silver eyes made Nikolai want to believe something in the way Vernan forced himself to stay seated instead of snarling. He didn’t hate either of them when people fought him head-on. Nikolai enjoyed it. He respected all his opponents so far, including Killian.
"An alliance..." Nikolai murmured under his breath, testing the word like it might escape if he said it too loud. His father loomed in his mind again, the same father who had sent him here with a simple task and an annoying look.
This old wolf doesn’t have the power to defeat me, let alone my dad.
The same is true for Vernan the bear...
Did you know this would happen, old man?
Did you know I’d have to decide if I wanted enemies... or allies who might stand beside me?
Dad, you set me up!
Nikolai opened his eyes with a bitter smile, his fangs on full display, while a lingering flame flickered in his pupils.
"... We’ll see," he said at last, voice soft but edged. "I’ll give you my answer soon. First I want to ask about that woman... the Lamia. Can she be trusted?"
There was something he wanted to do.
As a friend, for Ryan, who’d stepped up in the past months, after their fallout, he did everything he could to help Nikolai.
I’ve never seen him look that serious before.
Loric inclined his head once, accepting the pause without offence. "The Lamia? Oh, that girl she’s actually a friend of my daughters." He then leaned back with a smile. "I noticed your human friend and that girl have become close. Is that alright? He’s a member of the SSS right?"
"Well, you’re not wrong. But he’s my friend before that."
The old wolf rubbed his chin with a smile, peeking at Vernan for a moment before nodding.
"She’s clean, that snake just liked to watch muscular men fighting each other," Vernan growled. "In fact, I was shocked she ended up going home with a human like that guy. It seems that she’s serious about him, though. Is that okay with you?"
"Why do you ask the same question?"
"No, I just thought you liked beautiful women and wouldn’t let another man take them."
Nikolai’s shoulders shook as he looked at Vernan, completely stunned.
"Huh? What made you think that way?"
The heavy doors creaked without warning.
"Excuse us~"
Two heads poked in.
Clara first, her pale cheeks dusted pink, followed by Anya with a teasing and seductive grin. Both wore the Silver Clan’s maid uniforms, black and silver skirts swishing as they balanced trays stacked with sweets and finger foods.
"What are you two doing?" Nikolai blinked.
"Searching for our master, of course." Clara stepped in with a tiny huff, the tray wobbling in her nervous hands. "The maids said you were having tea without us."
Anya smirked and dropped a curtsy that was more mockery than respect. "Thought we’d test the Silver Clan’s hospitality. They gave us uniforms." She twirled once, letting the skirt flare.
Vernan stared at them, and then a low, booming laugh echoed from the giant bear. He slapped his knee. The sound echoes off the marble walls.
"Hahaha! See, boy, that’s exactly why I asked!"
Nikolai frowned. "...What?"
"Because you’ve made every woman you meet yours." Vernan’s grin split wide, tusk-like fangs flashing. "Even Madoka."
The moment he heard her name, Nikolai’s body shuddered. He didn’t understand at first, or maybe he wanted to pretend he didn’t. "...Madoka?" His voice was rough and sharp, like a jagged blade.
Vernan’s grin softened to something almost conspiratorial. "I saw you that night... the night you ripped Killian apart. She left with you in a car. It’s rare for that woman to give a male a second look... but she looked at you like a hungry beast."
Clara looked at Nikolai with her cute, lovely eyes.
No sense of doubt or judgment, but Anya’s eyes... she made a vulgar gesture and grinned from ear to ear.
Meanwhile, Nikolai stared at the dark red tea in his cup.
The vivid images of that night replayed in his mind, her heat, taste and scent. The beautiful woman who gave him an unforgettable night of amazing sex and a different type of warmth. He wanted to deny it, but now he couldn’t.
After all, It was Madoka.