Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate-Chapter 304: A Game of Masks

Armed with Lady Maris’s insight—both her doubts about Emperor Kaan’s claim and the claim itself—King Valentin strode toward the guest chamber, where he had ordered his subordinates to escort the emperor.

"Your Majesty," King Valentin greeted with a slight nod. Though he felt slighted by the emperor and longed to make his disdain clear, he maintained the decorum expected of him.

Emperor Kaan’s smile widened. He was certain he held the trump card. He had witnessed Lady Maris’s desperation to save Florian from the demon—her only hope now rested with him. Riona, the one she had clung to as her last lifeline, was still recovering in the Forest of the Strays.

Brimming with confidence, the emperor asked, "When can I see him?" His fingers kept drifting back to the vial of the Blood Moon child’s blood in his pocket, his excitement barely contained. Soon, he would stand before the demon and bring it to its knees.

King Valentin remained silent for a few moments, his lips pressed into a thin line. The emperor mistook it for speechless joy, but in truth, the king was too enraged by Kaan’s audacity to respond immediately.

Swallowing the curses that burned on his tongue, he finally said, "See who?"

Emperor Kaan arched an eyebrow. So this is how you choose to play. Irritated by the king’s defiance, he deliberately provoked him. "Your queen’s child. The vessel of the demon."

King Valentin’s fists clenched, but he kept his composure. "What business do you have with Florian?"

"To save him, of course." Emperor Kaan’s tone was light, almost amused. "I assumed Lady Maris would have told you that the moment she returned to your arms. Or did she neglect to mention it?"

"She did," King Valentin replied evenly, unwilling to let blame fall on his mistress. This was a matter between rulers, and the emperor would do well to keep others out of it. "Very well, I will relay your request to my nephew. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy your temporary stay."

Two things were clear. First, King Valentin had not granted the request outright, defying the emperor’s expectations. Second, he had deliberately emphasized temporary, making it clear he expected Emperor Kaan to leave sooner rather than later.

"But he’s not your nephew," Emperor Kaan said, pulling his hand from his pocket. The king’s defiance irritated him enough that, for a moment, he forgot about the vial entirely. His fingers curled into a fist instead.

"It’s just a demon wearing the skin of someone you once knew," he continued, his voice edged with impatience. "You must accept the truth—he is no longer a vampire."

King Valentin was far older than the young emperor, with many more years of rule under his belt. He was a master of diplomacy, unreadable behind an impenetrable mask of composure. No one could best him in a battle of poker faces.

And he knew exactly what Emperor Kaan was trying to do. To the untrained eye, the emperor’s ever-present smile made him seem aloof, almost carefree. But King Valentin understood the truth—that smile, like his own stoicism, was merely a shield. And behind it, frustration simmered.

The king might not have known the full extent of Emperor Kaan’s plans, but he knew one thing: his refusal to yield was an obstacle. And the emperor hated obstacles.

Rising from his seat, King Valentin offered a slight bow. "It must have been a long journey. Have a good rest, Your Majesty."

With that, he strode toward the door, leaving Emperor Kaan stewing in silent fury.

***

There was no way King Valentin would allow the emperor to waltz into his palace and meet Florian as he pleased. Now that he was out of Kaan’s sight, he could finally let his true thoughts surface.

Striding purposefully toward the northern tower, he mulled over the situation. Lady Maris didn’t trust the emperor—and that wasn’t something he could ignore. If even she, a woman willing to do anything to save Florian, doubted Emperor Kaan’s intentions, there had to be a reason.

And King Valentin himself felt it too. Something was off.

The emperor’s presence alone was suspicious, but what truly unsettled him was the smuggling of witches and wizards into his lands, along with the looming shadow of Asvaldur’s army. Emperor Kaan wasn’t just here for diplomacy. He was playing a deeper game.

King Valentin sighed. The question was how to handle this without plunging Eira into war with Asvaldur. His people had barely begun to recover from the last battle, where so many elders had perished.

If war broke out again, could he even claim victory? He wasn’t sure.

The most logical solution—the one he dreaded most—was to kill Florian. As much as the thought weighed on him, it might be the only way to protect his kingdom.

He had deliberately kept this from Lady Maris. He already knew her stance, knew she would fight him on it. And if she shed even a few tears, he feared he might waver, delaying the inevitable.

Before his resolve could fully harden, before his will to kill was strong enough to be unshaken, King Valentin arrived at Florian’s room.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself for what he should have done long ago but couldn’t. This time, there would be no hesitation. With that thought, he pushed open the door—

Only to find the room empty.

Florian was gone.

***

Florian sat slumped in the corner of a deserted street, hidden in the shadows of the surrounding buildings. The narrow alley was a dead end, devoid of passersby. His head lolled forward, his arms hanging limply at his sides—motionless, unconscious.

Ol’gaz had managed to separate himself from Florian, slipping free like a specter born of fear and desperation. As long as the boy remained unconscious, Ol’gaz could enjoy the temporary body forged from his torment.

Perched atop a nearby rooftop, he stood with his arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over the quiet street. Just a few feet away, an unassuming inn housed two witches.

Ol’gaz couldn’t see through walls, but their magic pulsed in the air, unmistakable. Even now, they were performing a ritual—a summoning.

His grin stretched wide, baring too many teeth.

I am still strong despite not having a physical body. It takes an entire village of magic wielders to summon me. The thought filled him with satisfaction. They can’t do it alone. They have to combine their strength to drag me forth.

His grin widened further.

What will they do if I kill one of the spellcasters?