[GIDEON]
This was between Gideon and Eddison, and they all could see it.
"I wonder if your lycan warriors will still be loyal to you once they know that you created the beast of the midlands. If they realize that it was your doing that brought forth the abomination the midlands is now seeing even today.
"It was all your fault all those years ago and it is your fault still. But maybe they won't say anything to your people back in Udrad, because they are worried for themselves. I wonder if you remember that I am a witch too.
"Don't try shit with me Eddison, or you will get to watch your whole world crumble. And the next time you even think of talking about Greroth, make sure Udrad is better than my home. Keep in mind that if you want war, we will give you war.
"I will be there to fight you till the very end, so be careful what you wish for, karma may just decide to be kind to you and grant your wishes," Gideon concluded with a jab on the king's chest. He hadn't realized it yet, but he had been so angry that everyone had been quiet in the room.
His anger was nothing that they all had encountered before. Anyone could see that this was personal for Gideon. This was something that he had wanted to do for years. The beast must have taken someone special from him for him to hate lycans that much.
"Gideon—" Criselda finally called out to her son who was fuming. If she let this continue, then Gideon would kill the lycan king and that would be a tough one to explain to the lycans. She knew how powerful he was and she couldn't let the people in this room know about that.
However, from what had just happened, they could see that Gideon was powerful, but what kind of witch would cross all odds just to make things harsher for one of their own in the supernatural world anyway?
"Let's go home, mother. Let's leave this place," Gideon pleaded with Criselda who knew that was the smartest thing that he had ever said since they had come from the forest. There was so much they wanted to talk about, but they couldn't do it here.
Not with all of these eyes watching them.
"Okay, we will go home, but you need to rest," Criselda said to Gideon who just nodded at her.
"Excuse us."
Quietly, Criselda pulled her son out of the conference room and waked him through the endless warriors wh were just starting, unsure of what they needed to do. Whatever it was that was expected of them, was yet to be seen, because her and now, they were confused as fuck.
With Criselda and Gideon gone, they looked at each other.
"We need an explanation Eddison," Zelina said before dismissing the warriors, including Grant and Delbert. This was a risky state they were in and they didn't want a repeat of what had just happened.
She didn't care that Eddison had just been humiliated. hell, if she could, she could make a fool out of Eddison, but then the time was not today. Today was about the beast of the midlands, the horror they had to live with for the rest of their lives.
"What do you know about the beast, man," Ulrike spoke up, and the king just stared at them. He knew this was a risk, but then he already knew the beast was a lycan. That alone put the alliance in the midlands at risk. it was almost like the king had sent the beast out to ruin lives.
"Like I said before Criselda's mannerless protege showed up, the beast is a lycan. And the only lycan I know of that could be this angry and even crazy enough to fight for kids, is that little son of thieves.
"The one I prosecuted years ago," King Eddy said, his head bowed in shame as he retold of what had happened in Udrad those years ago.
Of course, he didn't say that he had faked the trial and evidence just to ensure the Wynters were dead, that would make the rulers lose trust in him.
"So you prosecuted him and now he's back? Need I know how the fuck that is even possible?" Zelina asked curiously.
She knew Udrad was a cruel place even for its inhabitants. She knew Eddison was a cruel leader and made his people do so much shit just to please him, and even then she couldn't do anything because they were not vampires and she had no reason to fight him.
"Can we just be civil with each other for once? We're at each other's throats and this meeting was for us to find a solution, not accuse each other of everything" King Cassius said defeatedly. He was getting angrier by the second and he needed to maintain his cool.
After all, he was the one who had called them to his home, and he couldn't just shoo them, at least no until a solution was found. These were the leaders of the midlands and right now, they were acting like middle school kids.
It wouldn't do them any good if they continued bantering like this.
"Okay fine," Zelina said as she sat back down, but that didn't mean that she was okay with what was happening.
"We need solutions to deal with the beast and we can't kill him because technically he hadn't done what any of us would do for the children," Ulrike said.
"I agree. The only thing we can do is to pass a law, that prohibits any kids from being hurt or treated ill. That way, we will be able to focus on our people instead of fighting a beast that made it clear he would fight us forever.
"Maybe if we do that we can get the beast off our backs, and go back to living our normal lives," King Cassius said.
"Well then, what's the punishment for those who break the law?" Zelina asked.
"They will live as rogues in the forest of the midlands for the rest of their lives," King Eddy spoke, finally saying something that made more sense.
"Now that's acceptable," Ulrike said.
"Okay, I will draft the new law and we will review it together tomorrow and pass it, before you leave for your homes. For now, we all need to get some rest. And Eddison, whatever it is between you and Criselda's protege, I think it would be better if you work it out before you leave.
"It will save you time and energy, my friend," King cassius said as Eddison just rolled his eyes.
He wasn't going to do that, but they all could hope that there was a future for them and their people.