Fuliko and Danu exchanged their gazes before shooting me their glowing eyes.
"Your thing with Penum isn't even the worst," Danu declared with narrow eyes, and reflectively I glared at him. He already knew too much if he knew it wasn't 'the worst' I had done.
"Why, Rebel?" A soft voice pulled my attention to its owner. A crevasse appeared between Fuliko's brows as his eyes were filled with concern and slight disappointment.
"No, Rebel. Why did you involve with the traitor of our kingdom, Abigor Kek?" I faced raging Danu. His affection towards me never faded, and his questioning fury faltered at my reactions.
"I would never work with him by my will. He blackmailed me that he would divulge Axel about my plans with Penum. "
"And why were those plans so significant that you chose to work with him?"
"If Axel banished me or…." I sighed, unskilled in these kinds of talks and unprepared for what I had to blabber next, "We had to wind up the mating bond fast, so his powers manifested. Now you get it? See how unexpectedly this monster approached us?"
Fuliko gazed down wide-eyed while Danu sighed.
"It doesn't justify your actions." He said gloomily.
"It doesn't. I have more to tell you."
Danu nodded emotionless, and Fuliko smiled at me to give me more courage.
Well, it was the right time to lay everything on the table.
"My mother was captured by that thing. I had to gather information about it from Axel, but why would he entrust me with highly secreted reports? I had to threaten him I would win the trial and stain his authority-"
"And ended up getting threatened," Danu cut in.
I glared at him as his own eyes betrayed his compressed calmness. He was mad at me, furious. Danu liked me, and I had crumbled my image in his eyes. That's why he didn't forgive me. He still wanted to trust me.
Fuliko gently placed his paw above Danu's veiny hand. His worried eyes searched for Danu's glowing rubies. At last, Danu inhaled and relaxed in his seat. He faintly smiled at Fuliko, a small gesture of gratitude.
"I get you knew about my mother."
Silence. Danu averted his gaze from me. Now I was the one boiling with animosity.
Fuliko nodded at me with sad eyes that expressed how sorry he was. Now there was no escaping the truth.
"That's the whole story. I regret it. I could have asked Axel. But he also lied. My mother suffered the most!" I shouted at them as Fuliko flinched while Danu stared at me with a blank expression. "Axel could have told me!"
"Rebel, he worked on getting her out. Axel would never neglect your mother's capture. If he told you about it, it would bring no good. You would try helping her with your ways. Am I wrong? And in the process, you would get into deeper trouble."
I glanced down and sucked on the breath that was escaping me every passing second. I was on the verge of losing my mind. So Axel sweated himself alone, striving for Eres's freedom.
Still, we worked behind each other's backs. It really couldn't be justified. That's not what true lovers did.
"I kinda understand," Danu stated. His eyes trailed on the table surface, never directing at mine.
"Rebel, we don't criticize you," Fuliko reluctantly extended his arm but halted it. I took a hint and placed my hand on his paw, eliciting a joyful simper from him.
Danu leaned in and placed his hands on the table, intertwining his fingers.
"I can't explain in how deep shit we are. Because of your," Danu licked his lips as if searching for the right words, "Silver announced your actions as treachery and seeks you. Now she is in charge along with some old hags. I have no clue what she intends to do to the king's wife, and honestly, we better never find out. I will guard you, Rebel, with my own life."
Danu kept staring at my hand above Fuliko's. I sighed, smiling as I withdrew his hand and clutched it. Danu's surprise was adorable as his lips parted and his eyes restored with the life they were always filled with.
"Danu," my voice snapped him out of his little bubble as he faced me like a puppy. Minutes ago, he was ready to bite my head off. Eh, men…
"You hide your thoughts well," he blurted out with a dumb-struck face. I chuckled before responding:
"I know. Anyways, thank you."
"Axel truly loves you. He lived a difficult life and kept slashing the hardships. I can't let a source of his joy get ruined by Silver."
"Silly, you're his joy just as much as me. And I will guard you as much as I can."
Danu smirked devilishly but never teased me about how the heck I was going to protect his sturdy ass. His naughty eyes were enough mockery, though.
"Yes!" Fuliko exclaimed, and we laughed at his cute joy.
"Now, Danu, How did this happen?"
Danu sighed and slid his hand in his dense green hair that was unusually ruffled.
"First in my life, I'm afraid of my own words. No official announcements had been declared, but it doesn't need proof," His eyes darkened, and I tilted my head to take a better look at them. I had to ask nth time: what was happening? "The war has begun."