Free Web NovelChapter 166: A ’Romantic’ Getaway
"So that’s my plan," I concluded with a finish, meeting the shocked gazes of Damon and Blaise. After my meeting with Darach, I quickly went back to the room to let them know what happened. "If you have any objections, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Unfortunately, I already knew who was going to have an objection to this.
"I object; you’re not haring off the countryside with Darach out of all people," Damon pronounced Darach’s name with a sneer, as though he was nothing better than a speck of mud at the bottom of his shoe. "It’s too dangerous, and you cannot trust him. Not to mention he’s an utter weakling― your chances of survival would plummet with him by your side."
"Then I hope you start thinking about your wedding vows to Dahlia," I retorted evenly, already expecting Damon’s disapproval. He and Darach seemed to have a strange bitter enmity, but from what I could see, only Darach had a valid enough reason for hating Damon.
After all, no one would want their sister to be associated with someone with Damon’s reputation. A reputation which, I knew from personal experience, wasn’t entirely unfounded.
Damon’s face nearly purpled at my words. The thought of his impending nuptials to Dahlia sent a feeling of despair and anger flowing through me, as though he was a beast pacing around in his cage, an iron ball tied to his legs.
"And I’ll not be going alone, Blaise will be coming with me," I added, turning to Blaise. "Unless you have any other plans, Blaise?"
"None at all," Blaise replied, more cheerily than Damon. "I have no talent for wedding planning, so my presence here is entirely unnecessary. I can leave immediately."
Damon wanted to protest, but his mouth just opened and closed wordlessly as he pointed a finger at Blaise, then at me, then back at Blaise before finally groaning to himself.
"Fine, go then, but make sure to report back to me at least every hour," Damon said, a pained look on his face. freёweɓnovel.com
"So often?" Blaise asked. "You usually only expect a report once every day. Sometimes less than that."
"I’ll need the distraction," Damon said frankly. "I’ll only be left with Dahlia for company in these three days. If you don’t report back, you’ll be planning my funeral instead."
"Surely it’s not so serious," I replied, smiling. If Damon could still crack jokes, there was still light at the end of the tunnel.
Damon’s face was grim. "Yes, it is."
"Then we’d better leave now, before they decide to keep us here for good," Blaise said. "That old man isn’t going to want anything to stop his daughter from marrying Damon."
We made our way out of the room. I had agreed to meet Darach in the driveway― he would be providing his car for us to travel in, along with supplies for our journey. But just as we were about to leave, we were accosted by none other than Alpha Thorton and his daughter.
"Beta Blaise, where are you going in such a hurry?" Dahlia asked. It seemed that she was a lot more polite now that she realized Blaise might become her future brother-in-law.
"Oh, sightseeing," Blaise said, holding my hand and shooting a soppy look of devotion on his face. I giggled, deliberately batting my eyelashes. "Harper and I haven’t been around this area before. Since we’re here now, we thought we might as well take a small holiday. Check out the area; see the sights and all that."
I nodded agreeably, and added, "We might as well give you and Damon the chance to know each other better, since you’re about to get married."
"Oh? So you have agreed to Daddy’s proposal? This is such great news!" Dahlia exclaimed, clasping her hands together in girlish excitement. She was every inch the fearless warrior, but right now she was bouncing on her heels in happiness. It almost made me feel guilty for what we were going to do― destroy her chances of marrying the man of her dreams.
Then again, I couldn’t believe she was willing to reject her fated mate for Damon. Even a man as stubborn as Damon accepted a human like me in the end. What kind of person was her mate?
Meanwhile, Alpha Thorton was looking at us with suspicion, as though he could tell what I was thinking about.
"Unfortunately, we would be poor hosts if we simply let the both of you wander around our territories unescorted," Alpha Thorton said, with a genial smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "As you said, both of you are strangers to this land. It can be all too easy for things to go wrong."
"Surely there’s no need," Blaise said with an awkward smile. "This is meant to be a romantic getaway, having someone else with us is a bit..." His voice trailed off.
Any ordinary person would have caught the hint that we didn’t want to be interrupted, but Alpha Thorton was no ordinary man or wolf.
"Nonsense, I’ll arrange for someone to accompany you on your journey. An extra pair of hands and eyes will make your travels easier. This will also give me peace of mind, especially since Miss Harper here is a human."
Crap. Well, we technically got an escort.
"Ah, Blaise, darling, I forgot to tell you this," I said, purposely smacking my head with my hand. Look at me, the poor forgetful human. "Mister Darach has agreed to drive us around."
"Really?" Blaise blinked, the very picture of pleased surprise. "Oh, that’s perfect!"
"Darach?" Alpha Thorton repeated incredulously, his lip twisting in displeasure. "That son of mine is a good-for-nothing who twiddles his thumbs all day. He can’t even look after himself, let alone escort guests like yourself. I’ll arrange for someone else to look after you."
"It’s alright. He’s your son, Alpha Thorton. I’m sure he’ll be a more than worthy guide for us," Blaise said and I nodded fervently.
"We’d hate to trouble anyone else too," I said. "Besides, he should know this area like the back of his hand!"
Of course, that might be exactly the reason why he was so reluctant to have Darach accompany us. Who better to destroy Thunderstrike’s plans from within than their own heir?
