Chapter 94: You Haven’t Fed Me
"He didn’t fear betrayal. He prepared for it."
~ Rebel Beast
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It was said that Caelis Cobryn never had fun. The rumor wasn’t entirely wrong.
While most students were making their way to class, the Basilisk Prince was still in his office, reviewing the reports that required his approval with his usual unreadable expression.
Without looking up, he signed the last page and slid the folder across the desk.
"I need you to send this Liability and Indemnity Agreement to Maverick Nightshade," he instructed his First Fang.
Venus accepted the neatly bound folder without question.
The document was straightforward.
Should anything happen to Maverick during the fight in the arena, neither Caelis Cobryn nor his business could be held legally or financially responsible. By signing it, Maverick acknowledged that he had agreed to the fight of his own accord and accepted full responsibility for whatever followed.
Although Caelis doubted anything would happen to the Wolf Prince, none of them was stupid enough to incur the wrath of his mother, Violet Purple, anything could still happen, and he wasn’t willing to take that chance. Rhydian had been the one to arrange the fight, and should he have any ulterior motive, Caelis refused to be caught unprepared.
"The fight will not proceed until he signs it," Caelis said. "Make sure he does. That will ensure the validity of tomorrow’s match. We need to be certain, especially with all the buzz it’s already generating. I cannot afford to lose that amount of money."
"Yes, Your Highness," Venus replied. "I take it Rhydian has already signed his."
"Yes," Caelis answered in his thick accent. "Alongside his generous payment."
He shamelessly admitted it had been a good one.
A knowing grin spread across Venus’ face.
At this point, it was almost laughable. Every time Rhydian wanted to use the arena, Caelis charged him an outrageous participation fee. In fact, he did the same to practically every dragon. They always complained, yet they always paid.
As far as Caelis was concerned, dragons had money. They could afford it.
"Send my response to Rhydian in writing as well," Caelis said, not yet finished. "Tell him I stake my future on it. The humans will remain unharmed for the duration of the fight."
"Are we really doing this?" Venus frowned. "This could’ve been the perfect opportunity to get Rhydian out of this academy."
"Getting Rhydian out of this academy isn’t the goal," Caelis corrected calmly. "Getting rid of him is."
Venus fell silent.
"Besides," Caelis continued, "Aria Aspen will be there."
One of Venus’ brows arched.
"You want to see her?"
"More than that." Caelis’ eyes narrowed slightly. "I want a conversation with her. She’s hiding the truth about who she is, and I intend to find out exactly what."
"Would that even be possible?" Venus asked genuinely. "Maverick guards those girls like a mother hen. Getting close to her won’t be easy."
"Don’t concern yourself with that." A faint smile tugged at the corner of Caelis’ lips. "I already have a plan."
Venus wasn’t the least bit surprised.
As long as he had served as Caelis’ First Fang, the Basilisk Prince had always been several steps ahead of everyone else. Every obstacle became an opportunity, and every situation somehow ended in his favor.
Just then, a loud commotion erupted outside the office.
Both men went on alert immediately.
Caelis and Venus exchanged a brief look before rising from their seats to find out what had caused the disturbance.
They stepped out of the office and into the spacious living room of Caelis’ private suite.
Except the scene that greeted them was anything but ordinary.
Two serpent shifters had a furious Karen Donovan restrained between them as she struggled against their grips with all the dignity she could still salvage.
"What do you think you’re doing?" she demanded, jerking her arms in a failed attempt to free herself. "Let go of me right now! You have no right to do this to me. I only requested to see Caelis. Let me go this instant!"
"What is going on here?"
Caelis’ deep voice echoed through the room.
Everything came to an abrupt halt.
Karen immediately yanked her arms free as the two guards released her. She quickly straightened her blouse, smoothed down her skirt, and lifted her chin as though she hadn’t been dragged out of the room moments ago.
"Finally," she said, relief washing over her features. She pointed accusingly at the two serpent shifters. "I only wanted to see you, and these two idiots refused to let me through. You should teach them some respect."
"You’re the one who needs to learn some," one of the serpents hissed, his slit pupils narrowing dangerously. Every muscle in his body tensed as though he was one insult away from striking.
"Simion." Caelis spoke only his name but the serpent immediately fell silent. His murderous glare, however, never left Karen.
"You may leave now," Caelis ordered.
Simion inclined his head.
"Yes, Your Highness."
He and his partner turned to leave, but not before Simion deliberately drove his shoulder into Karen’s as they passed.
She stumbled a step to the side.
"How dare you!" she gasped in outrage.
Neither serpent spared her so much as a glance. Within seconds, they were gone, leaving an uncomfortable silence hanging in the room.
Caelis regarded Karen with the same unreadable expression.
"What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Karen repeated, staring at him in disbelief. "Yesterday, the three girls you assigned to escort me to my room threatened me. Can you believe that? They shifted into their snake forms and tried to attack me!"
Caelis and Venus exchanged a brief glance.
It seemed Nadia had decided to give the new arrival the traditional Ophidian welcome after all.
"I’d hardly call it an attack," Venus said, unable to hide the amusement in his voice. "More like an introduction to the house."
"That was not an introduction," Karen snapped. "It was a threat!"
"Did you get hurt?" Venus asked.
"No," Karen admitted through gritted teeth. "But she intended to hurt me."
Caelis had heard enough.
"If that’s all you came here to complain about, then I wish you a pleasant day, Karen."
Karen stared at him.
"You haven’t fed me!"
Her voice echoed through the room.
"You just dumped me in a room I’m forced to share with those two pathetic girls, then forgot I even existed." Her eyes shimmered with tears. "I’ve been surviving on snacks since last night, and I’m sick of them. I want actual food." She wiped angrily at the tears threatening to spill over.
Caelis remained silent.
For all his ruthlessness, there was one principle he refused to compromise on.
No one deserved to be denied food.
Not even someone he found insufferable.
"I’ll—" Venus began.
"Gather the other girls and follow me," Caelis interrupted. "We’ll have breakfast in the dining hall."