MATED TO THE VAMPIRE KING SON Chapter 116

The war was over and my oath was fulfilled. I staggered through the destruction of the battlefield, my arm wounded and my body aching. But I didn't care about any of that. All I cared about was finding Freda.

I spotted Elara standing in the damages, her eyes scanning the perimeter. I approached her, my sword still gripped in my hand.

"Elara," I said, my voice hoarse from shouting orders on the battlefield. "The war is over. Kyraxx is defeated."

Elara turned to me, a smile on her lips. "Well done, Damien. You've upheld your end of the bargain. You've made me happy"

She was with her coven, all above the number of ten, and done with children. I had promised to accommodate all of them in my kingdom.

I took a step closer to her, my eyes burning with determination and not the excitement she had all over. "Now it's your turn. You have to tell me where Freda is."

Elara's smile fell, and she looked away. "I don't know where Freda is, Damien."

"What do you mean, you do not know" I charged closer to her, burning with rage" How could she… "You need to fulfill your part of the deal, you know that," I said.

"Take it easy, Damien. I can tell you who might know." She said

I felt frustration, but I bit it back. "Who?" I demanded. "And why can you not just say her location"

"There is no reveal, Damien. I am only being shown the person who certainly knows her whereabouts" she insisted.

"Tell me."

Elara hesitated before speaking. "You need to meet with Freda's father. He knows a lot about where she might be."

Finally, I had a lead. I would do whatever it took to find Freda.

"He should still be at the kingdom. I'll find him urgently" I said to Elara, my voice urgent.

Elara nodded. "That is good, but he is at the kingdom at this point. " she closed her eyes like she was using her powers to search for his location. "Maybe you can try his place first"

I nodded but was still uncertain. Winston had been very angry that Freda was lost. Then how did he know where she was? Was he pretending? Had he taken his daughter from me after all I did to him? Was this a sort of revenge? Was he trying to play games and make things harder?

I gathered the remaining survivors and ordered that Elara go home with them as I would be preparing to set out to meet Freda's father. But before we could even take a step, a group of armed men emerged from the dark.

"You're a hard man to kill, Damien," one of them sneered, drawing his sword.

I drew my sword, ready for battle. However, these weren't Kyraxx men. They wore the uniforms of Valthrun, only slightly different.

Elara came forward, ready for the fight but I stopped her. "Leave with the rest of the people"

She hesitated at first but eventually left with her coven and the rest of my men who were already injured.

I was a skilled fighter, but these men were well-trained and well-armed. I had fought all day with Kyraxx men and king and I started to tire, my movements slowing.

Just when I thought I was going to be overpowered, a figure burst into the dark with me, his sword clanging with the rest of the men skillfully. I recognized him as Lady Aagtha's son, Knight Elijah, one of the border high securities, his armor gleaming in the, and he charged into battle with a loud growl.

Together, we fought hard, our swords clashing with the men. I was grateful for Elijah's timely intervention - I don't know if I would have made it out alive otherwise.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we beat down all the men with only one of them left - the one that proved the strongest. All the men lay defeated at our feet. I stood panting, my chest heaving with struggle.

"Who sent you?" I demanded, my sword still pressed to the throat of one of the men.

The man swallowed hard, his eyes glancing back and forth between Elijah and me. "W-William," he stuttered. "He's taken over Valthrun. There's nothing I can do my King. I am sorry, it was a royal order. You need to get to Valthrun immediately," he said. "William's uprising must be stopped."

I was shocked, and neither did I understand a thing he was saying.

"He's right" Elijah cut in. "William has taken over your throne. He's with an emblem from the king and he had promised everyone that you would not be back."

"Is that what is happening in my absence.." I muttered, my mind racing with the implications. William's betrayal was a surprise, but the fact that he had already taken over Valthrun was a blow. I knew that I had to act fast.

But first, I had to find Freda. Her father's information was crucial, and I couldn't afford to waste any more time.

"Elijah, I need to find Freda," I said. "Her father might know where she is."

Elijah nodded. "I'll come with you. But we can't let William get away with this. I suggest you make your presence in the kingdom first before we proceed."

I paused, wondering if to trust Elijah with these I formation. What if William had sent him to me instead?

Like he knew what I was thinking, he said. "Christie knows the in and out of the castle. She would be able to tell you all this truth"

I nodded. He must be right. The kingdom needed to know the intentions of William and they had to know I was still very much alive. If the kingdom was in disarray, there would be nowhere to bring Freda into.

I needed to settle my people first. Show them who owned the throne and then come back to my first mission, finding my Queen who would forever rule with me in Valthrun.