Chapter 49: Delusional
It’s taken a full week to rid my castle of the filth the Robbens left behind. The place had reeked of their arrogance and audacity, like a stain that seeped into every crack of Seraphina’s Heart. I had all their wretched furniture thrown out—burned or given away, depending on my mood—and ordered new pieces, selected with my own damn care. The master bedroom? Stripped bare, scrubbed clean until there wasn’t a trace of their existence left. I wasn’t about to lay my head on a bed that man—my father—had defiled with his presence. The mere thought of it makes my stomach turn.
For spite, I had the five sentinels move into the best rooms in the castle. It was amusing watching Victor kick Sevian out of his room, the shocked look on that bastard’s face almost worth keeping them around. Almost. The Robbens may be out of the main house, but they’re still here, lingering in the guest quarters like the parasites they are. It won’t last long. I’ll make sure of that.
But what’s eating at me now, more than anything, is the ache. Fuck, it’s been a week, and I miss Noelle. Every day that passes, his scent fades a little more from the cloth I carry with me, like he’s slipping away into a dream. A figment of my imagination. I lift the cloth to my face, inhaling what’s left of his pheromones, and for a brief moment, I can almost feel him here. But it’s faint, too faint. I can’t see him for another two weeks, and the thought grates at me.
I let out a long breath and glance down at the dead body at my feet. Some bastard who thought he was smarter than me. He isn’t the first to make that mistake, and he certainly won’t be the last. I step over the corpse, moving past the others scattered across the floor. My "helpers" are already making their way in, eager to get back to work. It’s funny how loyal people become when you pay them enough. Even when their job involves cleaning up after a massacre. They’re practically giddy to have their old positions back.
"What’s next?" I ask Roman, who stands at my side like the shadow he always is.
He’s about to respond when Raul and Victor stride in, dragging a couple of unlucky souls behind them. Bloodied, beaten, and still squirming. I glance at the pitiful wretches for a moment before my gaze shifts back to Roman. He nods slightly, and I know it’s about to be another long day. This town, this rotten pit, will be bathed in blood by the time I’m done with it. I don’t need Noelle’s calming presence to do what needs to be done. I don’t need anyone to track down these pests.
Roman starts listing off the details, his voice steady and precise as we begin to move, stepping over the carnage left in our wake. Raul and Victor drag the others behind, their prisoners groaning and sobbing as we make our way through the hall.
A purge. That’s what this is. And it’s far from over.
My beloved star has to find this place clean after all.