Chapter 352: Just Stop
"Do you think I care?" Draven’s jaw clenched at Duncan’s intimidating suggestion, hiding his fears by giving in to the bitter fury that consumed him. "Look all you want, you’ll find nothing! As I’ve told you three already, Viktor couldn’t come himself, Lucius is presently busy doing his own job, so they sent me instead! Do you think I’d come all the way here on my own free will? I’m not that dense!"
He tried to rise, but Ivan’s hand on his throat didn’t give him that chance. He knew the vampire must be enjoying this abominable sight of him, humiliating him before them and his guards, and he was unknowingly glaring back. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but if he survives this embarrassment, he would surely get back at all three of them for this.
"If you were indeed turned to Lord Viktor’s errand boy, where’s the book?" Ivan raised an inquiring eyebrow, "Lord Viktor must have given you the book I requested. Where is it?"
"Give me some decency and get your hands off my throat. I’ll give it to you."
"Book, now!" Ivan ordered, his gaze conveying how easy it would be to kill him right here and now if he tries to play smart. The whole tent became silent, and Draven was left with no other choice but to hand the book to Ivan. Stretching his right hand to the side, the thick purple-black book materialized in his grip, and Tobias did Ivan the favor by taking it.
He glanced at the cover and nodded his head at Ivan, as if saying it was the right book. Confirming the authenticity of the book, Ivan withdrew his hand from Draven’s neck, and it was his guards who grabbed hold of him this time. Unfortunately, Draven couldn’t summon his shadow slaves, this wasn’t the right time, not when he knew he would be endangering himself if he provoked Ivan further.
"Don’t forget this." Extending his palm forward, Duncan summoned two silver handcuffs that were used to nullify Draven’s powers, just in case, for everyone’s safety. He could see the silent fury in Draven’s eyes, and it gave him satisfaction. Duncan wasn’t a violent person in nature, he hated violence actually, despite having the ability to make all kinds of weaponry like his father, but Draven has stepped on his toes for far too long in the past, so he has to let off some steam now that he had the chance.
"Do you like my new toy?" Duncan inquired before explaining, "not only does it seize your powers, but you will incur severe internal pain if you try to free yourself. I wanted to give it to Ivan since it would be useful in taming Carmela, but isn’t it her pure luck that you got it first."
Draven could feel his anger rise, and he wanted to wipe that innocent smile off his lips. The guards eventually took him away, leaving the trio to themselves in the large tent. Finally gaining some privacy, Tobias opened the book and went through the content, brushing past every complex text and skipping to the part that spoke about how the last war between his people and Marius came to an end. He wanted to know if Draven was speaking the truth, or if his statement was nothing more than a fallacy.