His Majesty's Devious Sins

As the couple had their dispute on one end of the garden, another duo was having an argument. 

Elias had been leisurely listening to a bunch of babbling men, when Asher was foolish enough to make his presence known. Elias knew his little wife released the bastard a few days ago, but didn't expect the dog to be as stupid as he was right now.

"What do you want?" Elias asked, leaning casually against the wall with a nonchalant expression.

Elias knew the sight of Asher was going to hurt Adeline, and had the decency to bring the conversation somewhere private. 

Elias would prefer if his darling wife was nowhere in sight when this conversation went down. Especially if Elias wanted to swiftly get rid of Asher. He could just snap the mutt's neck on the spot if he wanted to. Of course, killing a Pure-Blood wasn't as easy as that. 

"I have a lovely wife looking for me soon," Elias drawled, loosening his tie. 

Asher's eyes flashed with hatred. "Does she know?" he said, his voice filled with amusement. "Does she know what kind of satanic monster she has gotten married to?"

Elias raised a brow. He sure hoped so. She was pregnant with his child. He supposed monsters gave birth to monsters. Was the baby karma for all of Elias's devious sins?

"It'll be fine," Asher confidently said. "She'll find out soon enough."

Elias suppressed the urge to roll his eyes out of boredom. The time spent talking to Asher could've been spent on kissing Adeline. The thought of her made his lips twitch. He enjoyed the way she leaned in for another kiss, eyes-closed, completely oblivious that he found that expression amusing.

"What are you going to do? Go to reporters?" Elias snickered, extremely humored by that thought. He'd like Asher to go ahead and spread the news far and wide. That way, Adeline would only hate him even more. 

Elias knew Adeline's nature. She'd worry for Asher, but she loved her baby more. And what would she do when her dear Asher hurts the baby's father's reputation? Wouldn't that only lower the baby's reputation? He loved to see Asher dig his own trap.

"No, I'll just tell Adeline what a horrible monster you are. She'll ruin you far more than the news could ever harm you."

Ah, so he did have a few brain cells left. Elias was surprised, truly.

"Go ahead," Elias laughed. He crossed his arms and glanced up at the sky, bored and disinterested in the conversation. 

"She'll be repulsed."

"Oh, I'm sure she will," Elias agreed.

"Do you not care about her wellbeing at all?" Asher hissed, infuriated by the King's indifference. What kind of husband would allow his wife to hear such disgusting things? Some kind of protector this King was!

"I'd worry about your wellbeing more than my wife's," Elias mused. "After all, you're only alive because I allow it. You're only standing here because I allow it. You're only breathing because I am merciful."

Asher narrowed his eyes. "Merciful? Don't humor me. I've heard rumors of how you treat her in bed, like some sex slave. I would've never done to that to her, I—"

Elias grabbed him by the throat. His cold demeanor completely melted away, replaced by frigid flames. His gaze became cruel, the wind howling like shrieking spirits, shadows crawling up the ground. It was a great night to spill blood.

"Careful, mutt," Elias growled. "I won't hesitate to snap your neck right here and now."

Asher scratched at Elias's throat, his lips twisting into an arrogant smile. So that was the nerve. Adeline. Asher always thought that was his weakness, but it seemed that was the King's as well. 

"Does she still do that little twitch in her sleep?" Asher countered, grabbing both of the King's hands from his neck and prying them off of him. But Asher winced in pain, feeling the King's nails dig into his flesh, a demonic look flashing over his expression.

"Or perhaps, does she still reach for comfort when she sleeps?" Asher choked out, feeling the air leave his lungs. "Did she tell you I used to sleep with her?"

Elias saw red. He dug his fingers into Asher's neck, enough force to pierce through the lungs. He'd tear out Asher's lungs, but then he heard a terrifying cry.

"Elias!" Adeline shrieked, dashing up to the two of them. What the hell was happening?! She had wandered out of the gardens and heard a dispute, but didn't think it was her husband and best friend.

"Elias, enough!" Adeline demanded. 

Adeline grabbed Elias's hands, attempting to pry them from Asher. Without warning, she was shoved to the side, her legs caught by her dress, and she began tumbling to the ground. But before she fell, something roughly grabbed her wrist. She was yanked back onto her feet, hands coming around her. 

Adeline was surprised to see it was Elias. He was breathing heavily, his eyes the color of a blood moon. There was so much rage tucked beneath the folds of red that her heart trembled. She had never seen him this furious.

She didn't know what was the cause of it, but something about the gasping Asher said enough. Asher was heaving on the ground, his neck dripping with blood, but they seemed like mere cuts. She worriedly glanced at Elias and the hand tightly gripping her hip.

Adeline wanted to ask what happened, but not in front of the two of them. The mere mention of the past events would be enough to trigger them again. 

"We're leaving," Adeline harshly said, her heart still racing from moments before. 

Elias had shoved her with the force to make her fall. If she had fallen onto her stomach, what then? Her heart jumped at the thought before plummeting downwards. Would she have lost the baby?

Her face paled.

"Why don't you ask your lover boy what he said, darling?" Elias sneered, glowering down at her. She peered up at him, horrified and hurt by his words. 

"Do you realize what you just did to me?" Adeline rebuttal, her voice raising at the same time he did. 

Immediately his face softened a bit, worry dancing in his gaze. His grip loosened on her, his fingers affectionately rubbing the side of her hips.

"I caught you," he softly said. 

Adeline frowned. The night had already soured. She didn't want to be standing here, with him, in this dress, at the party. 

A question sat on the tip of her tongue, enough to ruin this discussion. 'What if you hadn't caught me?' she thought to herself. 

"Let's just head home," she reluctantly said, knowing this situation would be difficult to sweep under a rug. She felt an argument rising, and didn't want it to happen in front of people.

"Darling," Elias warned, his voice turning rough again.

Adeline didn't respond. She grabbed his hand and began pulling him away, but Asher just had to ruin it.

"I remembered our childhood, Adeline."

Adeline froze. Before she could react, Elias was ten steps ahead of her. In a blink, he was in front of Asher.

"Elias, no!" Adeline cried out, just as Elias's hands began to glow. To her horror, Elias grabbed Asher's face. Everything happened too quickly. She saw the glow subdue, Asher's body go limp, and her knees gave out in terror.

Was… was he dead?