"Offer?!" Kurtis's eyes widened as he heard Lord Harley. The latter grinned, and the fire in the valley flared, taking a nasty turn.
"Yes, an offer," Lord Harley patted Kurtis like a dog. "Enter a Blood Contract with me, and I would save you from Kiba."
Kurtis's face twisted.
Blood Contract?!
He was a pure-blood aristocrat! He would be no slave, even if the refusal cost him his life.
"Hehe, pride comes before fall."
Lord Harley chuckled.
"But relax, I know your limit, so I have no interest in taking you as a slave. The Blood Contract will deal with a few things you would have to do for me. In return, I will promise you help and resources to protect yourself and even defeat your enemy."
Kurtis trembled from anger. He couldn't believe just how disgusting the head of the family could be with him.
But he knew he needed Lord Harley because he has to live!
If he died, who would kill that bastard of Rebecca's and avenge the humiliation he has suffered for the past two decades?!
"Kiba! We have no enmity, but you have forced this lion in the corner!"
Kurtis muttered with volcanic rage.
"I will deal with you after killing Rebecca's bastard!"
Lord Harley lifted his head and started laughing loudly. He has succeeded. He might not be able to fully control Kurtis, but the influence he has gained now would be enough to make his plan of many years a success.
"Fufu, you have my gratitude Kiba."
✻✻✻✻✻
Meanwhile, in the hall, Xalion looked at Kiba for a few seconds and then sighed. Flames enveloped him, and he vanished.
"Ah!" Flame King flinched. He was alone with Kiba now.
What to do?
He wanted to delay the inevitable if avoiding it was impossible! He just wasn't ready, but then again, no man in his position could ever be ready!
Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind, and he said, "Dr. NTR, it is your first visit to the House of Hestia. Why don't I give you a tour?"
"Sure," Kiba nodded and told Flame King to proceed.
Flame King smiled and took the lead while giving a pat to himself.
The mansion was obviously vast as it was built on an area more expansive than multiple mountain ranges combined. It was divided into many zones, occupied by different branches of the family.
There were also forbidden zones where entry was restricted to outsiders and even to the majority of the family.
Half an hour later, Flame King brought Kiba to the entrance of one such forbidden zone. The architecture here was gothic, with gargoyle-like statues standing on guard.
Kiba's eyes narrowed. There was a familiar sensation, something he was sure he has felt before but couldn't pinpoint where or when.
"Only the purest of bloodline could enter this area."
Flame King explained while pointing at the transparent force-field barrier that existed beyond the statues. The force-field was transparent, but it was impossible to see beyond even for Kiba.
"Purest of bloodline?" Kiba eyed Flame King.
"Yes, only the direct descendants of Soverigness Hestia could move past the barrier," Flame King replied. "But even for them, unless their bloodline source is exceptionally pure and strong, entry is impossible."
Kiba nodded. Such criteria meant the parent(s) of those wanting to enter must have divine purity. This pretty much disqualified 99.9% of the family.
Kiba observed the barrier for a long time. The more he looked, the stronger the familiar sensation grew, and he felt an urge to move into the barrier.
But he was Kiba. No urge could take over his senses unless he wanted.
He turned to Flame King and said, "You don't qualify to enter there, do you?"
"N-no," Flame King answered. "But how do you know?"
"Well, if you did, you would have shown off," Kiba replied. "Given the hollow sense of pride people like you have, you would have tried to move your hand through the barrier or something to impress me."
Flame King felt heat rising in his face.
This c.o.c.ky son of a bitch!
How dare he insult him like this?!
But rationality soon followed as he recalled Kiba wielding the golden hammer and thrashing him.
"He has insulted me in far worse ways!" Flame King reminded himself. "From his standards, he is actually respecting me now!"
Kiba placed a hand on Flame King's shoulder, and in a friendly tone, said, "Relax, you don't have to feel pressure to impress me. You might not know, but you have impressed me far more than any man has!"
Flame King was startled.
He felt sincerity from Kiba!
Has Kiba finally realized his greatness?!
But then he stumbled when Kiba explained why.
"Not every king has the guts to transform into Cuckold King! But you have!" Kiba concluded with a smile. "It just shows how great you are!"
"……………………."
Flame King fell to the ground.
Kiba waved a hand, and telekinetic force brought Flame King back to his feet.
"Let's not delay anymore!" Kiba patted Flame King. "It is time you are officially crowned as the Cuckold King!"
"…………."
✻✻✻✻✻
Far away, in another room in the mansion, Velma couldn't stop smiling as she checked her reflection in the mirror.
She was in her late thirties, but with dancer legs, tight butt and small, but perky b.r.e.a.s.ts, her appearance was no different than a slim, gorgeous woman in her early twenties.
Now after donning the black, sleeveless top and very short skirt, she has turned into sizzling hot.
"Craig wouldn't be able to control himself!"
Velma's smile turned into a grin.
She had been married to Flame King for over a decade. In all that time, he has treated her like a queen.
And unlike most Alphas, he never humiliated her by taking mistresses or doing anything that would slight her.
"He's the perfect husband! And he deserves a perfect Valentine's Day!"
Ever since Flame King returned from Infinity Maze, she noticed he was downcast, like something was bugging him. When she asked him about it, he would flinch but wouldn't answer.
"Today, he will forget all his worries and realize just how lucky he is to have me!"
Velma giggled and took the blindfold from the bed. It was given to her husband. He had requested her to put it on before he left.
"Hehe, maybe he knows what I have in mind!"
She put on the blindfold and was surprised. Her supernatural perception was suppressed to the level that of an ordinary human.
This made her giggle further.
"He wants to surprise me! Only time would tell who would surprise whom!"
She sat on the edge of the bed and curled a strand of her blonde hair. She couldn't wait for her husband to arrive.
~tap~
Her face brightened, and she turned towards the door. There was the sound of the door opening followed by the sound of steps!
"You are finally here!"
She lifted her legs and stretched them apart, teasing him with the incredible view of her panties that seemed to be made of ribbons.
They were waiting to open the most fantastic gift a man could ever receive!
"Oops!"
Velma pretended this sneak-peak to be accidental and quickly placed her legs down. She then jumped and moved in the direction of the door.
She might be blindfolded, but she knew every nitch of the room. She appeared before him and was surprised as his strong scent greeted her nose.
The scent seemed to be a natural part of him, and she was surprised by how good he smelled. How come her man smell so good suddenly, just like a mouth-watering dessert?
She quickly got rid of her thoughts and leaned closer to him, bringing her lips to his shirt.
"Hmm?"
She was surprised yet again.
As her lips traced his chest through the fabric of his shirt, he seemed more masculine and emitted a sensation that sent a quiver between her thighs.
"Has he taken those Gen X pills?"
She thought of the wonders of science to spice up s.e.x life. Those rare and costly pills offered a novelty factor, making sure the s.e.x never gets too familiar and boring.
"Seems like you have a nice surprise for me!"
She said while slipping her hand down his pants. Her eyes widened, and she almost stumbled from shock.
Her hands were tracing a magnificent piece of flesh! Despite it being confined in his pants, she could feel the unbelievable length and grith, not at all like her husband.
Now she was sure! Her husband must have taken lots of Gen X pills!
She prayed they were equally effective when he got in real action with her!
"Oh, lord!" She gasped while rubbing his pants. "We are going to have an incredible Valentine's Day!"
Behind Kiba, Flame King winced.
"No! We are not…at least not me!"
He wanted to shout but couldn't.
