The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 120: Playing The Part

Donovan couldn’t think of anything else to say after hearing that. A heavy silence fell between them in the dimly lit tent, and after what felt like an eternity, Donovan finally broke the stillness.

"I’m sorry you had to lose someone important to you," he said, his tone laced with sincerity. "But I want you to know that I want them gone just as much as you do. Unfortunately, we have no choice but to wait till they show up, since we can’t track their hideout."

Esme glanced at him, and she finally had the courage to ask what had been on her mind for now.. "From your memories... you never had this much curse marks. Is there a reason why you have so many?"

Before she could stop herself, her hand instinctively reached up, her finger grazing his skin as she wanted to touch his marks. "They look so harmless, yet turned many into what they’re not. How are you coping with this many runes? Doesn’t it bother you?"

"Only in a compromising situation," he grabbed her wrist, halting her hand from his neck. "If we can get the serum tonight during the event, the North would have no other choice but to come up with another strategy. There’s no way they could have developed such a weapon without testing it first on demons. That sort of tells me that there are demon beasts lingering within the North, and if we’re not careful, we could end up getting surrounded by them."

The thought of it made Esme shiver unconsciously. She would never forget the faces of those who had brutally destroyed her pack and killed Vivienne. She wasn’t sure how she would be able to accomplish something that sounded impossible for someone like her to achieve, but she would never let those she’s come to care about die the same way Vivienne did. She would ensure that the demon beasts are all wiped out from Illyria, and that those who have succeeded in withholding the curse will be freed from it.

Esme’s body tensed slightly when she felt something warm draped over her shoulders. She soon realized it was Donovan’s cloak, and the thickness of it brought her such warmth, hence, she relaxed almost immediately.

"Feeling better?"

Donovan asked, and Esme carefully gathered a portion of the cloak and draped it around him, silently offering to share the warmth. When Donovan pulled her closer, she didn’t resist. Her body nestled naturally against his, her head finding a place on his chest. His steady heartbeat and the stroke of his hands along her arm eased her further into comfort.

It wasn’t long before she succumbed to sleep, lulled by his warmth and the calming feeling of being safe.

When the journey eventually continued, the roads became rougher, far more treacherous even as they ascended further into the mountains. The trees had all but disappeared by now, replaced by jagged cliffs and icy rivers that cut through the terrain. The wind whipped through the ravines, carrying with it the scent of the North – cold, untamed and unwelcoming. Esme’s unease deepened with every step, a knot tightening in her chest as Kangee swooped down, cawing to signal that they were nearing the Northern Land’s gate.

Despite her growing apprehension, she couldn’t deny how invaluable Kangee had been throughout their journey. The raven’s keen instinct had helped them avoid most paths that proved to be threatening, even sidestepping a blizzard. Without its guidance, their journey would have been far more perilous.

Since they had missed the blizzard, the world before them had transformed into a frozen wasteland. The path ahead was covered in fresh snow, but Donovan led them forward. The mountains rose higher on each side, casting long shadows over the narrow pass.

Meanwhile, at the back of the carriage, Althea had finished dressing the boys in feminine gowns. She struggled to hold in her laughter after applying the makeup and blushes on their faces.

"Do we really have to dress like girls?" Finnian grumbled, eyeing the gown they had put on for him. Simon was equally struggling to get comfortable in the outfit, while Luca looked like he was experiencing something magical for the first time.

"It feels windy on the inside," he commented, lifting the hem of the gown with his hands till his legs up to his knee were visible. "How are we supposed to fight in this?!"

"I thought the same, but then you three are not fighting anyone, Luca," Althea corrected him. "What you three will be doing is once you make it into the Alpha’s den, you have to open all the secret doors so Acheron and I can get in. That’s why you have those vials of poison. Listen, these vials can put the guards to sleep, so unless necessary, do not use it, and do not get sidetracked on the mission, okay? You three look AMAZING!"

"I don’t know about those two, but I always look amazing!" Luca pointed at himself, a mischievous grin that didn’t match his otherwise pretty face contorting his features. "And I’ll prove it!"

"I don’t know..." Finnian was still contemplating. Amongst the three of them, he was the one who looked most delicate, his long waves spiraling down his back, giving him a distinctively feminine appearance. Simon and Luca looked sharp and impressive, but Finnian could easily pass for a girl without anyone needing to question it. Althea simply beamed at her work, proud of how well her disguise had come together.

Meanwhile, Leonardo had changed his outfit and dressed like a priest. His sudden appearance almost had Esme laughing out, but she held it in.

"And what role are you playing?"

"A corrupt priest," Leonardo responded, adjusting his collar. "There’s a priest in this town who delivers girls to frozen Hollow. He’s meant to arrive in less than an hour. I’ll be the key distraction and let the guards lead me to where I’m probably going to sell the boys. The rest of you use the opportunity to go in through the gate, and then everyone knows what to do from there on. We’ll set everything and wait for tonight."

It was odd how being corrupt suited Leonardo. His sharp features, including the effortless way he carried himself, made him look too striking to play the role of a priest convincingly. His jet-black hair was neatly slicked back, and his gray eyes were like any other regular day. She could only imagine the chaos he’d cause if he ever stops in a pulpit, preaching to a congregation of women.

She wondered if his personality would be any different if he eventually finds his own mate at the end of the day.

"Also, Don made me do this," Leonardo reported Donovan to Esme. "He said if I didn’t present myself as the corrupt priest, he wouldn’t have let me come."