Defy The Alpha(s) 2: Rebel Beast

Chapter 72: One Has To Die

"The first lesson taught at Bestiaris is survival. Everything else is an elective."

~ Rebel Beast

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After Maverick’s speech, the atmosphere inside House Therion shifted noticeably.

Dimitri wasted no time ushering them toward the elevator, leaving Aria little chance to gauge the full extent of the change.

Even so, she caught the difference. The hostility in the beasts’ eyes had faded, replaced by a reluctant acceptance. They still weren’t happy about the humans’ presence, but Maverick had spoken, and in House Therion, that was the end of the discussion.

Aria’s heart swelled with gratitude.

Professor Maverick didn’t have to do any of this, but he had. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe a decision like this wouldn’t come with repercussions behind closed doors, especially considering how hostile the beasts were toward humans.

Perhaps, the next time she saw him, she’d thank him.

Whenever that happened.

"House Therion occupies the land between House Aetheris and House Ophidian," Dimitri explained as the elevator began its ascent.

"When Bestial City was first established, the dragons were the first to claim territory. That made House Aetheris the first residence to be built." He chuckled. "Unfortunately for them, Bestiaris was meant to be an academy, not a dragon kingdom, so they had little choice but to allow the serpents to construct House Ophidian."

He shook his head in amusement.

"The dragons insisted it be built as far away from them as possible. The serpents were equally happy with that arrangement. Which is how House Therion ended up right in the middle. Apparently, neither side minded having wolves as neighbors."

The elevator chimed softly as the doors slid open. Dimitri stepped out first, and the girls followed after him.

"I don’t understand," Brittney said. "Why do dragons and serpents hate each other so much? I mean, the dragons are already on top. No matter what happens, their position isn’t exactly threatened."

"That’s exactly the problem," Dimitri replied as he led them farther down the corridor, passing identical doors on either side. "The dragons have held absolute power for years. Then Caelis came along."

He glanced over his shoulder.

"To the dragons, he’s a threat that should never have existed. To the serpents, he’s their greatest hope of seeing one of their own become King of the Beasts."

"Whoa." Even Aria couldn’t hide her surprise. "The Basilisk Prince is the future King of the Beasts?"

"That doesn’t make sense," Alek pointed out. "King Darius is a hydra. Doesn’t he have children? How does Caelis suddenly become the next king?"

"There is," Dimitri said, "a reason most beasts insist on marrying within their own kind and keeping their bloodlines as pure as possible."

The girls exchanged curious looks.

"You’ll learn about it properly once lectures begin, but among beasts, there are what we call the Mystical Beasts."

He listed them. "Hydras. Dragons. Phoenixes. Basilisks. Leviathans. Thunderbirds. Creatures born with features so overwhelming that a single one could alter the balance of an entire kingdom."

He shrugged.

"For whatever reason, nature seems determined to keep that kind of power from becoming too common. Most Mystical Beast bloodlines have either dwindled to the brink of extinction or disappeared altogether."

"The hydras are one of them?"

Dimitri nodded.

"King Darius is believed to be the last pure hydra alive."

Alek frowned.

"So why not simply have children?"

"He tried." Dimitri’s expression grew more solemn. "There are no female hydras left, so he married a dragoness instead. She’s actually Rhydian’s cousin."

"What happened?" Brittney asked.

"They had one surviving son."

"And?"

"He inherited his mother’s blood. He’s a griffin," Dimitri finished. "Powerful by ordinary standards, but nowhere near powerful enough to inherit the throne."

"They kept trying," he continued. "Pregnancy after pregnancy ended in tragedy. None of the children survived, and after years of failure there were no more heirs."

"So the throne simply..." Aria hesitated. "Moves to someone else?"

"It moves," Dimitri corrected, "to the strongest." He spoke the words as though they were the most obvious thing in the world.

"The beasts have never cared about birthright as much as they care about power. The one capable of protecting us becomes king."

"That leaves Rhydian and Caelis," Alek murmured.

"Exactly."

"But there can’t be two kings," Dimitri said. "Only one can inherit the throne. And neither Rhydian Drakhar nor Caelis Cobryn is the sort to kneel before the other. For one of them to become king..."

He allowed the words hang in the air for a moment before delivering the inevitable conclusion.

"The other will have to die."

Aria, Brittney, Alek, and Trisha exchanged stunned looks. None of them realized they had come to a complete stop until Dimitri glanced back at them.

"Oh." He pointed farther down the corridor. "We’re right over there."

The girls quietly followed after him, though their minds reeled from the whole revelation.

Dimitri eventually stopped before the last room at the end of the corridor, a pleased look on his face.

"This is the best room on the entire female floor. Professor Maverick insisted you stay here. Left to him, he would’ve preferred you on his—" He caught himself abruptly.

Dimitri cleared his throat.

"Never mind."

Before anyone could question the strange remark, he pressed the doorbell. The door flew open so quickly it nearly collided with his face.

Four girls emerged one after another, each carrying boxes filled to the brim with their belongings. The first shot Aria and the others a venomous glare.

"It’s all yours," she snapped bitterly before brushing past them without another word.

Aria watched her leave, a knot tightening in her chest. As relieved as she was to have somewhere safer to stay, she couldn’t ignore the fact that someone else had been forced out to make room for them.

The second and third girls were far less hostile. They merely looked the newcomers over with open curiosity before continuing down the hallway.

The last girl lingered, laughing when she noticed Aria’s uneasy expression.

"Don’t mind Felicity. She’s always been a little dramatic." She shifted the box in her arms with surprising ease. "Besides, I’m not complaining. Now I get to move in with my boyfriend."

She gave them an enthusiastic wave. "See you around!"

Then she hurried after the others. Aria and the girls stared after her, momentarily speechless.

Dimitri spread a hand toward the open doorway. "Well..." he said. "Shall we?"