****************************
Salem’s POV
Within the minds of Salem and Corvenus, a message, if not a threat was being addressed to Salem. Corvenus extended his arms and embraced his son tightly.
"Salem, my son. Words cannot express how deeply satisfied I am for you. You've discovered your first and only true love. You're mother and I are very proud." Corvenus praised. Salem chuckled to himself.
"Thank you, Father. I'm very happy to have finally found her. She makes me feel human all over again. She's an incredible individual to be mortal." Salem said, proud and joyful.
Corvenus's expression then took a sudden change of grief and disturbance within his eyes for merely a second. Salem instantly, instinctively, became stiff.
"What is it, Father?" Salem questioned with a serious demeanor. Corvenus looked to his son, now with the eyes of a wounded animal. He parted from his son a few inches, having hold of his shoulders.
"...Magnus knows of your new found love... He plans to kill her." Corvenus confessed hesitantly.
Salem's eyes widened as a burst of rage bellowed through his throat and escaped into a furious snarl, tearing away from his father.
Corvenus approached slowly, his arms extended as if to pacify his enraged child.
"Son...-" Corvenus was cut off instantly.
"How could he possibly know!? Magnus disappeared for a thousand years to now make his grand return!? He's a Reaper Demon, Corvenus!! Have you any idea what this means!?" Salem cried out in fury.
Corvenus' expression was filled with grief and apologetic, now speaking to pacify Salem.
"Salem... We will not allow Magnus to harm Victoria. The Valhahn Clan has already been dispatched to the western territory of his domain to eliminate any threats that may try to enter our northern territory. It seems Magnus sees Victoria as a weakness to take advantage of you. He intends to rule over all territories and will do all he can to overthrow us first. But we, the Valhahns, shall never fall to him." Corvenus assured, speaking calmly.
Salem had caught his gesture and in return, calmed himself, sighing deeply. He held his hand over his temples as before, as if a migraine had taken root yet again.
"Have you spoken to any of the other allied territories? What have they to say of this catastrophe?" He asked, taking a seat on the stairs.
Corvenus walked to his son, placing his hands on his son's shoulders.
"I'm already negotiating with the werewolves. Hopefully, with their mass of packs and raw power, we can overthrow Magnus and any of his attempts. The Witches... they've no clue of the situation. Though I highly doubt they’ll assist us." He said with a faint smile.
Salem looked up at him with his crimson eyes with uncertainty.
"The wolves? It would come to no surprise if they favored Magnus over us. They despise our kind, Father. On top of that, Magnus is one of The Ancients... like you, Father. He's by far the oldest among you and the original ancients, he's undeniably godlike. As powerful as I am, I can't even reach your shadow yet. I may die trying, but I will protect Victoria with my life..." He promised himself.
Corvenus placed his palms on Salem's cheeks.
"No one is going to die, son, especially not you or my beloved daughter, Victoria. Magnus may be powerful, but he is not your father." This made Salem smile momentarily.
