Suspicions arise

King Cole’s POV

I stormed into my chambers, my mind buzzing with anger and suspicion.

The heavy wooden doors slammed shut behind me, and I took a moment to compose myself. The room was dimly lit, filled with shadows that danced along the walls, reflecting my dark mood.

The ornate furnishings, the grand canopy bed, and the tapestries depicting ancient battles all felt suffocating tonight, as if the room itself were closing in on me.

Waiting for me in the far corner was Lydia, the spy i had personally recruited to keep an eye on my brother, Greg, and his newfound ally, Anna.

Lydia was one of my most trusted operatives—sharp, ruthless, and unyielding. She stood at attention, her face expressionless as she awaited my command.

“Lydia,” I snapped, my voice low and filled with a simmering rage that I barely contained. “What have you got for me? I want every detail.”

Lydia’s eyes flickered, betraying a hint of hesitation before she spoke. “Your Majesty, during the last sweep of the forest, they were nowhere to be found. Greg and Anna have been slipping away, and I believe they’ve found a place to hide beyond our usual patrols.”

My expression darkened, my suspicions confirmed. Greg and Anna were not just hiding; they were plotting, and I knew it. “You’re telling me you couldn’t find them? Are you losing your edge, Lydia?”

Lydia stiffened at the accusation, her gaze steady. “No, Your Majesty. They’ve been careful, deliberately staying out of sight. It’s as if they know we’re watching, and they’re taking every precaution to avoid being caught.”

I paced the room, my fists clenched at my sides. I had known something was off for days now. Anna’s reports had grown thin, her observations too vague, too harmless. She was holding back, protecting Greg—and by doing so, she was betraying me. I could feel my control slipping, and the thought made my blood boil.

“They’re hiding something,” I said, my voice filled with venom. “Anna isn’t giving me everything. She’s supposed to be my eyes and ears, but instead, she’s playing both sides.” I stopped pacing and turned to Lydia, my eyes burning with resolve. “I want you to dig deeper. I want to know every move they make, every word they speak. I need proof—something concrete that I can use.”

Lydia nodded, her expression cold and determined. “I’ll find it, Your Majesty. I’ll tear through the forest if I have to.”

My gaze shifted toward the window, where the moonlight spilled into the room, casting an eerie glow on the stone floor. “If my suspicions are right, this isn’t just about Greg. It’s about the fox clan. If Anna is involved in some kind of plot against me, then her entire clan will pay the price.”

Lydia stepped closer, her voice hushed but laced with intensity. “The fox clan has always been loyal, but loyalty is bought easily when fear is at play. If Anna’s turned, it’s because she believes she has something to gain.”

I scoffed, my lips curling into a sneer. “They’ve always been cowards. Hiding in the shadows, doing what they can to survive. But I’m done playing games. I’ve tolerated Greg’s antics for too long, thinking he was just a rebellious prince. But now… now he’s a threat. And threats must be eliminated.”

Lydia glanced at me, reading the fury and determination etched into my face. “I’ll make sure there’s no place for them to hide, Your Majesty. I’ll find where they go, who they meet. And when I do, I’ll bring you the proof you need.”

I nodded, satisfied but still restless. “Good. And when you do, we’ll strike hard and fast. Greg thinks he’s invincible because of his powers, but he forgets that magic can’t save him from a blade in the dark. As for Anna… she’ll learn the consequences of betrayal.”

Without another word, Lydia moved toward the window, her movements fluid and silent as a shadow.

She slipped out of the chamber in one swift motion, disappearing into the night like a phantom. I watched her go, my mind already calculating my next move.

I turned back to the window, staring out at the dark expanse of the woods beyond the palace grounds. The moon was still high, the sky clear, but the tension in the air was high. Somewhere out there, Greg and Anna would hide, laugh at me and defy my authority. But not for long.

My thoughts drifted to the fox clan, and I clenched my jaw, feeling a surge of anger.

The foxes had always been a thorn in my side, their allegiance more of an obligation than a true bond.

They were useful as spies, mercenaries, and occasional diplomats, but their loyalty was a fragile thing.

Anna was proof of that. She had been sent to spy on Greg, to keep him in check, but instead, she had fallen under his spell, trading her duty for whatever twisted affection she felt for my brother.

“They think they’re clever,” I muttered to myself, my voice echoing softly in the empty room. “They think they can outsmart me, that they can hide in the woods and plot behind my back. But I am the king, and no one betrays me without consequence.”

I strode to my desk, pulling out a map of the surrounding territory. My eyes traced the familiar lines, noting the places where my patrols had been, the gaps where Greg and Anna might be slipping through. I would tighten the noose, cutting off every escape route until there was nowhere left for them to run.

My mind raced with possibilities. If Greg truly was conspiring against me, it was more than just a personal betrayal—it was treason. And treason was punishable by death. I had been patient, hoping that Greg would come to his senses, that Anna would remember where her true loyalties lay. But that patience had run out.

The door to his chambers creaked open, and Raxon, my trusted elder and adviser, stepped inside. The old man’s face was lined with worry, his brow furrowed as he took in my tense posture.

“Your Majesty,” Raxon began, his voice steady but laced with concern. “Is everything… under control?”

My eyes narrowed, my mind still focused on the brewing conflict. “The smoke was nothing but a distraction,” I said dismissively, though I knew it was more than that. “But Greg is the real problem. He’s out there, using his powers, doing who knows what. And Anna… I think she’s helping him. I can feel it.”

Raxon nodded slowly, his expression grave. “Greg has always been impulsive, but aligning with the fox girl… that complicates things. I doubt she’s doing that. Do you have proof?”

“No,” I sighed.

“If Anna is truly conspiring with him, then her clan’s loyalty must be questioned.”

I slammed my fist onto the desk, rattling the glass of wine that sat near the edge. “I won’t tolerate treachery, Raxon. Not from Greg, not from Anna, and certainly not from the foxes. I want them watched, every last one of them. If they so much as breathe in a way that displeases me, I want to know about it.”

Raxon bowed his head, his voice calm but firm. “I’ll see to it, Your Majesty. And if it comes to it… we’ll make sure they understand the price of defiance.”

I stared out at the dark horizon, my heart hardened by the cold resolve that only a king could muster. The moon’s glow seemed fainter now, obscured by the rising tension that loomed over his kingdom.

I would not be made a fool of, not by my brother, not by a fox, and certainly not by anyone who dared to question his reign.

“Good,” I said finally, my voice a low growl. “Because when the time comes, I want to be ready. And they will learn that crossing me is the last mistake they will ever make.”