Chapter 149: A Life For A Life

The silence was deafening. Laurel wasn't sure if she could handle hearing anymore. It wasn’t even a part of Morrigan’s plan, but Delia’s jealousy and hastiness? Her death had served no purpose other than satisfying Delia’s ambition?
She hadn’t allowed herself to think about who had killed her, but she’d had plenty of ideas about why. They revolved around the kingdom’s stability and Basil’s incompetence. When Eden had her kidnapped, she had wondered if he knew why Laura had died, yet his answer as he lay in her arms had been honest.
Morrigan hadn’t even seen her as an obstacle to getting Delia married to Basil.
How could anyone be so cruel? She wondered, staring at a loss at Delia. Adolph squeezed her hand.
“So why attempt to kill me?” Laurel asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Delia glared at her, “You’re just as much in the way as she was. What else?”
Delia growled, turning her head and glaring at Eden, “Stop making me say things!”
Eden lifted an eyebrow, “I didn’t. You’re just an evil person.”
She flushed. Her pretty face scrunched up in fury as she bared her teeth. Rogue red light flickered around her and Eden watched her carefully.
"What is the nature of this potion?" Adolph asked. “Why does it matter?”
Eden eyed Delia then looked at Basil who remained frozen in his seat.
"When I was here… what was I?" Eden asked, "An attendant of some kind?"
"A merchant," Laurel said, "You ran a human merchant caravan that had close ties to Minister Mirabelle."
Eden looked at Gavin, "Who are you to the royal family?"
He flushed, "You--"
"He is the prince's grandfather,” Laurel said as Gavin went pale. He looked trapped as if he was trying to figure out if he’d inadvertently aided the scheme. Laurel doubted he’d said anything obvious about it, perhaps given too much information about Basil’s incompetence, but nothing more than that.
Eden hummed and looked thoughtful, "Well, I could have given her a False Hearts potion, that would have ensnared an alpha werewolf easily enough, but I could have also given her a Moonstruck potion."
Taliesin seemed pale, "Eden… What? How..."
"Morrigan would have asked for the Moonstruck potion, however...It is...more to her taste." Eden sighed and looked at Taliesin, "You told me I had an agenda. I succeeded, but placing this impulsive woman in the castle was a part of it. If I was going to reunite the two thrones of the moon, getting rid of the heir would have been a goal. His grandfather likely gave me enough information to pitch both options as options and ingratiate myself into her forces as a half-breed."
Laurel watched him looking between Delia and Basil for a few moments. It was so strange to see such an expression on his face. So strange to see this very different personality inhabiting Eden's body. She was sure she was focusing on this new Eden to keep the terror and shock at bay.
Laurel swallowed through her nerves, "You were a general under her?"
Eden laughed, "I probably wasn't even an underling. Morrigan didn't believe half-breed deserved much of a place in vampire society… and she would have believed that I was half-human so long as I never showed her any magic. She knew the Wiccans traded with humans. She wouldn't have suspected me… She would have thought the hell she'd brought to the Wiccan Alliance enough of a deterrent to keep Wiccans out of it while she tried to conquer the other throne of the moon."
"I thought you were important!" Delia cried, "You said-- You said you were powerful."
Eden laughed, "I am powerful, and I doubt I told you that. It would have given far too much away. Besides, what does being powerful have to do with being important to the vampire queen?"
She stammered and her shoulders slumped, "You… You tricked me…"
"Save your tears, you made your choices. You were neither forced or coerced… I doubt I even bribed you." Eden chuckled. "You were probably hoping to be the queen of Annwn in some fashion, hm?"
Delia's jaw trembled and she let out a soft sob. He was right. He had vouched for her to a general of the vampire queen, but only after she'd asked to be a part of the scheme. She had volunteered thinking Eden was a prince, and he had handed her to a general to present as a potential agent.
"Annwn was never under that witch's domain," Eden said as Delia slumped in her bonds.
"Enchanting the prince… crimes of treason…" Gavin gasped, "You should both be executed!"
Delia looked up at him glaring at the man and freezing at the smug look on his face.
"I have no fear of your execution blade," Eden said, waving his hand. "Death comes to all and if my crimes are as you say, I was prepared to die for my goals."
"Ready Delia for public execution." Adolph said, "She will be beheaded in the city square."
Delia couldn't breathe.
"Before you do that," Eden said, "The potion. It's important. How was it administered?"
"Why does that matter?" Adolph asked.
"The False Hearts potion, is just that. Killing her without breaking the enchantment won't do anything to him, but the Moonstruck potion will make her death fatal to him."
Delia's heart lifted, remembering his instructions.
"You said it would give me a bond with him. You said it would be like we were fated!" Delia grinned, "You said it was unbreakable and I followed your instructions when I administered it!"
Eden sighed, "You truly are a kindred spirit to Morrigan. Did you even ask anything more about it?"
"I know nothing about magic."
"You don't," he conceded, "But no enchantment is unbreakable. Was the potion in two parts?"
"Yes."
Eden nodded gravely, "The Moonstruck potion."
"Then I'm saved!" Delia cried, "You can't kill me without killing Basil! Hah!"
"Before she's executed, I will need to break the enchantment," Eden said.
"Why you?" Laurel asked.
"That is how the potion works," Eden said, "Only the one who brewed the potion would be able to nullify its effects as it incorporates a bit of the brewer's magic."
"Are you willing to do so?" Adolph asked.
Delia paled as Taliesin stepped forward.
"I must ask that his willingness to save your son's life be taken into account."
"The potion would have killed him!" An officer said.
"No, it wouldn't have if she'd been patient and charmed the prince," Eden said. "It would be akin to him finding her as his second chance mate."
"The Moonstruck potion used to be used to calm rogues by giving them a temporary mate," Eden said. "It is not inherently dangerous. I would imagine that Prince Basil has wrestled free of most of the enchantment through his grief for his late wife. Have you been prone to fevers? Chills? Drinking heavily?"
Basil frowned, nodding shakily.
"You're an alpha, right? Like your father?"
He nodded again. Adolph looked at Basil.
"When was the last time you shifted?"
Basil shook his head, "I… I don't remember."
"Had you shifted, the rest of the enchantment would have likely broken leaving only the bond. It was suppressing your wolf. When it is broken, you'll be able to access your wolf again."
Adolph sat back on his throne but before he could speak, Eden lifted a hand and wiggled his fingers. A ring of golden light around Basil's chest appeared, cracked in places and whole in others before as it seemed to unravel and melt into the air, flying back to Eden. Basil gasped, pressing a hand to his chest. His eyes glazed over and he trembled a bit.
"Basil?" Adolph asked, tense. “Are you… Are you okay?”
His hand dropped towards his sword.
Basil shuddered and curled into himself, "It's gone…"
Delia wailed, "No! How could you do this, Eden? I–"
“I assure you,” Eden said calmly. “I had always planned to undo it.”
Delia stared at him for a loss of words before she broke into tears and wailed. Eden eyed her without sympathy.
Adolph sighed, rubbing his head. He didn't want to let Eden live. Taliesin was harried-looking at Eden with pleading eyes as Eden seemed unmoved.
"Take my son to the infirmary to be evaluated…. Delia will be executed within the hour," he looked at Eden, "As for you… I grant you leniency. If it is as you say, you have saved my son's life and that cannot be overlooked."
Taliesin seemed to deflate with relief. He looked at Laurel who beamed at him. There was a peace in her eyes that hadn't been there before, and he knew he'd made the right decision.
"Basil, wait!" Delia cried, "I-I'm still your wife! Aren't you going to save me? I love you, and--"
Basil walked past her without glancing at her out of the throne room with an attendant and Adolph nodded.
It would be painful going forward, but perhaps it would not be unbearable.