Chapter 120
I stood before the towering stone gates of the temple, my hands folded in mock prayer as the cool night breeze swept across the courtyard. The full moon cast long shadows against the marble pillars, bathing the sacred grounds in a pale silver glow. The scent of burning incense and aged parchment filled the air, masking the tension that coiled tightly in my chest.
Rowan's plan had been set into motion. Word had already spread—Queen Arin of Zaire had come for a three-day prayer period under the full moon. The temple was guarded, but only from the outside, leaving the illusion that I was vulnerable inside.
Besides, it was the full moon, majority of the wolves were out hunting, even the Alpha King Rowan. It was expected.
I glanced briefly at the priestesses who moved about the temple, their robes flowing like liquid moonlight. Somewhere among them, Kaelin lurked.
I knew she wouldn’t resist the opportunity to see me. I knew she would try. After the attempted attack on me, I had come to realise that it was impossible that Kaelin or Braam would have ordered my execution or tried to kill me.
Just like Kaelin, I was one of the few Otsayak left, even if they had ordered my death, she would not kill me. Besides, Braam deciding on killing me or trying to assassinate me would cause an instant war, because Rowan would wage war on them.
It was obvious, they were trying to scare me.
Patience, I reminded myself.
I knelt at the altar, my fingers grazing the edge of a sacred text as I whispered a prayer under my breath. The words were meaningless to me, but I had to appear deep in devotion.
Then, I felt it. A presence.
A woman approached, her robes identical to those of the temple prophetesses. But I knew immediately.
Kaelin.
I didn't lift my head, pretending to be absorbed in my prayers. My heart pounded as her steps echoed against the stone floor, drawing closer. Then, she finally stopped beside me.
"I knew you'd come," I murmured.
Kaelin exhaled a quiet chuckle. "And I knew you wanted to see me. That’s why you’re here isn’t it? Why the news of your visit to the temple was so heavily talked about.”
I turned my head just slightly, enough to meet her gaze. She had lowered her hood, revealing the same piercing blue eyes that had haunted me for days.
"Then why did you walk into it?" I asked.
"Because you need to listen," she whispered. "And this was the only way to reach you."
I stiffened. "Go on, then. Say what you came to say."
Kaelin glanced around, her fingers curling into the fabric of her robe. "Braam will not stop. This kingdom will fall. It is only a matter of time. You need to stop resisting. Even if it is not my will, it is the will of the Emperor now.”
"Haven’t they tried once," I countered. "What makes this time any different? Why fight so hard to take this kingdom? I don’t understand it. I know that this is stolen land and it was once stolen from our people, but that was years ago. Why does Braam want to reclaim this kingdom for us?”
She took a deep breath, her expression almost... pleading. "The Emperor has made his decision. He believes Zaire is a land stolen from the gods, and it must be reclaimed. The army is already being prepared. He will not listen to reason, Arin. He never has. You have to reconsider."
"Reconsider what?" I asked coldly.
"Submission," Kaelin urged. "If Rowan surrenders willingly, lives can be spared."
I stared at her in disbelief. "Surrender?" My voice was sharp, incredulous. "You expect Rowan to just hand over the kingdom? To kneel before a madman who listens to voices only he can hear? How is it that he is still Emperor when he is mad? What do you think the other kingdoms would do if they know the largest empire is being ruled by a madman?”
“Shouldn’t you be more concerned about that?”
Kaelin's lips pressed into a thin line. "You think this is about the Emperor's madness? No, Arin. This is bigger than him. This is about power, control. Across the seven seas, Zaire is the only kingdom full of wolves. And Rowan is in control of all the wolf clans and the chiefs. This is the only kingdom that stands as a threat to Braam’s rule. The only worthy opposition."
I clenched my fists. "So it was never about reclaiming our land was it? Wasn’t that what you told me we wanted to do? So it was all a lie?”
Kaelin sighed.
“No. It wasn’t all a lie. In the beginning, I also believed they wanted to help. After all, Braam was the only empire to take in all of our people. Then I realised it was all for their own benefits. They took our people in because of the healing powers we have and used them as healers for their own people. It was only much later I realised their real motive.”
“But I don’t care about their motive. Alpha King’s Rowan’s reign must end. His ancestors is the reason we have no home!” She insisted.
I wasn’t listening to her anymore.
I frowned at her.
“So that's why you tried to have me killed?"
Kaelin flinched. "That was never the plan."
"Then what was it? A game?" My voice was laced with venom.
Kaelin shook her head. "It was meant to be a message, a scare tactic. If I wanted you dead, you know you would be dead by now.”
I wasn't convinced. "And you think I should be grateful?"
She exhaled sharply, frustration flashing in her eyes. "You don't understand—"
I stood abruptly. "No, you don't understand, Kaelin. This kingdom will not fall. Rowan will not bow. And we will never submit to Braam's rule."
Her face hardened, and for a brief moment, I saw something else in her expression—regret.
"Then war it is," she murmured.
I gave a small nod to the shadows beyond the temple pillars. Instantly, armed guards emerged, their swords drawn, surrounding Kaelin in an instant.
Her reaction was immediate—she reached for a hidden dagger in her robes, but before she could even grip the hilt, one of Rowan's men had it knocked from her grasp. Another guard seized her arms, twisting them behind her back.
Kaelin gritted her teeth, but to my surprise, she didn't struggle. Instead, she let out a slow breath, her gaze locking onto mine.
"I should have known," she muttered.
"You should have," I agreed.
The guards secured her in iron shackles, but she only smiled—cold and knowing.
"You think this is over?" she whispered, voice dangerously soft.
I met her stare evenly. "No. But this is a start."
She leaned forward, just slightly, lowering her voice. "Be careful, Arin. This won't end with me. My arrest is nothing more than a minor inconvenience for Braam."
"Perhaps," I said. "But you just lost your advantage."
Kaelin laughed under her breath. "You're playing a dangerous game, Queen of Zaire."
I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. "So is Braam. And I plan to win."
Kaelin smiled, but it wasn't amusement—it was a warning.
"I saw a vision about you. I was going to tell you, but then this happened. Your child is going to die. That baby you’re carrying will die if you don’t leave him.”
“What?”
I said slowly.
“Rowan is going to be the end of you.”
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