Chapter 122
I nearly stumbled over my own feet as I rushed back to my chambers, my heart pounding. My fingers were still gripping the ends of my hair, pressing it down over my forehead as if that could undo what had just happened.
Lucian had seen.
I slammed the door behind me, locking it as I turned to find Rowan already on his feet. He had been sitting near the fire, his head in his hands, but at the sound of my entrance, he was instantly alert. His sharp eyes scanned me, taking in my disheveled appearance, my breathless panic.
"Ariadne," he said, stepping toward me. "What happened? I thought you were going out for some fresh air.”
I swallowed hard. "Lucian saw."
His entire body tensed. "What? What did he see?”
"He saw," I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper, I pushed my hair away from my face so that he could see the mark. "Lilian—she wiped my forehead, revealing my mark. And Lucian... he was there. He saw everything. I don’t know what to do Rowan. He left as soon as he saw me.”
Rowan's expression darkened instantly, his muscles coiling with fury. "Don’t worry. I’ll have him taken this night. We can throw him in the dungeons first, then after we can decide what to do with him.”
"No, no no,” I said quickly.
Rowan's eyes snapped to mine. "He's a threat now, Ariadne. We can’t let him go Scot free if he knows that about you.”
"Not yet." I stepped forward, placing my hands on his chest. "We can't just jump into action. Look at what happened with Kaelin? It was because she was arrested, that was why Lilian confronted me in the first place. You can’t just capture Lucian now. Not without knowing what he'll do."
Rowan's jaw clenched. "We can't risk it either. He’s been eyeing the throne since I was alpha, you know he wouldn’t hesitate to take it from me if there’s a chance. And now, he might see a chance.”
I shook my head. "If we arrest him now, we'll only make things worse. Everyone around him will be suspicious and want to know why he was locked up. Besides, it would be our word against his. He has no proof that I’m an otsayak.”
"He doesn't need proof," Rowan shot back. "All he needs to do is wipe your forehead and everyone will see the mark themselves! You know that. And it won't take much for people to start whispering. And you know as well as I do that whispers spread like wildfire. We have to stop him from speaking now!”
I exhaled shakily. He wasn't wrong. But still—
"Just wait," I pleaded. "Give him a day. If he tells anyone, we'll know soon enough. If he stays quiet, then maybe there's a way to control this without making a scene. I’m so terrified of us making the wrong move Rowan, please let us not jump into this. Let’s not make any hasty decisions anymore.”
Rowan took a deep breath, his hands flexing at his sides. He was trying to steady himself, to pull back the anger that simmered just beneath the surface.
He turned away, running a hand through his dark hair. "This is dangerous," he muttered. "Too dangerous. I don’t want to put you in so much risk.”
"I know."
"You're asking me to wait when I should be acting. I know my brother. He’s ruthless and crazy. He’d do anything for the throne.
I’m sure he’s working on his next plan right now.”
"Yes, he probably is. But he’s going to be at least smart about it. I don’t think he’ll go around blabbing it. At least for now….”
Rowan let out a harsh breath, shaking his head. "Ariadne—"
"Please," I said softly. "Trust me."
That did it.
His shoulders slumped slightly, the tension in his body lessening—but only just. He exhaled, his hands dropping to his sides before he turned back to me.
"One day," he said tightly. "That's all I'll give him."
I nodded. "One day."
But the tension in the room didn't fade. It only shifted, settling into something heavier, more fragile.
Then, to my surprise, Rowan dropped to his knees in front of me.
I gasped as his arms wrapped around my legs, his head pressing against my stomach.
"Rowan?" I whispered, startled.
His grip tightened. "I'm terrified of losing you again. You or our child. I don’t want to ever lose you. I don’t think I’ll be able to bear it if anything ever happened to you.”
My throat closed.
He tilted his head up, looking at me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "I won't lose you, Ariadne. Not again. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you. I’ll never let you or our child suffer. I promise you.”
I reached down, running my fingers through his hair. "I know."
"I mean it," he said fiercely. "I don't care what I have to do, who I have to destroy. I will keep you safe. Even if it means destroying anyone in my path.”
I didn't doubt it for a second.
And yet...
My mind drifted to Kaelin. To the priestess. To her terrified screams. To the vision she had seen in my future.
I wondered, for just a moment, if I should tell Rowan.
If I should tell him that there was something dark coming.
But then I thought about the way he was holding me now, the desperation in his voice, the tension in his body.
I couldn't do that to him. Not yet.
Not when I wasn't even sure what the vision meant.
"I'll be fine," I said instead, my voice softer than I intended. "We'll be fine. We’ll get through this together.”
Rowan pressed his forehead against my stomach, breathing deeply.
I knew he didn't believe me.
And, truthfully, I wasn't sure if I believed myself either.
That night, sleep did not come easily.
I lay beside Rowan, listening to the steady rise and fall of his breath, but my mind was elsewhere.
Tomorrow, I would return to the temple.
I had to see the priestess again.
I had to know what she saw.
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