Chapter 141
Rowan's voice stayed calm, he ignored everything Lucian had said but I could hear the edge of steel in it. "They should think she is dying. You'll make sure they believe it. Tell them I only want a truce and nothing else. In exchange, you'll walk free — all you."
Lucian stared at him, his blue eyes narrowing. "Why would you trust me to do that? You accuse me of plotting to take your throne and now you trust me enough to negotiate with Braam?"
"I don't," Rowan admitted bluntly. "But I trust you care about your family more than you hate me. And you care about this kingdom in your own twisted way. I'm sure you don't want the Braamins to take over."
Lucian's smirk faded entirely. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "You swear they'll go free? My mother? Reagan?"
"You have my word," Rowan said, his voice low and steady.
Lucian studied him for a long moment, something flickering behind his eyes. Then he laughed softly, shaking his head. "You really love that strange little woman, don't you? Despite her being an Otsayak?"
Rowan's jaw tightened. "More than anything."
Lucian's gaze flicked to me again. His expression shifted, something unreadable crossing his face. "Fine," he said quietly. "I'll do it, but not because of you. It's because I actually give a shit about this shitty kingdom. I won't lose it to those assholes from Braam."
\-—————-
Back in the safety of my wing, Rowan sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. I touched his shoulder gently, feeling the tension coiled beneath his skin.
"Did I make the right call?" he asked quietly, his voice rough.
"I don't know if there were that many calls to make in the first place. You made the only call," I said softly. "Your brother might hate you, but I don't think he would risk his family."
Rowan exhaled slowly, his hand coming to rest over mine. He turned his head, pressing a kiss to my knuckles.
A shaky breath escaped me. "So... when is he leaving for Braam?"
Rowan nodded. "He'll leave tomorrow."
My stomach twisted. "And if he betrays you? If Braam doesn't agree to the truce? What do we do then?"
Rowan's eyes met mine, dark and unreadable. "Then, we'll find another way. But Lucian won't betray me so easily."
I swallowed hard, stepping closer to him. "You sound so sure."
He reached out, his hand brushing my cheek gently. "Because I'm giving him something he can't afford to lose."
"His freedom," I said softly.
Rowan shook his head. "His family's freedom."
I stared at him, heart pounding. "You're letting them all go?"
"If he succeeds," Rowan said quietly. "Yes, they can all go scot free. But they'll never step foot in Zaire again. That's what he doesn't know yet."
I exhaled shakily. "And if he fails?"
Rowan's voice was like ice. "Then none of them will leave this kingdom alive."
The cold truth of his words settled over me like a weight. I knew he meant it — Rowan wasn't a man who gave second chances lightly.
"I hope he makes the right choice," I whispered.
Rowan's hand slid to the back of my neck, his thumb brushing over my pulse. "So do I."
For a moment, we just stood there, the room quiet except for the sound of our breathing. His forehead rested against mine, his voice low and tired.
"I hate this, Ariadne," he murmured. "I hate that I have to hide who you truly are. I hate this war. I hate that I can't fix this without risking everything. I hate that we can't just have our happily ever after."
"You're doing what you have to," I said softly, though my throat burned. "We'll make it through this. I know it."
He kissed me then — slow, desperate, like he was afraid it would be the last time.
I didn't let myself think that it might be.
"I just want this to be over," he murmured as he broke off the kiss. "I want peace. I want you safe. I hope this plan with Braam works."
I sat down beside him, leaning my head on his shoulder. "We'll get there," I said quietly. "Together."
Rowan turned to me then, his eyes searching mine. "You're too damn brave for your own good, you know that?"
I smiled, though my heart felt heavy. "I learned from the best."
He kissed me — slow and lingering, like he was afraid to let go.
Neither of us said it out loud, but we both felt it. This wasn't over. Not yet.
And I wasn't sure either of us would survive what came next.
———————
The council room felt too quiet after Rowan announced the order for Lucian to leave for Braam to negotiate a truce. The tension lingered in the air like smoke from an untended fire, thick and suffocating. Rowan sat at the head of the table, his jaw tight as he stared at the map of Zaire spread before him. His fingers traced the borders of Braam, slow and deliberate, like he was memorizing every inch of the enemy's land.
I stood by the window, watching the rain streak against the glass. My heart felt heavier than it had in days — and that was saying something, considering I'd woken up with no memory of who I truly was.
Lucian was gone. I wanted to believe he'd do what Rowan asked, that he'd secure peace and not betray us. But doubt gnawed at me like a wolf at bone.
"You're restless." Rowan's voice broke through my thoughts, low and rough.
"I can't stop thinking about everything." I turned to face him. "What if he doesn't come back?" What if he fails?"
Rowan's gaze flicked up to mine, dark and unreadable. "Then he dies a traitor."
I swallowed hard. There was no room for softness in Rowan now — not with the kingdom hanging by a thread. But I couldn't shake the feeling that Lucian wasn't the enemy we should be worried about.
I didn't get the chance to voice it. The doors burst open, slamming against the walls with a crack. One of Rowan's guards stumbled in, bloody and barely standing. His face was pale, his arm hanging limp at his side.
"Sire," he gasped, falling to his knees. "It's Lucian — he's gone."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
