Chapter 148
Lucian's arrival stirred the entire castle into a restless hum of suspicion. Despite his claims of being attacked and tortured, he looked remarkably untouched. A few bruises, a shallow cut across his cheek—nothing that matched the horror of being a prisoner of war.
Rowan had not hesitated to have him shackled. The sound of iron chains clanking against the stone floor echoed through the halls as the guards dragged him toward the lower levels of the castle. Watching him be escorted inside, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease twisting in my gut.
"You're not fooled by him, are you?" Rowan's voice was low as he turned to me.
I shook my head. "No. It’s not hard to see. He's lying. I don't know how I know it, but I do."
Rowan exhaled sharply, his jaw clenched. "He was the only one who could have told Braam's soldiers how to get in. Even Kaelin, as smart an resourceful as she is, she can’t know the castle walls like the back of her hand. Not like someone like Lucian who has lived here all his life.”
"And now he's come back, expecting us to believe he barely escaped them?" I frowned. "Something isn't right. He wants something. They must be a reason he’s back here.”
Rowan nodded, his expression dark. "I'll get it out of him. One way or another.”
Lucian had requested an audience with us, but Rowan refused to grant it immediately. Instead, he met with his council, every one of them demanding Lucian's execution. They had sensed that he betrayed us too. The accusations came swiftly.
"He is the only one who could have led them into the castle."
"He's been a traitor all along, we should have killed him when we had the chance.”
"He can't be trusted."
Rowan sat at the head of the war table, listening, his fingers steepled together. He said nothing until the voices died down. Then, at last, he spoke.
"Lucian is a snake, but a useful one. Killing him now won't undo what has already been done. I need to know what he's planning. Until I do, he stays alive. After then, I will pass judgement on him.”
It was decided—Lucian would remain chained beneath the castle, kept under heavy guard.
That night, I fell into a restless sleep.
Visions haunted me—flashes of fire and steel, the feel of ropes biting into my wrists. I was being dragged across the ground, my body aching, my voice hoarse from screaming. Faces blurred before me. Red and white tunics with a billowing red cape, Braam soldiers.
Then a voice, sharp and cutting through the haze.
"We will take her back to Braam and use her as a leverage again Alpha King Rowan."
I woke up with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was dark, Rowan's warmth beside me in the bed the only thing grounding me. My breathing was ragged as I clutched at the blankets.
Pieces. Just pieces. Never enough.
Rowan stirred beside me, instantly awake. "Ariadne?" His voice was laced with concern.
I swallowed hard. "I—" I hesitated. "I saw something. A memory, I think. I was taken by Braam soldiers."
Rowan's arms tightened around me. "You were." His voice was gentle. "You managed to escape from them somehow. That’s what that wolf Gregor told me. You were running from them when he first met you.”
"You’re right." I nodded my head. “They were taking me to Braam. They wanted to use me as leverage against you.”
Rowan was silent for a long moment. Then he sighed, brushing his lips against my temple. "Your memories will come back, Ariadne. I promise you.”
I wasn't sure whether I wanted them to.
*** *************
The next day, we were forced to visit Lucian in his cell. He had requested us both, refusing to speak to anyone otherwise.
I didn't want to go, but Rowan insisted. He needed to know what Lucian was planning.
The dungeon was cold and damp, the scent of earth and steel thick in the air. Lucian sat against the stone wall, his hands bound in front of him, but there was no fear in his expression. Only amusement.
"You look well," he mused as we entered, his gaze settling on me. "No thanks to me, I'm sure."
Rowan's hand tensed at his side. "You requested an audience. Say what you need to say. There is much to do today.”
Lucian tilted his head. "I know you are planning to execute me. But I just want you to know that If I die, the truth will not die with me."
Rowan arched a brow. "And what truth is this? You assume I care?”
Lucian smirked. "You should." His eyes flickered to me. "Because if I die, a series of letters will make their way into the hands of the council. Letters revealing what your dear wife truly is."
My breath caught.
Rowan didn't so much as flinch. "So do it then. Die knowing your last act was to make me hunt down every last person who ever read those letters and burn them alive."
Lucian chuckled. "You can kill men, Rowan. You can't kill whispers. The truth will spread faster than you think. Don’t provoke me.”
The air was thick with tension.
I forced my voice to remain steady. "You're lying."
Lucian smiled at me, a slow, knowing smile. "Am I? Am I really lying or do you choose to live in that bubble of yours?”
Rowan stepped forward, towering over him. "What do you want?"
Lucian's eyes darkened. "My freedom. And my family's freedom. Release my mother and brother from their captivity, and we will disappear."
Rowan exhaled through his nose, considering.
I stared at Lucian, searching for deception in his face. He was playing a dangerous game, but so were we.
Rowan turned to me, his voice low. "What do you think?"
I hesitated, then met his gaze. "I think he won't disappear. I think he'll return to Zaire and use my identity against you the first chance he gets. I think he’ll try and use it to take the throne.”
Rowan's lips pressed together. He already knew that.
Lucian smiled again. "Then I suppose you have a decision to make."
Rowan shrugged. He didn’t even look the least bit bothered or concerned.
“Not much of a decision. Don’t you worry about revealing the news. I’ll reveal it myself.”
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