Chapter 157
Lucian stood before him, holding a silver blade.
"You should have never become the Alpha King," Lucian sneered before driving the blade into Rowan's chest.
A scream tore from my throat as Rowan's body collapsed.
I ran toward him, falling to my knees beside him. His golden eyes, usually so fierce and full of life, were dull.
His lips parted. "Ariadne..."
I sobbed, cradling his face. "No, please—please, stay with me."
His hand weakly lifted, brushing against my belly. "Take care of our son," he whispered.
Then his body went still.
I screamed.
The world around me shattered.
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I woke up with a gasp, my body drenched in sweat. My chest heaved as I clutched my belly, my heart pounding wildly.
It was just a dream.
Just a dream.
But the fear didn't fade.
Because I knew—deep down—that if I didn't do something, if I didn't fight back, Lucian would make that nightmare a reality.
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I didn't even knock before storming into Lucian's chambers. I was tired of him. Tired of everything. If he was released to negotiate with Braam, then why was he there in the castle tormenting me instead of negotiating. The guards stationed at the door barely had time to react before I was inside, my fury giving me more strength than I thought possible.
Lucian was lounging by the fire, sipping from a goblet of wine like he didn't have a care in the world. Several council members sat nearby, engaged in quiet conversation that immediately ceased the moment they saw me.
Lucian barely spared me a glance. "Ariadne," he drawled, swirling his wine. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
I clenched my fists. "I want to know when you plan to start negotiations with Braam. You should have left for Braam ages ago, but you are still here."
Lucian chuckled, shaking his head as if I had just asked the most ridiculous question in the world. "Negotiations?" he repeated. "You still think that's happening? Can you be any more naive?"
My stomach twisted. "That's what you were released to do, wasn't it? Have you forgotten?"
Lucian finally turned to face me fully, his smirk deepening. "Listen, let's be honest—there was never going to be a negotiation. Did you really think that was going to happen?"
I felt my breath hitch, but I refused to let the panic show. "Then why did you agree to it?"
"Because it got me out of that dungeons. Thank the moon goddess for that," he said simply. "And because the council—" he gestured to the men around him "—has realized something very important and profound."
I narrowed my eyes. "And what would that be?"
One of the older council members, Lord Martel, stood and folded his arms across his chest. "Prince Lucian is better here. Alpha King Rowan has been on the battlefield for two weeks, and we have yet to receive any truly good news. Supplies are dwindling, our warriors are dying, and Braam only grows stronger. Their army is ten times the size of ours, we are fighting a losing battle."
I crossed my arms. "Wars take time. It's not work so easily, you all know that. Two weeks is nothing. His Majesty knew this would not be an easy fight."
Another council member scoffed. "And what if his Majesty never returns?"
I stiffened. "He will.he is very strong and experienced. And he has his men, they will not let any harm come to him."
Lucian clicked his tongue. "That's sweet, really really sweet Ariadne. Truly. But we need to think about the kingdom. We can't afford to be leaderless, not when we're so vulnerable. In this perilous times, we need a leader to lead us."
I glared at him. "We're not leaderless. I am still here. I am still your queen."
The room fell silent for a moment before Lucian and a few of the council members laughed.
I seethed. "You think this is funny?"
Lucian grinned. "Oh, please. No one takes you seriously as queen. Not anymore."
I squared my shoulders. "It doesn't matter what you all think. I am still queen. And you, Lucian, are nothing more than a traitor who manipulated his way out of prison."
Lucian's smirk never wavered. "Perhaps. But the council and I have come to an agreement. A very necessary agreement."
Lord Martel stepped forward again, pulling a thick, leather-bound book from the table. He opened it, flipping through the pages until he landed on one in particular. "According to our laws, a ruler must be recognized as a wolf by blood in order to hold the title of Alpha King or Queen."
I stared at him, my stomach dropping.
"You," Lucian said, voice full of mock sympathy, "are an otsayak."
I gritted my teeth. "Yes, I am. But even when you did not know that I was an otsayak, you bent the laws to accommodate a human queen for the sake of an alliance with Braam. You were all in agreement. Rowan named me his queen."
"But still, a human woman and an otsayak are two different things. Besides, was it lawful? The Alpha King bending the rules for you?" Martel asked, raising a brow. "A queen who is not of the wolf bloodline? It's unprecedented."
"It's unheard of," another council member muttered.
Lucian leaned forward. "Your position is shaky at best, Ariadne. The council has the authority to depose you if they deem it necessary."
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