Chapter 53
I was in my chambers when the knock came. It wasn’t polite or hesitant. It was loud, sharp, and demanding. I already had a feeling who it was.
“Come in,” I called, keeping my tone light as I placed the book I wasn’t reading on the small table beside me.
The door flew open, and there he was—Prince Lucian, looking every bit the spoiled royal he was. His shoulders were stiff, his mouth set in a hard line. He strode in as if he owned the place, which, to be fair, he probably thought he did.
“I heard what happened at the brunch,” he said, shutting the door with more force than necessary.
“Good afternoon to you too,” I replied coolly.
Lucian ignored my sarcasm and stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Rejecting the Queen’s orders like that? You’ve embarrassed me. You’ve embarrassed us.”
“Us?” I stood, keeping my posture calm and unbothered. “I wasn’t aware we were an ‘us’ yet, Lucian.”
“Don’t play games with me,” he snapped, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re making a mockery of this engagement. Do you even care what people will say?”
“I think people already say plenty about you, Lucian. One more rumor won’t make a difference,” I said with a faint smile.
His face darkened. “You’re testing my patience, Arin. You might think you’re clever, but this isn’t a joke. The initiation is non-negotiable. You will swear loyalty to the Alpha King, or there will be consequences.”
I tilted my head, my voice sharp but steady. “Consequences? What are you going to do? Cancel the engagement? Go ahead, Lucian. I’m not afraid of you.”
He stepped closer, invading my space. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
I didn’t back down. Instead, I took a step forward, meeting his glare head-on. “Oh, I know exactly who I’m dealing with—a prince who thinks he can intimidate me because he’s used to everyone bowing down to him. Let me remind you, Lucian, I’m not one of your simpering court ladies. I am not a nobody.”
His jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. “You think you’re above the rules? Above tradition? You don’t understand how this works, do you? If you go against the pack, you go against Rowan, against me—”
“Against you?” I laughed, a cold, humorless sound. “Lucian, this engagement is about you and your ambitions, isn’t it? You don’t care about me, about who I am. All you care about is what I can give you—a child, an heir to use as a pawn in your little power struggle.”
His eyes flickered with something—guilt? Anger? I couldn’t tell.
“You think you can talk to me like that?” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
“I do,” I said simply, crossing my arms. “Because I won’t let you bully me. And I certainly won’t let you use me.”
Lucian stared at me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he might lash out, but then he took a step back, running a hand through his hair.
“You’re making a mistake,” he said finally, his voice quieter but no less angry.
“Maybe I am,” I replied. “But it’s mine to make. Now, if you’re done trying to intimidate me, I’d like you to leave.”
His eyes flashed with frustration, but he turned and stalked toward the door. Just before he left, he paused, his hand on the doorknob.
“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, Arin,” he said, not looking back. “You think you’re clever, but this castle will chew you up and spit you out.”
“Then I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” I said, my voice steady.
He didn’t respond, slamming the door behind him as he left.
I let out a long breath, my hands trembling slightly. It wasn’t fear—I wasn’t afraid of Lucian. It was anger, a deep, simmering rage at his arrogance, his entitlement.
He thought he could control me, just like everyone else in this castle. But he was wrong.
I sat back down, my mind racing. Lucian was a threat, but he wasn’t the only one. If I was going to survive here, I needed to be smarter, stronger, and more determined than ever.
I glanced at the amulet Kaelin had given me, its faint glow comforting in the dim light. It was a reminder of who I was and why I was here. I wasn’t going to let Lucian, Rowan, or anyone else stand in my way.
This castle might try to chew me up and spit me out, but I wasn’t going down without a fight.
..............
The castle’s stone corridors felt colder than usual that night as I slipped through them, my steps as light as a whisper. After my confrontation with Lucian, my frustration burned too hot to stay cooped up in my chambers. I needed answers, leverage—anything that would give me a foothold in this twisted game.
The market streets were my best bet. The first place that was easy to search too. People spoke freely when they thought no one was listening, and I had a knack for blending into the shadows.
The moment I stepped into the cool night air, the city felt alive in a way the castle never did. Lanterns swung gently in the breeze, casting golden pools of light on cobbled streets. Merchants packed up their wares for the evening, and the faint scent of roasted chestnuts lingered in the air.
I pulled my hood tighter around my face, keeping my head low as I navigated the winding streets. A beggar on the corner muttered a greeting, and I tossed him a coin without breaking stride.
I wasn’t here for pleasantries. I needed information.
The first few stops yielded nothing but gossip—speculation about my engagement to Lucian. None of it was useful. I pushed further into the heart of the market, where the crowd thinned, and the voices grew quieter.
That’s when I felt it—a prickle at the back of my neck, the unmistakable sensation of being watched.
I quickened my pace, ducking into an alley. The shadows swallowed me whole, but the feeling didn’t fade. My hand brushed the small dagger hidden beneath my cloak, a reassuring weight against my palm.
A soft shuffle echoed behind me, and my heart slammed against my ribs. Someone was following me.
I kept moving, my steps careful but steady. I turned corners at random, weaving through narrow passages, hoping to lose whoever it was. But the footsteps persisted, always just a beat behind mine.
When I reached a deserted stretch of road, I spun around, pulling my dagger free.
“Who’s there?” I demanded, my voice low but sharp.
Silence.
I strained to listen, my eyes scanning the darkness. Then, a figure stepped out from the shadows—a man, tall and broad, his face obscured by a hood.
“You’ve been poking where you don’t belong,” he said, his voice rough and threatening.
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