Chapter 74
“He will leave you high and dry if you cannot offer him anything.”
I wanted to argue, but deep down, I couldn't shake the truth in her words. "I don't have a choice. I am already married to him," I said quietly.
Delilah's expression softened, and for a moment, she looked almost like the woman she must have been before. "No one ever does with Lucian," she said. "But if you're smart, you'll find a way to protect yourself."
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
"Go," she said after a moment, her voice firmer. "You shouldn't stay long. If Lucian finds out you're here..."
I stood, pulling my cloak tighter around me. "Thank you," I said softly.
She didn't respond, only returning to the moonlit window.
As I made my way back to the castle, her words echoed in my mind. Lucian is a snake. He'll leave you at the first sign of trouble.
I didn't want to believe her, but a part of me knew she might be right.
The cool night air clung to me as I made my way back to the castle, the temple's glow fading into the distance. My thoughts swirled with Delilah's warning and the weight of my own choices. I pulled my cloak tighter around me, hoping the darkness would keep me hidden.
But just as I reached a quiet stretch of road near the city, a hand shot out from the shadows, gripping my arm. I gasped as I was pulled into an alleyway, stumbling against the rough stone wall.
"Kaelin?" I hissed, recognizing her sharp gaze. She had a knack for appearing when I least expected it.
"You've been busy," she said, her voice low and edged with irritation.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, wrenching my arm free. "This isn't the time or place."
Kaelin ignored my protest, stepping closer. "I need answers. Did you go through with it? Did you marry Lucian?"
I hesitated, my stomach twisting with guilt. "Yes," I said grudgingly. "But I don't see how he fits into any of this."
Kaelin's eyes narrowed. "That's because you're not thinking big enough. Lucian is a means to an end, Arin. He's your way in."
"My way in to what?" I asked, exasperated.
"To their secrets," she said impatiently. "You're in a position most would kill for. You're close to him, close to the royal family. Do you know how valuable that is? You need to start paying attention."
I crossed my arms, glaring at her. "And what exactly am I supposed to be looking for?"
Kaelin's lips curved into a thin smile. "Everything. Anything. Power struggles, alliances, weaknesses. Start with Lucian—what does he want?"
I sighed, thinking back to my conversations with him. "It's obvious he's eyeing Rowan's throne. He's been trying to position himself as the better choice for leadership. And the wolf clans... they're restless. I've heard whispers that they're losing faith in Rowan because he doesn't have an heir."
Kaelin's eyes gleamed with interest. "Exactly. The cracks are already there, Arin. You just need to widen them."
I frowned. "And how am I supposed to do that?"
"Keep your ears open and your mouth shut," she said bluntly. "Lucian trusts you—or at least he thinks he can control you. Use that to your advantage. Find out who his allies are and what his plans are. The more fragile the kingdom, the easier it will be for us to take over."
Her words sent a chill down my spine. "You're asking me to betray people who are already suspicious of me."
"I'm asking you to stay devoted to the cause," Kaelin said sharply. "We've sacrificed too much to stop now. You're either with us, or you're not."
I swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling over me. "I understand."
Kaelin's expression softened slightly, but her tone remained firm. "Good. Just remember—this isn't about you or your fears. This is about the future. Don't forget why we're doing this. I know it's easy to get lost in it all, especially with seeing the man you once loved but don't forget what they did to you."
"Every single one of them deserves to pay for what they did to you. How they acted towards you. Remember how they tried to get rid of you? Let the memory of that keep you going. Let it fuel your hate and your desire to destroy them. Rowan, his brothers, Isabelle Carstairs, all of them who have once hurt you. You can't let them get away with it now. Not now, not ever."
"I won't," I said quietly.
She studied me for a moment longer, then stepped back into the shadows. "I'll be in touch."
As she disappeared into the night, I leaned against the wall, my heart pounding. Kaelin's words echoed in my mind, mingling with Delilah's warning and my own doubts.
The weight of my choices felt heavier than ever.
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