Chapter 92
Milla's news weighed on me like a stone, the air in my chambers thick with unease. If Lucian was truly coming back, what would that mean for me? For everything I'd been trying to build—or, more accurately, survive?
How would I get him away from me? I had managed to delay our wedding night for as long as I could manage to, but now I feared that if I tried to delay it one more time he would find it incredibly suspicious.
I paced the room, wringing my hands as doubts clawed at me. Was Milla telling the truth, or was she using Lucian as a way to pressure me? Either way, I couldn't afford to take chances. I needed someone who could help, someone with enough power to make Milla's demands go away.
Rowan.
The thought of him brought a mixture of comfort and dread. He was the only person who could intervene, but after everything between us, I wasn't sure he'd even listen to me. Still, I had to try.
The castle was quiet that night, the corridors dimly lit by flickering sconces. I slipped out of my chambers, my heart pounding as I made my way to Rowan's through his secret chambers. My footsteps felt unnaturally loud, every shadow stretching like it was watching me.
When I reached his door, I hesitated, my hand hovering just above the handle. What if he turned me away? What if he didn't believe me—or worse, what if he did?
Pushing the thoughts aside, I opened the door and stepped inside without knocking.
Rowan stood by the window, his broad shoulders tense as he gazed out into the night. The moonlight painted his face in stark shadows, highlighting the hard line of his jaw. He didn't turn around when he spoke.
"What are you doing here, Ariadne?" His voice was cold, distant.
"I need to talk to you," I said, closing the door behind me.
"You shouldn't be here." He finally turned to face me, his eyes dark and guarded. "Whatever it is, it can wait."
"It can't." I took a step closer, my voice trembling despite my efforts to steady it. "Rowan, I need your help."
His lips pressed into a thin line. "Help with what? Another scheme to undermine me?"
"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "It's not about that."
He crossed his arms over his chest, skepticism etched into every line of his face. "Then what is it?"
I swallowed hard, choosing my words carefully. "It's Milla, my handmaiden. She—she needs help."
"Milla?" He raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought it actually had something to do with me. But it seems you don’t care about me or my feelings.”
"Let’s not talk about that," I pleaded. "Milla been... holding things over my head. Threatening me. She knows a lot and she’s using it to her advantage. I cannot blame her but it’s starting to get worse.”
Rowan's expression darkened. "What kind of threats?"
"She knows about the two of us," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
His jaw tightened, and he took a step toward me. "What exactly does she know?"
"Enough," I said, meeting his gaze. "She knows we've been... involved. And she's using it against me."
Rowan's fists clenched at his sides. "What does she want?"
"Her mate," I said quickly. "She said he’s in the dungeons for a crime he didn't commit—or so she says. She wants him released. And money—enough for them to run away."
Rowan's eyes narrowed. "And you thought coming here, to me, was the solution?"
"You're the Alpha King," I said, desperation creeping into my voice. "If anyone can make it happen, it's you. Please, Rowan. I don't have anyone else to turn to."
He stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Why should I help you? Or her? After everything that has happened I didn’t think you’d ask for my help.”
"Because if you don't, she'll go to Isabelle—or worse, to Lucian. She'll ruin everything, Rowan. You know how fast information travels here.”
His silence stretched between us, the weight of it pressing down on my chest. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Fine," he said, his voice low. "I'll see what I can do. But know that I’m not doing this for you. I’m only doing this because I wouldn’t want everyone all up in my business.”
Relief flooded through me, and I nodded quickly. "Thank you. That's all I'm asking."
I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Ariadne.”
I looked back at him, my hand on the door handle.
"Do you still want to bring me down?" he asked, his tone almost casual, but his eyes burned with intensity.
I hesitated, my heart hammering in my chest. "Don't make this harder than it already is."
"That's not an answer," he said, stepping closer.
I let out a shaky breath, avoiding his gaze. "Things are better when we're apart. We both know that. After everything that has happened, maybe this is fate’s way of telling us to stay away from each other.”
"Do we?" His voice was softer now, almost gentle. "Because it doesn't feel that way to me."
“Besides, fate has nothing to do with everything that has happened. You were almost executed because of Royal Concubine Elana and my father. How is that fate?”
I forced myself to meet his eyes. "And you’ve already moved on. If they find out who I truly am again, you know they’ll try to kill me again. Unless you plan on nailing me to the cross Rowan, we need to keep up the pretense. They can never know I’m an otsayak. It's the only way either of us survives this."
He stared at me, his jaw tightening. "Anyone or just you? Because you’re already plotting my downfall are you not?”
“Rowan—“
“Answer the question honestly Ariadne. Do you not want me dethroned? My kingdom destroyed? Isn’t that what you are planning with the Braamin?”
“I just don’t understand you. How can you just... move on? Pretend like none of this happened? Pretend like we weren’t once in love.”
"That was a long time ago," I said quietly. "Now, I’m doing what I can to survive.”
His expression twisted with frustration. "So you really don’t love me anymore? That's it? That's all this is to you? Survival?"
"Yes," I said firmly, even though the words felt like a lie.
The room was silent except for the faint crackle of the fire. I could see the hurt in his eyes, the disbelief.
"I've heard rumors," I said, desperate to change the subject. "That Lucian might be coming back. Apparently he and his mother might be planning something. I thought you should know…”
Rowan shrugged, his face hardening. "Let him come. It doesn't matter to me."
I studied him, searching for any sign of the man I thought I'd known. But all I saw was the King—the cold, untouchable Alpha King.
"Rowan..." I began, but I stopped myself.
"What?" he asked, his voice sharp. "If you have something to say, say it."
I shook my head, taking a step back. "It's nothing. Forget it."
His eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face. "You're hiding something."
"I'm not," I lied.
"Liar," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
I turned and opened the door, my hand trembling on the handle. "Goodnight, Rowan."
"Ariadne," he called after me, but I didn't look back.
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