CHAPTER 103: UNFAMILIARITY

My body went still at her words, then my face twisted into fury. "You let her meet them? Do you not know your duty as her protector?"

With each word, I neared her, and if I got close enough, I might consider wiping that smirk off her lips.

"Calm yourself, Alpha, I haven’t finished."

Calm? How does she expect me to remain calm?

"The Dowager summoned, and she answered."

Why would Eloise do that?

After what Mother did, I thought she wouldn’t entertain the idea of ever seeing her again. Ravyn’s expression told me their meeting didn’t end on a bad note, but that was difficult for me to believe given Mother’s behaviour.

Then Ravyn’s earlier comment sang in my head, about Eloise standing her ground. I’m beyond worried, but I couldn’t help the swell of pride in my chest.

"And she went to see the Prince herself."

"Why?" I asked calmly, but that was a ruse to mask the feeling coiling right through me, as well as many questions.

"I didn’t come here to report on her daily activities. I came to give the princess’s message."

I closed the distance between us, towering over Ravyn, but her smirk was far from faded, even though she was intimidated.

"Before you think all the wrong things, know that the princess went to your brother out of her anger, and I must say she was able to unravel the menace lurking behind you all this time."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your brother, whom you assumed all these years was never power-hungry, was eyeing the throne. His sudden appearance back in society wasn’t a coincidence, and the Debutant Ball wasn’t about just turning the noble house against you or making you a threat. He seeks your position."

"Prince Damon has never had the desire to become monarch. It was the court that approached him to make him crown prince after their abrupt dismissal," Garrick explained.

"Wrong," Ravyn replied. "The princess uncovered that it was Damon who met the court to come to his side. Sneaky bastard."

I covered my face with my hand as a compelling amusement ignited.

"Is something funny? Because it’s not! Your brother is plotting against you! Garrick, help me here!"

"I admit, I’m surprised by my little brother’s scheme. I wouldn’t believe it if he told me himself."

"Then why are you laughing? Damon is now the crown prince. It’s not like you can just remove him after what happened at the ball."

I dropped my hand to my side and smiled. "I’m amazed by my wife."

Ravyn gasped unbelievably. "Is that all you can think of right now?"

"Did she tell you to come tell me this because she’s worried about me?" I asked in a hopeful tone.

Ravyn looked over to Garrick. "He’s a lost cause now. Can you hear him?"

"You didn’t answer my question."

She sighed. "Well, in a way, yes. Besides, she wouldn’t have sent me if she felt otherwise."

That brought a smile to my lips. But I really do hope she came to me instead, but this was progress. Two days of her distance was pure torture, but this was elating. All hope wasn’t lost after all.

I cleared my throat and fixed up a serious expression. "Damon’s coup will not last."

"Sounds to me like you want the throne taken off you."

"Ravyn!" Garrick cautioned.

"Am I wrong, Alpha, you tell me."

"I know my brother," I replied, walking up the stairs leading to my marble table and plush chair.

"Do you? Because if you did, you’d have known he had an eye out for your throne. Maybe he isn’t the boy you knew before you left for war. He changed, as did you."

I shifted the stack of papers to my side and rested my hands on the table.

Damon has proved to be one step ahead of me. I was heavy on the idea that in time his interest would wear out, and the court would find out they couldn’t control him.

But maybe Ravyn was right. I no longer know my brother as much as I thought I did.

~•~

I watched from the window, I could see Eloise on the balcony. She spent most of her time there, sewing for a few days. I have never seen her engage in something so calming; she was always chatty with Osha and remained indoors or even in her garden.

But recently, Eloise did nothing of those things; she sewed, and even though Osha was in her company, she was the loneliest I have seen.

The walls were up and this time higher, and I wondered if I could climb through them. But I had no intention of climbing. I want to destroy them so that when she builds them back up, I’m already within her space and she’d know then she can’t push me out of it anymore.

"She’s been sewing a lot; her fingers are all red now. The goal is not sewing. She’s just trying to stay distracted," Ravyn said.

"Have you noticed anything out of the norm?" I asked.

"If you’re asking about her blood frenzy, none so far, but there is something else you need to know."

I looked at Ravyn.

"The Dowager used her alpha command, but she defied it. How many snowbloods do you know that can pull that off?"

A look of awe crossed my face. "None. I have fought with powerful snowbloods, and my command had little effect on them, but they have never defied it before."

"Well...she did."

Amazing.

"The sooner I get my hands on the ancient texts, the better," I said, believing it was the only way we could understand why Eloise was different from the snowbloods.

"Did you feed her your blood again?"

"I had no choice."

"Thought as much. How long do you think you can do that?"

"As long as I can ensure she doesn’t have to hurt. I couldn’t stop myself, Ravyn, she cried out in pain."

Ravyn sighed, running a hand through her hair. "May the goddess help us."