CHAPTER 217: _SHIELD THAT HOPE

Elian’s POV

*****

An hour after the Alpha king’s death, the palace was quiet. Eerily quiet.

All the staff members hid themselves and maintained silence in mourning, just as tradition stipulated.

And as for the rest of Lunaria? Well—

"This is Cristal Ravenheart here with the late-night broadcast for the Lunarian News Network." The news anchor—whose body was projected onto the centre of Elian’s room—spoke with a tense expression.

Elian, Lucian, Aurora, Kyren and Axel were gathered in Elian’s room, most sitting on couches around while Elian and Kyren sat at the edge of the bed.

Lucian was the only one standing, his arms folded in front of his chest and his expression oddly stoic for someone who had just lost his father.

Aurora still cried, using a handkerchief to wipe the little tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I come tonight with breaking news." The news anchor continued. "Rumours have begun circulating from Moon Haven City. Within the walls of the Lunarian palace."

Lucian sneered just then, gesturing at her even though she couldn’t hear him. "Who authorised this? What if Arcadia sees this and does something shady? What if—"

"The royal court has always given the empire’s news network freedom to share accurate information, Alpha prince." Axel sighed, patting Aurora on her shoulder. "Even if it involves the death of the Alpha king."

Lucian’s eyes twitched but the news anchor continued before he could:

"As we all know, the new moon masquerade ball was tonight. A ceremony which hosted high-ranking guests from all over the Empire and even the Rogue king."

Elian subconsciously glanced at Kyren.

While the Rogue king had his gaze locked on the holographic live broadcast, his crimson eyes seemed... Distant.

Like he was contemplating multiple things at once.

’Hey.’ Elian whispered through a mind link, grabbing Kyren’s hand. ’What’s on your mind?’

Kyren turned his eyes to him briefly before responding. ’It’s nothing.’

’Doesn’t seem like it.’

A slow smirk curled the corner of Kyren’s lips. ’Believe me, little flame. I’m fine. It’s not every day someone finds out they have a half-uncle and then watches him die less than a season later.’

[Fair enough...]

Elian’s shoulders relaxed as he nodded his understanding.

’If you want to comfort someone...’ Kyren went on, glancing at Lucian. ’There’s someone who might need it. He’s not showing it but I can tell he wants to break.’

Elian froze, his lips pressing into a thin line.

The mental conversation had taken around three seconds, moving at the speed of thought.

"Right when the Alpha king made the new moon toast and took the first drink... Chaos ensued..." Cristal, the news anchor, stepped back from the holographic projection.

In her place, footage from the event hall appeared, zooming in on the stage.

Elian watched a repeat of Arian collapsing, the black veins sprouting through his body like snakes.

However, just when the video showed the people screaming and Elowen rushing for Arian, the video buzzed with static before flickering out of existence.

"That’s all we could get from the event hall since the broadcast was shut down immediately after the Alpha king collapsed." Cristal stepped back into frame, her hands clasped in front of her chest.

"The fact that the guests were asked to leave soon doesn’t help matters. Some report seeing the mate bond break between the Luna Queen and Alpha king... Something that can only happen to a member of the royal family if their mate dies."

Elian rubbed his forehead with frustration.

At this point, the lady was just stating the obvious.

[Yeah... when’s she going to get to the juicy gossip?]

’Too soon for your jokes, system...’

"As all eyes turn to the palace, expecting an official report on the Alpha king’s condition, many questions arise." Cristal raised her chin slightly, her eyes sharp. "Will Prince Lucian Stormborn be able to take on centuries of legacy his father left behind? Or—"

Before she could finish, Lucian blurted. "Bedroom system... Turn it off."

Elian’s room lit up with a soft golden light trimming the edges of the walls before the holographic projection finally turned off, leaving them in silence.

This room was different from the previous one Elian had in the palace.

He could access the news here now and even had a balcony.

Sadly, he didn’t have the chance to be cheery about that.

"Don’t take the words to heart, Lucian." Axel cleared his throat, rising to his feet. "People will always talk. You—"

"Easy for you to say when you’re not expected to take control of the greatest nation on the continent!" The Alpha Prince sneered, glaring at Axel.

Elian flinched, his fists clenching subconsciously.

The tension was suffocating; all eyes, including the teary ones, were now fixed on Lucian.

But before things could get any more heated, a knock sounded on the door, forcing everyone to turn their heads.

"Come in."

The door swung open, revealing Seraphyne who walked in with a sullen expression.

Aurora was the first to react, getting up while sniffling. "H–How’s my mother?"

Seraphyne stepped in fully, closing the door behind her. "She’s fine. Just... Still shaken and all. She was curled in her bed before I came here."

Aurora smiled gratefully, using the back of her hand to wipe what was left of her tears. "Good. I guess that’s my signal to go to sleep as well."

Elian watched as the princess clutched the hem of her gown, weakly striding toward Seraphyne.

"I-I thought we were going to—" Elian tried speaking up, but Aurora’s misty eyes locking on him shut him up instantly.

"Going to what? Go full speed ahead and investigate who was behind my father’s death?" She scoffed, shaking her head. "It’s pointless. The Dark Hand did it and the last thing I’ll do is give them the satisfaction of letting myself lose myself after..."

Her voice cracked at the end, making her place her right hand over her mouth.

Seraphyne got to her side quickly, grabbing her shoulders.

Elian was still lost on what the true nature of their relationship was but now obviously wasn’t the right time to pry.

"Yes, this was most likely done by someone close to the Alpha king during the ball." Seraphyne’s voice was barely above a whisper. "But Aurora is right. We all need rest and time to grieve. At least tonight."

Elian’s lips parted but no words came out.

She was right.

"On the contrary..." Kyren rose from the bed just then, snapping his neck. "I’ve made my peace with what happened tonight."

Lucian sniggered. "Good for you, Rogue King."

The latter merely glanced at him before sighing. "My sincere condolences, dear cousin. But I assure you... We’re getting closer to unravelling the mystery behind all this. Sooner than you think."

After saying that and then letting his eyes linger on Elian for a moment, he turned toward the door, waltzing out of the room without a word.

The others followed soon enough, Seraphyne guiding Aurora out while Axel caressed Elian gently on his shoulder before leaving, his scent leaving a mark.

The only one left now was—

"Lucian." Elian got up when the door closed behind Axel. "How... How do you feel? I know it sounds out of pocket to ask—"

"How do you think I feel?" The Alpha Prince swerved his head to him, arching a brow. "I watched one of the most powerful men I’ve ever known die. My own father. And what did I do?"

Silence drew between them, causing Elian’s chest to tighten.

His throat bobbed when he swallowed but he genuinely didn’t know what to say.

[A hug tends to solve a lot of things...]

"I watched." Lucian finally broke the silence with a bitter laugh. "I watched helplessly. I watched helplessly as my mother lost her mate. I watched Aurora lose the only man she ever looked up to. I watched..."

The words died in his throat, a cracked sob escaping his lips instead.

Elian rushed to him, wrapping his arms around him.

"It’s okay." He muttered even though the words seemed useless, brushing his fingers through his black hair. "I’m here."

Those words shattered whatever was left of Lucian’s tough skin.

He wept, burying his face in Elian’s neck.

He mumbled, his voice shuddering. "I... I lost my dad. I... I didn’t realise how much I cared about him until he... Until he—" his body shook with his tears.

Elian hushed him silently, guiding him to the bed and helping him sit.

And as the great white wolf of Lunaria cried in his arms, the system’s notification screen flashed in front of his eyes with an update:

[Mate #1 MEMORY RESTORATION: 70%... In progress.]

Hope.

As fickle as it was, it still breathed between them.

And now, more than anything, Elian wanted to shield that hope.

With everything he has.