CHAPTER 90: _A FUCKING SNAKE!

Lucian’s POV

*****

"You’re making a huge mistake, father." He said through gritted teeth, glaring at his father when the guards led him into the throne room.

His old man wasn’t sitting on his throne but instead stood at the top of the dais with his arms behind his back, the white crystal lights illuminating his silhouette like a god above mortals.

But his eyes? They were filled with disappointment and rage.

"Lucian, child." His mother, who was sitting beside his father’s throne, spoke with a calm tone, shaking her head as the guards walked out of the throne room, closing the doors behind them with a resounding bang.

When silence set in the throne room, the Luna Queen continued. "Don’t make things worse than they are. Not with what I discovered in your room."

Lucian’s eyes widened as he shook his head in disbelief. "I’m going to ignore the fact that you were lurking in my room. But really? Mother, after our heart-to-heart conversation during breakfast you think I’ll go behind the empire’s back to—"

"Lucian, I think nothing." His mother’s voice was firm, although it was shaky at the edges. Her eyes narrowed as she looked down on him. "A heart-to-heart about your mate doesn’t erase the possibility of blackmail from you."

Lucian’s jaw tightened but before he could even think of anything to defend himself, his father finally made a sound that heightened the tension.

A snigger, dry and reverberating.

"Blackmail?" Alpha king Arian repeated his wife’s words coldly, a scowl etched on his face. "This goes beyond that. This..."

He suddenly brought his arms away from his back, revealing a wooden box with intricate markings carved into it.

Lucian’s eyes lingered on the dark blue painting for a moment until his father continued with his scolding.

"THIS is grounds for treason, Lucian. Magic charms can be used by witches to spy on and manipulate events from vast distances. And you’re no witch, so, tell me..." Arian’s voice left no room for rebuttal as he drummed his fingers on the box.

"Who are you working with? Arcadian spies? A rogue witch? Perhaps the people behind sending those assassins at your mate."

Lucian’s eyes widened slightly at the accusations.

This... Were they fucking serious right now?

When the silence drew longer, Arian bellowed. "Answer me!"

His voice was like thunder, shaking the golden painted high ceilings.

But Lucian was unshaken, looking him dead in the eyes.

"I’ll correct one thing right now." Lucian’s voice was calm but cold, his silver eyes unflinching. "I have no intention of harming my mate. Also, I’m not a traitor."

"Then explain yourself." His mother quipped, sounding like she wanted the accusations to be false.

Like she couldn’t believe one of her babies could do such a thing.

Well, time to light up her mood.

"I don’t know how those charms ended up in my room." He said firmly, keeping his chin high. "Also, if you want answers on who sent those assassins, I have a lead. Estella and Baron Magnus."

His father’s eyebrows furrowed into a frown. "Aurora’s mate? The man scheduled to marry her after the full moon ceremony next month?"

Lucian nodded but Arian scoffed.

"Has your desperation gotten to such a stage that you’ll accuse such a blameless man?" Arian seemed disappointed. That was becoming a constant with the man. "Baron Magnus is—"

"A fucking snake who’s been colluding with Estella for moon knows how long." Lucian snapped, tired of the bullshit. "The only reason why I haven’t fished him out of the palace and dug my claws into him was because I required evidence. Evidence which is currently in the hands of the palace’s tech experts."

Arian’s lips pressed into a thin line but he didn’t say anything, instead glancing at his wife.

It almost seemed like they were having some form of telepathic exchange. Heck, maybe they were.

His parents have always been complicated people.

"And where’s Beta Axel in all this?" The Alpha king queried, fixing his attention back on Lucian.

The latter let out a sigh. "Currently in Silvervale city alongside the committee we created. They’re there to interrogate the daughter of the first assassin."

Arian squinted but Lucian had lost his patience and clapped.

"Listen, I’d love to reconnect with you two and all, but I need to go check on one of the head palace guards. Commander Dorel."

His father tilted his head. "What happened to him? Is he in on this too?"

"I wouldn’t know that because while I was in a call with him to apprehend Magnus and Estella, he sounded like he was in a fight at the other end. Then the line cut off."

His mother’s eyes widened. "By the goddess! Why didn’t you say something sooner?"

Lucian shrugged. "You two insisted I come explain myself. Well, here I am."

While his parents seemed like they were going to flip off the dais, he had a bad feeling.

His mind went back to Elian and his sister. He had told the latter to look after him... But was that really a smart move?

"There’s still the matter of these charms." The Alpha king stated just then, opening the box.

But when he did, his eyes widened as he stared into it like he saw his mother’s remains.

The air shifted, the scent of ozone wafting out of the box.

Lucian frowned, taking a step forward. "What’s wrong?"

The Alpha king shook his head with pure disbelief, flinging the box on the marble floor. It tumbled down the stairs of the dais before landing in front of Lucian’s feet.

The Alpha Prince’s eyes widened when he saw what was in the box.

Nothing.

It was empty.

"I thought you..."

"Whoever created those charms must’ve been damn powerful." His father sounded hysterical, pointing at the box. "And if that’s the case... We’re dealing with a potentially powerful witch who might be an enemy."

Lucian blinked, not knowing how to handle this.

Suddenly, the throne room doors burst open, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

Lucian swerved his head back, his instincts on high alert, ready for anything.

Two guards rushed in, their expressions grim as they bowed.

"Sir, we found Commander Dorel’s body in one of the training halls." One rasped with a heavy voice.

Lucian’s heart skipped a beat just then, his fingers twitching as his gaze flicked to the second guard.

There was more bad news.

"Bring in Baron Magnus and Estella Thorne now!" Arian ordered with rage but the second guard shook his head.

"That’s... That’s the thing, my lord." The poor man’s voice trembled. "There are no signs of the two of them. We got the Prince’s message to the commander and tried finding them. And there’s one more thing..."

Lucian’s blood boiled, his wolf already snarling with barely contained anger.

And then, the bomb he’d been dreading dropped:

"There are no signs of Princess Aurora and the Prince’s mate as well."