Chapter 173

Chapter 173
Dorian‘s pov.

I stormed through the courtyard like a beast unchained, my thoughts a whirlwind of rage. My fingers twitched with the phantom sensation of closing around Arius's throat. That bastard. I tolerated him. Hell, I even offered him a place in my court. And Freya... Freya would damn well pay for shattering that trust.
"When I get my hands on him," I muttered, voice low and dark, more beast than man, "I'll rip that smug grin off his face."
Cassian's footsteps hurried behind me, trying to keep up.
"Dorian, wait! Think for a second—rationally, not like a damned wolf on a blood trail. There has to be a reason she left."
I spun on him, my eyes glowing faintly with fury. "Oh, there's a reason all right. It starts with
A and ends with rius. She left because of him. She always defended him. She protected him. Gods, how could I have been so blind?"
Cassian exhaled heavily, but said nothing.
"And the worst part?" I growled, clenching my fists. "Tiberius. Tiberius was right. All this time, he was the one warning me. And I didn't listen. I thought he was jealous, paranoid. But he
saw it. He knew what Arius was. What he could become to her. And I brushed it off because I wanted to believe in Freya."
I felt the shift begin under my skin—my beast clawing toward the surface, demanding release. My nails lengthened, muscles tightened. My voice dropped into that guttural rasp that came with too much pain and too little control.
"She ran. With him. And I let her. I gave her space. I trusted her. Gods damn it all."
Cassian grabbed my shoulder. "Dorian. Listen. You love her. You’ve fought for her. You have to believe there’s more to this. Maybe she’s trying to protect you. Maybe—"
Cassian tried again, his voice softer. "Freya loves you, Dorian. And Tiberius. You know that. Maybe this has something to do with Reyna and Hera—maybe she went to bring them back."
"She would've told us!" I barked. "We would've helped her. She didn’t need to disappear into the damn woods with him. I would’ve gone with her, for the gods’ sake!"
"You’ve got the entire kingdom to manage, and Tiberius has his own demons to face. Maybe she didn’t want to burden either of you," Cassian reasoned. "Maybe she thought this was the only way."
"Burden us?" I scoffed bitterly. "She’s my mate. My queen-to-be. And she thought she’d be burdening me by trusting me? If that’s true, Cassian, then Freya is a damned fool—and I punish fools. Come on. We have work to do."
Cassian sighed, grumbling, "When don’t we?" He hurried beside me. "Where are we going, exactly?"
I didn’t answer. Instead, I pounded on a wooden door near the west wing of the keep.
Cassian raised an eyebrow. "Who lives here?"
"Don’t talk. Just follow."
The door creaked open, revealing Calipsa. Her smile was sly as ever. "Well, well. Good evening, Your Majesty."
"Calipsa," I said curtly. "I need your help. Sooner than I expected. Can you track a person?"
Her grin widened. "Of course, my king."
Cassian leaned in, whispering, "Wait... what’s she still doing here? Why didn’t she return to her coven?"
I smirked. "She wanted to stay. Said the energy in these lands is potent for her magic. I agreed. She’s been useful."
Calipsa winked. "Fair trade, Cassian. And besides, your warriors are so... delightfully sculpted." She reached out to squeeze his arm.
Cassian cleared his throat, flustered. "Right, okay—let’s just find the girl."
The three of us entered Freya’s chambers. Her scent still lingered in the air, clinging to every surface. I tried not to let it undo me.
Calipsa picked up a silk nightshirt from the bed, held it to her nose, and muttered in a language I didn’t recognize.
After a pause, she turned to us, serious now. "She’s not alone. Arius is with her. And he’s masking their trail. It won’t be easy, but I will find them. I just need time. Prepare yourself, my king. I’ll let you know as soon as I have a direction."
I nodded once.
I turned to Cassian. "You’re staying here. Keep things under control. If Regulus or Marcus come asking—tell them the truth. Paradise is on fire. Gather six of our best men. When Calipsa finds their trail, we ride immediately."
Cassian’s nod was sharp and immediate. The hunt had begun. "She could have told me. She could have asked. Instead, she chose deception. She chose him."
The air pulsed around me with tension, crackling like lightning before a storm. My jaw clenched as I took a slow, shaking breath, every fiber in my body simmering with rage.
"Freya," I muttered to myself, voice dark and low. "When I find you, you’d better have a damn good explanation, because I swear—you won’t escape the consequences. You shattered the trust we built with one reckless choice."
And Arius... oh, the very thought of that smug bastard lit a dangerous fire in my chest. The image of his face twisted in pain, brought down by my hand, filled me with a twisted sense of satisfaction.
"You’ll regret crossing me, snake," I whispered, the promise coiling in my throat like venom.
This wasn’t just betrayal—it was war. And when Calipsa found their trail, there would be no hesitation. I would ride. I would confront them. And justice—my justice—would be swift.