Chapter 74

If Vikram's intention was to provoke Hadrian, he had succeeded spectacularly. The future king looked like he was seconds away from losing control.

“Hadrian... please... calm down,” I whispered softly, hoping my voice would reach him before his fury boiled over. I could already picture his claws slicing Vikram’s throat in a fit of rage. My only hope was that he’d focus on me instead of unleashing disaster.

His blazing eyes locked onto mine, and my silent plea seemed to reach him. Gradually, the fiery hue of his irises dimmed, turning a familiar shade of gray. Relief washed over me as I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Hadrian’s hand covered mine where it rested on his shoulder, a gentle reassurance, followed by a small smile meant only for me. But in an instant, his expression hardened as his gaze shifted back to Vikram.

“Sir Patel,” Hadrian began evenly, though his voice carried an unmistakable edge, “seems overly invested in my personal affairs. Let me make this clear: I have always made my own decisions and will continue to do so. No one, I assure you, will dictate my choice of partner. As for my marked one, she is mine, and I will never abandon her.”

Vikram chuckled, his laughter sharp and insincere. He met Hadrian’s stare with an air of defiance, as if daring him to react. His taunt was deliberate, though I couldn’t quite discern his motive. Was he simply entertaining himself, or was there something deeper behind his actions? It felt more like a test—a challenge to Hadrian’s composure, a calculated attempt to push him to his breaking point.

“My apologies, Lord Protector Kessler,” Vikram said, bowing slightly, though his tone betrayed his lack of sincerity. “I meant no offense.”

Before Hadrian could respond, Princess Selene’s voice cut through the tension. “Can we dispense with this pointless debate over a mere human?” she said, her disdainful gaze landing on me. “We have more pressing matters to address.” Her words dripped with mockery. “Lord Protector Kessler, perhaps you could enlighten us on how you’ve managed the recent attacks?”

She already knew the answer. Her smirk told me she was waiting for Hadrian to admit defeat.

He straightened, reluctant but resolute. “My forces captured the attackers, but they took their own lives before we could interrogate them,” he said, his voice heavy with frustration.

Princess Selene arched an eyebrow, her tone sharper now. “So not only did you fail to prevent the attacks, but you’ve also made no progress in uncovering who was behind them? How… disappointing.”

A ripple of commotion swept through the hall. I noticed Lord Protector Ashcroft seated in the corner, his expression smug, as though he was reveling in Hadrian’s struggles.

“It has only been three days,” Hadrian replied firmly, his voice unwavering despite the scrutiny. “I assure both the Princess and this council that the culprits will be exposed and dealt with swiftly.”

Selene’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “And yet, Lord Protector Kessler, you’ve proven incapable of safeguarding your own city. How can you expect to lead the vampire world when your rule is already in question?”

Her words fueled the murmurs in the room, and the opposition to Hadrian’s leadership grew bolder. Selene’s jab had landed, but Hadrian was not one to back down easily.

“Princess Selene!” he thundered, his commanding voice silencing the crowd. “No ruler can predict or prevent every threat that arises against their people. You, of all people, should understand this—though perhaps not, given that you’ve never carried such responsibility yourself.” His eyes swept over the room. “My people are relentless in their pursuit of justice. Those who endangered the lives of Monteforte’s citizens will face the consequences, and I will ensure measures are in place to prevent such events from happening again.”

His rebuttal shifted the tide. Many of the representatives turned their scornful gazes toward the Princess, their derision at her childish argument evident. Selene’s face darkened, but she lifted her chin, determined to hold her ground.

Initially, I thought her hostility stemmed from jealousy—perhaps even a bitter resentment of my bond with Hadrian. But now I could see it was more than that. This wasn’t about me; it was about power. Selene craved it. She wanted Hadrian for herself, not just as a lover but as a means to solidify her place on the throne. Yet her ambition burned alongside her disdain for him, a man she saw as unworthy of what she believed was her birthright.

“And where, may I ask, was the Lord Protector on the day of the attack?” Selene inquired, her smirk cutting like a blade.

“I was out of town, attending to personal and official matters,” Hadrian answered, his voice calm but his jaw tight.

Selene’s eyes glinted with triumph. “Personal matters… in the northern werewolf territories, no less?” she asked, her tone laced with venom.

The room erupted.

“Traitor!” someone shouted.

“Dealing with werewolves? Outrageous!” another voice roared.

The accusations grew louder, chaos engulfing the hall as representatives stood, pointing fingers at Hadrian. Among them, Ashcroft laughed openly, his satisfaction thinly veiled. Even Vikram seemed enthralled, watching the scene unfold with wide-eyed amusement.

“Silence!” Selene’s voice rang out as she rose from her seat. Her composure was icy, her eyes alight with the thrill of the unfolding drama. “Let the Lord Protector explain his dealings with the werewolves,” she demanded, one brow arched in mock curiosity.

Hadrian’s lips curved into a sharp, unyielding smile. Slowly, he stood and reached for my hand, his grip firm and resolute.

"The wolves dared to kidnap the woman I marked. I had no choice but to go and reclaim what was mine," Hadrian declared, his voice resonating through the hall with authority.

Gasps of shock rippled through the gathered vampires, their outrage palpable. I turned my gaze to Hadrian, my lips twitching in a hesitant smile. His words were a calculated lie—when I’d been taken, I bore no mark of his. Yet no one in the hall, apart from Gareth and us, could possibly know that.

Princess Selene’s lips pressed into a thin line as she nervously bit down on them, her sharp eyes darting from face to face, clearly hoping to find an ally who would share her skepticism.

“The wolves dared to touch a marked one? This is grounds for war!” thundered one of the representatives.

“Those mutts have gone too far!” another bellowed.

The fury in the room grew to a fever pitch, the voices of the enraged vampires echoing around me. My grip on Hadrian’s hand tightened, an anchor against the mounting tension. Though chaos surrounded us, he remained steady, radiating calm control. Princess Selene, however, sat rigid and silent, her expression darkened with displeasure as the uproar derailed the discussion she had so carefully orchestrated.

Raising a hand, Hadrian quieted the room with ease, his mere gesture commanding respect. “Those responsible for this crime have already paid for it with their lives,” he stated firmly. “I do not believe Alpha Kenzo of the northern pack sanctioned this heinous act. Therefore, I call for a peaceful resolution. There is no reason to drag our people into a conflict sparked by a few rogue mutts.”

The room stilled as the gathered representatives considered his words. One by one, they began nodding, murmuring their reluctant agreement as they returned to their seats. Beside me, Hadrian cast me a quick wink, his composure unshaken. My heart raced, though not from fear—his effortless ability to turn the situation in his favor was nothing short of remarkable. In just a few sentences, he had extinguished the flames of accusation, solidified his position, and emerged as a hero.

Selene, on the other hand, sat fuming, her jaw clenched tightly as she glared at Hadrian. If she knew where he had truly been during the attacks, she likely also knew the bloody truth—that he had slaughtered a substantial number of the pack’s warriors. I suspected she had been saving that damning information, waiting to use it as her ace when Hadrian inevitably denied her claims.

But Hadrian’s lie was cleverly calculated. Among vampires and werewolves, mates—or “marked ones”—were considered sacred and untouchable. Any violation of that bond gave the aggrieved party the right to exact justice, even to the point of annihilating the offenders’ entire pack. And conveniently, every wolf who could have contradicted Hadrian’s claim was now dead.

As the uproar subsided, the conversation turned to more mundane topics—taxes, land rights, and other matters I could barely focus on. My feet ached from standing in heels, and though my hand clung to Hadrian’s shoulder like a lifeline, I felt more like an accessory than a partner.

Vikram Patel’s gaze bore into me from across the room, unyielding and invasive. His intense stare sent a shiver down my spine, and no amount of Hadrian’s protective glares seemed to dissuade him.

When Princess Selene finally adjourned the gathering, relief flooded me. I was eager to escape this place, but Selene had other plans.

“I wish to speak with the nobles alone,” she announced, her voice commanding.

The nobles rose from their seats and bowed their heads in deference. Her position as the king’s proxy left them no room for refusal. Selene turned, heading toward a side door, the others following dutifully. I hesitated, unsure whether to stay or leave, but her sharp voice cut through my indecision.

“The food should join us as well. I wouldn’t want Lord Protector Kessler to starve.” Her smirk dripped with malice.

Hadrian’s jaw tightened. “I refuse. She stays here.”

“I insist,” Selene countered, her tone laced with authority. “Come along, human.” She gestured toward the door.

I looked to Hadrian, silently pleading. His teeth ground together, but he nodded, his expression grim. “Go,” he said softly.

My legs felt like jelly as I followed the nobles into the round room. The door closed behind me, sealing me inside with seven vampires, each of them watching me with a predatory glint in their eyes. Tables laden with drinks and appetizers lined the room, but I had no appetite despite my grumbling stomach.

Hadrian’s hand was a lifeline in the midst of their hungry stares, his grip firm and reassuring.

“Lord Protector Kessler,” Selene began, her voice ringing out with feigned politeness, “I would like a private word... alone.”

Hadrian’s glare was sharp enough to cut glass. “If you have something to say, you can say it here.”

“Oh, dear Lord Protector,” she said with a saccharine laugh, “surely you trust the noble council to behave themselves. Leave your things behind, if only for a moment.”

Her pointed jab set my pulse racing.

Hadrian exhaled sharply, his gaze flicking to me with hesitation before he reluctantly let go of my hand. “I’ll be back soon,” he murmured.

I wanted to believe him.

The moment he and Selene disappeared through the door, I felt exposed. Vulnerable. My eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape, but before I could retreat to the relative safety of a corner, Vikram blocked my path.

“Hello, beautiful Thalassa,” he purred, his grin sly and predatory. “It’s time we got to know each other a little better.”