Chapter 88

Bewildered, I stared into Hadrian’s eyes, praying that those three words weren’t a cruel trick of my imagination. They felt real, yet the confusion clouding my mind refused to dissipate. He held my gaze, unflinching, his expression resolute, his demeanor steadfast. Confidence radiated from him, but my mind screamed at me not to fall again. I couldn’t afford to be swayed so easily. Turning my face away, I tried to escape his hold over me, but his hand was swift. He caught my chin and gently turned my head back toward him.

“I love you,” he said again, his voice calm and steady.

The warmth in his tone seeped into my broken heart like a soothing balm, wrapping me in its embrace like a blanket shielding me from the cold. His arms encircled my waist, pulling me close. I didn’t resist. My resolve wavered; I was ready to believe any excuse, any half-reasonable justification to stay.

“A-are you married now?” I stammered, my voice trembling under the weight of the question.

“Yes,” he admitted, the word hitting me like a blow to the stomach.

“So… who am I in this mess?” Somehow, I found the strength to speak, though the words tasted bitter.

“You are the only woman I love,” he murmured, leaning close to my ear.

His breath on my skin sent shivers racing down my spine. His lips brushed my neck, then sought mine, igniting something I fought to suppress. My heart betrayed me, but I forced myself to resist. I pushed him away, ignoring the ache in my chest and the desire clawing at my resolve.

“She’s your queen. Who am I?” The words burned more than I expected as they escaped my lips.

Hadrian’s sigh was heavy, and the pained grimace that followed only confirmed my fears.

“You are my concubine,” he admitted, his voice strained. “For now,” he added hastily.

A hysterical laugh erupted from me, sharp and bitter. “Do you even hear yourself? You’re married. Legally, that makes me ‘the other woman.’ And you’re the king—you’re supposed to produce an heir… with the queen.” The bitterness of my own words stung my tongue.

He held me tighter. “I will make things right. You know there’s nothing between Selene and me. She doesn’t want to be my wife—she wanted power, and she’s clinging to it desperately.”

Against my better judgment, I rested my arms around him. My heart refused to let him go, no matter how foolish it seemed.

“And how do you plan to fix this? Kill her?” I scoffed at the absurdity of the thought, though part of me dreaded his answer.

“If I had to, yes. But I need just cause,” he replied, his tone chillingly serious.

I leaned back to meet his eyes, searching for the truth. I saw it there—his fury at being trapped and his torment at breaking his promise to me. Yet I also knew how precarious my position had become. Staying in the castle felt reckless, but walking away seemed impossible.

“I’m asking for too much, I know,” he pleaded. “But trust me. I will protect you. I’ll assign Icarus as your personal guard and give you anything you need. Just… stay.” His hand moved to the back of my head, pulling me into his chest.

I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to believe him. It was the only thing keeping me from unraveling.

“I’m sorry I missed your coronation,” I whispered, burying my face in his shirt.

“It’s not something I wanted you to see,” he replied softly. “Not like that—not with her.” His arms tightened around me as though trying to shield me from the truth.

“That marriage came quickly…” I muttered, the image of a grand royal wedding clashing with the harsh reality.

“Selene wanted it to be extravagant, but I refused. I barely acknowledged her as queen. In the end, she had to settle for a simple signing of papers.” His chuckle was cold, tinged with disdain.

He was doing his best to reassure me, to prove I was his choice, not her. At one point, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the bed. He laid me down gently and settled beside me, his smile both seductive and sincere.

“So… what happens now, my king?” I asked, smirking despite the chaos in my heart.

“I’ll consolidate my power—secure the loyalty of King Alaric’s army. Only then can I move against Selene,” he said with steely determination.

“Is she really that powerful?” I asked hesitantly.

“She has powerful allies,” he admitted. “I don’t know their identities, but I have suspicions. Keeping her under this roof makes it harder for her to maneuver. I’ll crush her ambitions.” A wicked smile curved his lips.

“And me? What happens to me?” My voice trembled slightly.

“You’ll be known as Lady Thalassa. You’ll have servants, wealth—anything you need.” He kissed me gently, but I pulled back.

“And the bad news?” I pressed.

He sighed heavily. “Selene will try to harm you. She’ll target you and those who support me.”

“Wonderful,” I said with dry sarcasm. “Anything else I should prepare for?”

He hesitated before answering. “There’s a ball next week—a formal introduction of the new king. You’ll need to attend.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. An official ball already sounded daunting, but I could sense there was more he wasn’t telling me.

“Hadrian,” I prompted.

He finally relented. “The ball is a show of unity—a pretext to maintain truces. Werewolves will be present.”

“W-what?” My voice quaked.

“Without a wolf king, the most powerful alphas will attend. One of them is from the northern pack. The other…” He paused, gripping my hands. “The southern alpha, Cassius Marwood… your father.”