Chapter 168: Lila as requested

Lila arrived at Adrian's study with Marcus, her heart hammering. The guard's face had been grim when he found her. Whatever had happened in that emergency council session was bad.

Adrian stood at the window. His posture was rigid. Controlled fury barely contained.

"Your Majesty, Lady Lila as requested." Marcus bowed and moved to leave.

"Stay." Adrian's voice was flat. "You need to hear this too."

He turned. His eyes were still gold-tinged. The wolf too close to the surface.

"Margot has been spreading rumors about you. Vicious ones." Adrian's voice was carefully neutral. "She claims you are manipulating Theo. Using him to secure your position. Positioning yourself to replace Celeste."

Lila's breath caught. "What?"

"Lord Thorne brought it to emergency council. Demanded I forbid you from seeing Theo. Demanded I remove you from the royal wing. Questioned my authority to protect you." Adrian's hands clenched. "They tried to force my hand. Tried to make me choose between duty and bond."

"And what did you choose?" Lila's voice was barely a whisper.

"You. I will always choose you." Adrian moved closer. "I exiled Margot from court. Threatened Thorne with replacement if he continues undermining my authority. And I am calling full council tomorrow morning to make a public declaration. One that leaves no room for misinterpretation."

"What kind of declaration?"

"That you are under my protection. That anyone who harms you, threatens you, or spreads lies about you will answer to me personally. That your position here is secure regardless of council approval." Adrian's eyes blazed. "I am done hiding. Done pretending the bond does not exist. Done letting politics control my life."

Marcus cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, making such a public declaration will have consequences. The council will resist. The nobles will gossip. Your authority will be tested."

"Let them test it." Adrian's voice turned cold. "I am the Alpha King. My word is law. They seem to have forgotten that. Tomorrow, I will remind them."

"Adrian, you do not have to do this." Lila's voice shook. "I can stay away from Theo. I can move back to the servants' wing permanently. I can avoid situations that give them ammunition..."

"No." The word was absolute. "You will not hide. You will not diminish yourself to appease jealous nobles. You will not sacrifice your relationship with Theo because Margot is bitter and Thorne is power-hungry."

"But if protecting me costs you political capital..."

"Then it costs me political capital!" Adrian's control fractured. "I do not care about politics. I care about you. About Theo. About doing what is right instead of what is convenient."

The room fell silent. Lila stared at him. This man who had pushed her away for months now standing before her declaring he would risk everything to protect her.

"The council meets at dawn." Marcus's voice was quiet. "Full attendance mandatory. The nobles will be there as well. This declaration will be public and binding."

"Good." Adrian's jaw was set. "Let everyone hear it. Let there be no doubt where I stand."