Chapter 129

Raven;

Sleep was a stranger to me that night, I kept tossing and turning, wondering if I had imagined everything, the hushed exchange between Tate and that Belgravian general.

That general was no ordinary soldier. His name carried weight on the battlefield, his reputation for being loyal to King Alaric was known throughout the kingdom that even I as a servant knew that.

If Tate was consorting with him, then what did it mean? Treachery? Strategy? Or some game played beyond my understanding? Either way, it couldn’t be good. I had to do something fast!

I wanted to wake Liam and tell him everything. But when I imagined the look in his eyes, I just kept quiet and laid beside him. With everything going on right now, I didn’t need to spring this on him and disturb him. I was going to find out for myself.

I wasn’t even sure that Tate was betraying us. It could be that he was helping us…I couldn’t risk it. Not yet. I needed more than just those words, I needed concrete proof.

By morning, I still hadn’t made peace with my decision, but I steeled myself to act. If Tate was hiding something, then I would draw it out carefully. I would not confront him outrightly, not until I had enough proof to stand against him without losing our friendship or letting him find out that I was into him.

I waited until after training that morning, when the castle was bustling with noise and movement, the kind of atmosphere where casual conversation could blend in unnoticed. Tate had just returned from the stables, dust clinging to his boots, his usual easy stride intact. He looked calm and unbothered, as though the night before hadn’t happened at all.

I approached him, smiling as I normally did whenever I was with him. This was the same Tate that had taught me how to defend myself, my only friend in Belgravia.

“You look like you’ve been working harder than the horses, Tate.”

He gave me that half-smile of his, the one that never quite reached his eyes and that was when I was certain that the state I had known for a long time was gone.

“Someone has to keep this place running with everything going on…the mysteries and all.”

I chuckled. “Helena told you.”

He nodded. “We all care about you.”

“Mm,” I smiled. “Speaking of mysteries, I overheard some of the council aides yesterday. They were whispering about a certain Belgravian top general, one of King Alaric’s loyal dogs. Funny how his name keeps surfacing in the palace, do you know who that might be?”

Tate stiffened. It was subtle, the kind of shift most people wouldn’t notice, but I caught it. His jaw tightened, and for the briefest second, his eyes flickered away before settling back on me. “I hear that people talk about Belgravian generals, due to their war strategies and with all of these looming around the kingdom, we’ll…”

I tilted my head, feigning curiosity. “True. But this particular one, I don’t know why I keep forgetting his name. But I don’t think they’re talking about his ruthlessness. I heard that he entered our borders and this is someone fiercely loyal to Alaric.”

His lips curved into a small smile. “I don’t think king Alaric is that stupid to do such a thing.”

“But this general…”

“Why the sudden fascination with Belgravian soldiers?” He cut in, “Planning on starting your own army?”

I forced a small laugh, although I was nervous, he had finally answered my questions, confirming that he was hiding something from me. There was no way that a Belgravian knight wouldn’t know who I was talking about. He was bidding his time.

“Hardly. I’m simply… wary. You know as well as I do that their presence here could mean trouble.”

Tate shrugged, brushing past me towards the corridor leading to the guard posts. “Then let King Liam worry about it. That’s his job, not yours. You’d do well not to get tangled up in things that could break you.”

The words sounded like a threat, but I wasn't sure. Either way, I felt the warning beneath his tone. He was closing the door on this conversation, and if I pushed further, he would shut down entirely, or worse, become suspicious of me and I didn’t want any of that.

So I let him go, watching his broad shoulders disappear into the stone archway. But inside, my mind was already racing.

He had evaded the question entirely. He hadn’t denied knowing the general. He hadn’t even tried to feign ignorance. Instead, he had warned me off, as though I were a child poking at a fire. That told me more than he realized.

I walked back towards my chambers, my steps slow and deliberate, replaying the exchange in my head. Every word, every shift in his expression, every pause. Tate was hiding something. Of that, I was certain now. The only question was, what?

What had he been discussing with the general?

Was he really working against us? Or was he playing another game?

“Tate!” I called after him, running to the other side of  the castle in order  to catch up with him.

He turned around, his brows furrowing upon seeing me.

“Are you okay?” He was peering into my eyes, obviously surprised to see me breathing heavily and running towards him.

I nodded and laughed, so that he would be assured that I was fine.

“Have you been in contact with anyone from Belgravia?” My eyes were fixed on his. “Since we left.”

He looked dumbfounded for a while and then as though he regained composure, he chuckled. “How’s that possible? King Alaric casted me out for disobeying his orders.”

I nodded. “Well….”

“Don’t tell me you’re missing Belgravia.”

I cackled. “It’s my home.”

“Your home is here now,” he placed his hand on my shoulder. “You’re the Queen over here. All you have to do is to protect it.”

“And I will,” I said quickly. “I will kill anyone to protect it. No matter who it is,” our eyes met and I hoped that he got my message.