3rd Person POV
There was only venom in Charlotte's voice. She hated Francesca rather passionately. She was far too older than Harlin and she had manipulated the young innocent child. If she had known Francesca had ties with Drieden she would have been more assertive in refusing Harlin from seeing her.
“I only want to check up on him,” she said as though she cared.
“I do not want to ever see you here, do you understand me?” It was the first time Reginald had had anything to say to Francesca.
Francesca turned around and left. She had no ulterior motive. It was true that she had received another note. One which reads, finish what I started or I shall pin it on you.
She had received such a note but she had burnt the note immediately. She had no intention of doing as the note had said. She had learnt her lesson and frankly, she was tired. Besides, Drieden was dead and she was now free from the shackles of the dreadful vampire. All she wanted to do now was live her life freely. Should she be caught for being complicit in Drieden's death then be it.
As she turned to leave, she clashed with a woman. When she looked up she saw a vampiress. She could tell the woman was not a werewolf because she was so pale her skin looked like chalk.
In the past, Francesca would have said something along the lines of, watch where you're going! But she only muttered sorry and walked away soberly.
Gabriella turned to look back at the lady she had just colluded with. She was a young woman like herself but a very beautiful one. It occurred to her that perhaps it was the reason so many vampires took werewolf mistresses even though they all claimed they would never go near one. She understood their dilemma a little bit. After all, her young werewolf man had been so very handsome.
Gabriella knocked on the door to the room she had been directed to.
A second later, the door was opened by a very angry Reginald who asked before looking, “What the fuck do you still want?”
“I apologize for the intrusion, I am only worried about…”
“It's you, isn't it? The princess? How do I know that you have not come to finish the job you started?” quipped Reginald.
Gabriella did not like this werewolf. Unlike Harlin, he was actually very scary.
“I did not kill him and I have told your Elders who did it,” returned Gabriella. The werewolf might be scary but she had grown up with the scariest person to ever exist: her stepmother.
“Let her in,” Gabriella heard another voice from the other end of the door. The door was opened wider and she was allowed to come inside.
Her instincts took her to go to Harlin's bedside but she was stopped promptly by Reginald who said to her, “Don't get any ideas.”
“You said you know who did it? Who?” quipped Charlotte.
“There was a man; he was standing there when Harlin turned around. He ran away just as Harlin collapsed to the ground,” said Gabriella.
Charlotte and Reginald exchanged a look. They could not think of any man who would deliberately try to hurt Harlin.
“Can you describe this man?” asked Charlotte.
“I have described him to the Elders already but very well,” and she proceeded to describe this man again. The description belonged to no other person but Lowell.
****
Gabriella’s testimony is what drew attention to the fact that Lowell had been missing for quite some time. The area around the private garden was searched again and among the flowers, Lowell was spotted delirious and in serious pain. A quick examination of him drew the conclusion that he was a victim of the shooting too rather than the shooter. Besides, in his delirium, he kept muttering, “I must find her.” This made everyone conclude that the killer was who they had thought it was all along.
It had to be Nydia, there was no other possibility.
****
In the midst of all this confusion, Ashton had arrived at the palace. Having received word that his newly wed bride had returned to her father's palace, he came to take her back. It was also time to right some wrongs. Drieden was a treasured member of his father's Kingdom and he hated to see that justice had not been meted out to the preparators even as of now.
Thus, he arrived at the palace with a proud disposition as though he had done no wrong. He was not received warmly. Queen Agatha in fact gave an order requesting that Prince Ashton not be allowed on the palace grounds at all. King Armand however was quick to intervene. He believed there was a need to settle things amicably. He was aware of the violent nature of the clan and he did not want to create further troubles for himself. He was however not willing to release his daughter again to Ashton. He would not allow Gabriella to return with Ashton unless she wanted to and even then, Ashton would have to swear with his blood that he would not hurt her and he would treat her with utmost respect.
Prince Ashton was surprised by these terms. He had been warned of course that this was a very progressive pack where vampiresses had as much power as vampires. It was the type of vampire settlement where vampires could openly flaunt their pretty werewolf mistresses and not face open condemnation. Ashton knew it was one of the reasons Drieden had succumbed to his false exile so that he could be with Nydia and be close to his werewolf wife.
“She is my wife and I believe that she would live by my own rules and according to the rules of…”
“You were sleeping with her personal maid on the very bed you consummate your marriage. That is no rule but a flagrant disrespect of your matrimonial vow,” retorted King Armand who was shocked at Ashton's rudeness.
“You have many mistresses, King Armand. Do you really think…”
“My wife knows all about them. All the children from said mistresses are under her care; she is their mother including Princess Gabriella,” returned King Armand.