Chapter 24 Twenty-four.
“Mate? A Fae?” One of the Gammas says.
“Impossible. A Fae cannot be mated to a werewolf. She lies,” another says. This time, a female Gamma. “Fae's are known for lying, but this is just pure blasphemy against our King.”
There's an amused look on Maggi’s face as she listens to every bad thing the Gammas have to say about me and my kind.
I take my gaze to King Sven and see him already looking at me. There's an unreadable look in his eyes as he taps a finger against his temple. It makes me wonder what he's thinking, and if he's going to deny the truth which would be the obvious thing to do because accepting that I'm his mate will only mean he's accepting that he's also a Fae alongside being a hybrid.
“Silence,” he says. The word cuts the room like a blade.
And everyone obeys.
King Sven stands, steps down from his throne, and walks toward me. When he stops, we are only inches apart, and I feel my heart race as he stares at me with piercing green eyes that makes me feel naked. “She's right,” he says.
Huh? He just… admitted it?
The silence in the throne room is alarming. And me? I'm confused. Shocked. Dumbfounded. I never expected King Sven to admit to it in the presence of his Gammas, but I know he has something up his sleeve and whatever it is can't be good.
“Permit me to speak, King Sven,” A voice says and I feel goosebumps— the bad type, erupt across my back when I see who spoke. Just who I didn't want to meet. Adrian.
“Go ahead,” King Sven permits.
He bows, retaining his signature scowl on his face as he speaks. “It’s common knowledge that werewolves and hybrids can't be mated to anyone outside our Kind. Fae don't even have mates. I know this Fae personally. After all, she attended the same academy as I did, hiding as an Omega in the Shadow Moon Pack. And if there's one thing she’s known for, it’s being an exceptional liar. She may have used Fae magic to manipulate you into believing she’s your mate.”
“You think so?” King Sven raises a brow at that. His face remains unreadable, and it makes it difficult for me to have an idea of what he might be thinking.
“I know so, King Sven.” Adrian assures him, bringing his gaze filled with nothing but hatred to me. “You think her power lies dormant, but I believe she’s already awakened it, and she’s using her magic to hide the truth from us. That’s why she needs to be dealt with immediately. You know as well as I do… Fae should never be trusted.”
King Sven's expression twists into an amused smile. “That's an interesting take on it.” He turns to his Gammas. “How many agree she should be disposed of?”
Wait… what? Is he actually going to kill me if his Gammas vote in support of it? What about our deal? The child he made me promise him? Was it all just a game to him? To drag me along, only to strike when I least expect it?
I can’t die. Not yet. Not while Kyle’s still out there with a bounty on his head. No. I won’t die. Not now.
There's mischief in king Sven's eyes as he takes in the number of people whose hands go up. Literally everyone in the room, aside Isadora, Maggi, and Gamma Caspian— the one who had recited the Katz crimes and punishment, hands are up. They all want me dead.
King Sven nods and closes the distance between us. “You brought this on yourself,” he murmurs, his hand lifting to brush against my cheek.
His touch is unexpectedly gentle, deceptively so, and for a moment I forget how to breathe.
“Now,” he adds, voice colder, “you’ve left me no choice but to follow my subjects’ will.” He doesn’t look away. “Guards!”
No. No, this can't be happening. Panic claws at my chest as I see Isadora's blank stare and Maggi’s unsettling smile. Just then, the doors to the throne room open, and the guards from earlier step in.
Without thinking, I lurch forward and grab onto King Sven’s hand that's still resting on my cheek.
“Y-you can’t just kill me... What about our deal?” I stammer.
King Sven pulls away. “What deal? I don’t recall any agreement with a Fae,” he says coldly, turning to the guards. “Take her to the dungeon. She is to be executed at first crow.”
“You can’t just do this,” I say, my voice shaking despite my best effort to stay calm. Everything feels like a nightmare I can’t wake up from.
I’ve always known King Sven was unpredictable. I’ve always known he could kill me at any moment, but this? Not like this. Not after the deal we made. Not after the bond we agreed on. Something’s off, and I can’t shake the feeling that this is just another way for him to mess with me. Maybe he’s upset with me about something.
King Sven's guards grab hold of me, but I shake them off, stepping closer to him. “What exactly are you playing at?”
“I don't play, little Fae. As a king, I'm a slave to my subject, so it's only natural I would adhere to their wishes, which is to have you executed,” He replies. There's a look in his eyes, as though he's daring me to say something. To do something… or to figure something out.
“What are you waiting for?” Adrian barks at the two guards. “Take her away.”
The guards hold my arms, and I don't fight them as they start pulling me away. My whole body trembles, but I can’t bring myself to resist. By tomorrow morning I'll be dead on King Sven's order. I'll be dead without being able to save Kyle. Without guaranteeing his safety. Tears sting at the corners of my eyes, but I can't let them fall. No. Crying only means I've accepted my fate, which I haven't. There's got to be something, anything, I can do.
“Think, Olivia,” I whisper to myself as the guards drag me out of the throne room. My fists tighten, though my hands are shaking. “I can't go down like this. I have to figure something out.”
Then it hits me…
Isadora words. 'So would you rather stay here and rot, or fight for your freedom… and maybe find your brother again.'
I fight against the guards grip, spinning around to face King Sven, still standing exactly where I left him. His smirk stretches wider when he sees me. “What’s your argument now?” he taunts.
“I don't have any,” I reply, my voice unwavering as all eyes are on me. “I want to enter the Dance of the Dead.”