Chapter 151 Take the Queens - Craven's POV

Chapter 151 Take the Queens - Craven's POV
Craven
My father stopped just ten feet away. For a moment, no one moved.

I stared at him, trying to understand what Mira had just said. My father had been standing there the entire time, and I hadn't even noticed him.

His gaze moved from Mira to Corwin, and something in his expression changed. It wasn’t surprise or even confusion, but fear.

My stomach dropped.

“What did you do?” Corwin asked.

My father didn't answer. That was enough to tell that he was guilty, and it was just as Mira said.

Corwin's arm tightened around Adele again, and she flinched against him. I immediately noticed it, and my anger returned.

“Father,” I drawled.

His eyes moved to me. I had never seen him look at me the way he did in that moment, as if he was looking at a problem he had thought was long gone.

“What did you do?” I repeated.

He glanced at Mira. She was watching him now, and there was no sadness left in her expression, only anger.

“You know what you’ve done,” she breathed.

My father's face hardened. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Liar.”

The word came from Corwin. I looked at my brother. He was no longer looking at Adele or me. His attention was entirely on our father.

“What did you do to her?”

My father finally looked at him. “I did nothing.”

Mira laughed. It was quiet, but there was something cold about it.

“You didn't do anything?” She asked.

My father's eyes narrowed. “I didn't kill you.”

“No.” Mira took another step into the room. “You didn't, but you were behind the ones who came here. You’re the one who wanted Craven gone and for Corwin to blame him.”

Corwin's gaze moved between them.

Corwin's gaze moved between them.

I watched the realization slowly settle across his face, and for the first time since I had seen him, he looked completely lost.

“You sent them?” he asked.

My father didn't answer. Corwin's expression twisted as he took another step forward. His arm remained around Adele, but his hold had loosened slightly, as if he had forgotten she was even there.

“You sent them to the castle?”

“I did not send anyone to the castle,” he replied softly.

“Then who did?”

My father's jaw tightened.

Mira's eyes narrowed. “You know exactly who.”

“I don't,” he said with no hesitation.

“You were the one who ordered it.”

My father's gaze snapped toward her. “Watch yourself.”

Mira didn't move. I had never seen anyone speak to my father like that, and I couldn't decide if I was impressed or terrified for her.

“You are the king,” she continued. “You knew what they were planning. You knew they were coming, and you did nothing to stop them.”

“That isn't what happened.”

“Then tell us what did.”

There was only silence. My father looked around the room, and I could see the calculations taking place behind his eyes. He was trying to figure out what we knew, what Mira remembered, what Corwin had been told, and what he could still hide.

I knew that look and had seen it my entire life while I was here. My father never said anything unless it benefited him.

“What are you waiting for?” I asked. “You were so quick to blame me for the attack. You told Corwin that I was the reason everything happened. So explain it.”

My father looked at me. “You were the reason they came.”

My hands curled into fists. “There it is again. Blaming me when you’re the one who ordered it.”

“You were out of control.”

“I know.” My voice came out quieter than I had expected. That seemed to catch him off guard. I took another step forward. “I know what I did. I have never denied it. I lost control, and people died because of me. I was punished for it. I was banished. I spent years on that island because of it.”

My gaze flicked toward Corwin. “But you didn't just let me take the blame for what I did. You let him believe I caused something I didn't.”

Corwin's eyes moved to me.

For a moment, neither of us said anything.

I could see the confusion on his face, but there was something else there now, too. Something that looked dangerously close to regret. I didn't want it. I didn't need it. Whatever Corwin had believed about me for all these years had been his choice, even if our father had given him the lie to believe.

My father, however, wasn't finished.

“You were the reason they came,” he repeated, his voice firmer this time. “Your bloodlust had already made you a danger to this kingdom. They knew what you were. They knew what you had done.”

“That still doesn't explain why you allowed them to attack the castle. You had the power to stop it.”

His gaze hardened. I could feel the tension spreading through the room. The vampires who had been standing between us were still there, but none of them seemed willing to move. They were watching my father now, waiting to see what he would do.

My father looked at them. Something was about to happen.

“Father,” I drawled.

His gaze returned to mine, and I knew then he had something planned.

“Kill him.”

Everything happened at once. I barely had time to react before the vampires nearest to me moved. Weapons were drawn, and I stepped backward, my hand reaching for the sword at my side.

“Craven!”

I heard one of the men behind me shout my name, but I was already moving.

The first vampire came at me, and I caught his blade before it reached me. My body reacted before my mind could catch up. I twisted his wrist and drove my elbow into his throat, sending him stumbling backward.

Then another was there and another. The room was in utter chaos. I caught a flash of movement from the corner of my eye and saw Corwin shove Adele behind him.

“Take the queens,” my father ordered. “Both of them and imprison my heir.”

My head snapped toward him. “What?”