Chapter 43 Home, Sweet Home?

Chapter 43 Home, Sweet Home?
CHAPTER 43: Home, Sweet Home?

Aric's POV

“She’s escaped!”

The shout echoed through the throne room before I even saw the Lycan who burst through the doors with his chest heaving and his eyes wide like the world had just ended.

“The human girl’s escaped!”

For half a second my heart stopped and then relief hit me so hard I feared it'll be visible on my face.

Caspian did it!

I forced my face into a mask of shock and fury even as a warm and painful feeling spread through my chest. I had trusted Caspian, trusted him with the one thing I couldn’t protect openly and he hadn’t failed me. He never did.

I rose from the throne slowly, letting my claws scrape lightly against the armrest as I stood.

“What do you mean escaped?” I demanded with my voice sharp enough to sell. “How does a chained human walk out of my dungeons?”

The Lycan swallowed.

“S-someone helped her, my king. A stranger.. armored. We couldn’t identify them.”

Murmurs broke out among the gathered guards and courtiers.

“Seal the gates,” I snapped. “Send patrols to the outer forest. I want riders on every path leading away from the pack lands.”

“Yes, my king!”

I turned, already planning my next words when the throne room doors slammed open so hard the walls shook.

Vespera stormed in.

She looked like fury given flesh with eyes blazing and her lips pulled tight as if she was holding back a scream.

“So,” she said coldly with her gaze locking onto mine, “it seems the little human rat slipped her cage.”

I didn’t blink.

“Thats the message I've just received.”

She laughed sharply.

“Don’t insult me by pretending ignorance, Aric. The guards say a stranger helped her.. a stranger who moved like a trained high Lycan. Care to explain how that happened? Where you've been?”

Darius stepped forward before I could speak.

“Aric has been here all along,” he said, frowning. “He hasn’t moved from the throne.”

Vespera’s eyes flicked to him.

“Then he had someone do it for him,” she snapped. “Do you really think I’m stupid?”

“Leave,” I warned her with my voice dropping.

She stepped closer instead.

“You planned this,” she hissed. “You think you’re clever. You think you can play me and the council at the same time.”

My guards moved in without being told with their claws extending with low growls rolling from their chests as they flanked her.

“Out,” I said quietly.

Vespera’s face contorted into pure anger.

“This isn’t over,” she said. “We shall see who wins in the end.”

She turned sharply and left with her heels striking the floor like a threat.

The moment she was gone, I waved my guards away and walked out without another word. I didn’t stop until I reached my private quarters and Caspian was already there.

He stood near the window with his armor gone, looking tired but solid like a wall that refused to crack.

“She’s away,” he said simply. “Well clear of the borders and she’ll reach the human gates by dawn.”

I closed my eyes and let out a breath I felt like I’d been holding for days.

“Thank you.”

He nodded once, then hesitated.

“She asked me to tell you something.”

My chest tightened.

“Say it.”

Caspian met my eyes.

“She said she never lied about loving you. Not once. She said she’s sorry she couldn’t fix this and she said you’re not alone… even if she’s far away.”

Something broke inside me. I turned away before he could see it, gripping the edge of the table as the weight of it crushed down on me. I wanted to hate her. Gods, I wanted to. She’d raised a blade against my heart after all but all I felt was love.. and loss.

“She’ll be safer without me,” I muttered.

Caspian didn’t argue and when he left, the room felt emptier than it ever had.

I sank into a chair and stared at nothing, knowing I had just lost the one thing that made all of this bearable.



Seraphine's POV

“Stop right there and identify yourself!”

The shout rang out as the horse slowed beneath me. I pulled back on the reins with dust rising as I came to a halt just outside the massive gates of the human kingdom.

“I’m Seraphine Vale,” I said, lifting my chin. “Open the gates.”

The guards stiffened and then kne of them squinted at me, then his eyes widened.

“It’s her!”

The gates creaked open and I was waved through with one guard riding ahead of me as an escort. I followed with my back straight even though every stare felt alarming.

People whispered as I passed, some looked shocked, some angry and some… afraid.. my own people.

By the time we reached the palace, my jaw ached from how tightly I was holding it. I was told to wait outside while a guard went in to announce me.

When I was finally summoned, I entered to see King Greyjoy rigid on his throne with his face displaying visible fury and his advisor Rowan standing beside him with his lips pressed thin.

“So,” the king said coldly, “the girl returns.”

“I have information...” I started.

“Silence,” Rowan snapped. “You speak when spoken to.”

I clenched my fists.

Greyjoy rose slowly.

“We sent you as a bride,” he thundered. “And you repaid us by attempting to murder the Lycan King and dragging us back into war!”

“That’s not what happened...”

“Enough!” he roared. “You’ve done enough damage.”

My uncle wasn’t there. I scanned the room with my chest sinking when I realized he was absent.

“Your fate will be decided when Magnus returns,” Greyjoy continued. “Until then, you will be confined to your old house under guard. I don't have much time to waste on you now and we won’t have you spying for the Lycans.”

The words hurt more than I expected. I bowed stiffly and turned away.

The walk through the streets felt worse than the ride through the forest. People whispered openly now.

“Abomination.”

“She lay with the Lycan King.”

“Disgusting.”

I kept my head high even when my eyes burned and just as we reached my old house, a familiar voice drawled behind me smoothly and amused.

“You came home and didn’t look for me?” it said. “Oh, I’m hurt…”