Chapter 213 Their Tragic End

Chapter 213 Their Tragic End
Adrian’s POV

Liana moved faster than I expected.

She threw herself in front of Kira, arms spread wide like a shield. Selene’s claws…extended and deadly…sank deep into Liana’s stomach with a sickening sound. Blood instantly soaked through her clothes.

Liana gasped, but her face… Goddess, her face held the strangest mix of agony and pure satisfaction. 

Tears streamed down her cheeks as blood bubbled from her lips. “My princess… I told you I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you. I kept my promise.”

Kira’s voice cracked with disbelief. “I didn’t ask you to! You would’ve died anyway…why play the tragic hero?!”

And that is true. She would have died anyway without her wolf. To think that she killed her own mate because of her obsession with Abby? 

That's some next level crazy.

Selene howled in pure rage and yanked her hand back, flinging Liana aside like trash. 

The girl crashed hard onto the blood-soaked ground, still trying to speak, still reaching weakly toward Kira. Her mouth moved, but no more words came. Her eyes fluttered once… then closed forever.

“Ariston!” Selene screamed, voice shrill and unhinged. “Do something! Why are you just standing there like a fucking loser?! Must I tell you everything?”

Ariston growled and took one step forward like a puppet.

That was all he got.

I pounced on him with every ounce of fury I possessed. He wasn’t even a match. 

Within seconds I had him slammed to the ground, my boot pressed hard against his throat. He choked and thrashed pathetically beneath me, eyes bulging with terror.

A shrill cry behind me made me spin around in panic…Kira…but the sight that met my eyes made my heart swell with fierce pride.

She had Selene pinned to the ground, one knee on the woman’s chest, claws at her throat and blood seeping through her fingers.

“This,” she said, bending low before driving a vicious slap across Selene's face. Her claws sliced skin as they dragged across Selene's cheek, leaving behind a thin trail of blood.

“Is for Arabella.”

Before Selene could recover, another slap snapped her head to the side. “This is for my father.”

A third. “For my mother.”

A fourth. “For every innocent life you've ruined.”

Another. “For this kingdom.”

Another.“For every family you destroyed.”

Another. “For every tear, every grave, every nightmare that carries your name.”

Selene's head whipped from side to side under the relentless slaps. Blood stained her lips and cheeks, but for once, the venomous remarks she always seemed to have ready never came.

She couldn't.

The fury in front of her was overwhelming. Kira grabbed a fistful of her hair and forced her head up.

Her eyes blazed with a terrifying calm.

“Do you know what's funny?” she asked softly. “You spent years manipulating people into dancing to the beat of your drum.”

Her grip tightened. “Now look at you, Selene. Nobody is coming to save you. How utterly pathetic.”

Selene passed out cold on the ground before she could find the strength to say something. 

Around us, the battlefield was clearing fast. Our warriors had crushed the last of the feral rogues. The night smelled of victory, blood, and smoke.

I kept my foot on Ariston’s neck and called out to her, voice rough with pride. “What do you want me to do with these fools, my Queen?”

Kira looked up at me, a dangerous little smirk playing on her lips. “It's not in my place to make that call. But… I do want them sent to my father as a gift. He would love to be their executioner.”

I smirked right back. “Copy that, Your Highness.”

I mind-linked Thomas and Philip immediately. ‘Finish up and prepare the little presents. Send them to Tristen Ravenwood immediately with our regards.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

I finally let myself relax a fraction. I lifted Kira off Selene with ease, scooping her into my arms like she weighed nothing as the guys took over. She didn’t protest…just wrapped her arms around my neck.

“You’re such a warrior princess,” I teased softly as I carried her back toward the palace, stepping carefully over fallen bodies. 

The floodlights were slowly dimming as our men moved efficiently, disposing of the rogue corpses. No major casualties on our side. Ariston and his deranged wife had actually done us a favor by delivering themselves right to our doorstep.

Kira grinned up at me, still buzzing with adrenaline. “I can’t help it. I was born for this. Why did the fight end so soon? I was having so much fun.”

I chuckled, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You’re unbelievable.”

The palace lights came back on one section at a time as we entered. I headed straight for our chambers and then into the bathroom, not setting her down until we reached the large tub.

I started helping her strip, fingers gentle on the blood-stained clothes.

“I’ve got it,” she protested, trying to push my hands away.

“Silly girl. Relax. I’ll do it.” I kissed her shoulder. “I want to do it. I want to wash every trace of this nightmare off you. I don’t want you to ever have to face something like that again. I want to be the king of a realm where my queen never has to go to war.”

“But what if I want to fight?” She protested.

“Then you can fight me…in bed,” I whispered, smiling softly as she blushed trying to hit my arm.

She let me help her into the warm water, sighing softly as she sank in. 

While I bathed her, she started yapping excitedly. “Did you see that spin-kick I used on Selene? I learned it during training with the warriors! And the way I pinned her…that was straight from Thomas’s technique. I can’t believe it actually worked in a real fight!”

I smiled, voice low and rough. “I saw everything, baby. You were incredible.”

I smiled the whole time, listening to her animated voice. I loved how thrilled and proud she sounded. My fierce, bloodthirsty little mate.

My hands moved lower as I washed her, cupping her full breasts, thumbs circling her hardened nipples with slow, deliberate strokes. She arched into my touch, biting her lip, but kept talking.

“And when I…mmh…grabbed her hair and slammed her down…” Her words faltered as I kneaded her breasts gently, massaging the soap into her skin, watching the way her nipples pebbled under my fingers.

“You’re so fucking wet for me already,” I murmured, even though we were in water. I could smell her arousal rising above the soap. 

My hands slid lower, over the soft curve of her belly where our pup was growing, then down her thighs. I spread her legs gently and ran my palms up the inside of them, teasingly close to her core but never quite touching.

“Adrian…” she breathed, hips shifting restlessly in the water.

I leaned in, lips brushing her ear. “I know, love. But not tonight. Tonight I just want to worship you.”

I washed every inch of her with slow, possessive strokes…between her thighs, over her ass, down her calves. 

My fingers grazed her swollen clit once, twice, just enough to make her whimper and grip the edge of the tub. Her eyes fluttered shut, lips parted, looking so beautifully flushed and needy.

“You have no idea how proud I am of you,” I whispered, rinsing her with warm water, letting it cascade over her breasts.“You did so well today, my queen.”

She didn't say anything. Just smiled up at me with a satisfied expression on her face.

When I was done, I lifted her out, wrapped her in a soft towel, and carried her to the bedroom. 

I dried her thoroughly…taking my time patting her breasts, her stomach, between her legs until she was squirming again. 

Then I slipped one of my oversized white shirts over her head, loving how it swallowed her frame and carried my scent.

I tucked her into bed and kissed her deeply, slow and hungry, before pulling back.

“You worked so hard tonight. You did so well. Get some rest, my love.”

Her hand shot out, grabbing mine. “You’re not joining me?”

“I need to handle a few things first…make sure everything is in order. I’ll be back soon.”

“Don’t be long,” she murmured, already sounding sleepy and satisfied.

My heart clenched with pure joy that I lived to see a day like this. 

I bent down and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. “I won’t.”

I had barely stepped out of the room when Thomas’s voice came through the mind-link.

‘Your Majesty… we have a problem.’