Chapter 26 Chapter 26

Chapter 26 Chapter 26
Ashley
Neither of them looked at me. Ethonian kept her eyes fixed on the king, and Paul stood beside her, just as quiet. It felt like I didn’t even exist to them anymore.
“Have you seen these two before?” the king asked.
My chest tightened, I looked at Ethonian again, hoping she would meet my eyes, that I would find some sign of the friend I trusted.
But she didn’t look at me. A painful thought crossed my mind. Did she betray me? My throat felt dry as I slowly nodded. “Yes,” I answered.
“Good,” the king said, sounding satisfied.
He turned to Ethonian. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
Ethonian shifted slightly, then stepped forward. For a brief second, she glanced at me, but her expression was unreadable. “I went to serve her lady, like I serve the other mistresses in the palace,” she began. Her voice was steady and calm . “She asked me if there was a witch in the pack. I told her I didn’t know anything about that.”
I stared at her, my heart sinking. Why was she saying this?
“But she didn’t stop asking,” Ethonian continued. “She kept pushing me to help her find one. She said she knew it was treason, and if she asked around herself, she might get caught.”
My hands slowly curled into fists at my sides, this wasn’t how it happened.
“She became desperate,” Ethonian said, lowering her gaze slightly, as if recalling something painful. “One day, she locked the door and told me that if I refused to help her, she would accuse me of something and have me thrown out of the kingdom.”
My eyes widened in shock. What?
“I was scared,” she added softly. “So I went to Paul for help. He said we should do what she wanted so she wouldn’t harm me. But after she left, I reported everything.”
The room went silent, i felt like the ground had been pulled from under me. I stared at her, unable to believe what I was hearing. This was the same person who had held my hands, who had encouraged me, who had promised to help me.
How could she stand there and say all this? What had I ever done to deserve this?
“That’s not true!” I shouted, my voice breaking as anger and hurt rushed through me. “That’s a lie, Ethonian!”
Everyone’s attention snapped back to me. “I never threatened you,” I continued, shaking my head in disbelief. “You were the one who suggested helping me. You said you knew someone—”
My voice trembled, but I didn’t stop. “You said you would help me,” I added, my eyes fixed on her, searching for any sign of guilt.
But she still wouldn’t look at me.
“Shut up!” the king’s voice thundered across the room.
I flinched, my body going still as tears streamed down my face. My chest ached, not just from fear—but from betrayal. I still couldn’t believe what Ethonian had just done.
“Both of you can leave,” the king said coldly. “I have the confirmation I need.”
My heart dropped, Ethonian and Paul turned and began walking toward the door like nothing had happened.
“Ethonian!” I shouted, my voice breaking as I took a step forward. “Come back! Tell him the truth!”
They didn’t stop. “After everything I have done for you, come back here!” I cried out desperately.
She reached the door then paused, for a second, hope flickered inside me. She slowly turned around, she smirked and then, in a small, deliberate movement, she raised her hand and flipped her middle finger at me.
“Ethon—”
Before I could finish calling her name, a sharp slap landed across my face, the sound echoed loudly in the room. Pain exploded across my cheek, and I fell hard to the ground.
“You bitch!” Abel shouted.
My ears rang as I struggled to process what had just happened. Before I could even react, there was a loud bang behind me.
I instinctively covered my ears and looked up.
Abel was on the ground, groaning and clutching his head. The king stood nearby, his expression dark. He had slammed Abel into the wall. “Touch her again,” the king growled, his voice low and dangerous, “and I will have your balls.”
The threat hung heavily in the air.
Abel quickly pushed himself up, clearly shaken but still furious. “Why can’t I hit her?” he snapped. “She’s a traitor! And she still has the nerve to lie in front of you!”
The king didn’t move. “You have no right to touch her,” he said firmly. “I will deal with her myself.”
Abel let out a frustrated scoff. “Then deal with her the same way we deal with other traitors,” he argued. “We caught her at the witch’s cabin. There’s no denying it. She should face her punishment.”
The king stepped closer to him, his presence commanding. “I am the king,” he said, his voice steady but filled with authority. “I am your Alpha. My word is final.” He paused, his gaze sharp. “I will decide her punishment. But if you lay a hand on her again, you will face me.”
Abel’s jaw tightened, his anger barely contained. Then he let out a bitter scoff. “You are only doing this because you are fucking her,” he spat. “What is so special about her cunt that it’s clouding your judgment? She is just one of those numerous bitches you fuck and don’t remember the next minute.”
I flinched at Abel’s words, my chest tightening. His hatred for me was no longer hidden—it was clear in every look, every word he spoke.
Before I could even process it, the king suddenly moved.
He grabbed Abel and lifted him off the ground like he weighed nothing, then slammed him hard against the wall again. The sound echoed through the room.
Abel groaned, but the king didn’t stop. He stepped forward and kicked him in the stomach, then again, this time catching his face. Abel collapsed, struggling to breathe.
“Since you think you are so powerful,” the king said coldly, “why don’t you challenge me to a duel and take the throne from me?”
The room went silent. Abel’s eyes widened in fear.
Everyone knew what that meant, no one who had ever challenged the king had survived.
“Go on,” the king continued, his voice calm but deadly. “I’m giving you the chance right now.”
For a moment, Abel didn’t move. Then slowly, he pushed himself up and dropped to his knees, his head bowed low in submission.
“Forgive me,” he said quickly. “I stepped out of line. I would never challenge you.”
The king didn’t respond immediately, he just stared at him for a long moment, letting the silence stretch.
Then his gaze shifted, it landed on me. My breath hitched, and I instinctively shrank back, fear gripping my entire body.
“Guards,” he called.
The door opened almost immediately, and two guards stepped inside. He pointed at me. “Take her to the dark room. Lock her there.”
My eyes widened in shock. The guards moved toward me without hesitation, grabbing my arms roughly and pulling me to my feet.
“No—please!” I cried out, panic rising fast. “I’m innocent! I swear I’m innocent!”
My voice echoed, but it meant nothing, king didn’t even look at me.
He had already turned away as they dragged me toward the door, I struggled, but their grip was too strong.
“I didn’t do anything wrong!” I screamed again, my voice breaking.
Then I heard the king speak again, this time to Abel. “I do not want you anywhere near the dark room,” he said firmly. “That is an order.” His tone left no room for argument.