Chapter 65 Moonbound. Bloodbound
A long isuee followed then Lord Baelish thundered.
“No. That's not possible…”
“I have confirmed it, Lord Baelish.” Raven said. “Will your queen lie to her council?” Her tone was firm.
She wiped her fake tears with the back of her hand, watching her story plant doubts within them.
“I felt it earlier. The werewolf carries something… forbidden, my council.” Raven added, as if it wasn't enough.
“We cannot take this. If what the queen says is true, Duke Octavuo should be stripped of his title and banished from Ravencroft.” One man charged; the others nodded agreeably. Chattering between themselves.
After a short while, they all turned to her, their eyes glaring with fury.
“Your majesty, if your claim is true, where's the girl? We should send her back to her pack immediately.” Someone said.
“Yes.” They roared in unison.
Raven smiled coyly. “Not so much, my lord.” She is pacing slowly, circling them—the round table. “The matter is more complicated than you think, dear vampires.”
They're between tilted with unspoken words, curiosity peaking.
“You see… your late king has defiled the throne and our tradition. ” She began. “The werewolf seduced him, and…” she stopped before them, her eyes lowering slightly. “They mated.”
Before Raven could press further, they went berserk, their expressions carrying disgust towards Valerio and Octavio.
She enjoyed every bit of the argument.
All she wanted was to make the council strip Valerio and Octavio of their titles to make her reign last.
If they were to be in the picture, she'd be dead or banished. Possibly, Evyths would take her place as Queen if Valerio manages tweak the decrees.
Raven feared losing, being disposable.
“This is treason!” Lord Viremont yelled louder. “WE cannot accept this.”
“Nor will I, Lord Viremont.” Raven stated. “Allow me to handle the matter. You all shall hear from me tomorrow.”
“Your majesty, the royal blood has been stained with our enemy's blood.” Someone chimed in impatiently. “Waiting is weakness…”
They nodded.
“Simmer down.” Raven gestured at them. “Revenge is better served when cold.”
With that, Raven vanished, leaving the men uneasy with thoughts. What they've heard was abominable; it deserved punishment.
Unbeknownst to them, Raven was plotting harder than they knew.
…
On the other hand, Vance rushed to Octavio immediately when Raven released him from the plague.
“Octavio sized him up, sensing the wave of tension in his expression. The king's guard was usually apt and unshaken.
“Speak.”
Vance bowed slightly. “We encountered a problem.”
Octavio's voice rose. “How?”
“The omega couldn't cure the commander. She collapsed. When I brought her back to the castle, the queen found us first.” Vance paused, his gaze softening. “She took her.”
Octavio stood, fury coursing through him.
“Not possible. You let her?”
“I was paralyzed. I couldn't withstand it.” Vance bowed, jaws clenching.
Octavio's hands balled into tight fists, frowning.
“Where do you think she had gone with Evthys?” Octavio controlled his tone.
“Her temple. Perhaps.”
Octavio glanced at Valerio, who was still sleeping. It would take him approximately a week to function normally.
His heart had been frozen for too long; his veins were already drying up, making him paler.
He couldn't fight Raven even if he tried; he could only stall her.
Valerio was the only one fully immune to her sorcery. And if Lucian were better, he could have stood a chance with Raven as well.
The options were slimmer, his thoughts jagged as he looked at Vance once more.
“Is that all?”
“For now, your grace,” said Vance. I shall return if there's progress.
“Good.” Octavio said, tiring to Valerio. His best friend and brother.
No matter how swift he planned, Raven was constantly five steps ahead. Her sorcery was her biggest advantage, and the council had failed to understand that she was only manipulating them into shifting royalty to her bloodline.
…
Meanwhile, Evthys had been silent, her thoughts failing to produce an answer. Was the moon goddess punishing her for saving the vampire prince?
Did she bring calamity upon herself?
Evthys 'wondered.
“Why are you here?” A familiar voice broke out from the extreme, startling Evthys'. Her gaze darted from the direction of the voice, and she realized that someone had been kneeling, arms spread, wrists tied to heavy chains.
The corner was dark and eerie.
“Who—who are you?” Evthys? she asked, her tone shaky.
“Why? Do you want to have a laugh?”
Now Evthys ' pieced it it was Queen Elena, Valerio's mother.
Evthys was shocked; her blood ran cold.
“Your Majesty?” Evthys' voice came as a whisper.
“Not anymore, the woman said silently. “You have not answered me. Why are you here?”
Evthys 'hesitated. What if it were a trap? Last she checked, Queen Elena was close with Queen Raven.
Elena clanked her chairs, whimpering, suppressing her distressed moans under her breath.
“Is my son dead?”
Evthys 'said nothing, contemplating.
“I felt the storm roar some time ago; dawn broke with dark clouds.” Elena paused. “Is he… dead?”
“Maybe.”
Elena slightly lifted her head weakly; her neck cracked. It had been a while since she stood erect.
Her bones were numb, and her skin shrunk.
“Is that hope?”
Evthys swallowed, a part of her kicking against the idea to speak.
“That is all I have seen, your majesty.”
It was neither the truth nor a lie.
“I’ve seen how he looks at you. I saw it in my dreams how… bright he was with you. I… I broke his heart, killed his father with my greed.” She said. “D’Arcy will never look at me again.”
Evthys understood her pain. Valerio was still angry about what she had done, but did he know that Raven had captured her? And for how long had she been chained in Raven's temple? Why?
It didn't feel right. They used to be partners.
If anyone sought revenge, that should have been Elena since Raven spilled the beans.
“Your majesty—”
“Don't… call me that,” Elena cut in firmly yet calmly.
Evthys’ eyes darted to the walls, unfamiliar symbols scribbled on them with pain. Grief. Anger.
“But you remain his mother.”
“And you can't decide that now.” Elena said. “I deserve what I got.”
“Why are you here? You should… be in your chamber…”
Elena shifted, and the chains clanked harshly. A chill ran down Evthys' spine. Maybe she had said too much. She thought.
Although Elena was only adjusting.
“You don't have to know.” Valerio's mother muttered. “I deserve what I got. And…”
She stopped, as if rethinking.
“Fate is rewriting itself again.”
Evthys' lips parted. “Fate? How?”
Elena, for the first time, chuckled dryly. Sadly.
“Two nations weaved in your veins. Moonbound. Bloodbound.” Elena’s voice began to fade. “Leave Ravencroft if given the chance.”
Evthys' face squeezed, her heart thumping harder now, trying to understand.
“I- I- I don't understand…”
“Run, Evthys. That's how you'll know.”