Chapter 99 She breaks rules.

Chapter 99 She breaks rules.
Chapter 9: She Breaks Rules 

It couldn't be possible that Evyths had known joined the pieces, Leon thought silently. 
Leon remained still, his jaw ticking. It wasn't fear; it was wariness. Yet he could not break before her; he could not let her trace the crack in his expression.

“You have not answered my question, your majesty.” Evyths said.

Leon blinked. “I see you know just more than enough information for someone your kind,”

Evyths scoffed, her arms crossed loosely. “Admit it; that is all I ask. And if you must know, I have witnessed Lady Blackwin’s dark sorcery. I have been captured once by the hunters; I have experienced their brutality. So, I know just enough or more…”

That did it. He furrowed.

“And you think that telling you about it could immediately fix everything?” Leon flared up.

“No, I cannot fix everything, but I could help. It is why I am here, your majesty—”

“Enough!” He yelled, the veins on his neck stretched. “Enough, Evyths!” He stated, much closer now. “You have no idea what is at play in the shadows. I…” he groaned; his voice dropped. “I carry all the darkness of Davendale on my shoulders. You know why?”

He paused, his words hanging heavily between them while she remained silent. Her thoughts rattled within her.

“That is what kings do. They absorb it all. And you…” His gaze sized her up like it was his first. “You are no king. You cannot understand…” He said quietly. She swallowed hard.

"I-I am not trying to overstep, King Leon…”

“Evyths,” he called impatiently, holding out his hand briefly. “Do not interfere more than you have.” He straightened, leveling her gaze with his. “Or it will destroy you.”

What did he mean by that? What could possibly destroy her that had not already destroyed her before?

Evyths did not want to accept that anything could destroy her – especially coming from him or any of the werewolves like they did before. 

Evyths' face squeezed tightly; her hand unconsciously flew over her belly. 

“Destroy me?” Her voice darkened. “You think… your secret can destroy me? After everything, haven't you destroyed me enough?” 

“Same old tale Evyths, outgrow it. You are only privileged to be chosen by the goddess, not ordained…” he snapped casually, noticing the subtle shift in her expression, her fingers twitching.

Evyths huffed. “Oh.” She let out. “Just the way Luna, your wife, had been ordained to curse us all?”

Leon’s gaze narrowed skeptically. “Wh-what curse?”

“That is not my story to tell.”

“I command it…” he pressed, his voice laced with sudden frustration.

“Ask your wife—”

Before Evyths could add another word, Leon exited the war room, her mind racing with thoughts. The king made his way straight to Luna's chamber without looking back. 

Although he could have doubted Evyths, for once, something clicked. He had intentionally provoked Evyths to deflect her unending questions, but what curse was she referring to that he didn't know? 

Some time later, the tension that she had left behind still hovered above her. From the grim air that bit her cheeks to her uneasy belly. 

Right after Leon had insulted her in the war room, she felt the detachment. The need to react. 

'Order,’ the word rang in her head while she stared at him until she could no longer tolerate his statement.

Evyths paced the scanty hallway that led to the king's study. She was certain that the answers that she sought were in the letter. Evyths could feel her conviction gnawing at her. 

When she stopped, her eyes fell on a small portrait just inches above Davendale’s crest on the wall. 
She drew closer, looking deeply. The image was a crying lady with black tears, seated on a hill.

“Black… tears?” She asked herself, searching through her memory for answers.

Only Raven cried black tears. And apparently, the drawing on the wall wasn't Raven. And so, who was this woman and what did it mean?

Immediately, Evyths turned to her right, beckoning at an enforcer. At first the huge werewolf hesitated before approaching.

“I am not to leave my duty post–”

“It will be quick. Please.” She cut in as her eyes shifted to the portrait again. “This lady, who was she?”

Guessing his vacant expression behind his iron helmet, he bluntly replied. “No one knows her. Just the royal…”

“Royal family?” Evyths asked, still uncertain. “Was she royalty?”

“I do not have access to the information you seek, my lady. I'll return to my duty post.” With that, the enforcer moved away.

Yet, Evyths was dissatisfied. First, it was the letter. Second, the king's secret meeting with Raven and now a drawing that carried an element of Raven? Who really was Raven to Leon? Did they already have a backstory?

Evyths thought deeper, a string of concerns laced through her mind. Either way, she had to find out the truth and help Davendale before it became too late. 

Moving away from the wall, she heard heavy, hurried footsteps walking in her direction. Evyths' eyes fell on Adler's frame. Angry.

Her brow raised suspiciously. “How could you?”

“How could I… what?”

“Oh, do not feign your actions, Evyths. You know exactly what I speak of.” Adler's voice deepened.

Although Evyths had suspected that Leon could have made an outburst, she hoped he didn't. Not yet. 

“Please, tell me, what is my crime?” Calmly, she asked. 

Adler scoffed; a humorless laugh escaped his mouth as he took a moment to assess the atmosphere. 

“What really is your purpose in Davendale?” His tone sharpened.

“The goddess—”

“Or your thirst to ruin our lives as punishment?” He blurted.
Evyths' face loosened, wondering why Adler would say that. 

“Ruin your lives? I would never…”

“But you did.” He snapped, barely holding her gaze. “You arrived, dug in, exploited our weaknesses and misery, did you not?”

Evyths shook her head slowly, unable to speak. 

“No?”

"No,” she stated. “ You are wrong, Adler —”

“Bloody hell, you are lying, Evyths.” He interrupted instantly. A cold breeze wafted across the intense atmosphere. “You did not have to tell my father about my mother's secret. She could have handled it. You enjoy the chaos, and so you chastise us, and we make ourselves pay…”

“Watch your tone, Adler, I would never do that. The king…” She paused, the rest of the words trailing off.

“The king what?” he blurted. “If you must know, ever since you set foot in here, everything has changed. Everything reacted to your presence. I have even forgotten what it means to be myself again.”

His fingers slid through his hair, frustration etched across his features. 

He finally looked at her, anger evident in his eyes. 

“Davendale is already wounded,” his voice dropped, and everything else too. “And you are salting it.”

Adler turned around and left; his cloak rustled with every step that he took until he was out of sight.
She had expected everything but this. Not Adler blaming her for his parents finally confronting the truth they had buried for years.

To her, she had to learn the root of the problem, but maybe she had gone too far, she thought. 

The look in his eyes—he's never looked at her that way. Like, she did not mean anything. Like she did not deserve to be chosen or ordained by the goddess. 

Maybe the king and his son were right. This wasn't really what she was destined to do. She should be a guide when it matters, a warrior, and not a warrior to fight enemies.

She rubbed her belly, like it was the only calm to her storm. Really, it was. 
Turning on her heel to leave, she caught a glimpse of study of partially opened.

She could have sworn that it had been locked earlier. And if the king had entered it, she could have known too. 

Evyths paused, taking a moment to think. Maybe she did not really pay attention or… or nothing. It couldn't be possible, she assured herself.

Surveying the tight-lipped hallway, she slipped into the study as the door slammed before she could reach it. A loud thud that made her heart drop.

‘...I knew you could always find me…’