Chapter 208 208

Chapter 208 208
Lorien POV
I could barely process what I’d done or how effortlessly the darkness had claimed me. The moment the guards rushed in, forcing themselves between Lucen and me, my body gave out, and I collapsed to my knees.
Auren was there before I could blink. He didn’t care about the blood, the chaos, or the gasps around us his only focus was me. His arms came around me in a desperate embrace, grounding me, pulling me back from the void I’d nearly surrendered to.
“Lorien, look at me,” he pleaded, his voice rough with panic. “Tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m okay.”
The words were hollow barely a whisper, void of truth. I didn’t believe them, and neither did he.
Queen Elara had been right.
Not even twenty-four hours had passed, and I’d already let the darkness inside me win. I was dangerous to everyone, even to him.
“You protected me,” I murmured, forcing my gaze away from Lysandra’s lifeless form sprawled across the floor. My voice trembled as I met Auren’s eyes.
“I’ll always protect you.” His hand came up to cradle my cheek, his thumb brushing away a streak of blood that wasn’t mine. His eyes searched mine, filled with worry and something deeper something unshakable.
“I don’t mean tonight,” I whispered. “I meant during the full moon. You were still cursed, still lost to it but when you saw me out there, about to be attacked, you ran to me. You stood over me, shielding me from them. Even then, you knew who I was.”
He froze, the meaning behind my words sinking in as I continued quietly, “I realized then there was no way you could have hurt her. I just... didn’t know how or when to tell you.”
My words carried through the silent room. Even though I spoke softly, every guard heard. They hesitated as they dragged Lucen toward the door, their movements stilled by the weight of what I’d said.
Auren’s expression flickered shock, grief, disbelief before he exhaled, shaking his head. He slid an arm around my waist, helping me to my feet. “Then it’s done. We’ll never have to face that again. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
I let him guide me toward the exit, trying not to look down at the dark streaks across the floor. Still, the sickening squelch beneath my boots made bile rise in my throat.
“Where are you taking me? What about Lucen?” I asked, glancing back. A group of guards had already surrounded him, their stances tense and alert.
“A life for a life,” Auren said quietly.
I heard Lucen stumble forward in alarm before Auren’s words stopped him cold. “I can hate him for it,” he continued, “but I can’t blame him for what happened under the full moon. Not when I’ve woken more than once with blood on my own hands. He took Lysandra’s life today but he did it saving yours. I can’t condemn him for that.”
“Auren, please just hear me out,” Lucen pleaded, his voice cracking.
“No,” Auren snapped, lifting a hand to silence him. “Not now. I’ve heard enough for today.” He turned to Rion. “Call a pack meeting. Now.”
I didn’t resist as Auren guided me down the corridor, his arm steadying me when my knees threatened to give way. We entered the large event hall where Elder Evric’s birthday luncheon had been held not long ago.
A few people were already there, chatting in small clusters, their laughter fading the instant they saw us. One by one, others trickled in drawn by curiosity, suspicion, and the sight of the mark on my neck.
They thought this was a celebration. None of them realized they were about to hear of betrayal.
Within minutes, the room was full every seat taken, every pair of eyes turned toward Auren. He didn’t rush to speak. He simply scanned the faces before him, his expression unreadable.
“Dark Blade,” Auren’s voice rang out, commanding silence. “There has been a traitor among us.”
A collective gasp rippled through the hall. I stayed still beside him, expression neutral, eyes sweeping the crowd for a flicker of guilt, a tremor of fear.
“It’s come to my attention,” Auren continued, “that a group within our ranks conspired to prevent the union between Lorien and me. They were willing to do anything to risk the Goddess’s curse itself to stop us from fulfilling our bond.”
His voice hardened as his gaze cut through the crowd. “They plotted in the shadows. But no longer.”
For a long moment, no one moved. The silence was absolute.