Chapter 81 Chapter 80
Evelyn.
His words tore at my heart, but his actions were worse. I stared at him, unbelievably stunned. Is this the way he pushed my sister away, his first mate? Things started to fall into place once that thought took root and I trembled all over, my heart splintering. Unable to speak, I staggered to my feet, picking up my things and got set to leave. Turning back to look at him, I saw he still his hands on his face and I sniffed, cleaning off the tears on my face before walking out.
I met Duke Ethan on his way in into the chambers and he froze, seeing me walk away. "Is everything alright?" He asked when he saw my demeanor, glancing at the cage. "What happened?"
"He's back in his human form." Was all I could mutter before I walked past him, getting out of the secluded chambers. It felt like a knife was cutting into my flesh at every step. When I made it a short distance from the secluded chambers, I stopped, still surrounded by darkness. I looked behind me, my gaze fixed on the huge rusty door, tears still streaming down my cheeks.
Sometimes, I wonder why I still bother with him.
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Alpha King Kieran
As I watched the door to the secluded chambers swing shut behind Evelyn, I was left with an unsettling mix of emotions. The air seemed to hang heavy with the weight of our conversation. She had left the chambers, her eyes swollen from tears, and her expression a tumultuous storm of sadness and anger. I knew I had hurt her with my words, but the truth was a bitter blade that cut both ways.
In the aftermath of her departure, I stood within the confines of the cage, my gaze fixed on the place where she had been moments before. Her presence lingered, like a whisper of warmth in the cold silence of this torturous chamber. Her tears, the pain in her eyes, they clawed at me, making me question the choices I had made.
It was then that Duke Ethan walked in, the creaking of the door a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere that had settled within. His eyes met mine, sharp and probing, and he wasted no time in addressing the evident turmoil on my face.
"Your majesty." He hastily bowed, his voice tinged with respect before launching into his tirade of questions. "What transpired between you two to draw such an expression from Evelyn?" he inquired, his voice tinged with concern. His question hung in the air, demanding an answer.
I, however, didn't oblige. Instead, I rose to my feet, the chains rattling in response. My eyes bore into his, unyielding. Slipping out of them, I walked to the edge of the cage, watching as Duke Ethan helped me unlock it. I stepped out to it, feeling some of the weight lift from my shoulders. Draping the sheet tighter around my body, I glanced at Ethan, my gaze narrowed. "How long has she been here?" I questioned, my voice heavy with a grave sense of unease.
"Three days," Ethan replied, his brow furrowing as he watched me closely. "She's been with you since you lost control and didn't leave, not even once."
Three days. The realization hit me like a tidal wave. Evelyn had remained by my side, unwavering, even though her own life had been in danger. The fact confused me more than it should have. Why would she do something like that? She should have been my enemy, should have loathed me. Instead, she stayed, taking care of me. It was confounding, to say the least.
I remembered the bandage on her arms and glanced at him. "What happened with her arm?" I questioned, my voice laced with confusion.
Ethan's response was swift. "You attacked her. Gave her that wound." He watched me closely, seemingly searching for any signs of recognition in my eyes. "You don't remember, do you?"
I pursed my lips, walking past him as thoughts swirled in my mind. My gaze darted around and chilling memories of the unspeakable terrors I endured in this place, filled my mind, causing me to tense all over.
"So... she knows about this place?" I asked, shifting the focus of our conversation. The secluded chambers, which I often referred to as 'the torture room,' was a well-kept secret, and its existence was known to very few, my most trusted men. It was where I spent first few years of my life, enduring unspeakable terrors from the hand of my own father.
Ethan's answer was a simple nod. "Yes, she does."
Normally, anyone who learned about the existence of this place would be killed immediately but this situation was far from normal. It had been a real shock to wake up and see Evelyn the her face coated in tears as she slept on the cold hard floor, curled into herself, as she worried for me.
After her attempt to kill me, I had believed she hated me so much she wanted me dead. The period just before I lost control of my wolf had been an incredibly dark period of my life. I stared at my arms, noting the huge cut wounds that marred it, and the purple veins they were still scattered around my skin. I has really tried to bed myself. Pathetic.
"Are you not going to talk to her about this?" Ethan asked as he followed behind me, his gaze on me. Ethan observed me, his expression one of concern. "You can't keep hiding and acting like you don't need help, you know it's not helping anyone." He stressed and I paused in my steps, glancing at him.
"Please, you put all of us in a major fright when you lost control days ago." He continued, his gaze filled with worry and concern. "We don't want it to repeat itself again, when you can easily prevent it. Especially now, when the peace of the kingdom seems to be hanging in a balance. You've worked too hard to let it all slip away." His words carried a veiled warning, a reminder of the complexities that had arisen in our lives.
I turned my gaze away, walking out of the of the room, leaving the secluded chambers behind. The echoes of our conversation, the enigmatic presence of Evelyn, and the tumultuous emotions within me remained, as I walked back to the my 'normal' chambers. I thought about Evelyn once more, and j let out a breath.
Surprisingly, I didn't see the look of disdain in her eyes. Like she was enjoying my suffering. Just raw pain and grief. Emotions that were the same with the one swirling inside of me.
"I can't afford to lose anymore." She had said, crying. Is that referring it me? I was too scared to hope. I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of my decisions settling heavily on my shoulders.
"You can leave now, I'll call you when I need to." I said to Ethan once we got to my chambers.