Chapter 25 Chapter 25

Chapter 25 Chapter 25

Angelina was left shocked. She heard the name. He was taking Edwina's name even though she was standing naked in front of her.

Why..why..why it had to be her!

Angelina was fuming with rage and jealousy. Although it was Hades's decision entirely, Angelina mentally blamed Edwina. She believed that Edwina seduced Hades to snatch her away from her. As a woman, she felt ashamed and disgraceful but carrying an heir was the biggest weapon now. Once she was pregnant, Hades was going to prioritize her over anyone. In this hopeful thought, Angelina endured everything to be taken by Hades.

Angelina was so ready for him, and kept biting her lips together to not make a sound in case Hades recognized her voice and left her in the middle. But the expectant intimacy wasn't bound to happen that night. Someone knocked at the king's chamber urgently,

" My King..My king...My king..."

As if someone had slapped him back to reality, Rafe moved away from her swiftly. With a grim face, Angelina had no choice but to put back her clothes. Staggering to open the door, Hades found one of the guards from the dungeon, standing with a pale face. As soon as he saw the king, he hung his head low respectfully Hades's heart began to speed up subconsciously. He growled glaring at his guard,

" SPEAK!"

The guard looked troubled but soon spoke after swallowing hard,

" My King..We..we think.. Mistress Edwina...She..she is dying.."

___________

" Did I order her death? How can you push her to death?", King Hades growled at his subordinates, his emotionless eyes fixed on the girl's downstate. Edwina's face was deathly pale as if there was no blood left in her body. Because of her excessive bleeding, she had already fainted with only two hours left to see the next sunrise. But her condition turned so bad that the guards had no choice but to notify the king first.

Hades seemed like he was going through through some internal his hands kept fisting aside. Goddess knew how many internal battles he had to tolerate to not take her in his arms right away.

Her pulse was fading slowly. Even after shouting into her ears, she didn't open her eyes. It was certain that she would die if proper medics care wasn't provided on time. A long silence passed as he lost himself, staring at her face silently. One of the guards came forward to ask again, reminding him after taking a look at her condition,

" My King! Should we.. bring her back into the castle? I am afraid that she doesn't have enough time to stay like this."

Hades couldn't bear to listen to his words anymore. The thought of her death shattered him into pieces. No! No! He couldn't let the girl die at any cost. Although it was against the rules to put the criminal back into the castle until her punishments were delivered, he couldn't let this happen. Hades opened his mouth to give his order, breathing heavily to force his emotions not to erupt,

" Bring..her..."

" Nooo! How can you give this order, My King?", Angelina was also following him into the dungeon. When she discovered Edwina's state on the ground, happiness flooded her heart. She was smiling all the time when the guards were telling her how she was going to die soon. But her happiness faded as soon as Hades wanted to give Edwina medical help.

Everyone looked behind at the bitter-faced Mistress. Facing their questionable eyes, Angelina cleared her throat to put her words more carefully,

" I mean..It is against our rules that the criminal can't go back to the castle unless she receives her punishment properly. Besides, she isn't dead yet. Why don't they continue it till sunrise? Then, we will see what we can do with her. You know, My King! Even if she dies during punishment, no one will dare to blame you."

For the first time, Hades flashed Angelina an awestruck glare. A person was dying right in front of her eyes yet she was telling them to stick to the rules. When did she become this cruel or was she always like that he didn't notice?

Before Edwina could say something, another enraging voice barged into the dungeon,

" ALPHA Edwina ISN'T IN FAULT!"

The guards all kept their heads bowed respectfully. It was Princess Laura who stormed inside the dungeon urgently, gripping something in her hands. Laura raised her voice confidently not after flashing a glare at Angelina,

" These are the evidence that she didn't write that letter. Her handwriting has proved the truth, brother. Edwina used to make the best of groceries. The letters were certainly sent from different people. Someone is trying to frame her on purpose."

Edwina quickly snatched the letters from Laura's hands. After glancing at it, his expression blackened in rage.

He blamed her wrongly..

He was the reason behind her pains..

He was the reason that she was battling with death now...

Guilt gripped his heart so tightly that he could barely think straight. Leaving the issues aside for a while, he turned back to give his order,

" We will take her back to the castle. This case will be investigated later on."

Hades spoke and already approached Edwina to lift her in his arms. But Laura's angered voice stopped him abruptly,

" NO NEED, BROTHER! Since you were determined to believe that she was the culprit, no need to shower your pity now. I can take care of her."

Laura was deeply disappointed in her brother. The loss of his mate had driven him so clueless that he was forgetting to become a judgmental king. At some point, he was making decisions blindly by listening to those who didn't care for him sincerely.

Pushing Hades aside, Laura bent over to pick up Edwina in her arms. Thanks to her powerful strength from forming a Royal bloodline, she could carry Edwina easily. Just when she stretched her leg to walk out, Hades blocked her path recklessly. His cold words carried authority,

" Laura, you have other things to do except look after her. Edwina should be taken care of by me. SHE IS MINE!"

With his final words, Hades took Edwina back in his arms and left with long strides without noticing the smile on Laura's face. Behind them, Angelina left with an ugly face and a terror heart.

Did Princess Laura find out everything?

_________

" Why don't you say anything? How is she doing now?", Hades growled at the healer who was checking on Edwina's health for the past few minutes. This time, he didn't hold back anymore. His voice was dripping with anxiety. He looked like a mess as if a storm was knocking at the door.

The best healer of the kingdom had been summoned. The staff of Red Darkling were all surprised since the healer only examined the king personally. Even other Royal members didn't have the privilege to receive medical help.

The healer replied shortly after his rumbling,

" Your Majesty! Thankfully, she was taken here on time or else the time of her survival would have been very minimal. However, the dangers are still there. I have done all the necessary things but right now, all she needs to do is heal. I am afraid that she can't do it alone due to her physical and mental condition. Only a true-blooded Alpha or her soulmate can help her with healing. Otherwise, I am not sure what might happen tomorrow."

Laura replied immediately, getting on her brother's side,

" Brother, what are you waiting for? We can't let her die just like that. Inform her pack immediately and tell them to bring her mate to our castle. You can keep her captive after she recovers tomorrow. Please, don't put your ego first in this situation. A life is more valuable than revenge on anything on earth."

Hades's expression turned complicated in several ways. She needed her mate by her side in this situation. Who was he to worry about her? Her mate would run to her as soon as he heard about her critical condition. Then, they will probably spend the night together, hugging each other or doing something more intimate.

Why did everything concern him too much?

Hades questioned his own thoughts and moral values. But as Laura said, life was more important here. Edwina muttered weakly, keeping his eyes stuck on the lying girl's face emotionally,

" I will...Tell Cohen to come here.."

__________

Another hour had passed after Edwina was left in the care of others. Her favorite was burning her entire body slowly. She was groaning in pain subconsciously, and tears slipped from her eyes unknowingly. She was whipped badly. Her back, every limb ached in pain. She felt more pathetic when her subconscious mind thought about how lonely she was in this palace.

It was unknown when someone entered her room and got into her bed. Within a short while, a pair of strong, warm arms wrapped her from back in her bed, drifting her mind back to a similar feeling.