Chapter 34 Three years of Silence
Three Years Later
The palace had settled into an uneasy equilibrium. Theo, now four years old, had recovered from his fall with only minor setbacks. His speech was occasionally halting, his balance sometimes uncertain, but the healers declared him healthy enough. He would be king one day, and small imperfections wouldn't change his destiny.
The mate bond investigation had gone quiet. The council never formally ruled on Adrian and Lila's relationship, choosing instead to let the scandal fade through willful ignorance. As long as nothing overtly improper occurred, they pretended the letters had been misunderstood, the bond a vicious rumor.
Celeste and Adrian's separation remained official but unresolved. She lived in the south wing with Garrett openly as her companion. Adrian ruled from the north wing, cold and isolated, seeing his son only during scheduled visitations that felt more like diplomatic negotiations than family time.
Lila existed in limbo. Still confined to limited areas of the palace. Still barred from most contact with Theo except brief, supervised moments. Still bound to Adrian through a mate bond that brought nothing but suffering.
Three years of careful distance. Three years of stolen glances across crowded rooms. Three years of dying slowly while pretending to live.
Garrett had grown bolder in those years. His threats regarding Theo had worked perfectly—no one dared move against him when he held the child's safety as leverage. He appeared at council meetings now, advising Celeste, inserting himself into kingdom business. Some whispered he was the real power behind the Queen, that Celeste had become his puppet.
Margot had thrived. Her choice to abandon Lila's alliance and back Garrett had paid off handsomely. She now served as Celeste's chief advisor, wielding influence that rivaled the council itself. She and Lila avoided each other carefully, their failed alliance never mentioned but always present between them.
Lady Margaret had fallen, just as Margot predicted. Evidence of embezzlement had mysteriously surfaced, destroying her reputation and removing her from court. Lila suspected Margot had found those documents herself, used them to eliminate her rival. The woman was nothing if not efficient.
The palace felt like a powder keg waiting for a spark.
That spark came in the form of an invitation.
"A royal hunt." Adrian announced to the council. "To strengthen bonds with our noble families. To show the kingdom our leadership remains strong despite... recent difficulties."
Translation: to prove the separated royal couple could still function together publicly. To reassure nobility that the Northern Kingdom wasn't collapsing under the weight of its scandals.
The council approved enthusiastically. A hunt was perfect—traditional, masculine, focused on skill rather than emotional complications. Adrian could demonstrate his strength. Celeste could appear supportive without needing to actually interact with her husband beyond basic pleasantries.
"Lord Garrett will attend, of course." Councilor Thorne added. "As the Queen's companion, his presence is expected."
Adrian's jaw clenched. Through the bond, Lila felt his cold satisfaction mixed with dangerous intent. A hunt. In the forest. Where accidents happened. Where a man like Garrett could disappear and no one would question it too deeply.
He was planning to kill Garrett. Finally. After three years of restraint and careful control, Adrian had found a socially acceptable venue for murder.
Preparations consumed the palace for weeks. Nobles arrived from across the kingdom, eager to participate in the royal hunt. Servants prepared campsites. Stables readied horses. Weapons were sharpened and polished.
Lila watched it all with growing dread. Something felt wrong. Not just Adrian's murderous intent, which worried her enough. Something else. Something she couldn't name but felt through every instinct she possessed.
Two days before the hunt, Celeste summoned Lila to her chambers. It was the first time they'd been alone together in over a year.
Celeste looked older. Still beautiful, but harder. Her eyes carried a weariness that hadn't been there before. Three years with Garrett had worn her down in subtle ways.
"I'm attending the hunt." Celeste announced without preamble. "I know I'm a poor rider. I know it's dangerous. But I'm going anyway."
"Why?" Lila couldn't keep the concern from her voice. "You hate hunting. You've always avoided it."
"Because Garrett insists. He says I need to show strength. Show the nobility I'm not weak or fragile." Celeste's hands twisted in her lap. "And because Adrian will be there, and I can't let him see me as someone who hides while he demonstrates power."
"Celeste, this is foolish. You could get hurt."
"I'm already hurt." The admission came out bitter. "My marriage is destroyed. My son barely knows me. My reputation is built on being the wronged wife who takes a lover to fill the void her husband left." She met Lila's eyes. "What's a little physical danger compared to what I live with every day?"
"Please don't go. I have a bad feeling about this hunt."
"You always have bad feelings about everything involving me and Adrian together." Celeste stood, dismissing her. "I'll be fine. Garrett will protect me."
That's what terrified Lila most. Garrett protecting Celeste. The man who'd hurt Theo. The man who manipulated and threatened. The man Adrian planned to kill during this hunt.
If Adrian succeeded, Celeste would be there to witness it. Would see her lover murdered by her estranged husband. The scandal would be catastrophic.
If Adrian failed, Garrett would know he'd been targeted. Would retaliate in ways Lila couldn't predict.
Either way, catastrophe waited.
The night before the hunt, Adrian came to Lila's chambers through her window. The first time in months. He looked exhausted and determined and dangerous.
"Tomorrow I end this." His voice was flat. "Garrett has terrorized my family for three years. Hurt my son. Threatened you. Manipulated my wife. Tomorrow, during the hunt, there will be an accident. A tragic loss during dangerous sport."
"Adrian, no. If you kill him, Celeste will know. She'll expose everything out of grief and rage."
"Then she exposes everything. I don't care anymore." His eyes met hers. "I'm done playing by rules that only bind me while my enemies run free. Tomorrow, Garrett dies. Whatever comes after, we'll face it."
"This is madness."
"This is justice." He moved to the window. "Stay away from the hunt, Lila. Stay here where you're safe. I don't want you near what's coming."
He left before she could argue further. Lila stood at her window watching the palace grounds, dread coiling in her stomach.
Tomorrow would break everything. She felt it with the certainty of prophecy.
The powder keg was about to explode.
And none of them would survive the blast unchanged.