Chapter 42 The Mate Bond Exposed
They dragged Lila from the chamber. She tried to catch Adrian's eye but he wouldn't look at her. Wouldn't acknowledge her through the bond. He'd locked himself away completely, leaving her alone in her terror.
Back in her chambers, Lila collapsed. She had one day. One day before Adrian decided her fate. One day to somehow prove her innocence when all evidence screamed guilt.
"Maya." She grabbed the servant's hand. "I need you to find something. Anything that proves Margot is lying. Evidence of her alliance with Garrett. Proof she framed me. Anything."
"My lady, I can't leave the palace. They're watching me. Questioning anyone I speak to." Maya's face was desperate. "I want to help but I don't know how."
"Then I have to do this myself." Lila stood, pacing. "I have to tell them everything. About the mate bond. About Garrett's threats. About Margot's betrayal. I have to make them understand."
"They won't believe you. Margot has already discredited everything you say."
"Then I'll tell the truth anyway. Because it's all I have left." Lila's hands shook. "The mate bond. That's my only defense. If they understand it's real, sacred, given by the Moon Goddess herself. They'll have to acknowledge I wouldn't destroy it by murdering Celeste."
"Or they'll say the mate bond is exactly why you did murder her. Motive instead of defense."
"Then I'm damned either way." Lila sank into a chair. "Tomorrow, at the hearing, I tell everything. Expose the mate bond publicly. Force Adrian to acknowledge it. Make the council understand that bond means I'm incapable of the murder they're accusing me of."
Through the long night, she rehearsed what she'd say. How she'd explain three years of secret suffering. How the mate bond worked. Why it proved her innocence instead of guilt.
But even as she planned, doubt crept in. Would Adrian support her? Or would he distance himself, protect his throne, choose duty over defending a mate accused of murdering his wife?
Morning came gray and cold. Celeste's funeral procession wound through the city, nobles and commons alike lining streets to mourn their dead Queen. Lila watched from her window, forbidden from attending. Watched Adrian walk behind the coffin, his face carved from stone. Watched Garrett, recovered from his "injury," playing the grieving lover with perfect theatrics.
That evening, they dragged her back to the council chamber. Every noble in the kingdom seemed to be present, packing the room to capacity. This wasn't just a hearing anymore. It was a spectacle. Public condemnation masquerading as justice.
"Lady Lila." Thorne's voice was formal. "You've been accused of murdering Queen Celeste through premeditated poisoning and tampering. The evidence has been presented. Do you have any defense beyond denials we've already heard?"
"I do." Lila's voice came out stronger than she felt. "I have the truth. All of it. Everything I've been hiding for three years."
"Then speak. The council listens."
Lila took a breath. This was it. The moment that would either save or destroy her.
"Celeste wasn't murdered because I wanted Adrian or Theo or power. She was murdered because someone wanted to frame me. Wanted to destroy the bond between Adrian and me. Wanted us separated permanently." She looked directly at Adrian. "The mate bond. It's real. It's been real since your wedding day."
Gasps filled the chamber. Adrian's face went white.
"Adrian felt it during the ceremony. I felt it. The bond snapped into place while he was marrying my sister. For three years, we've suffered in silence. Followed every rule. Maintained distance. Denied ourselves what the Moon Goddess created because duty demanded it." Her voice shook. "I would never murder Celeste to complete that bond. Never. Because doing so would desecrate what the Goddess gave us. Would make it cursed instead of sacred. Would destroy the very thing I've been protecting all these years."
"This is your defense?" A councilor demanded. "Admitting you've been in love with your sister's husband? That's not defense, that's motive!"
"It's not love. It's fate. It's destiny chosen by powers beyond our control." Lila's voice rose. "The mate bond isn't something you choose or reject. It exists independent of will or desire. Fighting it has been torture. But we did fight it. Every day. Every moment. Because we knew completing it while Celeste lived would be wrong."
"Then her death conveniently removes that obstacle." Margot's voice cut through. "Makes completing the bond possible. Makes everything you wanted suddenly attainable."
"No. Her death makes it impossible." Lila turned to face her. "Because claiming a mate bond over your sister's murdered body is abomination. Because the Moon Goddess would curse such a union. Because I'm not a monster, no matter what evidence you've fabricated to make me appear so."
"Fabricated?" Margot's voice was sharp. "You admit to the mate bond. Admit to wanting the King. Admit years of resentment toward the Queen. And you call evidence of your actions fabricated?"
"Yes. Because someone who understands mate bonds would know I couldn't kill Celeste and still hope to complete mine with Adrian." Lila looked at Adrian directly. "Tell them. Tell them what the mate bond means. How desecrating it would destroy us both."
Adrian stood slowly. Every eye in the chamber turned to him. Through the bond, Lila felt his absolute anguish. He could defend her. Or he could protect his throne. But he couldn't do both.
"The mate bond." His voice was hollow. "Is sacred. Given by the Moon Goddess. More powerful than human love or desire. It binds souls across lifetimes." He paused.
"But it's also possessive. Consuming. Drives wolves to madness when denied. Could such madness lead to murder? I don't know. I want to say no. But I." He stopped, unable to continue.
"You doubt me." Lila's voice broke. "After everything. After three years of suffering together. You actually doubt me."
"I don't know what to believe anymore." Adrian's admission was devastated. "The evidence says one thing. My bond with you says another. And I can't tell which is truth and which is what I want to be true."
"So the mate bond is your motive." Margot's voice carried triumph. "You admit you've been in love with your sister's husband all along. Admit the bond drove you to desperation. Admit you wanted Celeste removed so you could finally complete what the Goddess started." Her eyes gleamed. "That's not a defense, Lady Lila. That's a confession. You just admitted to every motive we've been claiming. The mate bond didn't prevent murder. It caused it."