CHAPTER 184

CHAPTER 184


Ileus' POV

“Is there a problem, Your Majesty?” Vincent asked, dropping to his knees.

My Alpha energy rolled out in waves, oppressive to the extent that I could hear the other guards in the corridor talking about how suffocated they felt and wondering what was happening.

I squeezed the letter, resisting the urge to rip it apart because I still needed it.

What?

How was this possible?

How come I never sensed this?

Right now, I felt like a lovesick coward who thought only through his cock.

Yeah, I had kept the possibility of her working with someone open, but not Kael. No... not him. My worst enemy. It could have been anyone else but him and maybe, I wouldn't have felt this bad.

I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that while I was planning a war against Kael here, thinking I had everything under control, he had already figured out what to do with me.

Technically, if Lilith had succeeded, Kael would have taken my throne and my people for himself. He had already won even before the war started.

“How dare she betray me like this?” I snarled, running my fingers through my hair and pacing around restlessly. “How could she do this to me?”

Afterward, the room fell into a deep, suffocating silence.

I did not know what to do.

I could have acted clueless like I had been doing all this while and just kept watching her, but no... I wouldn't ignore this. I couldn't ignore anything or anyone connected to Kael.

“Come with me,” I ordered.

I stormed out of the room, heading straight towards her chambers. My feet struck the floor sharply and the maids and guards who were around the palace grounds cowered in fear. I didn't mean to scare them but I mean... I just couldn't tame the rage exploding inside me right now.

Outside her chambers were the guards I had assigned there. They bowed, muttering greetings which I ignored as I stormed into the building.

I twisted her doorknob, only to realize that it was locked from the inside.

A bitter laugh bubbled in my throat. She never locked her door until now. She must be trying so hard to get away from me, isn't she?

So I knocked. Hard.

Seconds later, the door twisted open and Ryker quickly stepped out like he didn't even want me to have the slightest glimpse inside the room.

“Oh... Your Majesty,” he said. Fear flickered in his eyes when he saw the darkness in mine before he quickly bowed. “To what honor do we owe this visit?”

“I want to see Lilith!” My voice was cold and authoritative, leaving no room for argument.

I took a step, expecting him to move out of my path but he remained there.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked. My patience was already wearing thin and honestly, I was barely holding back from unsheathing Vincent's sword and swinging it across his neck. “Leave my path immediately!”

He swallowed hard and bowed deeply. “I'm so sorry, Your Highness, but I can't let you go in.”

I scoffed bitterly. “And why is that?”

“Like I told you this morning, my lady is not well at all. She has taken the herbs the physician administered to her and she is resting like he suggested. She doesn't wish to be disturbed at all, so I ask that you don't. Once she wakes up, I will tell her that you came over. She will definitely come to your chambers tonight.”

He explained so flawlessly that if it wasn't for the fact that I knew better now, I would have believed him immediately.

“Spare me those lectures! Step away now before I do something you might regret!” I threatened.

Still, he remained there.

“I'm so sorry, Your Majesty, but my lady is taking a rest and if you truly adore her like you claim, then you will be understanding.”

My lips parted in shock. I couldn't believe this bastard had the audacity to preach to me about love. I guess I had lowered my guard recently, become more friendly and approachable since Reika passed away.

And it was the reason Lilith had been able to fool me completely the way she did.

I guess it was high time I reclaimed my title as the cold and ruthless king.

“Have you forgotten who stands before you?” My fingers tightened around the parchment.

He still didn't move.

“Vincent!” I roared.

Vincent stepped from behind me and moved to my side.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“If he doesn't move at the count of three, chop off his head,” I commanded, maintaining eye contact with Ryker.

Fear flickered in his eyes but just as quickly disappeared. His expression became determined, like he had already made up his mind before stepping out of the room earlier that he would rather die than let me in.

“At your service, Alpha.” Vincent unsheathed his sword, gripping the handle tightly and squaring himself toward Ryker.

I raised three fingers and started counting as I folded them down.

“One.”

Though he shifted uncomfortably, he didn't move.

“Two.”

“Th—”

Suddenly, the door flew open with a loud bang, cutting me off.

I raised my head to see Lilith standing inside the room. Even though I couldn't see her face because she had a veil covering it... I knew it was her.

Ryker snapped his head back.

“My lady...” His voice was thick with unease. “I told you I had everything under control. You should still be resting.”

She ignored him and bowed deeply.

“I'm sorry about my guard's disrespect, my Alpha,” she said smoothly, but her voice... it was different from what I remembered.

My Alpha.

Those words once filled my stomach with butterflies.

Now, they filled me with rage.

What an expert assassin.

Even now... I was still captivated by her grace and elegance. If it wasn't for the letter in my hands, I might have convinced myself to believe otherwise... that she wasn't capable of being Kael's weapon sent to bring me down.

She gestured inward.

“Please come in.”

“My lady!” Ryker shouted, his voice thick with fear and disapproval.

I took a step but Ryker still remained by the doorway.

“Your Majesty... my lady needs to—”

Before he could finish, Vincent drove a hard punch straight into his nose, sending blood spilling instantly before dragging him away from my path.

“You may go in, Your Majesty.”

Lilith let out a pained gasp.

“Please don't hurt him... please.”

My brows furrowed.

I wondered why he didn't want me inside the room... even now that Lilith herself had told me to come in. Perhaps he knew I had the letter.

I glanced back at him briefly.

He ignored the blood running from his nose and struggled violently against Vincent's grip.

“Don't hurt him,” I instructed because I planned on dealing with him myself. With everything that had happened today and knowing he was involved in Kael's scheme, I had no intention of letting him walk away scot-free.

I hissed and stepped into the room, clicking the door shut behind us.