97.

-HER-

“Bring the Goblet!” The queen ordered. I stood there and watched someone from the minister’s side get up and bring a big golden goblet. The minister held the goblet up for the queen and bowed his head slightly.

The Queen of wolves just waved her hand before there was a roaring fire in the goblet. Meanwhile, another minister rose from the minister’s side and took his sword out as he started to near me. The way his eyes were trained on me, it sent a chill down my spine.

The built of the minister gave away that he was the probably the General of the wolves’ army. He stepped closer to me before taking one of my hands and slicing a little part of my palm open until there was blood.

Meanwhile, the other minister stepped on my other side with the goblet. The General held my now bloody hand over the goblet and gave it a squeeze until some drops of blood sizzled into the fire. A very faint golden light emanated from the flames before it rose up.

“Repeat after me,” The bishop of the court spoke to me before he closed his eyes and dictated the oath, “I, Psaltisi (ii) Ersamia Arsinoe (iv), do solemnly swear before the Moon goddess and the Court of Wolves that I will serve the King’s, the Queen’s and their subject’s interests without fear, favour, or thought of personal safety; to maintain the harmony, to pursue evil-doers and protect the innocent, laying my life down if necessary in the case of said duty,”

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the words spoken by the bishop before repeating them. After I was done, the General and the minister who had the goblet stepped away. Another minister who was dressed in white now approached me.

He held my cut hand and muttered something before running his fingers on the fresh wound. It instantly closed. He bowed to the Royal couple once before walking back to his seat.

“You have been granted a chance, Arsinoe,” The queen told me, “Now, it’s your turn to earn everyone’s trust and respect through your actions,”

“I will not disappoint,” I told the Queen honestly while Arles leaned back in his throne, looking bored and unhappy. As usual.

“Now, where’s Ares?” The Queen asked. Ares rose from the crowd on the left and stepped beside me.

“You have truly disappointed me, Ares,” The queen started, “All my teachings have gone to waste. You have killed innocent, unprotected immortals! It’s truly a shame!” The queen sounded fairly angry as she spoke.

“This act of yours only screams of incompetence and irresponsibility on your behalf!” She almost yelled. At this point, everyone in the court was listening to the queen silently. Ares had his hands crossed behind him and his head hanging as he listened to the Queen.

A shiver ran down my spine when I felt the power radiating off her even though I was standing far away from her.

“Not only that but you almost turned half the kingdom baren,” She continued, “Your actions have put the wellbeing of this kingdom on risk several times. I am finding it hard to deem you worthy for the throne,” She expressed her disappointment.

“You shall compensate for your causal behaviour by training for six months with Ezekyle’s toughest army battalion. I will write to him tonight to take you away soon,” The queen declared. Some people seemed a bit shocked and scared at hearing Ezekyle’s name. For a moment, my eyes drifted towards Celeste. She was leaning back in her chair and her eyes were closed as if she was in deep thought.

“Augustus, Regulus and Celeste will go with you too,” The queen added. This made the two of the wolves sit up with shock while Celeste remained unphased. There was something about that she-wolf which deeply interested me. I’d like to find out more about her.

“What about my mate?” Ares asked.

“She’ll stay here,” The King spoke this time. My eyes widened at his words. I looked at Ares. He had the same look of shock decorating his face. It would be so hard for us to part now!

“No,” Ares tried but the Royal couple’s faces stayed blank. I knew they weren’t going to change their decisions after everything that had happened because of us. I had tears in my eyes but I instantly blinked them away and focused on my feet instead. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

“This is necessary, Ares,” Was all the Queen said before the session was dismissed. I felt anger flooding into my chest through the bond. As we walked out of the courtroom, Ares held my wrist to drag me to an empty place before he crushed his lips on me.

It was so sudden that I didn’t have the chance to react. Although when everything finally registered in my brain, I kissed him back while letting the tears out. Why was it that whenever we thought that we could finally be together, we were separated yet again?

What kind of test was this? And why was this happening to only us?

He kissed me like it was our last time together. This pinched at my heart even more.

Just why?

His lips moved so fiercely against mine, branding me as his. His tongue swept past my lips to unite with mine. The sparks were everywhere and my body was slowly getting hot due to this. The thought of him going away made me feel needier.

“I hate this,” I sniffed after the kiss and buried my face in his chest. “I will sneak out with you,” I told him but I felt him sigh above me. The anger that I was feeling before slowly disappeared before he told me, “I think you should stay back, Arsinoe. I don’t want you there. It’s dangerous,”

“We have come this far. I am sure we could-“

“No, Arsinoe. You have to stay back and prove your loyalty to the court,” He reminded me. It was enough to shut me. He was right. I couldn’t waste the opportunity that the queen had bestowed upon me.

“And I'll be back, Arsinoe. It’s just six months,” He told me very calmly even though I could feel the turmoil of emotions that he was feeling.

“I still don’t like this, Ares,” I told me even though nothing was going to be changed,

“Me too, my pharaoh,”