Chapter 27 27

Chapter 27 27

Eudora's POV

I looked in astonishment at Esmeralda. The charge was so preposterous, so deranged, that it took me a moment to understand what she was even saying.
She was accusing me of attempting to kill her?

I'd been fighting to protect them all. Spent almost all my energy catching the infected wolves. Had wielded magic I scarcely comprehend to save lives, including hers it would seem.
And now she was here, in front of Oberon, telling him I’d tried to kill her?

Oberon was instantly on his feet, his muscles vibrating with containment fury. His expression was thunderous, dangerous. "Tell me now," he ordered, his voice shifting into that lethal quite tone which was always more terrifying than yelling. "Now. And it better be the truth."

Esmeralda limped into the room, mugging her hurt. She favored one leg, her arm hugged to its side as if throbbing. Her dress was ripped; dirt slathered across her face. She looked like a victim.

“I was coming to help. "I knew you let me go, but I couldn't just abandon the palace that was under attack. So I stayed. I fought."

She stopped for dramatic effect, tears welling up in her emerald eyes. "But the princess. She cast a spell on me with her witch magic. And tried to blast me off the stairs of the tower. I would be dead if I hadn't moved at the last minute.

I could feel my jaw dropping in surprise. “That’s a lie,” I said, more loudly than I was feeling. "A complete fabrication. I gazed at the wolves Body licking my pours Yes I used Magic upon those infected wolves. Protecting everyone. And you too, I suppose, though now I’m having second thoughts.”

There was triumph in Esmeralda's eyes — and malice. "There are witnesses. Warriors that saw you throw magic at me. Who heard you shouting that you'd kill all that would come to be between you and your precious, sweet Lycan.

The accusation was so twisted. So manipulative. Part Ben Jonson, part social worker: helping the poor woman take fragments of truth and twist it into something ugly and false.

I had used magic. I had screamed about Oberon even. But not like this. Not directed at her.
“You are twisting what happened,” I said, my anger cutting through my exhaustion. "You know the truth. You were there."

"Was I?" Esmeralda cocked her head, looking almost sympathetic. “Or was I escaping for my life from a jealous witch who determined me a danger?”

Oberon joined me, finding my hand. His touch anchored me, reminded me that I wasn’t alone in this. “Let them bring in these witnesses,” he said coolly. “Let them say what they have to say to my face. Let me hear what they pretend to have seen.”

Esmeralda smiled, clearly expecting this. Planning for it. "Guards!" she shouted into the hallway.

The door opened and the two grim-faced warriors entered, both with uncomfortable expressions on their faces. They scanned the room, avoiding eye contact with me.
I recognized them. Its family pack also included Esmeralda. Soldiers who did not serve Oberon but her alone. Not to this kingdom.

Of course. She had summoned her own witnesses. We all need our people to back up our lies.

“And what did you see, tell the King that Esmeralda” She was soft voiced. Encouraging.
The first warrior coughed uncomfortably. He was young—twenty five maybe. Tall with dark hair. “We saw the princess with magic on the tower stairs, Your Grace. She was flinging around these bolts of purple energy.”

He paused, swallowing hard. Lady Esmeralda was trying to calm or put down the wolves if they were infected. She was fighting bravely. But the princess, she used her magic on Lady Esmeralda instead. Aimed right at her. Had not Lady Esmeralda flitted aside in time she would have been pierced to the heart.”

The plot was brilliant twisting. Lying upon the truth of my magic, that I had thrown purple bolts, lying in order to have something on which to build more lies.

The second grunted assent and looked grave. "We heard her shouting too. The princess. “Nobody is gonna take the Lycan from me.” She was screeching. That she would murder anyone who attempted. Lady Esmeralda happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Panic surged up inside me, threatening to strangle me. I had said something to that effect. But not about Esmeralda. About the Ruminants. About the creatures that had been pursuing me, attempting to capture Oberon.

“This is stupid,” I said, the desperation clear in my own voice. "Oberon, you were there. You know what really happened. You saw everything."

Esmeralda's smile was victorious, cruel. “The King was fighting infected wolves. He was busy, busy keeping everyone safe. He didn’t know everything that took place on those stairs.”

She addressed her next word to Oberon in a moderate voice. Logical. “And everyone knows that mates will lie for each other. The bond makes you biased. This is why we must have an independent investigation. Let the council of Alphas see the proof. Question the witnesses. Then decide if the princess is an appropriate queen.”

My heart sank. An investigation. The council. She wasn’t just attempting to make Oberon hate me. She was seeking to discredit me across the board. Give the other Alphas an reason to challenge my right to rule.

Make it so they see me as dangerous. Unstable. A witch whose power was a runaway thing.

Oberon squeezed my hand, so hard I felt it. “There is nothing to investigate so there will be no investigation. I trust my mate completely. And I'm rejecting these stupid charges.”

I felt relieved, but a fleeting relief.

Esmeralda's face set at Oberon's words. The false sweetness drained, and the anger glowed beneath. "You are losing sight of what is important. "you're suffering from mate bond.""it's clouding your judgement."

She pivoted and addressed the room, raising her voice. “The council of Alphas have to hear about this. On a queen preying on her own courtiers. Whose dangerous magic she cannot control. This palace is unsafe for anyone with her around.”

This is what she'd meant all along. Not just revenge. Not just hurting me. She just wanted to end my career. Disqualify me from the right to rule.

“The only danger here is you,” I said quietly, but loud enough for my voice to carry. You brought a nest of fouling wolves into this palace. You turned to the enemies of our people out of childish jealousy and hurt feelings. And now you are attempting to pin your crimes on me.”

Esmeralda laughed, a forced laugh. Brittle. "Prove it. Bring me proof I did anything of the sort. Where are your witnesses? Your proof?"

I glanced at Oberon, seeking his silence of trust. His support. Telling him to trust me over someone he’d known for years.

He met my gaze and nodded. No hesitation. Complete faith.

"Yamal," he shouted, his voice full of authority.

His Beta wasted no time in standing in the doorway, Marjah at his side. Both seemed alert, prepared for whatever was next.

"Yes, Your Grace?"

"Arrest Esmeralda," ruled Oberon, who did not sound like he would be quibbled with. She is being investigated for treason. “For conspiring with the Ruminants. For dragging those wolves into our stronghold."

Esmeralda's face drained to a grey colour, blood leaving her cheeks. "You cannot be serious. Yamal, tell him. And let him know he is wrong. I am your sister."

Yamal regarded his sister with something akin to pity. Some of what might have been grief. "I cannot do that, Esmeralda. Not anymore. Not now that you’ve done all this.”

He stepped forward, arm reaching for her. "Come quietly. Please. Don’t even make this more of a disaster than it already is.”

Yamal moved towards her but Esmeralda removed something from her dress. A little vial, hardly bigger than her thumb. It was filled with a dark liquid which appeared to move of its own volition. Writhing. Alive.

“If you attempt to arrest me,” she said, her voice trembling with despair, “I will drink this. It is Ruminant essence. Pure and undiluted. I'm going to make a change, for once in my life. And I’m coming, and I’ll take as many of you with me as I can.”

The room froze. All eyes on the vial shaking in her hand.

Marjah’s hand went to her sword, her warrior reflexes preparing. “You’re bluffing. You wouldn’t literally swallow that poison.”

Esmeralda flicked off the top of the vial with her thumb, the stopper popping out. She brought it to her lips, the dark liquid skimmed the rim. "Am I? I have already lost everything. My place here. My brother's respect. Any chance with Oberon. What do I have left to lose?"

I heard Oberon stiffen at my side, knew he was calculating the risk himself. If Esmeralda changed in here, halfway across the palace, with her where she was now, she could easily slaughter dozens before they could halt her. The infected were almost impossible to kill fast.

"What do you want?" I couldnt help but wonder, my voice practically slicing through the festival air.

Esmeralda met my eyes, hate smoldering in the emerald depths. Pure, undiluted loathing. "I want you gone. Leave this palace. Leave this kingdom. Disappear and never come back. If you do, I will go away quietly. I'm going to walk out of here and you will never hear from me again."

She tipped the vial, and a bit of the dark liquid brushed her lips. I could smell it from here. Decay and rot and something worse. "Stay, and I drink this. Everyone here dies. Guards. Servants. Your precious mate. And you will have yourself to blame for it all. Choose quickly, princess. At what point is your happiness deserving of a thousand lives?"