Chapter 98
Iris
"Huh?" I murmured absentmindedly, my chest constricting painfully.
The room's temperature dropped, suddenly turning chilly and goosebumps rose on my skin as I began to hyperventilate. My head felt like it was being compressed and I couldn't hear any other thing apart from the messenger's words about Gradel death.
How could he die so easily? Wasn't he able to take the poison before the men came to attack him? Why did he allow them to win him after everything?
Now Elda would have the final laughter and life for me and the pack would be worse than ever. I'd rather kill myself than go through whatever humiliation Elda intended to make me pass through.
"He's really dead, huh? That's great news..."
"Yes, Your Highness. We left his body in the forest. You can go and see it whenever you want to,"
A scream tore out from my lips before I could stop myself. How could they speak so carefreely about my mate as if I wasn't here?
"You bastard!" I cried, wishing I could lurch myself at him.
Damn, these stupid ropes. Why couldn't I break away from it anyway?
Elda asked the man to leave, then he veered toward me with a cheesy triumphant smile on his lips. Never have I wanted anything more desperately than to smack the disgusting snicker off his face, unfortunately, I still had to think of Hazel's welfare.
He grabbed my chin roughly, peering into my eyes mockingly and widening his cynical smirk. "You should be happy that I've not sent you to him, but if you continue pissing me off like this, I might consider it. Do you hear me?" He pushed me away.
"That won't be a bad idea, Elda," I retorted, wanting to tell him that I'd also take him along with me, but I held back my tongue. "But you still need me alive, right?" I questioned.
He nodded with a bit of satisfaction. "You're so smart, Iris." He crossed over to the other side and put on his slacks. "I'll have to go and see Gradel's corpse by myself so that I can fully ascertain my victory over him, don't you think?"
I gave him no response and he continued, ignoring my silence.
"It won't make any sense to call for a feast when I'm not sure that he was truly murdered. Also, I'd like to rub it in your face that no man is too strong for me to defeat so get ready for me at night because we'll be having a party tonight and I'll be presenting you as my Luna to all of them." He glanced at Hazel and giggled. "You'd make a good mistress as well. Ah, I can't imagine the drama that will ensue when you begin to fight to warm my bed. This is going to be so much fun," He mused and went away.
Hazel quickly rushed to me and helped to untie the ropes from my hands and feet. Having just her in the room, I gave in to the pain and let out a sob.
She pulled me to herself while I placed my head on the crook of her neck, hoping that things would turn out wrongly for Elda and he wouldn't find Gradel's body.
~~~~
Later in the day, I sat before the pond, watching the ducks waddle around while a servant fed them. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I had to eat, but the appetite was lacking.
My body warmed up and without taking a backward glance I knew that I wasn't alone anymore.
"What do you want?" I asked with a tone that implied I wanted to be alone.
"Greetings, My Lady," Lyros fell to his knees, bowing before me.
I snorted and cupped my cheeks, looking everywhere but him. Ever since the news of Gradel, I'd been feeling powerless and even my wolf hadn't said a word to me and I couldn't blame her. That was the only reason I was yelling or attempting to beat Lyros to a pulp.
A traitor he was.
"What are you doing here and why do you think I need your show of mockery that you've disguised as greetings?" I rasped. "You must be very happy to hear that Prince Gradel is dead, right?"
I gazed at him just so that I could see how he'd try to distort my words, but he shook his head vehemently, his eyes turning misty. "Now you want to cry? Unbelievable,"
"I have no hand in what happened to the late Prince-"
"Don't you dare address him as late. He isn't dead until I see his corpse and confirm that he's dead. Do you hear me?" I hollered, unable to keep my emotions in check.
"Yes, Luna, but, hear me out, please." He clasped his hands together, still on his knees. "I know that you might not believe me but I'm here to support you. You were right about Elda. That man is no different from a beast and I should never have allowed him to usurp Prince Gradel, however, my shortsightedness and greed came in between my loyalty and sense of reasoning,"
My lips stretched into a dark smile and I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. "And you are telling me this now. Why? What made your eyes open suddenly to the truth?" I clutched his shirt, shaking him aggressively.
He sighed, bitterly and wiped off the tears that rolled down his cheeks. "He raped my daughter,"
A gasp rolled out my throat as my eyes widened. "Oh no. How did that even happen?"
He hesitated and drew in a deep breath, his lips quivering. My anger dissipated and I didn't know when I put my arm around him.
"I think it's the same way it happened to Eliana. He took her to a club after he saw her in the pack house and defiled my daughter. I should have known that he wasn't a man of honor as you said and he had no limit, but I was blinded by the material things he had to offer. My mate doesn't want to have anything to do with me and I can't even face Hegar if we eventually meet because he might disown me. I'm so ashamed of myself," He broke down.
I rubbed his back, tearing up as well. "This is why you need to fight against the injustice done to her and everyone who has been victimized by him. Even if Gradel is dead, we can't allow him to keep trampling on our heads like this. He's an anarchist and he has to suffer for everything that he has done to us and it will happen tonight during the feast. So, can I trust you on this mission?"