Chapter 16 Lady Silver

Chapter 16 Lady Silver
Arthur's POV

"I have no idea why they're here," Raven said, still pinned by my blade. "I am surprised they are still alive."

"Then how did they find you, especially in Noir's territory?" I pressed the sword closer to his throat.

"I don't know—"

My grip tightened. "What about Silver? Why are they looking for her?"

Raven's expression shifted—something like resignation crossed his face. "I had a deal with Silver."

"What kind of deal?"

"It would be best if you asked her yourself."

My jaw clenched. "Why were you in her chambers when she was about to travel?"

Something flickered in Raven's eyes—amusement? "I'm always in her chambers."

Rage flooded through me. "You bastard. How dare—"

The temperature dropped.

Not gradually. All at once, like someone had opened a door to winter itself.

"Entering Noir territory without authorization is forbidden, Crown Prince."

The voice came from behind me, cold, commanding, utterly unfamiliar despite belonging to someone I should know.

I turned slowly, hand still on my sword.

Silver stood at the clearing's edge.

But she didn't look like the woman who'd left the palace three days ago. Her eyes glowed faintly green in the moonlight.

Why is she different?

And now she was looking at me like I was the intruder. Like I was the threat.

Behind me, I felt Raven's entire body relax back to the cocky person I once knew in the holding room. The tension that had held him rigid against my blade melted away.

"Good to know you're okay," he said, and there was genuine relief in his voice. "But you shouldn't be out here."

"Don't worry." Silver's glowing eyes didn't leave my face. "I'm fine now."

Something passed between them—some unspoken understanding that made my grip tighten on my sword.

Her eyes finally drifted from me to Raven, and something in her expression softened. Warmed. The glow in her eyes dimmed slightly.

"Raven, are you okay?"

"You should know I would be okay." Raven leaned on the tree, ignoring my blade entirely now. "Your husband saved me, actually."

"Of course he did." Her gaze returned to me, and that warmth vanished as if it had never existed. "Crown Prince, would you care to explain why you're here? On Noir land. Without invitation. Threatening my guest."

Crown Prince. Not Arthur.

Why did that make me even angrier?

Footsteps rushed through the woods behind Silver. Lady Noir appeared, breathless, her dress disheveled from running.

"Silver, what's happening—" She stopped short, taking in the scene. Raven against the tree. Her daughter glowing with unleashed magic.

"Nothing, Mother." Silver didn't take her eyes off me. "I was just speaking with an intruder."

Now I'm an intruder.

Lady Noir's eyes widened. She said nothing—just watched us like a woman observing her first marital battlefield in decades.

I knew the feeling.

"Why are you causing a scene?”I found my voice, though it came out rougher than I intended. "I've never seen you like this. Definitely not—"

"Like what?" Silver tilted her head. "Aware of my rights? Protective of my house's sovereignty?

The words hit like physical blows.

My guards shifted uncomfortably behind me, unsure whether to draw weapons or stand down. They'd never seen anyone speak to me like this. Certainly not my own wife.

"I apologize for any breach of protocol. I came to rescue my wife."

"Rescue me?" Her eyebrow arched in a perfect mirror of aristocratic disdain. "Are you saying the Duke of Noir doesn't have the capacity to protect his own family on his own land?"

The political trap snapped shut around me like iron jaws.

If I said yes, I insulted House Noir's strength—grounds for a formal complaint to the King and the Council of Five.

If I said no, then my presence here would be an unjustified intrusion.

"Silver, what—"

"Excuse me?" Her voice dropped to dangerous quiet. "Lady Silver," she corrected. "As long as I'm on my father's territory and still a contender for the Noir family seat, protocol matters."

Behind me, I heard Tir's sharp intake of breath. Even he recognized how badly this was going.

My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might crack. "I came to save you. Is there something wrong with that?"

"Yes, actually." She took a step forward. "I told you I would be here for three days. You've arrived on the second day. Which means either you couldn't wait for me to return or you've been spying on me." Her eyes narrowed. "Which is it, Your Highness? Distrust or espionage?"

"I knew you were in trouble," I said.

"You knew I was in trouble" Silver's smile was cold. "That means you have a spy on me"

I said nothing. Couldn't, without confirming her accusation.

I felt Tir tense behind me. He knew what was coming.

"I appreciate the... gesture," Silver continued, voice dripping with false courtesy. "But we all have rules, Your Highness. The founding houses especially. So I'm afraid you have two options."

"Options?"

"You either execute the spy you sent to follow me—" She glanced past me to Tir, who went visibly pale even in the moonlight. "—or I present this matter to the Council of Five. I wonder what the other founding houses will think when they learn the Crown Prince now spies on his own wife's family."

Silence fell over the clearing like a shroud.

She had me. Completely and utterly. Execute my own man or face political humiliation and possible censure from the Council.

And she knew it. I could see it in the slight curve of her smile.

"Silver—" Lady Noir started, horror clear in her voice.

"It's the law, Mother." Silver's voice didn't waver. Didn't soften. "Unauthorized surveillance of a founding house is treason. Surely the Crown Prince understands this. After all, he's spent years studying law and governance. Haven't you, Your Highness?"

I stared at this stranger wearing my wife's face and saw no mercy. No affection. No trace of the woman who used to look at me like I hung the stars.

Just cold.

She was calling my bluff. Forcing me to choose between my pride and my spy. Between political power and personal loyalty.

Lady Noir looked between us, clearly torn. "Silver, perhaps we should discuss this inside—"

"There's nothing to discuss, Mother." Silver's voice was firm. Final. "The Crown Prince violated our territory. The law is clear."

"He's also your husband." Lady Noir stepped closer, leaning in to whisper something in Silver's ear.

I couldn't hear the words, but I watched Silver's jaw tighten. Whatever her mother said, it worked, or at least, it made Silver reconsider.

Thank the gods for mothers-in-law.

She looked at me. "Since it was done with good intentions, I'll let it slide."

I lowered my sword slowly, deliberately. Let it hang at my side in a gesture of peace.

"Well, thank you."

"You're welcome." She smiled, but there was something behind it—something that made me think I wouldn't be smiling if I knew what she was planning.

"Lady Noir," I said, turning my full attention to her. "Since it's late, and the roads are not safe at night—especially with vampires in the area, as we've just discovered—wouldn't it be appropriate for me to stay in my in-laws' house until dawn? For safety, of course. And to avoid any further... territorial complications."

It was a masterful move, even if I said so myself. Refusing hospitality to the Crown Prince would be its own scandal, perhaps worse than the spying accusation. And I'd framed it as concern for safety and respect for their house, not intrusion.

"No," Silver said flatly.

But Lady Noir's expression had already shifted. I watched social obligation war with her daughter's fury across her elegant features.

"Of course you can stay, Your Highness," Lady Noir said, and triumph surged through my chest. "It would be improper to send you away at this hour, especially with threats in the woods. We have guest chambers prepared."

"Thank you, my lady." I bowed slightly, letting just enough triumph show in my eyes when I glanced at Silver. "Your hospitality is most gracious."

Silver's jaw clenched. "Mother—"

"It's decided, Silver." Lady Noir's voice firmed with maternal authority. "The Crown Prince is our guest. Protocol demands hospitality, as you yourself just reminded us. We cannot pick and choose which protocols to follow."

I'd won. Used her own weapon—protocol—against her.

Silver knew it too. I could see it in the way her hands clenched into fists.

"Fine," she bit out, each word sharp as broken glass. "Guest chambers. Far from mine."

"Of course," Lady Noir said quickly, relief evident in her voice. "Come, Your Highness. I'll have the servants prepare rooms for you and your men."

"My men can camp in the grounds—"

"Nonsense." Lady Noir shook her head. "House Noir extends full hospitality. Your men will have proper quarters."

I nodded, turning to Tir and the others. They looked shaken—not from the vampire fight, but from watching their prince be systematically dismantled by his own wife.

"Set up a perimeter anyway," I ordered. "I want to watch rotations through the night. Those vampires may return."

"Yes, Your Highness." Tir's voice was steady, professional, though I caught the grateful look he shot me. I'd just saved his life, even if it meant swallowing my pride.

As we walked toward the mansion, I kept my eyes on Silver.

She'd turned away, walking back toward the house with her spine straight and her head high.

And Raven walked beside her.

Too close. Like he belonged there at her side.

She said something I couldn't hear over the crunch of leaves and boots behind me. Raven responded.

And Silver laughed.

The sound was light, genuine, unguarded in a way I'd never heard from her. Not in all our months of marriage. Not even during our engagement when she'd still had hope.

My hands clenched at my sides. The sword felt heavy in my grip.

They walked shoulder-to-shoulder through the mansion's entrance, still talking in voices too low for me to catch. The door swallowed them, and they disappeared into the warm light of House Noir's halls.

Leaving me standing in the cold darkness with my guards and my wounded pride.

"Your Highness?" Tir's voice was quiet beside me. "Are you well?"

Was I well?

I'd be insane to claim I was fine after what just happened.

And somehow, impossibly, I wanted her more now than I ever had when she was desperately trying to please me.

What did that say about me?

"I'm fine," I lied, finally moving toward the mansion. "Come. We have a long night ahead."

But as I walked, one thought burned through my mind with clarity:

I don't care if he's a vampire or a demon or the god of death himself.

I will kill him.