Chapter 157 I Am Your King
Adrain’s POV
Every eye tracked me as I rounded the head of the table, boots ringing against the stone with deliberate, measured steps.
I stopped directly in front of Levi, close enough that he had to tilt his head slightly to meet my gaze. Close enough that he could feel the temperature drop around me.
“For the good of the kingdom,” I repeated, voice low, almost conversational. “How noble. Tell me, cousin…did the vampire king look impressed when you crawled into his hall uninvited? Did he pat you on the head and call you a good little prince for undermining your own king?”
A muscle jumped in Levi’s jaw. Good. I wanted it to hurt.
“You speak of alliances and vulnerability,” I continued, circling him now like a wolf sizing up prey that still thought it had teeth. “Yet you forgot the one rule that keeps this kingdom from tearing itself apart…the crown is not a suggestion. My word is not optional. When I say the meeting will be between two kings, that is not an invitation for my cousin to play diplomat and stroke his own ego.”
I stopped behind him, hands clasped at my back. From the corner of my eye I saw Margaret open her mouth again…probably to defend her precious son…but one sharp glance from me and she snapped it shut. Smart. For once.
“I will not lay a hand on you, Levi,” I said, loud enough for the entire council to hear. “Not today. Not tomorrow. Not while your blood still carries the Draven name. But make no mistake…I am not merciful to those who test me.”
I moved back into his line of sight, letting the smile return. The one that didn’t reach my eyes.
“Effective immediately, you are stripped of every diplomatic privilege. No more audiences with foreign courts. No more ‘stepping in’ on matters of state. Your seal as Prince of the kingdom is revoked. You will surrender every document in your hands before the sun sets.”
Levi’s composure cracked…just a fraction. Enough for me to taste victory.
“You will also relinquish command of the border patrols under you. Those wolves answer to me now, not to a prince who thinks he can rewrite royal decrees when the king is… occupied.”
I let the word drip with the same venom he’d used against me. “And since you’re so concerned with the good of the kingdom, you’ll spend the next six months proving it. You’ll oversee the reconstruction of the outer villages belonging to the humans…the one damaged in the last skirmish. Hands-on. No delegation. No title. Just you, a hammer, and the people whose lives you claim to protect.”
A few council members shifted. Some stayed wisely silent. While my dear auntie moved in her seat like she was about to shoot an arrow straight through my head.
I leaned in closer, voice dropping to a whisper only Levi could hear. “You will not go near the vampire king again. You will not speak his name in my presence unless I ask. And if I ever…ever…catch wind of you acting without my explicit command again, I won’t need to lay a hand on you. I’ll simply make sure every kingdom and pack in the realm knows exactly what kind of disloyal snake hides behind that royal face. You’ll spend the rest of your life begging for scraps at the edge of the border. Do we understand each other?”
Levi’s throat worked as he glanced at his mother for support. For a moment I thought he might actually challenge me in front of the entire council. Part of me hoped he would. It would make the next step so much cleaner.
Instead he gave a single, stiff nod. “Yes… Your Majesty.”
The title sounded like it cost him something vital.
I straightened, turning to face the table once more and my eyes settled on Margaret. “Let this be a reminder to you too. I am not my grandfather. I do not tolerate scheming behind closed doors. I do not reward disloyalty with second chances dressed up as ‘royal duty.’ The next time anyone forgets that, they will not get the courtesy of a public council meeting.”
I let my gaze sweep the room, slow and final.
A few council members shifted uncomfortably as I let out a short, humorless chuckle and went back to my chair.
“And that little performance I heard about,” I continued, my voice turning sharper, “you and your mother putting on a whole show just to be ‘let into’ the palace…”
My eyes flicked briefly to Margaret before returning to him.
“I don’t understand your obsession with this place.” My lips curled slightly. “Did you hide gold under the floors that I’m unaware of?”
A couple of elders coughed, clearly trying…and failing…not to react.
Levi’s expression darkened, but he held his ground.
“Let me make something very clear,” I said, my voice dropping, colder now, heavier. “The only reason you and your bride were allowed to enter this palace…”
I paused deliberately.
“…is because of your bride and the alliance she brought to this kingdom. Make no mistake about that.”
Levi’s shoulders stiffened, and Margaret’s head snapped toward me in barely restrained fury.
I slowly turned my gaze to her.
“And if either of you crosses a boundary again…” I let the words hang for a second before finishing, calm and lethal, “My dear auntie should be ready to become childless.”
The room froze.
No one breathed.
No one moved.
Margaret stepped forward instantly, her composure shattering completely. “This is madness! Pure madness!” she snapped, her voice rising, laced with disbelief and fury. “The king is standing here stripping my son of his birth rights…threatening to kill him in front of everyone…and you are all silent?!”
Her eyes darted around the room, searching, demanding support. But none came.
“Is this what we’ve come to?” she continued, her voice cracking with exasperation. “Is this not tyranny?!”
No one answered her.
Not a single word.
Not a single soul moved to her side.
The silence was louder than anything she could have said.
I looked at her.
Really looked at her.
And for a brief second, there was something almost like boredom in my eyes.
“I am the king,” I said flatly.
The words didn’t need force… They carried their own weight. “Do you understand what that means?”
Margaret opened her mouth…and closed it again.
Because she did.
Of course she did.
The room stayed silent.
I let the moment stretch just long enough for it to settle into everyone’s bones, into their instincts, into their fear.
Then I straightened slightly and cleared my throat, like we were simply moving on from a minor inconvenience.
“Any more disturbances from either of you…” I said calmly, my gaze flicking between her and Levi, “and that will be the end of my benevolence.”
A pause.
Sharp.
Final.
“I’ll let this go…for now,” I added, dismissively. “I don’t have the time or patience to play games.”
My fingers tapped once against the armrest.
“There are far more important matters to discuss.”
My mind flickered…just for a second…to Kira. I hope she hasn’t run off again.
What if I just break her legs and get her a customized wheelchair that only moves at my command?
My wolf snarled at that thought and I shook my head.
I pushed it down instantly, my expression never shifting as I looked around the council.
“Now,” I said, my tone turning all business, all command. “Let’s talk about the real threat sitting at our doorstep.”