Chapter 232
The Royal Hunting Lodge
Sophie Perez
I would have murdered Rudolph if Casper hadn't come up behind me, grabbed my waist, and pulled me back into a servants' corridor. Nico and his security team attempted to defuse the situation with Rudolph and Owen.
I twisted myself out of Casper's grip and swung around to face him. I clenched my fists into tight balls as I yelled, "How could you give Christie to that monster?"
He flinched at my words, and his eyes pleaded silently with mine for understanding or empathy, but I had nothing for him. Then, finally, he reached a hand out to touch me. Maybe he thought the physical contact might ignite our bond, and I would throw him a lifeline. But, instead, I rejected his touch and slapped his hand away from me.
"Don't you dare," I warned, my voice shaking with rage. "Christie and Owen are mates. They are meant to be together. Owen is your best friend - how could you do this to him?."
Casper's shoulders sagged as he struggled to find the right words to defend the undefendable. He was giving his best friend's mate to another man incapable of love or kindness.
"I had no choice," he eventually admitted. "Rudolph brought security videos from the landlord of the Mermaid Inn. He has a video of you in a silver tavern with Owen. If that video went public, it would end my reign. I can't put my people through any more trauma. I can't risk another civil war breaking out and tearing apart our Kingdom. I'm sorry for Christie, and I'm even sorrier for Owen. But it's a small price to pay for the greater good."
Through the thick wall of rage, I started to feel his anguish chipping away at me. I loathed seeing the lost look in his eyes. It made me want to go and comfort him as a mate should. But at the same time, I wanted to rip out his beating heart for being so fking weak.
"Can't we exile Rudolph? Or kill him" I asked.
"Sophie, every week, I considered arranging Rudolph's assassination," Casper replied in an exasperated tone. "It is no great secret that there is no love between my family and his. However, Rudolph has supporters who would retaliate against my family and me if he turned up dead. Unfortunately, being King does not mean I can get my own way."
I shook my head, hurt and confused. I didn't want to be trampled on by people like Rudolph. I didn't want to rule a society that was unfair and cruel towards people without the power or money to defend themselves.
I stepped back from Casper, suddenly not wanting to be his Queen. I could never be complacent with this injustice. It was in my nature to fight for what was right.
"If you won't kill him, then I will," I said, turning on my heel and storming out of the room.
Casper ran after me, calling my name frantically, but I didn't care. A red haze fell over my eyes. I had to destroy my enemy.
I marched into the foyer and picked up an iron poker leaning next to the fireplace. Nico and his security team were too busy with Owen to notice what I was doing.
I ran at Rudolph as he hurled insults at Owen. I raised the poker in the air, intending to bring it down on his big fa-t stupid head. But, before I could deliver the skull-crushing blow, Rudolph's sister dove in front of me, flinging her frail arms tightly around my neck.
"Please, you majesty," she sobbed. "Please spare my brother. Do not hurt him."
The red mist fell from my eyes, and I looked down at the heavily pregnant girl. She appeared exhausted, with dark rings around her bright grey eyes. Her fingers clawed at my shirt as she cried, "Please don't hurt him."
"For God's sake, Gwendolyn, stop your whimpering," Rudolph snapped at his sister.
I lowered the poker to my side as the rage left my body. Gwendolyn removed her hands from me and placed them protectively over her pregnant bump. "Forgive my brother. He cannot help who is."
This was the first time Gwendolyn had spoken to me. Her voice trembled with fear, and she quickly lowered her gaze to the floor when Casper appeared next to me and removed the poker from my hand.
"Come now, my love," he whispered into the shell of my ear. "You are not a murderer."
The words 'you are not a murderer' echoed inside my head like a loud bell. I gazed down at the poker and noticed the iron had bent from where I had been gripping it tightly. If Gwendolyn hadn't stopped me, I would have brought that iron down so hard on Rudolph's head, I would have cut him in half.
Casper's placed his hands on my shoulders and said, "Sophie, this isn't you."
The murderous rage died inside me. I didn't want to kill Rudolph in front of his sister. I didn't want to kill someone just because I couldn't control my temper or strength.
"Sophie, it's okay," a small voice called out.
I lifted my head to see Christie standing next to Rudolph. she was forcing a smile for my benefit, but I could see the purple bruises that marred her pale, freckled skin from where Rudolph had gripped her arm too tight.
The rage inside me started to simmer. Christie deserved better than this. Owen deserved better. But for some reason, Casper had no appetite to fight for his friends or family.
"This isn't over," I snapped at Rudolph, who had the sense to cower behind his sister and mother. "You'll live today, but I swear to God, I will find a way to destroy you if you do not return Christie to me."