Chapter 12 - The King Without a Throne|
Edmund entered the watchtower as though the years had never passed.
He was older than the portraits, thinner than the legends, but his eyes remained sharp. Two guards supported him, though he waved them away when he saw Adrian.
“My son.”
Adrian's face became stone.
“You are not my king.”
Edmund smiled faintly.
“You were always dramatic.”
“You were declared dead.”
“I was declared many things by men who wanted my throne.”
He turned toward Hazel.
“And there she is. The Moonveil heir.”
Hazel stood beside Rowan.
“You know who I am.”
“I knew before you were born.”
“Then you knew what they were doing to me.”
Edmund's smile disappeared.
“I knew what your blood could do. I also knew what would happen if it fell into the wrong hands.”
“You mean your hands.”
He studied her with unsettling interest.
“You have your mother's courage.”
“Don't use her name as if you loved her.”
For the first time, the old king looked genuinely displeased.
“Your mother was a sentimental woman. She believed the kingdom could survive without order.”
“She believed people deserved to choose.”
“And look where that brought her.”
Rowan lunged, but Adrian caught his arm.
“Not yet.”
Edmund addressed the room.
“The council has failed. My son has weakened the royal bond by allowing an unregistered bloodline to influence the packs. I have returned to restore stability.”
Elder Vale immediately bowed.
“Your Majesty, we await your command.”
Hazel stared at him.
“Yesterday, you called Adrian your rightful king.”
“Circumstances have changed.”
“No,” Hazel said. “Your loyalties have changed because you think you can win.”
Vale looked away.
Edmund extended a hand toward Hazel.
“Come with me. You will receive the training your mother refused to provide. You will learn to use your gift for the good of the kingdom.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then the council will declare you a threat.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“She has already refused.”
Edmund's eyes narrowed.
“You have always confused affection with leadership, Adrian. Your father made the same mistake with your mother.”
The room fell silent.
Adrian's expression changed.
“What did you say?”
Edmund seemed to realize he had revealed too much.
Hazel looked between them.
“Your father knew my mother?”
“Lydia worked in the royal clinic,” Edmund said. “She was assigned to examine the Moonveil bloodline. She became attached to Rowan and helped him conceal you.”
Rowan's voice was full of anger.
“You ordered her death.”
“I ordered her contained.”
The words struck Hazel harder than a confession.
“What does that mean?”
Edmund turned away.
“Your mother was offered a chance to cooperate. She refused. Her death was an unfortunate consequence of her choices.”
Hazel's hands trembled.
“You killed her.”
“I did what was necessary to protect the kingdom.”
“No,” Hazel said. “You protected your control.”
Edmund's eyes flashed.
“Your blood can sever the royal bond. With it, every Alpha in the kingdom could become independent of the crown. Do you understand what that would mean? Chaos. Endless wars. The collapse of every agreement that keeps the packs from destroying one another.”
“Or the end of a system where no one can say no to a powerful man.”
Edmund raised his hand.
The air tightened around Hazel.
He issued a command in the ancient royal language.
“Kneel.”
Hazel felt the pressure strike her.
Her knees trembled.
Then she remained standing.
Edmund's expression turned murderous.
“You should have been easier to control.”
May you like
He gestured toward his guards.
“Take her.”
