Princess's Revenge: Slave to the Soulbound King Chapter 127

Lycanthar

I strode back into the council chamber with heavy steps, silver hair disheveled from running, eyes still carrying the pain of seeing Adelaide wounded. The elders fell silent as I stood before the throne, the weight of their stares pressing down on my shoulders.

"After careful consideration," I began, my voice low but carrying clearly through the hall, "I have decided that Adelaide Valendria's punishment shall be exile to the Kingdom of Eldoria."

The chamber erupted into chaos. Elder Rothesgard shot to his feet, beard quivering with indignation. "Your Majesty! This is far too lenient! She deceived you—deceived all of us! Her family betrayed us three hundred years ago, leading to countless deaths!"

Leader Solgrim rose beside him, voice sharp as a blade. "She should pay for her crimes! At the very least, she should rot in the Iron Maw, let her experience the suffering our kinsmen endured!"

More voices joined the chorus of protest. I felt my wolf stirring beneath my skin, eyes gradually shifting to dangerous amber. With a snarl of fury, I surged to my feet and brought my fist down hard on the stone armrest. The crack silenced the hall instantly.

"Enough!" My voice boomed with the full authority of my office and the dangerous edge of barely contained rage. "Do you want to start another war? She is the daughter of the human king! If we kill her or imprison her, humans will launch full-scale assault! We just avoided a vampire-orchestrated war, and you're this eager for bloodshed?"

I let my gaze sweep across each elder's face, voice dropping to a more dangerous register. "And don't forget who brought us evidence of the vampire conspiracy, who exposed Garrick's betrayal. Without her, we might already be fighting on two fronts."

Rothesgard persisted, though more cautiously. "But Your Majesty, her deception—"

"I said enough!" I roared, the beast in my voice now unmistakable. "I am the Wolf King, and my decision is final. If any of you believe I'm no longer fit for this position, you're welcome to challenge my authority."

Heavy silence fell. No one dared meet that challenge directly.

"My decision stands. Adelaide Valendria will be escorted to the human border once her injuries stabilize. This matter is closed." I raised my hand dismissively. "Now, all of you, leave."

The elders filed out, some muttering under their breaths but none willing to openly defy me. Only Draven remained, his weathered face etched with concern.

"Your Majesty," he said quietly, "are you truly going to let her go?"

I turned toward the windows, unable to meet his eyes. The moon hung full and bright, its silver light mocking me with memories of the ceremony that should have bound Adelaide to me forever.

"Do you think I have a choice, old friend?" The words came out more broken than I intended. "She's not safe here anymore."

"But you love her."

"Because I love her, I have to protect her," I replied, my throat tightening around the words. "Even if that means protecting her from my own people. Even if it means..." I swallowed hard, the rest lodging in my chest like a physical weight.

Draven seemed about to speak, but I raised my hand. "Don't, Draven. This is my decision, and it's final. Now please, leave me. I need some time... alone."

He hesitated, then bowed respectfully. "As you command, Your Majesty."

When the doors closed, I sank back into my throne, the enormous chamber suddenly feeling more like a tomb than a seat of power. The silence pressed against me like a living thing, broken only by soft crackling of flames and the distant howl of a wolf in the darkness.

---

Draven

I closed the council chamber doors with a sense of profound unease. In all my centuries of service, I had never seen Lycanthar in such agony—not even during the darkest hours three hundred years ago. The weight of his decision hung in the air like a funeral shroud.

My footsteps echoed through the corridors as I made my way to our quarters, mind churning with worry—not just for my king, but for Thalia. How would she react to news that her dearest friend would be sent away? Would she choose to return with Adelaide, or stay with me?

I found her reclining on the window seat, golden hair catching moonlight. But something was wrong—her face was far too pale, almost translucent, and dark circles shadowed her eyes.

"Thalia?" I moved quickly to her side, taking her hand. Her skin felt cool, almost fragile. "Are you alright?"

She opened her eyes slowly, offering me a weak smile that did nothing to ease my growing concern. "Draven, you're back."

She attempted to sit up, but the movement seemed to cost her considerable effort. My protective instincts flared to life.

"Your color is terrible. Are you feeling ill? I should summon a healer to examine you."

Thalia shook her head, forcing her smile to appear more reassuring. "I'm fine, truly. I just used too much energy earlier extracting those memories from Luke. A bit of rest is all I need—don't worry about me."

I frowned deeply, studying her face with growing alarm. "This has been happening more frequently. Even small magical efforts leave you completely drained. This isn't normal, Thalia."

I caught the way her gaze flickered away from mine, the subtle shift that spoke of secrets being kept. "You don't need to worry, Draven. I know my own body, and this is just... temporary."

The evasion triggered every instinct I possessed. I gently cupped her face, forcing her to meet my eyes. "Thalia, what are you hiding from me? We're supposed to be partners—there shouldn't be secrets between us."

For just a moment, I saw panic flash across her features before she regained control. She placed her hand over mine, touch warm against my cheek. "Nothing important, my love. I'm just... concerned about Adelaide. I heard there was an incident during the ceremony, that her identity was revealed? How is she?"

I recognized the deflection but decided not to press for now. "The situation isn't good. Adelaide was attacked by her handmaiden, Lina. She was badly injured, but Seraphina managed to heal her."

"What?" Thalia gasped, immediately trying to stand. "Why would Lina attack her?"

I steadied her as she swayed. "Lina's son died in the war three hundred years ago. She'd been carrying that hatred in her heart, waiting for revenge. And..." I paused, dreading what came next. "Lycanthar announced that once Adelaide recovers, she'll be escorted back to the human kingdom."

Thalia's eyes widened with shock and dismay. "He's going to abandon her? But they love each other! I can see it—Lycanthar truly cares for her!"

My own heart ached for both of them. "Precisely because he loves her, he's letting her go. It's too dangerous for her here. Lycanthar would rather endure the pain of separation than watch her suffer or die."

Tears began to gather in Thalia's eyes. "It's so cruel... they should be together." She gripped my hand tightly. "Draven, I have to see her. I need to know if she's alright."

I looked into her determined eyes and felt my resolve weaken. Despite my concerns about her health, I couldn't deny her this request. "Very well, I'll take you to her. But you must promise me that afterward, we're going to have a serious conversation about your condition."

Thalia hesitated for just a moment before nodding. "I promise."

I helped her to her feet, supporting her as we headed toward the healing chambers. With each step, my worry deepened, but I pushed those concerns aside. The sound of our footsteps echoed through empty corridors as we walked toward what felt like another painful farewell.