Princess's Revenge: Slave to the Soulbound King Chapter 38

Liliana

The silver silk curtains filtered moonlight into fragmented shards across my chamber floor, each piece seeming to mock my imprisoned state. I paced restlessly within these opulent walls that had become my gilded cage, my fingertips drumming against the carved wooden table in an endless rhythm of frustration.

A soft knock interrupted my brooding thoughts. My secret informant slipped through the door, his face pale with nervous sweat, his breathing labored as if he had run through the entire keep.

"My lady," he whispered, eyes darting around the room before settling on me. "The human girl, Adelaide... she has just entered the Iron Maw. The guard I bribed says... she is undergoing the Moon Bride awakening ritual."

My entire body went rigid. The words struck me like a physical blow, and I felt my carefully maintained composure shatter like glass. My delicate fingers clenched into fists, nails digging deep into my palms until they nearly broke skin.

"Impossible," I hissed, my voice barely above a whisper, eyes widening in disbelief. "Her awakening is too early... ordinary Moon Brides require at least... unless..."

My mind raced, connecting pieces I had refused to acknowledge. If she truly was awakening now, if Lycanthar accepted her completely, everything I had built—my position, my influence, my very survival—would crumble to dust. Worse yet, once she gained full power, she would undoubtedly seek revenge for the pheromone trap that had nearly destroyed her.

I straightened my silk gown and forced my expression into a mask of calculated confidence. Taking a deep breath, I strode toward the door with purposeful steps, only to find my path blocked the moment I opened it. Two fully armored werewolf guards stood at attention, their spears crossed before me in an unmistakable barrier.

"Lady Liliana," the guard captain announced with stern formality, his eyes devoid of any warmth. "You are commanded to remain in your quarters. No exceptions."

I lifted my chin with practiced hauteur, allowing a note of aristocratic disdain to color my voice. "I must attend to His Majesty's blood needs. It is my duty as his blood thrall. If your interference causes him to suffer from blood deprivation and he falls into madness... who among you will bear that responsibility?"

A cold smile played at my lips as I watched uncertainty flicker across their faces. They exchanged nervous glances, whispering in hushed tones before the captain finally nodded reluctantly.

"Very well, but I must escort you personally. Any suspicious behavior and you return immediately." His tone brooked no argument.

Relief flooded through me, though I kept it carefully hidden. As we made our way through the shadowed corridors, my heart hammered against my ribs, but I maintained an elegant stride befitting my station.

The sight that greeted us at the Iron Maw made my pulse quicken with dread. Elite guards in the distinctive deep blue uniforms of the First Legion stood at rigid attention before the massive iron door, their hands resting on sword hilts, expressions grave and alert. I recognized them immediately as Draven's most trusted men.

Jaxon, the captain of the guard, stepped forward and blocked my path completely. "Lady Liliana, halt. The prison is forbidden to all visitors at this time."

His voice rang with cold authority, his keen eyes sharp as blades, as if he had been expecting my arrival.

I lowered my gaze demurely, infusing my voice with gentle authority. "His Majesty requires regular blood feeding. This is an unbreakable rule. As his blood thrall, I request passage."

"Commander Draven has given explicit orders," Jaxon replied without a trace of flexibility, his hand moving to rest on his sword hilt. "No one, including yourself, may enter at this time. This is for the safety of His Majesty and all others. Should blood be required, Commander Draven will make arrangements."

I narrowed my eyes, preparing to speak again, but Jaxon stepped closer, his voice dropping to a more menacing tone. "Lady Liliana, I will say this only once more—if you persist, I will arrest you for interfering with Legion duties. Commander Draven has given me explicit authority to do so."

His gaze was as cold and unyielding as winter steel, leaving no room for negotiation.

Just as I prepared to retreat with whatever dignity I could salvage, a soul-piercing cry erupted from behind the heavy iron door—a sound mixing agony with ecstatic pleasure. It was followed immediately by the Wolf King's deep, thunderous roar that shook the very walls and floor beneath our feet.

A brief flash of silver-blue light seeped through the door's cracks, accompanied by a powerful, distinctive scent that hit me like a physical force—the unique pheromones of a Moon Bride in full awakening, carrying the cold purity of moonlight and something that made my very soul tremble with dread.

A violent tremor I couldn't suppress shot through me. The nails already embedded in my palms finally broke the skin, the sharp sting a distant anchor in the storm of my fury. My beautiful face contorted with rage, a flash of blood-red fury blazing in my eyes. That scent was like the cruelest judgment, confirming my worst fears—Adelaide was completing her awakening.

Under the watchful, suspicious gazes of the guards, I forced myself to turn away, my steps slightly stiff and mechanical. But anyone who knew me well would have recognized the tension in my shoulders, the slight tremor in my hands—clear signs that a storm of vengeance was brewing within my heart.

As I walked back through the corridors, that accursed scent lingering in my nostrils, one thought burned through my mind with crystalline clarity: Adelaide had won this battle, but the war was far from over. I was the one who would become the most esteemed woman.