Princess's Revenge: Slave to the Soulbound King Chapter 46

Adelaide

Lycanthar turned slowly, his golden eyes sweeping across the crowd before settling on me. For a heartbeat, I held my breath, waiting for the recognition I craved—the warmth that had grown between us during those three precious days, the tender moments when his beast form had shown glimpses of his returning humanity.

But when our eyes met, I saw only polite confusion.

"Release her," he commanded the guards, his voice carrying absolute authority. Two werewolves immediately scrambled up the platform to untie my bonds, their hands trembling with reverence as they freed me from the stake.

I stumbled forward on unsteady legs, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Lycanthar," I whispered, reaching toward him with desperate hope. "My love, you've returned to me—"

He stepped back slightly, his brow furrowing with bewilderment. "I'm sorry, but do we know each other?" His tone was courteous but distant, as if addressing a stranger. "I seem to have... lost some time. The last thing I remember clearly was the battle three centuries ago."

The words hit me like a physical blow. My hand fell to my side, trembling, as the crushing realization settled over me. He didn't remember. None of it—our intimate connection, the way his eyes had begun to clear with recognition, the passion we had shared during my awakening. To him, I was nothing more than an unknown human woman he had just saved from execution.

"Three centuries," he murmured, looking around the assembly with growing concern. "Draven, Vespera—explain to me what has transpired. Why was this woman about to be executed, and where are we?"

Draven rose from his knees, his voice thick with emotion. "My king, you've been... indisposed. In a feral state after using forbidden magic to save our people. This woman—Adelaide—she awakened as a Moon Bride and helped restore your sanity through the sacred ritual."

Lycanthar's gaze returned to me, now tinged with curiosity rather than recognition. "A Moon Bride? That explains the scent..." He paused, studying my face intently. "You have my gratitude for whatever role you played in my recovery. But I'm afraid I cannot recall the specifics."

I bit my lip to keep from crying out. The man I had given my heart and body to, who had claimed me as his mate, was looking at me like a courteous but distant stranger thanking me for a service rendered.

"She was accused of murdering you, my lord," Vespera added carefully. "When your body appeared lifeless after the ritual, some believed she had poisoned or harmed you deliberately."

Lycanthar's expression darkened as he turned toward Garrick, who had remained suspiciously silent on the platform. "And who led this accusation?"

"I did, my king," Garrick said, his voice steady despite the fury burning in his eyes. "The evidence seemed clear—the human was alone with you for three days, and when we found you, there was no breath, no heartbeat. I acted to protect Silverhowl from what appeared to be treachery."

"You acted hastily," Lycanthar replied, his tone carrying a warning edge. "A true leader investigates before passing judgment. This woman risked her life to help me, and you nearly burned her alive based on assumptions."

Garrick's jaw tightened, but he bowed his head in feigned submission. "Forgive me, my king. Grief clouded my judgment. I feared for our people's safety."

I could see the calculation behind Garrick's words, the way he was already adapting to this new reality. The king's return had shattered his plans, but he was far from defeated.

"Grief is understandable," Lycanthar said, "but it does not excuse injustice." He turned back to me, and I caught my breath as he stepped closer. "What is your name, Moon Bride?"

"Adelaide," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart raced as I carefully omitted my surname—revealing my royal bloodline now would be disastrous.

"Adelaide," he repeated, testing the name on his tongue. "A beautiful name for one who has done me such service." His golden eyes studied my face with polite interest. "You bear yourself with unusual grace for..." He paused, seeming to search for diplomatic words.

"For a human slave?" I finished quietly, understanding his hesitation.

A slight smile touched his lips—the first sign of warmth I had seen. "I was going to say for one so young to have undertaken such a dangerous ritual. Few would risk their life for a stranger, especially one from a different species."

"You're not a stranger," I said before I could stop myself, then quickly added, "I mean... during the ritual, I came to understand you were not the monster your enemies painted you to be."

Something flickered in his eyes at those words—a shadow of memory, perhaps, or simply curiosity. "The ritual created a bond between us, then? That would explain why you seem... familiar, though I cannot place the feeling."

My breath caught. Could some part of him remember, even if only as a vague impression?

"There was... a connection," I admitted carefully. "I felt your struggle, your desire to return to yourself. That's how I knew you weren't truly lost."

He nodded slowly, accepting this explanation. "Then I owe you a debt beyond measure, Adelaide. You not only restored my sanity but prevented a grave injustice from being committed against you in return." His expression hardened as he looked toward Garrick again. "We will discuss this matter privately, Commander."

"My king," Draven said urgently, "there are other matters that require your immediate attention. Much has changed during your absence."

Lycanthar's gaze sharpened as he looked between his three commanders, clearly sensing the underlying tensions. "Has it now? Then we have even more to discuss."

As the crowd began to disperse and arrangements were made for the king's return to his proper chambers, I stood frozen on the platform. Thalia rushed to my side, wrapping her arms around me in fierce embrace.

"Adelaide, thank the goddess you're safe," she whispered. "When I saw you bound to that stake..."

I leaned into her embrace, drawing what comfort I could from her warmth. "He doesn't remember, Thalia," I whispered back, my voice breaking. "He doesn't remember any of it."

She pulled back to look at my face, understanding immediately. "Oh, Adelaide..."

"He looks at me like a stranger who did him a favor," I continued, tears finally spilling over. "All those moments, the connection I felt... it meant nothing because he can't remember."

"That doesn't mean it was meaningless," Thalia said firmly. "What you experienced was real. What you awakened in him was real, even if he can't recall it now."

I watched as Lycanthar spoke with his commanders, every gesture radiating the authority and wisdom of a true king. He was magnificent—exactly the noble leader I had dreamed he could be. But he was also a stranger who had just thanked me politely for services rendered.

The man I had fallen in love with, the soul I had touched during those three desperate days, seemed as unreachable as the moon itself.