Princess's Revenge: Slave to the Soulbound King Chapter 86

Draven

I pushed through the heavy oak door into my study. Only a few candles flickered in the dim space, casting dancing shadows across the stone walls. Adelaide stood with her back to me, silhouetted against the window as she gazed out at the darkening sky, her hands clasped elegantly before her.

These few months of life among the wolves had already begun to transform her. She was no longer merely the fragile human woman who had been brought to our lands—her bearing carried a new strength and determination, her inherent royal grace now enhanced by the Moon Bride's radiance. She possessed an undeniable presence, as if she were born to stand at the center of power.

*No wonder Lycanthar is drawn to her again and again, willing to forsake everything for her sake,* I thought grimly as I closed the door behind me.

At the sound, Adelaide turned, her moonlight-pale features graced with a carefully composed smile. She offered a perfect curtsy, her movements flowing with the elegance that could only be cultivated in palace courts.

"Commander Draven," her voice rang clear as mountain streams, "forgive me for disturbing you. But I must know why I cannot see Thalia. Is she well?"

I walked slowly toward my desk, picking up a rolled parchment and dropping it on the wooden surface with a dull thud. The sound echoed in the silence like a judge's gavel. "Do you truly care for her welfare, Adelaide Valendria?" I spoke her full name coldly, each syllable falling like a blade.

Adelaide's smile froze, the color draining from her face. Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure—this swift emotional adjustment was the mark of royal training. "You... know," she whispered, her voice barely trembling.

"I know far more than that, Your Highness." I circled around my desk, approaching her slowly. "I also know that Thalia Blackwood is the daughter of Eldoria's High Priest. You infiltrated werewolf territory together. To what end? Gathering intelligence? Assassinating our King? Or perhaps a grander scheme—placing a princess as Wolf Queen to control our people?"

A flash of panic crossed Adelaide's eyes. "Thalia! What have you done to her?" She stepped forward instinctively, grasping my arm with urgent hands. "Is she safe?"

I shook off her grip with a cold laugh. "Is this the hypocrisy of humankind? Thalia is secure, for now." I towered over Adelaide, my gaze cutting into her. "Now tell me your true purpose, Princess. Why did you infiltrate our people? Why approach our King? What do you want?"

Adelaide drew a deep breath, straightening her spine. Her expression shifted from panic to determination. "I love him, Draven." Her voice no longer trembled. "I did come with a mission initially—to understand the werewolves, to find a way to end the war. But I never intended to harm Lycanthar or any of your people."

"Love?" I almost scoffed. "A human princess falling for the king of her hereditary enemies? The tale is too convenient."

"It is precisely because I was raised in hatred that I can see its absurdity!" Adelaide's voice rose, her eyes blazing with conviction. "These past months, I've witnessed werewolf life. You are no different from humans—you feel love, sorrow, hope. Why must we slaughter each other for hatreds born three centuries ago?"

Her voice softened but remained firm. "When I was first brought before Lycanthar, I saw only a dangerous beast. But as time passed, I saw the loneliness and pain in his eyes, his determination to protect his people at any cost. Yes, I fell in love with him—not because he is the Wolf King, but because he is Lycanthar."

I studied her eyes, searching for deception, but found only sincere emotion flickering within.

"I am no longer simply Princess of Eldoria," Adelaide continued. "I am Lycanthar's Moon Bride, and that cannot be changed. I hope to become a bridge between our peoples, not a tool to deepen hatred."

Silence settled over the room, broken only by the occasional crackle of the fireplace. I turned to the window, gazing at the distant lights beginning to twinkle in the darkness.

"Do you understand what will happen if Lycanthar discovers your true identity?" I finally spoke, my voice low and heavy. "He has only just recovered from his feral state. To learn that he loves the daughter of his hereditary enemies... such a blow could send him spiraling back into darkness."

Pain flashed across Adelaide's features. "I know. That is why I dare not tell him."

"And you, as the Wolf King's future mate, plan to live a lie for the rest of your days?" I turned back, my piercing gaze cutting through her defenses.

Adelaide met my stare steadily. "No. When the time is right, when the wounds between our peoples begin to heal, I will tell him everything myself. But not now—he needs strength and stability, not more chaos."

I watched her for a long moment, weighing a momentous decision. The sincerity in her voice, the pain in her eyes—it reminded me of another woman who had deceived me with her identity, yet whose love I could not doubt.

*Thalia,* my heart ached at the thought. *How can I judge Adelaide when I face the same impossible choice?*

Finally, I nodded slightly. "You may see Thalia."

Surprise and gratitude flashed in Adelaide's eyes.

"But remember," my voice turned ice-cold and dangerous, "I will be watching you both. If you show any sign of betraying Lycanthar or our people, I will not only kill you—I will personally lead our armies to raze Eldoria and make your family pay for your treachery."

Adelaide did not flinch. She looked directly into my eyes. "I understand. But please believe that my love for Lycanthar and my desire for peace are both genuine."

I gestured toward the door. Adelaide curtsied and turned to leave.

"Princess," I called as she reached the threshold. "Why should I believe you?"

Adelaide paused, her lips curving upward slightly. "Because you too love a human woman, Commander Draven. You understand better than anyone that love knows no race."

With those words, she gently closed the door behind her, leaving me alone by the window, my thoughts churning like a tempest.

*Love knows no race.* Her words echoed in my mind as I stared out at the night sky. Adelaide was right—I had fallen for Thalia before knowing her true identity, just as Lycanthar had fallen for Adelaide. The heart recognized its match regardless of blood or birth.

But could love truly overcome three centuries of hatred? Could it bridge the chasm between two peoples who had spilled each other's blood for generations?

The thought of that upcoming council meeting filled me with dread. When Lycanthar discovered the truth—and he would, inevitably—what would remain of the love and trust that had slowly begun to heal his wounded soul?

I turned away from the window, my decision made.

I would protect Thalia, and I would protect my people. Not because I trusted humans, but because I understood that love, even love built on deception, might be the only force powerful enough to break the cycle of hatred that had consumed our peoples for too long.