The Princess's Revenge Chapter 131

Valencia’s POV

We left our room and went to find Soren. A servant told us he was in his private study.

When we knocked, Soren's voice called out. "Come in."

We entered. The study was large and elegant. Bookshelves lined the walls. A massive desk sat near the window, covered with scrolls and documents.

Soren looked up from his work. "Logan. Valencia. What can I do for you?"

Logan didn't waste time. "I received a letter from my Gamma. It contains information about a plot to murder Alpha King Winston."

He explained everything Amara had written. The poisoning. The assassination of Nolan. Elton's plan to frame Soren.

Soren listened without interrupting. His expression didn't change at all.

When Logan finished, there was a long silence.

"You already knew," I said suddenly. "Didn't you?"

Soren stood and walked to the window. He gazed out at his territory. "I've suspected for two years that my father was being poisoned. The symptoms were too gradual, too calculated to be natural illness."

Logan's voice hardened. "And you did nothing?"

Soren turned to face us. "I did everything I could. I searched for evidence against Elton. I questioned servants. I investigated supply chains. I monitored every visitor to the palace. But Elton is meticulous. I found nothing concrete."

He looked genuinely frustrated. "Without proof, what could I do? Accuse my brother of treason based on suspicion? That would have started a civil war."

My mind flashed back to Amara's abduction. The strange timing. The fact that she'd only been questioned, not killed.

"You had Amara taken," I said quietly. "When she was abducted and questioned. That was you."

Soren didn't deny it. "I thought perhaps Logan had discovered something about the poisoning. I needed to know what he knew."

Shock ran through me. Soren's reach was everywhere. His intelligence network was terrifying.

Through the bond, I felt Logan's shock mirror my own. But outwardly, his expression remained calm.

"I see. Right now, we need your help." He spoke aloud, his voice steady. "We're going to King's Fang to save Winston. I need you to come with us. Bring your warriors."

Soren shook his head slowly. "I can't do that."

"Why not?" I demanded. "Your father is dying!"

"I can't march my entire army to King's Fang based on a letter," Soren said. His voice was firm. "If I do that without confirmation that my father is truly in immediate danger, it looks like I'm staging a coup myself. Elton would use it against me. He'd claim I was the one trying to seize power."

I felt frustration rising in my chest. "So you'll just wait until Winston is dead?"

"I'll send ten of my best warriors with you," Soren said. "Elite fighters. If the situation is as Amara claims, send word immediately. I'll bring the full force of Redstone Canyon Pack to King's Fang."

Logan understood what Soren was doing. "You want to see which way the wind blows before committing."

Soren didn't apologize. "I want to ensure I'm not manipulated into starting the very civil war I've tried to prevent. Ten men. That's my offer."

I looked at Logan. Ten warriors weren't enough. We both knew it. But what choice did we have?

Logan's jaw tightened. "We leave this afternoon."

"My men will be ready," Soren said.

We turned to leave. But at the door, I stopped and looked back at Soren.

"If Winston dies because you waited too long, you'll regret it," I said.

Soren's green eyes met mine. "If Winston dies, we'll all have much to regret."

Back in our room, Logan moved with swift efficiency. He pulled our travel bags from the wardrobe and began packing weapons first. His sword. Two daggers. A bow and quiver of arrows.

"We need to bring enough food for three days," Logan said without looking up. "And water skins. The journey will be hard."

I nodded and started gathering our provisions. Dried meat. Hard bread. Cheese wrapped in cloth.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Logan called.

Ryan, Bastian, and Kai entered. Kai's expression was as unreadable as always.

Ryan spoke first. "Alpha, we're ready to ride with you to King's Fang."

Logan stopped packing. He turned to face them, his gray eyes serious. "No. You're not coming with us."

Silence fell over the room.

Ryan's face showed confusion. "What? But Alpha, you'll need—"

"I need you to take Kai back to Cliffwatch Pack," Logan interrupted. His voice was firm. "Keep him safe. That's an order."

Bastian stepped forward. "Alpha Logan, with respect, we're your best warriors. You need us at King's Fang more than—"

"No." Logan's voice grew harder. "Listen to me. King's Fang is more dangerous than we thought. The situation there is worse than anything we've faced before."

He looked at each of them in turn. "I won't watch any of you die in front of me. Not for this. Not for Winston."

My chest tightened at his words. Through our bond, I could feel his determination mixed with fear. Fear of losing the people he cared about.

Ryan's jaw clenched. "Alpha, we're warriors. We've sworn to fight beside you. We're not afraid of danger."

"I know you're not afraid," Logan said. His tone softened slightly. "That's why I'm ordering you to go back. If Valencia and I don't return from King's Fang, Cliffwatch Pack will need warriors. The pack needs you alive."

He gestured toward Kai. "And Kai is Valencia's only family. He needs protection. Can you give me your word that you'll keep him safe?"

Ryan and Bastian exchanged glances. I could see the internal struggle on their faces. They wanted to argue, to insist on coming with us. But they also understood the weight of Logan's words.

Finally, Ryan nodded slowly. "We'll protect him with our lives, Alpha."

"Thank you," Logan said.

I walked over to Kai. My heart felt like it was being squeezed. I'd just found him after fifteen years. We'd barely spent any time together. And now I had to say goodbye again.

"Kai," I said softly. I reached out and took his hand. It felt cold in mine. "You have to go back to Cliffwatch Pack with Ryan and Bastian. They'll keep you safe."

Kai looked at me with those distant blue eyes. "What about you?"

"Logan and I have something important we need to do," I said. I tried to keep my voice steady. "But we'll come back. I promise."

His expression didn't change much. But I saw something flicker in his eyes. Something that might have been concern. Or maybe I was just imagining it because I wanted so badly for him to care.

"Be careful," he said. His tone was still formal, still polite. But the words themselves meant something.

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I pulled him into a hug. For a moment he stood stiff, just like before. But then, slowly, his arms came up and wrapped around me. Just for a second. Just barely. But it was there.

When I pulled back, I had to wipe my eyes quickly. "When we get back to Cliffwatch, we'll have time together. Real time. We can talk and get to know each other properly."

Kai nodded. "Alright."

It wasn't much. But it was more than the cold indifference from before.

Ryan spoke up. "We'll leave immediately, Alpha. We'll take the northern route back. It's safer."

"Good," Logan said. "And Ryan, when you arrive at Cliffwatch, tell Elias and Dr. Vance what's happening. Tell them to prepare the pack for anything."