The Princess's Revenge Chapter 135

Valencia’s POV

The slow clapping echoed through the blood-soaked corridor, each deliberate sound making my skin crawl.

Through the iron bars of the gate, I saw figures emerging from the shadows. At least twenty warriors, all heavily armed, their armor gleaming in the torchlight.

And at the center of them all stood Elton.

He stepped into the light with a twisted smile on his face. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction and malice. He looked exactly like someone who had been waiting for this moment.

"Logan," Elton said, his voice dripping with mock warmth. "You finally made it. I've been expecting you."

Logan struggled to sit up against the wall. Blood poured from dozens of arrow wounds covering his body. His face was pale, but his gray eyes burned with fury.

"Elton," Logan growled. "You bastard."

Elton laughed. It was a cold, cruel sound that made my stomach turn.

"Now, now, is that any way to greet your brother?" Elton said. He gestured casually at the carnage around us. "I went to so much trouble to prepare this welcome for you."

I pressed my hands harder against Logan's wounds, trying desperately to slow the bleeding. Through our bond, I could feel his pain. It was overwhelming, like fire burning through every nerve.

"Where is Winston?" Logan demanded. "What did you do to him?"

Elton's smile widened. "Father? Oh, he's dead. Died very peacefully, actually. Just like falling asleep. The poison finally did its work."

My heart sank. We were too late. Winston was already gone.

"You killed your own father," I said. My voice shook with anger and disgust.

Elton turned his gaze to me. His eyes were cold and empty. "He was dying anyway. I simply helped him along. Besides, it served a greater purpose."

"What purpose?" Logan asked through gritted teeth.

"The throne, of course," Elton said. He spread his arms wide, as if presenting a grand vision. "King's Fang is mine now. The entire capital is under my control. Every guard, every servant, every official. They all answer to me."

He paused, his smile turning even more sinister.

"And the best part? I've already sent messengers throughout the kingdom. Ravens carrying letters to every pack, every territory. They all contain the same message." Elton's voice grew louder, more theatrical. "That Soren, the beloved eldest son, poisoned his own father out of greed for the throne. That Alpha King Winston discovered Soren's treachery and tried to stop him, but it was too late. The poison had already done its damage."

Logan's face twisted with rage. "You're framing Soren."

"Of course I am," Elton said cheerfully. "It's brilliant, really. Soren had the most to gain from Father's death. He was the designated heir. Everyone will believe he killed Winston to claim the throne early."

My mind raced. This was worse than I'd imagined. In a world without instant communication, where news traveled by raven and messenger, people believed whoever spread information first. By the time Soren could defend himself, the damage would already be done.

The entire kingdom would see him as a father-killer. A traitor.

"And you, dear brother," Elton continued, looking at Logan with hatred in his eyes. "You're Soren's closest ally. His friend. His co-conspirator in this terrible crime. The messages I sent made that very clear."

"No one will believe your lies," Logan said.

"Won't they?" Elton laughed again. "Think about it, Logan. You've been spending time in Soren's territory. You rode with his warriors to King's Fang. You'll be seen as his accomplice. By tomorrow, every Alpha in Valdoria will consider you a traitor."

I felt sick. Elton had thought of everything. He'd created a perfect trap, not just for our bodies but for our reputations. Even if we somehow escaped, we'd be branded as criminals.

Logan's breathing was getting more labored. He was losing too much blood. I could see his skin growing paler by the second.

"Where is Rhodes?" Logan asked, his voice weak but still defiant. "What did you do to him?"

Elton's expression darkened slightly. "Ah yes, that annoying little warrior you sent to spy on me. He was quite persistent, I'll give him that. Always digging through the library, searching for old records about dragons."

He paused, and his eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction.

"He found quite a bit, actually. Enough to become a problem. So I dealt with him."

"You killed him," I said quietly.

"I did what was necessary," Elton replied coldly. "Just like I'm doing now."

Then his gaze shifted fully to me. His eyes narrowed, and his smile became something truly evil.

"Speaking of dragons," he said slowly. "You've been looking for information about dragons this whole time, haven't you? Both of you. Sending Rhodes to research, asking questions, investigating the Ogden family."

My blood ran cold. How much did he know?

Elton took a step closer to the gate. His voice dropped to a venomous whisper that somehow carried through the entire corridor.

"That's because your slave bitch is a dragon, isn't she, Logan?"

The words hit like a physical blow.

Every single warrior behind Elton turned to stare at me. Their eyes widened with shock, then filled with fear and hatred.

My heart hammered in my chest. My breathing became shallow and rapid. The secret I'd guarded so carefully, the truth I'd been terrified to reveal, was now exposed to everyone.

"That's right!" Elton's voice rose to a shout. "This dragon bitch right here! She's the one who killed hundreds of my warriors in that battle! She transformed into a massive red dragon and slaughtered them!"

His face contorted with rage and madness. Spit flew from his lips as he screamed.

"My warriors! My men! Dead because of this monster! This abomination!"

The warriors behind him began shouting. Their voices rose in anger and bloodlust.

"Dragon!"

"Monster!"

"Kill it!"

"Avenge our brothers!"

Elton raised his fist in the air. "Today, we end this! Today, Logan and his dragon whore die here! We avenge our fallen!"

The warriors roared their approval. The sound was deafening, echoing off the stone walls.

I was shaking. Not from fear, though there was plenty of that. But from rage and humiliation.

Elton had stripped away every protection I had. He'd exposed me in the most degrading way possible, using the most insulting words he could find. He'd turned me into a monster in their eyes, something that needed to be destroyed.

All the warriors stared at me like I was some kind of demon. Their hatred was palpable, thick in the air.

Logan's hand found mine. Through our bond, I felt him trying to send me strength and reassurance. But his own emotions were chaotic, a storm of pain and fury and determination.

"Elton," Logan said, his voice strained. He was clearly trying to stall, to buy us time. "Where is Dorian? What happened to him?"