55%

Chapter 52

"You cannot go there..." King Nicholas's words echoed inside his study as he glared at his son. "Are you even using your head?"

Elijah's fists clenched at his sides, trembling with the effort to control his rage. His breathing came in sharp, uneven bursts, and his normally calm gray eyes had turned an ominous shade, darkening with each passing second. Every muscle in his body was coiled, ready to move, ready to fight.

"She is my wife!" Elijah snarled, barely able to keep his voice from breaking under the weight of his anger. His words were laced with fury, his wolf clawing at the surface. "Fiona is my mate!"

He took a step toward the door, determined to leave and get to her. Every second she was in danger felt like a dagger being driven deeper into his chest. But just as he reached for the handle, King Nicholas's voice cut, through the room, sharp and commanding. "Elijah!" The King's tone was enough to freeze him in place, if only for

a

moment. "You cannot go there."

Elijah turned, his eyes blazing with anger. "You expect me to stand here and do nothing?" His voice was low, and dangerous, every word a barely controlled threat. "They've taken her! She's in the dungeon! I will get her out!"

King Nicholas held his son's gaze, unflinching. He stood tall, his own eyes burning with intensity. "And what will that accomplish? If you go charging in there now, you'll do exactly what they want."

Elijah's jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists. "What are you talking about?"

The King stepped forward, his voice lowering but no less firm. "You go to rescue her now. You will only put her in even greater danger. Do you think your enemies don't already know about Fiona? They've found your weakness, Elijah. If you act rashly, you will only confirm it. You will make her a target."

Elijah stared at his father, the truth of his words sinking in like a blow to the gut. He felt his fury collide with reason, the fire in his chest still burning, but now tempered by something colder-fear. His heart pounded in his chest, but for the first time, he hesitated. King Nicholas continued. "The moment they know how much she means to you, every enemy you have will use her against you. You can't protect her by being reckless. If you rush in now, you will only expose her to more danger than you can imagine." Elijah's breath hitched. He understood the political implications of saving Fiona. His mind grasped the consequences-how his enemies would pounce the moment they realized how much she meant to him, how rescuing her now would only make her a target. He understood it all, but his wolf could barely tolerate the thought of her in danger. The beast inside him raged, clawing to be unleashed, demanding that he protect his mate no matter the cost.

His fists clenched as he looked at his father, trying to restrain the fury boiling beneath the surface. "I'll kill anyone who dares target her," he growled through gritted teeth.

King Nicholas met his son's burning gaze, then let out a dry, almost mocking laugh. "You're strong enough to kill your enemies, yes. But what about Fiona?" he asked, his tone laced with hard reality. "Do you think you can protect her forever?"

Elijah's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, his father pressed on. "You think constantly shielding her will keep her safe? You believe running to her every time she's in danger will do her any good?" The King's voice cut through the room. sharp and unyielding. Elijah's jaw tightened as his father's words hit home, Deep down he knew there was truth in them. He couldn't always be there, couldn't always stand between Fiona and the threats that lurked around them. As much as his wolf wanted to protect hef, he couldn't cage her or fight all her battles. The thought made his chest tighten, the frustration building.

a child, Elijah," his father continued, his voice softening slightly but still firm. "She will have to face dangers on her own. If you smother her with protection, you'll only make her more vulnerable in the

1/3

111

16:57 Sun, Dec

Chapter 52

Q

55%

+5

19

stayed silent, his heart warring with his instincts. His wolf snarled in disagreement, but his mind knew the wisdom of his father's words. Protecting Fiona meant more than just shielding her-it meant giving her the strength and space to face her own battles, even if it killed

out, away from the tension that seemed

he stepped into the cool hallway. His body still trembled with barely contained rage, but he forced himself to keep walking, heading toward the garden for some space to calm his

his brief moment of peace was interrupted when he saw Queen Luna Lyanna standing in the garden. She was accompanied by Carissa, who was whispering something to her. Elijah clenched his jaw. His first instinct was to ignore them, to walk past and pretend they weren't there, but before he could, the Queen's

"Elijah."

as he turned to face her. "Do you need something, Your Majesty?" His voice was measured, but the tension beneath

a step forward, her eyes sharp as she studied him. "Yes," she

out like a suffocating wave. The surrounding atmosphere grew thick with intimidation, a force so powerful that both Queen Lyanna and Carissa visibly paled. The Queen's composure faltered for a brief

almost unsettling smile crept across his face. "Of course," he said, his voice smooth but edged with

the Queen and Carissa standing frozen in the garden. As soon as he disappeared from sight, Queen Lyanna's expression hardened. "Follow him,"

moved after

Carissa called out as she tried to catch up to Elijah. "Your Highness, please

if nature itself was holding its breath in his presence. He stood among the vibrant flowers, their colors vivid under the pale light, but none of it softened the sharpness in his expression as

looked at him. For just a moment, she was stunned by how striking Elijah was-the sharp lines of his face, the intensity in his gaze, and the quiet strength that radiated from him. But she quickly steadied herself, reminding herself

sides. "Your Highness," she began softly, choosing her words carefully. "I wanted to apologize... for what happened to Miss Fiona." Her voice trembled slightly as she waited for his

Instead, he smiled.

his tone smooth, almost too casual. His eyes, however, held none of the softness his voice implied. "And why would you apologize, Lady Calyrre? Did you have something to do with

2/3

16:57 Sun, Dec 1

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255