ROYCE.

“Fine by me,” I reply.

Just then, Mom and Winona enter the hall. There’s no sign of Marcel or Dad but the

blood on Mom’s clothes makes me scan her

over. She looks ok.

What happened?

“Then what do the people say?” Aleric says scanning the crowd.

“I don’t give a fuck what people say. I know my daughter and you are not the fucking

one for her.”

“But I am her mate! Fated mate! You have

no right to stop me from being with my mate, Alpha King Alejandro.” Aleric says.

“Because I-” Alejandro begins.

“Dad, stop it!” Sky shouts.

I don’t want her doing that to her father… they’ve only recently come to an

understanding.

“Fated mate or not, she’ll always be mine. She chose me, and as much as I belong to her, she belongs to the Solaris King.” I say confidently, not caring how arrogant I

sound. 2

“How dare you!” Aleric snarls. “I demand you accept her rejection and back the fuck off, or I won’t hold back from killing you

either.”

I smirk coldly. “If you will succeed.”

“Try me!”

“But she is choosing Aleric Arden… we need to do what’s right, your majesty.” Another Alpha from the council says seriously.

I glance at Alejandro, who still seems to be struggling with the truth, as he stares at Skyla.

“Aleric.” Mom’s voice comes, but she

sounds exhausted.

“Mom… look, I found my mate,” he says,

smiling at her.

Mom looks between us, “Tell me Aleric, tell me the truth,” she says, looking between the three of us. “Did you have anything to do with Quade’s death?”

“No! How can you believe that? I have done

nothing wrong!” He says with false sincerity

as he takes Mom’s hands. Concern in his

eyes as he looks at the blood on her clothes. ”

What happened?”

She shakes her head, and I glance at her

hands, stained with blood…

But she’s observing him. Can she see through his façade?

My heart thunders as she slowly pulls away and looks at Skyla, who is standing silently. Mom goes over to her and takes her hands,

“Skyla Rossi, I wish our first meeting wasn’t like this… but please don’t pitch two

brothers against one another… isn’t Royce the one you want?”

“No,” Skyla replies. “It’s Aleric. Royce has committed far more crimes than you can

imagine. If I were you, I’d stay away from

him.”

My eyes flash and I’m about to speak when

Leo places his hand on my arm.

“Enough. With the allegations that are presented here. I vote that for now, Aleric

and Royce Arden are both taken into custody for questioning and held in confinement. until we have done our investigations. As for Skyla Rossi, I think she too should be kept apart from-”

“No! Aleric has done nothing wrong. Isn’t the law that everyone is innocent until proven guilty? Probe their minds, and you will get your answers! How can you hold someone innocent in prison? I’m telling you that he has done nothing to me! I want to be with him! And if anyone will make this difficult, then I demand that the council

defend me! isn’t that what it’s for?!”

A murmur crosses the crowd, but it’s clear without the facts and proof everyone is

debating it.

If Dad could see the state of the Arden name,

he tried so hard to protect….

“All in favour of Leo’s suggestion!”

Alejandro growls.

“Dad!” Skyla says, shocked.

sorry Sky… but I’m not

chances.”

want you to think if you truly think this is the right thing to do… why am

a mind probe and until there is proof against me, I will not settle to be abused by those

can see it from the

the mind probe?”

coldly.

at him, frowning

to simply be with

Aleric says.

“The truth, it’s

too late to atone-”

no truth!

King wants my mate! He got the kingdom! Allow me

woman I love!”

Bastard…

keeping both Aleric Arden and the Solaris King, Royce Arden, in

is torn, and I know it’s going to be a mixed vote. Rayhan Rossi

followed

Westwoods.

she looks

and mouths, ‘I’m sorry’.

by one, everyone begins

hand.

me forever. I have

only cause my

Aleric shouts.

won’t,” Raihana

time

We can’t hold people like

proof! That goes against what we have

if in three days no proof is brought forward, then he’ll

look at him

Three days?

“That’s not fair!”

his words send a ripple

crowd.

in favour,”

hands go up and

Three days.

Fuck.

for three days I can’t

anything?

arm around Skyla, who hugs

need to find the answers in three fucking days… but I’m not opposed to getting rid of

hold Aleric Arden and

custody. After all, this involves

We can’t have something happen if they are

will find out

watch,” Raihana says, her eyes glimmering as

Aleric.

trust her despite

she’s a Rossi…

a frown crosses Aleric’s

Skyla shakes her head.

“This isn’t fair!”

ok sweetheart… we’ll

days, they won’t find anything,” he says with

then,” she

heart seems to stop as my gaze snaps to them… removing

confirm what is right and wrong,

stop me, mark me, Aleric!” Skyla says, glaring at

I hear one of

say.

realise I can see the pain and devastation on their

do this… come on… can you hear me?’ I try through the

Nothing.

runs over to her, shouting at her not to do this. Flames engulf them both and my own heart is thudding as I see her arch her

No.

like never before burn inside of me, blistering cold

do it,” I whisper, my voice so cold and dangerous I

Time seems

and I send a powerful bolt of lightning at

from

slam my fists into the fire,

strong.

but

are torn.

my eyes, I see Aleric

A blast of my

Skyla, but

held back by

throws Aleric back and he hits the wall of flames and in that

his, destroying

in seconds.

us, encasing the floor,

the…” Aleric

didn’t work,” Skyla says

her neck.

but it did nothing to the

bond.

4

are not destined!” Someone

of a Solaris king cannot be overruled,” Janaina

says as he

holding Mom, and Winona quickly

supporting her.

my mind is

to focus on

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