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.

Sky… but I’m

chances.”

everyone votes…I just want you to think if you truly think this is the right thing to

there is proof against me, I will not

was not part of his plan. I can see it from the look on his face, the way

with the mind

coldly.

at

is to simply be

Aleric says.

begins. “The truth,

too late to atone-”

is no truth! I’m

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

woman I love!”

Bastard…

keeping both Aleric Arden and the Solaris

to be a mixed vote. Rayhan Rossi is the

hand, followed by all

Westwoods.

looks

and mouths, ‘I’m sorry’.

by one, everyone begins to

hand.

hold me forever. I have

only cause my mate

Aleric shouts.

won’t,” Raihana says

time limit?”

can’t hold people

against

days no proof is brought

at him sharply

Three days?

“That’s not fair!”

his words send a ripple through

crowd.

favour,” Alejandro

go up and

Three days.

Fuck.

three days I

anything?

arm around

in three fucking days… but I’m not opposed to getting

will hold

After all, this

if they are under your

and we will find out if

our watch,” Raihana says, her eyes glimmering as she

Aleric.

witches trust

she’s a Rossi…

a frown crosses Aleric’s

Skyla shakes her head.

“This isn’t fair!”

we’ll be together

anything,” he says with confidence as he

then,” she says

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

what is right and wrong, there will be no marking.”

me, Aleric!” Skyla says, glaring at

hear one

say.

around and realise I can see the pain

do this… come on… can you

Nothing.

as Azura runs over to her, shouting at her not to do this. Flames engulf them both and my

No.

and rage like never before burn inside of me, blistering cold ice that is ready to destroy the fucking

and dangerous I barely recognise it as

don’t listen. Time seems to

send a powerful bolt of lightning at it, but there’s something

from my

someone shouts as I slam my fists

strong.

but it’s

are torn.

eyes, I see Aleric sink

her neck. A blast of my blue

but it’s

held back by this barrier,

it throws Aleric back and he hits the wall of flames and

overrides his, destroying the

in seconds.

around us, encasing the floor,

Aleric murmurs,

didn’t work,” Skyla

her neck.

but it did nothing to the mark or the

bond.

4

are not destined!”

but the mark of a Solaris king cannot

Grandad says as he

was holding Mom,

supporting her.

happened, but my mind is

focus on

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