Chapter 133 A Dire Decision


    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 recentlye 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 Sris King.” I say confidently, not caring how arrogant I


    sound. 2


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


    back from killing you


    either.”


    I smirk coldly. “If you will seed.”


    “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 nce at Alejandro, who still seems to be struggling with the truth, as he stares at Sk.


    “Aleric.” Mom’s voicees, 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 nce at her


    hands, stained with blood…


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


    My heart thunders as she slowly pulls away and looks at Sk, who is standing silently. Mom goes


    over to her and takes her hands,


    “Sk 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,” Sk replies. “It’s Aleric. Royce hasmitted far more crimes than you can


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


    him.”


    My eyes sh and I’m about to speak when


    Leo ces 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 Sk Rossi, I think she too should be kept apart from-”


    “No! Aleric has done nothing wrong. Isn’t thew 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!” Sk says, shocked.


    “I’m sorry Sky… but I’m not taking


    chances.”


    “Before everyone votes…I just want you to think if you truly think this is the right thing to do… why am I


    being targeted? I have done


    nothing wrong in my life. I suggest a mind probe and until there is proof against me, I will not settle to


    be abused by those in


    power.” Aleric says seriously, as he scans the crowd. But this was not part of his n. I can see it from


    the look on his face, the way he paled and the way he’s balled his fists.


    “Now you’re ok with the mind probe?” I ask


    coldly.


    Mom looks at him, frowning slightly.


    “All I want is to simply be with my mate,”


    Aleric says.


    “Aleric,” Mom begins. “The truth, it’s never


    toote to atone-”


    “There is no truth! I’m being framed


    because your Sris King wants my mate! He got the kingdom! Allow me to keep the


    woman I love!”


    Bastard…


    “All in favour of keeping both Aleric Arden and the Sris King, Royce Arden, in confinement until


    further investigations!” Alejandro thunders.


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


    raise his hand, followed by all the


    Westwoods.


    Azura follows as she looks at me with regret


    and mouths, ‘I’m sorry’.


    One by one, everyone begins to raise their


    hand.


    “You can’t hold me forever. I have a life!


    This will only cause my mate trauma!”


    Aleric shouts.


    “No, it won’t,” Raihana says coldly.


    “Perhaps a time limit?” Someone says.


    “It’s true. We can’t hold people like this


    without proof! That goes against what we have been taught!”


    “I propose they be held for three days then if in three days no proof is brought forward, then he’ll be


    released,” Liam says suddenly.


    I look at him sharply as Sk curses.


    Three days?


    “That’s not fair!”


    But his words send a ripple through the


    crowd.


    “All in favour,” Alejandro says quietly.


    Most hands go up and my eyes sh.


    Three days.


    Fuck.


    That means for three days I can’t do


    anything?


    Aleric wraps his arm around Sk, who hugs him tightly.


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


    him if I don’t find anything.


    “Then we will hold Aleric Arden and Royce


    Arden in custody. After all, this involves the


    royal family. We can’t have something happen if they are under your watch,” Magdalene says gravely.


    “Perfect… and we will find out if anything


    strange urs under our watch,” Raihana says, her eyes glimmering as she res at


    Aleric.


    So, the witches trust her despite the fact


    she’s a Rossi…


    A hint of a frown crosses Aleric’s face before


    Sk shakes her head.


    “This isn’t fair!”


    “It’s ok sweetheart… we’ll be together soon.


    Three days, they won’t find anything,” he says with confidence as he caresses her jaw.


    “Mark me then,” she says suddenly.


    My heart seems to stop as my gaze snaps to them… removing my mark….


    “No. Until we confirm what is right and wrong, there will be no marking.” Leo says icily.


    “You can’t stop me, mark me, Aleric!” Sk says, ring at her cousin.


    “That’s not Sky.” I hear one of the quints


    say.


    I nce around and realise I can see the pain and devastation on their faces.


    ‘Sky… don’t do this…e on… can you hear me?’ I try through the bond.


    Nothing.


    My heart thuds as Azura runs over to her, shouting at her not to do this. mes engulf them both and


    my own heart is thudding as I see her arch her neck through the mes.


    No.


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


    fucking world. /


    “Don’t do it,” I whisper, my voice so cold and dangerous I barely recognise it as the entire room


    bes a fucking freezer.


    But they don’t listen. Time seems to slow as


    Aleric’s mes grow higher and I send a powerful bolt of lightning at it, but there’s something inside,


    something that’s


    shielding them from my blow.


    “He’ll kill them!” someone shouts as I m my fists into the fire, but the barrier is


    strong.


    “Sk!” Kiara shouts, but it’s obvious they


    are torn.


    Right before my eyes, I see Aleric sink his


    teeth into her neck. A st of my blue aura


    wraps around Sk, but it’s not my doing.


    I’m held back by this barrier, but whatever.


    that is, it throws Aleric back and he hits the wall of mes and in that moment my


    power overrides his, destroying the mes


    in seconds.


    Ice spreads around us, encasing the floor, ceiling, and furniture.


    “What the…” Aleric murmurs, horrified.


    “It… didn’t work,” Sk says as she clutches


    her neck.


    There’s blood and a bite, but it did nothing to the mark or the remaining tatters of our


    bond.


    4


    “They are not destined!” Someone shouts.


    “They possibly are, but the mark of a Sris king cannot be overruled,” Janaina says quietly. 5


    “Correct,” Grandad says as he steps


    forward, from where he was holding Mom, and Winona quickly moves closer,


    supporting her.


    Something happened, but my mind is too


    fucked to focus on it.


    “What do you mean? A fated mate’s mark trumps all!”


    I smirk coldly when Aleric looks at me.


    “Not a king’s.” I taunt. 9


    “What on earth is going on? Who’s lying?” Keith says, confusion clear in his eyes.


    “We can probe their minds, but the chance that their memories are tampered with is highly likely,”


    Raihana says quietly. “For now, imprisonment is our only option. I


    hope that is alright Luna Catherine.”


    Mom looks at her, and I can see the pain in her eyes. She nods slowly, looking away


    from both Aleric and me, and I can see the


    negative effect this is having on her.


    Mom… I’m so fucking sorry.


    They will not hold me. I don’t care what everyone wants, but I need to find answers.


    “Three days… until we can be together


    without these usations,” Aleric says.


    quietly, cupping Sk’s face.


    Sky… look at me.


    “Where is Alpha Keh!” someone asks. ”


    His sons are here and he isn’t. He should know what’s happening!”


    “He won’t be joining us tonight,” Mom says quietly.


    Did she… kill him?


    Her aura is weaker…


    No, I push the thought away, not having time to ponder on it, as a few witches step


    forward to bind us.


    “Make sure the spells are absolute,” Leo says, as he watches Aleric.


    Three days… if in three days we don’t find


    the answers, I will kill him myself before I let


    him touch my woman.


    “Royce.” Raihana says.


    I look at her, and I see the sympathy in her


    eyes.


    I don’t need sympathy.


    I nce at Leo. “Find the answers, or I will raise hell,” I say quietly, as our eyes meet,


    and he nods. 5


    The witches begin chanting as their magic begins simmering around them and I can feel the powerful


    binding spell wrap around


    1.


    My eyes ze as I re at Aleric.


    He’s panicking, but at the same time, he’s trying to contain himself. But what unnerves


    me is the way he keeps staring at Sk, who gives him a slow nod.


    What is going on? 3


    His gaze snaps back to me.


    “I won’t forgive this,” he says quietly.


    “Enjoy these three days, because when they


    are over, you will pay for every fucking


    crime you havemitted… and I swear on


    Selene, and Helios that I will expose the


    truth. One way or another. This is the beginning of your fucking end.” I reply icily


    and I mean it. 2


    My eyes sh and even with the binding spell, I manage to raise my hand, sending a


    bolt of lightning right at Aleric hitting him square in the chest. Sk tries to block, but I create a wall


    between her and him, forcing


    her back.


    “Royce!” Mom shouts, but I don’t really


    care.


    “He deserves far worse.” I snarl.


    The witches double down on the spells. “You might want to strengthen the spell on him. He may not be


    as strong as me, but he does have a deal with the snake god after all.” I add mockingly.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    “The used will be held in secure cells, and


    my men will also be watching over them,” Alejandro says quietly. “The truth will be revealed. Any funny


    business and sedate


    them.”


    The witches nod, and soon guards begin to escort us out. Rayhan, Liam, Chris and a few


    others nk Aleric, as I look down at the


    magic that wraps around my wrists.


    Three days. That’s all they fucking getting.


    I’ming for you, Lil Lucifer. There’s no way your Reign will let anything happen to


    you. 3


    I turn my head and look over my shoulder at


    her, only to find her watching me. Our eyes


    meet and I hear her heart skip a beat…


    “Wait for me, Love. Your Royce will return.”