Chapter 26


    Chapter 26 Merliscire Pce


    CA SSANDRA


    I peered up at the clock at the front of the car. The disy read noon, and despite the ride being long, it


    seemed like it should have been muchter.


    When I peered out the window, a strange feeling formed in the pit of my


    stomach.


    Merliscire Pce. It was just as magnificent as ever, with tall, pirs


    constructed of white marble that glinted with specks of gold, a surplus of long windows, and expansive


    balconies that gave a beautiful view of the


    perfectly-manicured grounds. The grass was a lustrous shade of emerald, and the driveways were


    paved in rich red brick.


    At the front of the pce was an enormous gold fountain. It was in the shape of a wolf with its head


    raised high toward the moon. It had been crafted centuries ago and was meant to pay tribute to the


    Moon Goddess. The water sshed high into the air and shimmered on its way down.


    Anemond may have been the source of my nightmares, but I couldn’t deny. there was something


    beautiful and magical about the pce.


    The car pulled up the drive and stopped right at the marble stairs that led to the entrance hall. The


    moment I caught sight of the stairs, a memory struck me.


    I remembered the first time my father had brought my brother Ector and me to the pce. Even back


    then, we were both awestruck by the sight of it and its luxuriousness. When we’d first stepped foot


    inside, Father had told us to not wander or look about, as it would be impolite, but we couldn’t resist.


    We’d never witnessed a beauty such as the Merliscire Pce before, and we likely never would again.


    I was pulled back to reality when Finnick began to stir. His eyes blinked open slowly and then widened


    when he realized where we were.


    “We’re here?” he breathed, and then his lips curled into a grin. His innocence


    touched something deep within me, and for a moment, I felt like I was a young girl again. How I wished


    this ce hadn’t tainted my life in the way it had, so I too could feel excited about this ce.


    “Yes,” I said simply, and then I helped Finnick with his seatbelt. Marco, meanwhile, couldn’t have


    moved faster. He undid his own seatbelt with ease and thenunched himself out the door. Asher got


    out silently as well, and as Finnick and I climbed out of the car, I watched the young prince embrace his


    father.


    Asher gave him a brief hug and then carefully pulled away from his son and turned to the se rvants


    who’d just arrived. He shed them a stern expression, and they immediately went to the trunk and


    began to unload our luggage. I watched the exchange in awe. It wasn’t impolite exactly, but the scope


    of Asher’s power was impressive to see.


    I looked around at the se rvants to see if I could recognize any of them, and yet, none looked familiar.


    Perhaps the Alpha King had brought in a whole new crew when he’d been coronated, or perhaps, I just


    couldn’t remember any of them. After all, I hadn’t visited the pce all that often in the first ce, even


    before my father was framed. Asher had never liked meeting me at the pce, He preferred toe to


    me instead at Rosepetal, the mansion I’d moved to after we’d discovered we were


    mates.


    Asher always liked to refer to Rosepetal as “our home”


    But in the end, it turned out to be my prison and the ce I nearly lost my life.


    When Finnick tugged at my sleeve impatiently, I pushed away my thoughts of the mansion and


    returned to the present.


    “This is amazing, Mommy,” he whispered, and I smiled down at him.


    “It is,” I agreed in an equally soft voice. “Now, stay close to me, baby. This ce is big and I don’t want


    you to get lost.”


    Finnick nodded. “Okay.”


    A few minutester, the head of the se rvants appeared and led us into the pce. Se rvants held the


    doors open for us, and as we crossed through and into the entryway, the weight of everything crashed


    over me.


    We approached the marble staircase, and as I followed the se rvants and Asher, the pain of my injuries


    red slightly. I hadn’t taken any medicine today, and it was definitely making things difficult. But, I


    pushed the pain aside and focused on my surroundings. The childlike side of me reveled in the


    nostalgia and wanted to see how the pce of my childhood had changed, but the more rational part of


    me couldn’t stop remembering the bad times.


    Right here in Merliscire, Asher’s father, the former Alpha King, had sentenced my father to lifelong


    imprisonment and then banished my brother..


    Here, the Alpha King was at his highest power and ruled over Wega as an absolute authority. I


    couldn’t let my nostalgia forget that.


    “Bert,e here,” Asher summoned the head se rvant to him once we reached


    the first level.


    Bert was a middle-aged man with wrinkles that lined his tanned cheeks. His eyes were a deep warm


    brown, and his smile was kind. He approached the Alphal King dutifully and asked what he could do to


    assist him.


    “Prepare a room at once for Healer Cas sandra and her son,” Ashermanded. “And then call the


    Chief Healer to my study.”


    “Yes, Your Majesty,” Bert answered, and then after a pause, he softened his. voice. “Lady Adalyn is


    waiting for you, Your Majesty. She wishes to have lunch with


    you.”


    The Alpha King frowned for a moment and then shook his head. “Tell Lady Adalyn that I’ll need to deal


    with some business first. However, Marco will join her.”


    He patted Marco on his shoulder. “Bert will lead you to your mother.”


    “But I want to stay with you, Daddy!” Marco insisted, and he tugged on his father’s shirt.


    Asher shook his head again. “No, you need to go to your mother.”


    Marco didn’t want to ept this answer and started to whine. Meanwhile, Asher’s frown only


    deepened. His gray eyes shed over to Bert, who understood the expression immediately.


    “Come with me, Your Highness-” Bert pleaded, but Marco wasn’t having any of it. The young prince


    pouted, stamped his foot, and pointed at Finnick.


    “If he’s going to follow you, so am I,” he dered, and his eyes shot daggers at Finnick.


    I stood there in shock until I realized what was happening. There was a reason. Marco was constantly


    giving my son and me sour looks.


    Was he jealous? Was he worried Finnick would steal his father and his attention away from him?


    I was slightly amused, but at the same time, a bit worried. It was said that children could always sense


    something adults couldn’t. All I could do was hope that. Marco’s trait of jealousy came from his mother.


    Adalyn was the embodiment of jealousy and insecurity.


    Footsteps on the marble suddenly rang out, and a figure approached, as if my thoughts had summoned


    her.


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    “Asher, are you here?” a sweet voice called out.


    Adalyn appeared before us, d in a red silk dress. When she reached the Alpha King, she took his


    hand in hers and smiled. Her brilliant amber eyes. glimmered as she gazed at Asher lovingly, but that


    excitement faded when she noticed me.


    “Who is this?” she asked in a surprised tone. “Do we have a guest, darling?”