ASHER


    As Ss reported on what his father had been doing in Anemond, | pursed my lips in irritation but listened without making any


    sort ofment.


    In my absence. Oliver Moses had taken the Beta’s guards into the royal pce and imprisoned the Head of the King’s Guard.


    The councilors who had been loyal to me, their Alpha King, had either been imprisoned or killed. Everything had been. done in


    the name of his so-called “justice” to expose the “imposters who caused the king’s disappearance”.


    And of course, my father-inw was recruiting soldiers, using the excuse that he needed an elite army to fight for the Alpha King


    when | returned to Anemond. He was doing all in his power to make it seem as if someone else had taken me hostage to dispel


    me from himself and his family.


    When Ss finished his report, silence hung in the room, and for a long moment, neither of us spoke. | wasn’t sure how to word


    what | needed to say, and my brain felt frazzled by this influx of information. | was angry. Impossibly angry. At this situation, the


    Moses family, the king of Yurene, and all of those who had orchestrated this awful takeover.


    “How many soldiers does Oliver have?” | asked finally.


    Two thousand, perhaps.” Ss replied, his golden eyes somber as they stared into mine. “All from different Packs. And since he


    had control over most of the councilors, he assumed control of their guards as well. But... the actual number is unsure. There


    are a few Packs that support him and others he’s always been close with


    | nodded as | considered this information. It was unpredictable which side the different Packs would be on. Wega was such a


    large country that most of the Packs ruled themselves in their own way. Despite the pledges of allegiance they made to the Alpha


    King, | couldn’t rely on that ancient oath when war approached.


    Many of them might not care who was the king so long as their lives continued like normal. Others might be power-hungry and


    wish to win more through the chaos. If | wanted to get their support, | would have to visit them one by one.


    But first, | needed an army, which was precisely why Ss and | were going to the Myriad tomorrow.


    “Asher.” Ss spoke again, and after he took a breath, he sat down in the chair opposite me. “Is it really better for you to remain


    here in the shadows? I’ve heard rumors circting in the city that you’re dead. If we let that rumor get too far, who knows what


    that could mean for your reign. You could lose your crown for good.”


    | gulped as a lump formed in my throat. His statements held a lot of weight, and for a moment, | was about to stagger under


    them, but | managed to steady myself.


    But before | could answer Ss, | heard footsteps, and when | turned my head, | was surprised to see my brother in the doorway.


    The light of the many candles made his golden hair gleam, and though he seemed tired, he appeared just as regal and poised as


    ever. Our current circumstances hadn''t managed to dim hisposed air.


    “Staying in the shadows is the best choice for now,” Kane said. His violet eyes were somber but his expression was perfectly


    calm as he entered the room. “Oliver is probably twelve steps ahead of you. He’s likely anticipated your


    return and has nned ordingly. We don’t know what he’s arranged. If you suddenly appeared...you could be in even more


    danger than


    you are now


    As much as | didn’t want to admit it, he had a good point. Oliver Moses had conducted this usurpation right under my nose. | had


    no idea how long he''d been nning this coup, nor did | know what else he had up his sleeve. This mess of a situation was


    unpredictable and | needed to think strategically if | wanted to make it out of this alive.


    Ss turned to Kane and was about to speak, but just as the Beta opened his mouth, my brother continued on.


    “Ss, since you and Asher have such a long journey ahead of you


    tomorrow.


    morrow, you


    should


    try to get some rest,” he advised


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    politely but firmly. “This might be the best sleep you''ll be able to get in the next few days. Take advantage of having a nice bed.


    Besides, | need to have some private time with my brother. So if you don’t mind...”


    “Of course,” Ss replied dutifully, and he rose to his feet. “Good night, Your Majesty.”


    He offered me a polite bow, and when | nodded back at him, he left the room without hesitation.


    Once he was gone, Kane sat down in Ss’ seat and crossed his legs.


    “What time are you leaving tomorrow, brother?” he wondered with a raise of a golden eyebrow,


    “Around 5” | answered without pause, and then | rubbed my temples. A headache hard begun to stir within me, and | felt.


    exhaustion start to creep in. Ever since Cas sandra had left, | hadn’t had a proper medical check, and | was feeling the effects of


    the illness much harder these days. “It’s the time that the guards change their shifts, It''ll give us a fighting chance.”


    Kane nodded thoughtfully. “I''ll meet you at 5 then.”


    “Excuse me?” | asked in surprise.


    I''ll be joining you.” he replied as if it were obvious.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    1 shook my head immediately. “You don’t need to, Kane. In fact, you shouldn’t. You should remain here, away from the potential


    madness.”


    “I''m not asking for your permission,” my brother countered. “Let me remind you whose house you''re in now-”


    “Is that a threat?” | cut him off, and | narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you truly on my side, Kane? Because from what Ss has


    informed me, your mother, Margaret, has allied with Oliver Moses.”


    “Are you questioning my loyalty?” Kane asked, and he shook his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you’d doubt me after all of this


    time. If | wanted to betray you, Asher, | would have done it when | found you and Ss lingering around the pce after your


    return from the forest. | could have let Oliver Moses’ guards know where you were. It would have been all too easy to give you


    up. But | didn’t. And it would be good for you to remember that. I’m not your enemy. I’m your ally, and I’m here to help


    Though his tone was genuine, a lingering feeling of doubt remained in the back of my mind. With how impossible and confusing


    things had beentely, it was hard to determine who was truly my ally and who was a traitor. | didn’t know who trust in light of this


    awful coup


    But as Kane’s violet eyes stared directly into mine, | found myself nearly convinced by his words. Yet... a thought gued me,


    one that | couldn''t cast aside.


    “Are you doing this for her?” | wondered. “Are you staying by my side because of Cas s andra?“


    ay


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