<h4>Chapter 219: May I Go?</h4>


    "When I realized I carry a true blood child, it was a happy moment." She thought of Damien, of the way his hands had trembled when he first heard.


    "But then," she went on, "we quickly realized that a true blood in the womb of a werewolf with blood in her veins wasn’t a great idea."


    A murmur rippled across the chamber.


    "My child got hooked on the blood," Luna continued. "And needed more. More than the legal limit allowed."


    Richard folded his hands before him.


    "So you sought Sage Veyron’s help," he said, finishing her sentence for her.


    "Actually, he offered," Luna said. "Said it was his sworn duty."


    "Without the additional blood," she went on, forcing herself to meet Richard’s gaze, "myself and the royal heir would die."


    Several of the council members shifted ufortably in their seats, unsure of how to reconcile thews they had sworn to uphold with the life of the queen and the unborn monarch who might one day rule over them all.


    Richard steepled his fingers together. "I will do you the favour of ensuring that the judgment is quick and swift."


    "I’m sure in the next few hours," he continued, "we will have reached a decision. I do not want you to worry, Your Highness."


    But she did worry.


    She feared only for the child inside her... and for Damien.


    She rose carefully from her seat. The ache in her womb had intensified. But she didn’t let it show.


    "May I go?" Luna asked.


    "Yes," Richard said with a small bow of his head.


    The moment she left the chamber, a low hum of voices rose among the Lords. Tension saturated the air. The moment was ripe with opportunity—for alliances, for betrayals.


    "I would like to have a word with Lord Luciver first, if you men will excuse me," Richard said. His tone made it clear it was not a request.


    Luciver followed the head councilman into the long corridor outside the chamber.


    "What is it?" Luciver asked once they were alone.


    Richard hesitated only a moment, a rare crack in his stoic mask. "We have a problem," he said grimly. "I didn’t realize it earlier—not until the queen gave her testimony about the child being the one needing the blood."


    Luciver frowned, his hand flexing at his side.


    "Gabriel sent me an invitation a while ago," Richard continued, lowering his voice. "But I turned him down."


    Luciver’s head tilted slightly. "An invitation? For what?"


    "A meeting. At first, I thought it was a political ploy. But I’ve since heard he’s been meeting with some of the council members in secret." Richard’s jaw tightened. "I fear he was preparing for today. Preparing to use this hearing to gain ground."


    Luciver stared at him, every fiber of his ancient instincts firing at once. "You think he’s making a move for the throne?"


    "I think," Richard said slowly, "he’s already started."


    They stood in silence for a long moment, the implications terrifying. If Gabriel had corrupted council members, he could maniptews, enforce biased judgments—even dethrone a monarch. Luna’s confession, no matter how honorable, might’ve been the perfect trap.


    Luciver sighed. "Goddess. What do we do?"


    "Hope," Richard replied, "that we can convince the ones he managed to turn. And maybe—just maybe—I have no reason to panic. Maybe no one listened to him."


    Luciver gave him a sharp look, one brow raised in cool disbelief. "That’s a big maybe."


    "It is," Richard admitted with a shrug. "But hope is better than panic, and until we’re certain, it’s what we’ll work with."


    Luciver turned. If they failed to control this, the kingdom would bleed.


    He exhaled slowly. "We don’t have much time."


    ******


    When Doctor Thessally arrived at the royal pce, she hadn’t expected to find chaos. The pce hummed with uncertainty.


    She walked quickly through the grand halls and up the staircase to the bedroom. The moment she stepped inside, her heart caught in her throat.


    "Your Highness!" Thessa gasped, rushing forward.


    Luna was on her knees, hunched over on the floor beside the bed. Her hands trembled where they clutched the rug, and her lower lip was bloodied from where she’d bitten down to keep from screaming.


    "I think the baby ising," Luna whispered. She inhaled sharply, her hand pressing to her belly where the skin stretched tight.


    Thessa knelt beside her and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, helping her to stand. "I have to get you to the royal clinic immediately."


    "No," Luna cut her off, a weakugh escaping her lips, though her face was pale. "The council is deciding my fate and that of my child. I am not having this baby until I hear the verdict."


    Thessa’s eyes widened. "Your Majesty..."


    "I’m serious," Luna continued, every word heavy with stubborn fire. "So give me something for the pain, and do not tell Damien."


    "Your Majesty, please. Dyingbour is dangerous. For both of you. There’s already so much stress on your body. If this esctes—"


    "And having this baby while the council is deciding whether or not its even allowed to exist is also dangerous," Luna hissed. Another contraction hit, her knees buckling slightly, and she held onto Thessa for support. Her forehead pressed against the doctor’s shoulder, damp with sweat. "You heard what Veyron said. Protect the child at all costs. That includes not letting him be born into a city ready to turn against him."


    Thessa’s shoulders sagged slightly.


    "Give me the pain meds," Luna said again.


    Thessa nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Yes, Your Majesty. But this buys us hours, not days. I’ll do what I can."


    *****


    Damien sat with his elbows on his knees, hands loosely sped, the picture of controlled rage. His jaw was taut, his eyes hooded with a predator’s patience.


    Eryk stood behind him. His eyes were fixed on Lurent, assessing every twitch.


    "Talon informed me that you’ve been quite cooperative, Lurent, and I appreciate that," Damien said finally, graveled with exhaustion.


    Lurent, still tied to the chair, gave a slight nod. His eyes were sunken from a night without sleep, wrists raw from the restraints Talon had left him in. "Thank you, Your Highness," he said.


    Damien leaned forward slightly, the motion subtle, but it made Lurent flinch. "I just need to know one more thing," the king said. "And I will give you all the money you want."


    Lurent’s eyes flickered up at that—money meant escape.


    "Eryk here will escort you out of Blood City, and you can live your best life away from Gabriel."


    Lurent nodded again, this time more eagerly. "Yes, Your Highness."


    Damien let the promise hang in the air, just long enough for the hope to settle into Lurent’s bones.


    "I found a ne on a woman," he said. "It was enchanted. She told me a man fitting Gabriel’s description gave it to her."


    "Do you mean Lady Sharona’s maid?" Lurent asked carefully.


    "Yes," Damien replied. His eyes narrowed, watching every tick of the man’s expression.


    "I was asked to keep an eye on her," Lurent said, throat bobbing. "I reported to him the day of the coronation when you visited the hotel they were staying in... and after that, she disappeared."


    "I don’t need to know about the woman," he said tly. "I want to know about the ne. Gabriel has no magical skills. Someone made that ne. Who was it?"


    "I...I don’t know, Your Highness..." he said hesitantly. "But I won’t lie that some strange things do happen." He nced down, avoiding Damien’s gaze. "There are times that Lord Gabriel is nowhere to be seen in the entire estate, and hourster, he is back—without going out oring in."


    Damien stilled, his body growing rigid as he studied the man. Lurent was unraveling, speaking faster now. "Sometimes," Lurent added in a near whisper, "I hear two people speaking in his office, and I didn’t wee anyone in."


    "Thank you, Lurent," Damien said after a long silence. He pushed to his feet. "I want you to move to Silver City. My father will be retiring there soon...If you want to be the butler to the former king, it is your choice," Damien continued. "If you want to live as a king yourself, be my guest. But you will leave Blood City tonight."


    A gasp of relief escaped Lurent’s lips. His eyes glistened. He had been prepared for torture, for death—but instead he’d been handed freedom. A chance at a life away from Gabriel’s leash.


    "Thank you, Your Highness," he whispered.


    Damien turned, already shifting into the next battle that awaited him beyond the dungeon walls. Eryk followed closely.


    "What next, Your Highness?"


    "I need to see my wife."


    "Do you want me to take some men and search Lord Gabriel’s residence?"


    "No. For some reason, Luna doesn’t want to spook him. We wait." Damien answered and exited the dungeon.


    *****


    The mood in themunity lodge was lighthearted. The pack women had gathered for their weekly circle.


    Alpha King Kyllian stormed in. Talon nked him with a narrowed gaze, while one of the elite royal guards trailed behind. The room of women fell deathly still. Conversations died mid-sentence.


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