Chapter 152

After that, Zezi had gone to see Delice. She didn't even have to share her suspicion, the Royal Advisor had beat her to it.

"Just be vigilant," Lady Delice had said, as they hurried away from the den, and up the stairs. "I think there is more to this than we know, I will ask Laura soon."

Leaving Lady Delice, she had ran into Akeem, whose path she had blocked. His eyes which were originally filled with worry turned into those of attack but she refused to move.

Instead, she pulled him aside into the Hall of Statues. So much was going on in the Castle lately, their presence here would most likely go unnoticed.

"She turned you, didn't she?" Zezi said the moment the door was shut behind her. "But something had been different in the process. That is why you are different."

Hope lit in Zezi's heart. Maybe she would be able to get what her daughter was before the tests would be conducted.

Maybe her daughter was just like Akeem.

Akeem's face shadowed with secrecy.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"You do," she stated firmly, and his shoulders dropped in resignation.

"I need to leave."

He was heading for the door again, but Zezi was too quick and once again she was standing in his way.

"I have a job for you."

"You are not my High Pillar." Akeem finally snapped. "I want to see her, stand aside, Zezi."

Instinctively, her brows furrowed with rage.

"I am your Queen, you will do as I say or face the consequences."

As if controlled, Akeem took a slow step back, his head bowed slightly, a spark of challenge still in his eyes.

Zezi blinked when she realized what she had just done. It was something she used to see Valerick do.

It was just the aura of dominance that came naturally with him, and with her, since she now drew from the bond.

How was Valerick? She didn't know.

"I can do anything. I can make the King throw you and your High Pillar in the dungeon if you inquire my wrath. I can tell painted words if I want." She shrugged and when defiance sharpened in his eyes, she added. "Just think about it, your words against mine will weigh nothing. I am the King's mate and I can do as I wish."

She couldn't but Akeem didn't know that.

A chill ran down Akeem's spine, his fight vanished and with a heavy mouth he asked, "What do you want from me, Your Majesty?"

The thing was that Zezi had heard that some guards had searched Oliver's room and found an extract from the Volakys in a bottle, along with the key to the den. Those were the things Riza had claimed to have given to him for safekeeping after her husband had been attacked and they needed to get help for him.

The extract had also been tested and it had been confirmed that it indeed belonged to a Volaky.

Zezi believed that the extract was of too much importance for them to give up on it just like that.

There had to be another and if that "another" was found in the Princess' room, it would confirm her suspicion that she had intentionally set Oliver up with Riza's help.

The Court session had looked so planned and seamless, how had Valerick missed it with his hyper sense at picking up different auras that came with different feelings?

That was where Akeem came in.

There just had to be another, this had to have been planned, or maybe it only looked planned like that because she knew about the white circle. Something Valerick obviously didn't know about.

"Search the Princess' room for the Volakys extract and bring it to me."

"They have given it up. It is in the King's custody now."

"There is another," Zezi stated firmly. "Find it and bring it to me." Then she added. "Not a word to your High Pillar about this."

He worked his jaws. He must not be used to keeping secrets from her.

"Why don't you go yourself?" He dared to ask.

"Your scent." She tapped lightly on her nose. "You have none. Also, you are very skillful with sneaking into rooms undetected. Now, no more questions. Find it before she gets back from the dungeon and bring it to me immediately."

Because from the look of things, the person getting executed tonight isn't the Princess but Riza and Oliver.

So much Vampire blood was getting spilled lately.

Old Zezi would have been happy but no, new Zezi was just worried and tensed.

Bracing herself for a betrayal while trying to be one step ahead of everyone.

But was she?

"What do you need it for?" Akeem's question was starting to fade into the back of her mind.

"I said no more questions."

___

___

The bars of the dungeon pulled open. Some guards stepped in and soon enough, the chains around Laura's wrists were gone.

"What compensation will you like, Princess?" Valerick's voice cut through the silence, as he stood at the opening of the dungeon, his arms folded behind him. "Your reputation has been slightly dented to the hurried ears."

"That doesn't bother me, but my brother's distrust does." Her voice cut through the air, bitterness etched into her face as she rubbed her wrists, where the chains had left behind deep lines. "You would have killed me. You didn't trust me at all? Out of anyone, why would I bring an attack to Lavida? Why would I set the Volakys free? THE VOLAKYS!" She paused, her eyes misting slightly as silence slowly settled in the dungeon. "Valerick, you are my brother."

He smiled.

He smiled?!

What for?

When he stepped into the dungeon and moved closer to her, she almost took a step back but the thought of seeking refuge in this disgusting place was more terrifying to her.

"And why would I want you dead? You are my own little sister, Laura." He tried to run off the blood stain around the corner of her lips, but it was dry now and left a small red patch behind.

"I held your trial in the court and not on the Execution Ground."

Her brows furrowed in realization and she hugged him.

The plan was never to kill her, he just needed her to talk.

"I was so scared. I have never seen you like that against me before."

"I am so sorry to put you through that. Forgive me."

Her brother had always cared for her but there was a gentleness in his action, one he didn't possess before that he had now.

It made her wonder if the Fur creature was the one responsible for this.

"You have the King's heart Laura, why would you ever be afraid?"

___

___

Time was spinning fast, and before anything could be done, it was time for Oliver's execution... and Riza's.

Riza was the one that was brought out first, dragged to the Execution Ground under the moonlight and the hundreds watching eyes. She was given time to make her peace, along with the required intervals and bell gongs.

Before the last gong, Riza's eyes set on the Princess, who was seated on the High Seat and watching her from above.

Her lips trembled and madness seeped into her eyes. Unintelligible words slipped through her lips, low and hard to make out until she snapped and the guards had to hold her down.

"You bastard! You manipulative witch! Is this it? Will you let them kill me? You said you wouldn't let them kill me, you said you would bring my husband back if I did what you wanted. Get me out of here like you promised, Laura." She trashed under the guards' grip and murmurs erupted in the crowd.

"She is lying." The Princess sat back in her seat, unmoved by the accusations. Making the people's murmur grow more silent.

Then she turned to the King, whose side she sat next to. His face was unreadable, but she had his heart, he had told her that just about an hour ago.

That was enough for her to hold onto.

"I would never do anything to harm you or Lavida. Take her soul, Your Majesty, before she infects us all with her lies."

"My lies!" Riza's words rang through the space and she laughed. "I will tell them! I will tell them everything!"

Something in Riza's eyes made fear shoot throwing Laura's veins.

No.

That bloody white-hair vampire is about to ruin everything.

Curse her!