Chapter 878

Jackson, Gabriel, and I immediately focus on the bedroom door, which is roughly splintered now, just moments from being ripped from it hinges. I squeeze their hands, suddenly thinking that my decision to come back here might be a little rash

Who is on the other side of that door?

What are their orders?

Gabriel groans, his legs buckling beneath him in his weakened state, falling back against the bed.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," Jackson growls, storming for him and ducking one shoulder beneath Gabriel's arm, standing again and propping my other mate up. "When they come through that door, you need to be a cruel Prince again. Can you manage that?"

Gabriel growls a bit, glaring at Jackson, even as he nods. "Ariel," he says, gesturing to his side, begging me to come there. "They need to believe you're on my side."

I nod and immediately move there, tucking my hands behind my back and attempting to look as innocent as I can, like I didn't just poison their Prince.noveldrama

Almost the instant that I take my spot the door shatters, pieces of it coming slamming down.

Soldiers shout as they flood into the room, but they stutter to an awkward stop as they see the Prince standing before them, a nasty sneer on his face, apparently quite well - even if he does have his arm around a sneering Alpha that they don't recognize.

"Is this how you enter my Luna's chambers?" Gabriel snarls, and I snap my head to him, a bit surprised at how easily he falls into his old persona.

"Sir!” the soldier in front says, dipping into a quick bow. "We thought you were in danger! We -"

"Danger?" Gabriel sneers, laughing low. "At my Luna's hand!? You fool. I'll have your head for this."

The soldiers look awkwardly at Jackson, still not getting it, but Gabriel's authority is absolute. "Be gone!" he snaps, waving a hand at them. "If I wished to be disturbed I would have answered the door, you idiots -"

Still not understanding the soldiers begin to back away.

They start to move a lot faster when Jackson takes an aggressive step towards them, snarling low, letting his canines extend to fangs.

"The ambassadors," I whisper, glancing at the door at the soldiers retreating backs as they scurry away - probably to report to the King. "Where will they be?"

"Across the Castle," Gabriel says, slumping a little against Jackson as he turns his head to me. "They'll be close to their quarters, but confined. I think I know where, Ariel, but I - I don't think I can walk - I'll have to give you directions -"

Jackson rolls his eyes at this, apparently finding Gabriel's weakness distasteful, and bends low, scooping Gabriel up in his arms. Gabriel gasps and then snaps his head to snarl at Jackson, his displeasure clear.

"Okay, both of you need to let it go," I snap, one hand on my hip, the other pointing a finger at both of their faces in turn. "Jacks, he was just poisoned, it's not his fault that he's weak And Gabriel, he's helping. I'm not going to be able to follow directions. So, let's go."

Both snarl unhappily but follow my lead as I stride for the door. Jackson comes to my side as we stride down the hall and then quickly outstrips me so that i have to trot fast -

nearly running to keep up with net

him. Gabriel gives confident

ve

directions at each turn, guiding us through, and Jackson's ready snarl and general size and power stop any protest that anyone might have at the sight of the Crown Prince being carried through the halls by a strange man.

Still, my heart pounds as we go, because Pippa was right – the castle is absolute chaos right now, and the shouts increase as we hurry through the halls, people apparently figuring out that we're here and spreading the word.

"There," Gabriel says finally, pointing towards a heavily guarded door. "They'll be in there."

Jackson nods and strides forward so fast that I have to run to catch up.

The guards at the door hesitate at Gabriel's command to step aside, but when Jackson again places my mate on his feet and the Prince takes a few unsteady steps forward, snarling at them to obey their monarch and fall back if the value their lives, they obey. The guards scatter as we open the door.

“Hi, hi!” I say, frantic and fast, bursting into the room. All of our Moon Valley ambassadors turn to me with wide-eyed surprise and fear, though their terror abates slightly when they see Jackson at my side. I scowl a bit, not liking that he instills relieved confidence when I do not.

"Okay, everyone join hands, please!"

"What?" the oldest Ambassador says, stepping forward. "Princess, we have to -"

"Hold. Fucking. Hands," Jackson growls, the Alpha command heavy in his voice as he steps aggressively towards my father's men, the implication that he'll tear them apart if they don't clear in his violent snarl.