~Zayne~



When I stepped out from the changing room, I saw Emily lying peacefully on my bed.

She must have been very tired from all the days spent in the hospital.

I spent almost half an hour staring at her innocent face, wishing I could make a move already.


I was ready to ask her, but, with her knowing my deepest secret, would she want to marry a beast like me?

I mean, how could she possibly spend the rest of her life, away from her husband every night.


She couldn't possibly bear that, just for me.


I ate the dinner she left on my stool before joining Emily on my bed.

We weren't married, so I had to keep my distance from her.

I laid on one end of the bed, while she laid on the other end.

I spent almost half of my night, staring at her as she laid next to me.

My hormones, we're tingling. Itching for me to bite her on the neck, and claim her as my own.

But I had to resist as best as I could, until I was swallowed up by the darkness.


Soon, it was morning, the sun was almost up from the east.

I stretched out before leaving the bed.

I tried to walk as quietly as I could so as not to startle or wake Emily up.


I went into the showers, to freshen up a little. The warm water, raining down on my body, was quite refreshing.

I soon finished and stepped out from the showers, when I heard my door close and footsteps retreating.


I wrapped my towel around my waist and went to check for myself.


“Who was at the door?” I asked Emily, her back turned against me.

She turned towards me, but remained speechless staring into my physique. Her lips formed an ‘O’ shape.

She seemed to be in awe at the sight of me.

It flattered me a little seeing Emily react as she did.

“Emily?” I had to snap her back.


“...Rowan. He said that Reta and Luther called us to the throne Room. I know something is up.”

She stuttered a little.


I was a bit surprised by Emily's next words. Why would Luther summon not only me, but Emily? They barely speak, so… it doesn't fit right at all.


And, as per the rules of the kingdom, you only summon a person to the throne room, to confess his actions to the king, so he or she can get arrested or hung, depending on the offense.


“Why?” I asked Emily, very curious for answers.


“I'm not sure. But I know something is up.”


“Okay. Wait for me here, let me get dressed quickly.”

I said before turning and going to the changing room.


After a short while, I came out and together with Emily, we exited my room and headed for the throne room.


I gently pushed open the large door of the throne room, making a very loud noise.

We proceeded through the carpet taking us to the thrones standing in front of us.

The one in the center served as mine, so I proceeded to take a seat on it.


The one to my left served as the one for the queen, formerly Maya.

And soon, I wish for that to be Emily. The one to my right, is of course for the prince or princess, depends, but in my case, prince Luther.

“Brother!!!” a stern voice called out from behind us. The mere tone of his voice twitched my heart.

Luther!

He and Reta walked elegantly into the throne room.

And behind them, we're a few more delegates and guards, Rowan included.


Luther walked up to the throne and sat next to me.


Reta and Emily stayed just in front of us. Their heads lowered.


“So, Reta what's the matter?” I asked very impatiently.


“Your majesty, I've come bearing big news. With me here, is an imposter of the highest order!!”

Reta shifted to Emily as she heaped her accusations. Her words towards Emily twitched my heart.

I was eager to go down there and slap Reta’s teeth's off.

“She is the daughter of the Riverdiew Chief that murdered Maya!!

Something she knew but didn't tell anyone, not even Zayne!”

What?

Reta’s words stunned me, leaving me dumbfounded.


This can't be true. Not my Emily. She can't do this.

But Emily's silence to these accusations troubled me alot.

If she didn't do it, she has to speak up, unless she did.


“Emily? Is this true?” I took it upon myself to ask her.


“Yes.”

Just the single words she said left me dazed. I couldn't believe my ears.


How could she? Her father murdered my wife, she knew yet she couldn't tell me!!


“Your majesty, withholding valuable information from the king, is an offense worthy of at least two years locked up in a cell.”

Luther added as well. As much as I hated him, he was right.


I was still trying to process everything, giving myself a few minutes.

“Guards!!!!... Seize her!” I ordered in a loud and stern voice.


“Zayne.. Please no. I'm sorry I didn't tell you.” “Zayne, please!!”

Emily pleaded at the top of her voice. My heart was a bit moved seeing her like this.


Two guards stepped out from the crowd behind us, and grabbed either side of Emily.


“Zayne, please!”


They took her out of the throne premises. I turned my eyes away from her, I couldn't bear to see her struggle so much.


“Rowan, go with them, and supervise everything.”

I ordered Rowan, and he immediately stormed out.


I sat back on my throne, my right hand covered my face.

I couldn't believe what had just transpired. My feelings were mixed.

I had a surging rage towards Emily, for keeping this from me.

But I also had compassion toward her, and couldn't bear to see her struggle.


“You did the right thing!” Luther whispered softly to me, before leaving.

And soon the rest of the other delegates at the throne room, all dispersed.


I was left to myself to ponder. Ponder on whether I did the right thing today.

Pushing away my new found love, for keeping a secret on my former love.


Did I do the right thing? Or I'm I making a very rash decision?


I left myself in the throne room for hours before deciding to finally return to my room.


But before reaching my room, I ordered a guard to call in Rowan.


And after a few minutes, I heard his loud knock on my door.


“Come in, Rowan!!” I yelled his name from the sofa I rested on.


“Sir, you called?” Rowan stepped into my room. His steps were very cautious.


“Yes, take a seat.”

I said very softly.


Rowan gently walked to my couch and took a seat across from me.


“Did I make a mistake?” I asked Rowan, giving him a cold glare.


“... I'm not sure sir. It depends on how you see it.

You were clearly angered by Emily keeping such big information from him. And in the heat of anger, you jailed her.”

Rowan carefully explained.


“But, I also came to warn you about Reta and Luther.

Neither cared even a little for Maya. So they didn't rat out Emily, because they cared about Maya or me, it's because they're up to something.”


“Really? What do you think?” Rowan asked very curious.

“I'm not sure. But Luther is not going to stop until he gets this throne, maybe taking out Emily is just the beginning.

Rowan!

I will need you to keep an eye out, on Reta or Crystal or any one of Luther's crew, for anything suspicious, we can't lose our guard on them.”


“Yes, you can trust me.” Rowan said with so much confidence.


“Okay. You're excused.”

Rowan immediately rose up from my couch and walked out of my room.



~Luther~


I excused Crystal and Thorn out of my room, leaving me, Reta and Steph.


“And how sure are you that Emily is guilty for this?”

I asked Steph, my voice light as a whisper.


“Yes she is. When we were little, my mom told us stories about how my father, the Riverdiew Chief, slayed so many Lycans in his time.

And she also told us how he killed the great Lycan queen.

We didn't know much about her, till we arrived here and found out she was Zayne’s wife.”

Steph finished speaking.

I was a little convinced that this was enough to take Emily to jail.


“I'm sure,it's enough.” Reta pinched in.

And she was correct.

Anything at all related to Maya, is always a sensitive topic for Zayne.

No matter how much he loves Emily, it can't surpass that he had for Maya.



“Okay, Steph, this is do or die. If this plan doesn't work. Then I'll have to drag you and your sister down the hard way!”

I said to Steph, in a very stern voice, almost as a threat.


“I'm sure it will work.”


“Okay. Tomorrow we'll summon Zayne and Emily to the throne room.”

I gave one last piece of instruction, before excusing Reta and Steph from my room.


I had a short night. Taking a moment to explore the possible outcomes tomorrow may hold.

It could go out well forcing Zayne’s hands to jail Emily making him very vulnerable or it could blow up in our faces.

Zayne will know we're trying to get rid of Emily and make her almost invincible.


Soon it was morning and I wasted little time to summon Zayne and Emily to the throne room.


Before calling out to Reta. With my position as the prince, I can't confess to Emily's guilt. So I need a commoner, as Reta with me.


After a few minutes, she arrived in my room, already dressed and ready.


And then, together we walked to the throne room.

We graced the red carpet of the room with a certain elegance.


Behind us, we're other delegates of the castle. Thorn included.

And in front of us, was Zayne, sitting comfortably on his throne.

“Brother!!!” I yelled out his name, my voice almost laced with mockery.

I walked up to him and sat on my throne, to his right.

“So, Reta what's the matter?” Zayne asked almost immediately.


“Your majesty, I've come bearing big news. With me here, is an imposter of the highest order!!”

Reta shifted to Emily as she heaped her accusations. Her words towards Emily twitched my heart.

I was eager to go down there and slap Reta’s teeth's off.

“She is the daughter of the Riverdiew Chief that murdered Maya!!

Something she knew but didn't tell anyone, not even Zayne!”


The whole delegates present let out loud gasps in shock.



Emily? Is this true?”Zayne couldn't believe his ears.


“Yes.”

Emily answered, her word feint.


“Your majesty, withholding valuable information from the king, is an offense worthy of at least two years locked up in a cell.”

I added, further stirring up Zayne’s anger.


“Guards!!!!... Seize her!”

After taking a few minutes to think. Zayne finally ordered, his voice loud and thunderous.


Emily pleaded as two guards, stepped out from the crowd behind and grabbed her.


She struggled as best as she could, whilst also pleading to Zayne.


They dragged her out of the room. And Zayne sent Rowan to supervise.


Seated on my throne, the comer of my lips curled up to a hideous smile.


“You did the right thing!” I whispered to Zayne as I walked past him.


I managed to hold in my joy till I reached my room.

I felt like kissing Steph right now. She took out Emily, reducing the risk that would have been if we tried to kill her.


But there was no time to rest on a small victory.

There was still a marathon to finish.


And now that Zayne is vulnerable, we have to strike while the iron is hot.