A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 62: Kings Die Too!

Elena’s finger trailed up Gabriel’s chest as they watched the stars in the open sky. The view was especially breathtaking from under the purple tree. The leaves appeared somehow darker in the night, as if resonating with Gabriel’s personality.

Shifting her gaze towards Gabriel, she stroked his beard. Off late, he had let it grow, and like sharp spikes, it materialized from under his chin. His eyes were trained on the empty sky like one lost in their own thoughts.

"Gabriel?" She called.

"Mmh," he grunted low, turning his eyes to her. She gave him that crazed look, her eyes shining in the night like sapphires.

"I want this to last forever," she whispered. Gabriel turned, his hand pressing her butt cheeks.

"I wish it could," he whispered back with a sad smile. He snaked his way up her length to cup her cheeks.

"Do you really want it?" She asked, straightening her back to rest her head on his chest. "The crown?" She scratched his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat turning to music to her ears. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Gabriel stroked her hair before he replied, "I didn’t at first but now I have to get it. For you, for us, and our children."

"What about you?"

He shifted his eyes back to the sky, drawing in a long sigh. "Everything I have now, I earned it. I rose from nothing to making a name for myself. In the capital, I wasn’t even known as the king’s son. People often mistook me for a servant boy," he forced a laugh.

And turning to face her. "I was a man with no ambition. And then you came into my life. Everything I’ve done is for you to have a better future El."

"Your brother isn’t going to like it," Elena pointed.

"Once we get back, father will name me crown prince. I’ll know what to do after that," he said.

"You’ll kill him?" She asked, raising her head in apprehension.

Gabriel found her eyes, his fingers raking through her hair and settling on her scalp. "It’s getting late. We should head back," he said, looking at the sky and back to Elena.

______ ______ ______ ______

The news about Gabriel’s victory in the werewoods had spread like wildfire in the kingdom. Some said he possessed magical powers while others said he had been kissed by the gods. His was a legend among the vampires, some even relating it to prophesies long buried in history.

To Queen Jessica, the news were like a stab in the heart. As she stood by the raised gallery, she watched below as a team of maids decorated the throne hall. Tomorrow, a bastard would be named crown prince. His was the right to inherit lands, titles, honor and the kingdom after his father. He would also be the commander of the royal army, a position previously preserved for Brandon.

Her eyes fell on the throne. It was an ugly old seat forged from the hardest of iron Eldoria mined in the old times. It was the only proof smithereens existed in that time.

The rogues were powerful, even the kings before Thoron hadn’t been able to suppress them. How did Gabriel manage to do it, and all on his own? A bastard! There was something to it that raised a brow.

Pushing the thought aside, her eyes settled on the steps that led to the throne. She could already visualize Gabriel kneeling there while Thoron walked down the stairs to place the crown on his head.

She saw a maid passing by with a glass of wine.

"Where are you taking that?" She asked.

"To the king My Lady," replied the maid with a curtsy.

"Where is he?" Jessica enquired, tilting her head to one side.

"In the garden Your Majesty. He’s speaking with the organizers about tomorrow’s event." Her voice was elated as if looking forward to the event.

"I’ll take it to the king myself," Jessica said, stretching her hand to get the tray. The maid hesitated for a while before she let go.

"You may leave," the queen dismissed. Gathering her skirts, the maid curtsied and left.

Jessica took the hallway that led to the garden but entered her chamber first. She placed the tray on the table and fished a pouch from her breasts. It was a yellow powder; the blood’s bane!

She poured the contents of the pouch into the wine and swirled until it mixed. The yellow color was no longer visible. With a smirk playing on her face, she took the tray and left for the garden.

Thoron was speaking with a group of knights and musicians in the garden when Jessica arrived. He wanted the coronation to be perfect, the best gift he’d offer Gabriel. Maybe this would help bring him closer to his son, or so he thought.

Jessica approached the group, her eyes fixated on her husband. "Excuse me," she said, catching the attention of everyone. The knights were quick to offer a bow.

"I need to have a word with my husband," she said. The knights looked at Thoron before he softly nodded. Everyone scattered leaving the two standing in the middle of the garden.

"What are you doing here?" Thoron asked, looking at her calculatingly. His eyes fell on the glass she was holding, a frown settling on his face.

Jessica forced a smile. "You seem quite taken by tomorrow’s event. I was waiting for you in our chambers but you took a long time. I thought I might find you here."

"Isn’t it strange how you missed me today of all the days?" Thoron asked a bit skeptical.

"Strange things do happen to strange people," Jessica intoned. "But first, a toast to Gabriel Sinclair. Never the bastard, always the crown prince." She stretched her hand out to hand Thoron the glass.

"I prefer blood," Thoron sneered.

"Do you want to drink blood at such a special occasion?" She asked, her staged smile naturally dancing on her lips.

Thoron took the glass from her hand, his eyes never leaving hers. Why did she become friendly all of a sudden? This was unlike her!

He placed the glass on his lips, his eyes never leaving hers for a second. She was all smiles, giving him that encouraging look. He sniffed the glass but there was nothing peculiar about the smell. At that moment, he was tempted to drink. But an idea lit his mind.

He stretched his hand to give the glass back to her. "Heard wine is tasty when shared with loved ones. Why don’t you go first?"

"Who, me?" She forced a laugh. "Don’t be ridiculous. We both know I haven’t been the best mother to Gabriel. I don’t deserve it."

Thoron was however steadfast in his decision. "You’re part of the family too," he added with one of his unruffled smile.

Jessica’s eyes fell on the surface of the wine. She, better than anyone, knew the risks involved with this, yet she chose to do it anyways. Her hands shakily grabbed the handle of the glass, bringing it closer to her lips in what felt like eternity.

"Drink!" Thoron instructed, his voice low and firm. She searched for his eyes and he didn’t seem like someone willing to stop her from the consequences of her actions. Throwing caution to the wind, she gulped down half the contents of the glass.

Thoron watched her reaction closely. Her heart was surprisingly calm. Had he imagined it? She handed back the glass to him, a sheepish smile lining her lips.

"To Gabriel the crown prince," she said.

"To Gabriel the crown prince," Thoron repeated before he drowned the contents in one go. Jessica’s lips twitched at the corner, her insides already burning. The poison was working so fast. She however retained her cool until Thoron was done.

"My son will make a better king..." His throat suddenly started burning. He slowly lifted his eyes to meet with Jessica’s face. A thin line of blood had formed at the corners of her mouth. More blood followed through her nostrils, and it dawned on him!

"What have you done?" He asked, his voice dreadingly hoarse. His insides churned. He felt as if he was being cut into pieces. Blood flowed out of his body from all the openings; mouth, nose, ears, eyes! He held his throat like one being strangled by an invisible force before he dropped to his knees.

Jessica fished out a portion from her pocket and swallowed the countable drops. The bleeding seized instantly. Her eyes fell on the crawling king, his hands stretched out to seek salvation. He was defying death yet it called up on him!

Jessica crouched low to meet with his level. "That wasn’t hard as it seemed, was it?" She asked with a scoff. "You thought I’d let a bastard sit the throne while my own son is turned into a shipwright or gods know what that bastard could do with us."

Thoron lifted his hand, the claws lengthening. He wanted to strangle her neck but his body defied his will. With his hand dangling in the air, his breath was cut short. He slowly leaned on the ground, his hand dropping to his side.

"Even kings can die," Jessica whispered, feigning disappointment.