His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 80: Aftermath (5)

Eryx, unfazed by the fury directed at him, inclines his head slightly as though acknowledging Alaric’s anger but dismissing it all the same. "I would not dare demean her to such a role," he states smoothly, his voice carrying an edge of authority.

Excuse me, Sir, you have already blackmailed me and used me as a pawn!

"Your sister is no pawn." Questionable. "She is a Princess, a formidable woman with an Alpha bloodline, and my equal in every way." Also questionable. "Her presence by my side solidifies trust between our kingdoms."

The weight of Eryx’s gaze briefly lingers on me before returning to my brother. My cheeks had grown aflame under that stare more than his words, which I found utterly disbelieving. He was just acting.

Alaric’s jaw tightens, his teeth grinding audibly as he takes a step closer to Eryx. "And yet, you propose to ’use’ her to solidify a treaty that you should already uphold without demanding more from my family."

"Enough," I interject sharply, my voice cutting through the mounting tension. Both men turn to me, their gazes burning with their respective frustrations. "I am standing right here. If either of you thinks to discuss my future as if I am not present, you will regret it."

The weight of my words hangs heavy in the air, and for a moment, even Alaric looks taken aback.

Eryx smirks, his lips quirking upward ever so slightly. "There she is," he says softly, almost to himself.

I narrow my eyes at him, refusing to let his charm or words sway me. "If this treaty rests on my shoulders, then it will be by my choice, not yours. Do not speak of me as if I am a commodity to be traded or a tool to be used."

The murmurs in the room grow louder now, the nobility’s shock evident at my defiance. They are not used to seeing the Forsaken Princess speak with such fire.

Eryx steps closer, his gaze steady, and though his voice remains calm, it carries a weight that commands the room’s attention. "You misunderstand me, Lia," he says, his tone firm but not unkind. "This is not about using you. This is about showing both of our people that unity is possible—through respect, partnership, and strength. It is about demonstrating that even enemies can find common ground."

Alaric snarls, his Alpha growl rumbling through the chamber. "You expect me to trust you with my sister, knowing the bloodshed your people have caused?"

Eryx’s gaze doesn’t waver. "Yes. Because I would trust her with mine."

The room falls silent once more, the weight of his words pressing down on all of us. For the first time, I see not just the Alpha Prince but a man carrying the weight of his people, much like my brother does.

Some of the nobility snicker about the treatment I would receive in Sun and Fury under the Barbaric Alpha Prince. I ignore their murmurs, focusing on my brother and Eryx, who once again begin to talk about me like I am not there and nothing more than this commodity to be used in a peace treaty.

Flames begin to engulf my heart, burning with fury, the longer these two males discuss my future. Eryx glances at me occasionally, almost expecting me to speak up and unleash that fury on them. Does he want me to slap him? I will let you know... If... I wasn’t gradually growing numb to the shock of everything.

It was all going so fast. Everything. It was only last night we’d been attacked by that thing; this morning, the nobles believed or wanted to shoot blame onto the Southern Weres about last night’s attack, and now this.

I’d willingly or maybe not so willingly agreed to become Eryx’s mate in front of everyone, and now everything seems out of reach. I can’t undo this, especially right now.

Am I expected to go with him to Sun and Fury? No, no, no... That’s jumping way ahead. What is he thinking?! I was his pawn! He should have left it that I was his lover or mistress until he left!

Or was he saving me from that degraded life as not only a Forsaken Princess but the ex-lover of a Southern Alpha Prince who would never return to the kingdom?

No, this was too much. I wanted to learn about Alaric and the threat he sought to last night, I wanted to know more about that being who so easily burst through our wall and just as quickly left like a breeze in the night. I didn’t want to deal with some mateship!

As though she senses my turmoil, Liva steps forward, ignoring Eryx’s sharp and seemingly protective look and takes my hands in hers. "If we are done here," she says gently, drawing attention from the two Alphas and engaging the crowds with her softly spoken voice. "I believe our King and Alpha Prince of Sun and Fury have much to discuss. Do you not agree, my love?"

She turns her head to Alaric. He falters, halting mid-sentence to Eryx and registers everyone in the hall. Waving a hand in their general direction, Alaric says in a commanding tone, "Dismissed." He then looks to his guards. "Release Eryx’s men. After the interrogation and discussing further with their witness, my sister, Idalia, it is obvious they were not the ones who attacked the palace last night."

Nobody commented further, as though they, too, knew it was futile to continue trying to shift blame onto the Southern Weres. Instead, they filed out of the hall, discussing my fate as the Southern Alpha Prince’s bride.

If Liva had not tugged on my hands, pulled me aside, and spoken to me softly, I think I would have remained as still as a statue, frozen to their words as the world shifted beneath my feet.

"Don’t mind them," Liva repeatedly said in a calming tone.

The dismissal seemed a little simple, considering I was the only one to defend the Alpha Prince and his whereabouts, even when Beta Hanok had witnessed the Southern Weres attacking the robed being last night. But I hadn’t been here for the first part of their interrogation.

"What..." I huffed, feeling a little dazed. "What just happened?"

Should I even be speaking with Liva about this? She can’t possibly deduce that I’d been playing along, acting as Eryx’s alibi, even though he didn’t need one, and now I... I couldn’t even think about it.

Is Liva a friend or foe? Liva, like anyone else in court, could use my words against me.

The sudden shift in events has made me careless, though, as anger bubbles beneath the surface of my masked features.

Even so, I can still dispute any claims by stating I was dazed by that Eryx was being accused of attacking the palace. Act the proper romantic, with hearts-in-her-eyes kind of girl. Ugh.

"Eryx announced to everyone that you agreed to be his mate," Liva says calmly as if I might have actually needed the confirmation.

That little irritation dissolved. She was right. I did need that confirmation from another’s lips. I sigh and squeeze my eyes shut. "You did it for him," she hummed lightly and with a light giggle.

I glare at her, and it only makes her eyes twinkle. What is up with that?

"At what cost, though?"