His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 98: Heated Discussion

Eryx smirked, stepped back, and motioned for Kharis to follow me into the study. I shot him a glare, trying to wave him off, but he only tapped his wrist in silent insistence. Fine. I ignored him and slipped into the study, pausing in a narrow hallway just off the guarded corridor.

The small passage was dim, lined with an ornate dark cabinet that loomed against the wall, its surface crowded with dust and shadows. A wrought iron candelabrum perched atop it, its candles burned low, wax pooling like frozen tears. From here, I could just make out the murmur of voices beyond the door.

"I don’t understand why I must go," Deyanira’s voice rang out, highhanded and imperious.

"You know why," Alaric replied civilly. I peeked through the slightly ajar door, noting my brother was seated at his desk as Deyanira stood before him.

"I’m needed here. You’ve seen how the nobles are reacting to the attack, and the Southern Weres-"

"Don’t pretend to act like you care how they view the Southerners," Alaric interrupted sharply with a warning look. I’d never known Alaric to be so sharp with Deyanira.

Deyanira scoffed and observed her sharp, black-painted nails. "I can distract them."

"No," Alaric snapped, his voice cutting. "This is not a negotiation. You are not needed here. You will reflect on your actions towards Idalia and I hope you will return without any hate in your heart towards a girl that has lost everything."

"Oh, please." Deyanira waved her hand dismissively. "You honestly care about her? If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be sitting on that throne."

Alaric slammed his fist on the desk, making me jump. Kharis grasped my shoulders to steady me. Feeling it was a little too risky, I motioned for us to step back. I could still hear their conversation. Besides, I didn’t particularly want to see Deyanira after this morning—not because of the poison but because seeing her face kept reminding me of her hands all over Soren.

I wasn’t in love with the man, but I held affection for him; we’d known each other a long time and formed an odd... friendship. It made my skin crawl to see him defenceless against Deyanira, submitting to her, allowing her to touch him like that. I shook my head ridding the images away.

"I never wanted to take away her future. Now go before I have my guards drag you out," he growled. It was my first time hearing him speak so harshly to his mother. I couldn’t deny how much I liked it.

Deyanira’s heels clicked, drawing closer to Alaric. "No, you won’t." Her voice had changed, sounding much older than she was. "You would never do that to your darling mother..."

Why did she sound like an old witch? I tiptoed forward again. "Mother... No, I..." Alaric’s voice was also different, sounding sleepy.

I pressed my hand against the wall to get a better look. Alaric looked like he was in a daze as Deyanira’s hand was close to his face, the room appearing much darker like the light outside had suddenly been doused out.

My head began to throb and started to spin; I slumped slightly, catching myself against the wall, knees weak. My foot also knocked something, and my eyes widened when the cabinet rattled beside me; the candelabra wobbled before toppling over with a resounding crash.

Kharis grabbed it, set it upright, and took me further down the hall. In seconds, it took Deyanira to swing the door open. We barely hid beside an armchair in the hall, crouched down, my body almost folded into a ball tucked into Kharis. Our breaths halted.

Deyanira’s heels clicked back into the study, and their discussion continued. Their voices returned to normal. I rose and sighed, staring at the candelabra, smoke waving from the wax where the flame should have been.

Deyanira tsked, and I focused once more on their conversation even as my heart pounded loudly in my ribcage. "Are you the one who attempted to drug me this morning?"

Drug? I glanced at Kharis, whose focus had sharpened on the door.

"What? Why would I?" This didn’t sound like a quarrelling mother and son. Who thought their own son would drug them? Well, this was Deyanira; anything was possible.

"And Idalia doesn’t have the resources either..." Deyanira trails off and then murmurs, something I can only make sense of. "It is the reason I lost grip on you, though... Someone suspects..."

"Leave." Alaric commands.

Deyanira tries again. "You’re going to send me off where those attacks have been taking place?!"

"I’m sure you can handle yourself," Alaric replied dryly. "You didn’t become the Second Queen by acting like this pompous lady."

Deyanira hisses, "Watch your mouth." Then she sighs. "I cannot believe you are sending me away. You’re a terrible son."

"Mother," his voice rumbled again.

"Fine. I will use this time to rejuvenate. Don’t expect me to return a better person, sweetie." And like that, she strode away, passing through the door, halting again by the cabinet and looking at the candle. She touched the wick and then looked around the darkened hall before scoffing and continuing towards the double doors.

"He is becoming a huge pain in the ass," she murmured before flinging the doors open. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Once they swung shut, I released a breath and crawled out of Kharis’ arms.

"You can come out now," Alaric calls, and I freeze on my hands and knees. Of course, he knew I was here. They had superior senses!

I scowled at the ground. So why didn’t Deyanira? She knew something wasn’t right from the wick of the candle.

"Ida," Alaric called out in warning, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I swiftly motion for Kharis to leave and gingerly stroll toward the door, peering around it, aiming to look as innocent as possible. Alaric sighed, leaning back in his chair.

"That was... harsher than I expected," I say after the silence becomes a little awkward.

"You seem quite happy by that," Alaric replies dryly. He looks tired, rubbing at one of his eyes.

"Do I?" I thought I was acting innocent?

"Yes, you’re smiling." Alaric watched me in amusement.

That’s when I feel the corners of my lips tugged up. Oops.

"I think it is good for all of us that we have space from Deyanira."

Deyanira, There it was again. I didn’t know what to make of it all. Were they not as close as they always seemed? I don’t question it, but I can’t help the look I give him.

"There is a lot happening," he answers my silent question and clears his throat. "I cannot focus on the threats if Deyanira is at war with you and pulling the strings of the court behind my back."

I frown. "You... knew?" He was always so unaware.

"Liva... has been helping." Alaric looks at the desk, scowling. "I have... blanks in my memory."