The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 242: In a Cell ()

Zariah stepped out of the holding cells to meet Allen’s pacing, an activity he had quickly grown fond of in just the past few hours.

Sensing Zariah’s presence, Allen stopped pacing and walked over to her, fixing Zariah with his expectant gaze.

"Did you get it?" Allen asked Zariah.

Zariah did not respond, she silently stretched out the shard to Allen who received it and inspected it closely.

"Did you ask him how he was able to use it to set Askel up? Force out the beast?" Allen asked in bafflement.

Zariah shook her head slightly, she had not asked Caedmon any questions. Caedmon was innately evil, in the past and even now, what did it matter how he did what he did?

"Clearly, he knows what the shard is and how to use it. Even more clearly, there is someone else behind him who will also benefit from this. Most clear... Caedmon does not have a shred of humanity left in him. He feels no remorse for the innocent lives jeopardized by his actions..."

"For such a person, can one expect to receive any truth? Would any word he says be anything but poison to the hearing?" Zariah asked in a distant tone.

Allen breathed a sigh, he placed a comforting hand on Zariah’s shoulder. Zariah understood Allen was still under the impression that Caedmon was Zariah’s second mate.

"I know you must be disappointed... that he turns out to be such a person. But it is no fault of yours that he has made these choices, Zari...he did not hurt Askel because he desires you so greatly or he could not have been able to bear how hurt this would leave you,"

"Those who are evil do what they do simply because they are evil." Allen said to Zariah firmly.

"I do know it." Zariah murmured quietly.

"Forget about him, forget about the bond. It is not worth it, the Creator must have known ahead, to give you Askel also. That is what you must protect and I will give my all to assist you." Allen vowed solemnly.

Zariah passed a look to her second in command, his words were brief but the solemnity in them gave Zariah the measure of strength she had lost from just setting eyes on Caedmon.

"Go to the human settlement, take Nile with you. We have avoided using magic to activate the shard for fear of the uncertain result, but no more. Nile will have a way to forcefully activate it, track down all who were harmed or injured by Askel and bring them in before they turn." Zariah instructed. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Time is of the essence. The longer they are left, the greater the danger to the innocent humans in proximity to them when the rampage begins." Zariah added in a serious tone.

"I will leave at once." Allen said.

He lowered his head to a bow and then strode off, leaving Zariah to herself.

Zariah had only gone a short distance down the hall when she sighted Declan. He seemed to have been in search of her because the moment their eyes met, he quickly jogged over to meet Zariah.

"Alpha Zariah." Declan greeted.

"Declan, you have returned to the castle already?" Zariah asked,

Declan and the royal lycan warriors already had their hands full with putting the human settlement back in order and keeping the borders protected at such an unsettled time, Zariah did not think he would have the free time to return to the Keep.

"Lord Kodin sent for me. There will be an event to witness down in the dungeons, Lucas and I are expected to be present and Lord Kodin has also instructed us to fetch Queen Sancia." Declan related to Zariah.

Zariah raised a brow in surprise, Lord Kodin had not granted her requests to see Askel all this time and now he sent for others? Excluding her?

"An event? What does Kodin intend to do with Askel?" Zariah muttered to herself, her tone concerned.

"It was a decision by the supernatural council. We will only know what their intentions are when we arrive... you should come, if anything goes wrong... only your word can override the order of the supernatural council." Declan said to Zariah in a serious tone.

Zariah did not need to contemplate, she nodded immediately and gestured for Declan to lead the way.

The two continued through the palace hallways until they arrived at the entrance to the dungeons and Declan led the way in.

The dungeons of the Ethereal Palace were large and housed hundreds of cells, and the farther one went into the cell hallways, the graver the crime one was convicted of.

It was a well known layout for dungeons in the Ethereal domain. And so, when Declan led Zariah deeper and deeper through the dungeons, Zariah’s heart sank the further they went.

It took a short time before they arrived at an array of lone circular cells, built on platforms with mighty silver bars, and it was in one of these cells that Askel sat.

Zariah winced visibly, her hands clenching into fists at her sides as she laid first sight on Askel...caged.

"Don’t..." Declan was quick to prevent Zariah when she moved towards Askel on instinct, her eyes blazing with rage.

Lucas also appeared, he must have sensed Zariah’s arrival and he blocked her line of sight from Askel.

Zariah sucked in a sharp breath to calm herself.

"He cannot sense you, there is a barrier placed around the cell...it seems the purpose is to dim his heightened senses. We are not allowed to approach him...not yet, Lord Kodin was very specific about it." Lucas explained to Zariah.

"Uncle Kodin must think highly of himself... telling me what I can and cannot do. He is not my Lord!" Zariah hissed lowly.

"Alpha... please, we need you to be rational. Askel needs that the most too." Lucas reasoned with Zariah.

"Has she been anything but that? Coming in here to put on an act like you actually care." Queen Sancia’s familiar voice said with a scoff.