HAPPY NEW YEAR!

First update of the new year. I hope I will be better and update more often than compared to last year!

Chapter 27 is here and it is dedicated to @Chells18 :D

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MOISTURIZING OUR SKIN:

It's supposed to be winter season now but it's also raining in my place and that had made the cold horrible for my skin. I have very, very dry skin. So dry that I have Keratosis Pilaris all over my stomach and back. There is no cure for it but most of the treatments involve in keeping the skin as moisturized as possible as winters are the worst.

Moisturizing the skin is a must for everyone (regardless of the skin type) especially during the winter season as it keeps skin healthy and prevents irritation caused by dryness. It's better to moisturize after a shower as hot water bath might feel good but is very bad for the skin. Moisturising helps skin stay young and wrinkle-free and prevent skin problems like acne and dryness.

The massage you give your skin while moisturising boosts blood circulation. I cannot recommend a particular brand but it's wise to try different brands and find the best one for you based on your skin type and the skin's reaction to the environment around you.

Remember, staying hydrated is the best moisturiser for your skin so drink LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER!

___

"When one with honeyed words but evil mind
Persuades the mob, great woes befall the state."
― Euripides, Orestes

___

CHAPTER 27 – COLLATERAL DAMAGE

Cyane and Xanthos were learning to cook.

It was just another thing in her list but she pretty soon realized that cooking requires skills which she as well as Xanthos lacked.

It was a hot Saturday afternoon and since it was a work-free weekend for Xanthos, he had agreed to teach her cooking but she very soon realized that he wasn't any good at it either. So, she decided to be creative and show him her skill with some food arts. They were randomly having fruits and snacks for a late lunch.

"Very cute" Xanthos commented when she presented him with a plate of banana slices and some black grapes beautifully arranged as a sheep.

Plopping a grape into her mouth, Cyane giggled and continued to slice strawberry's to present a rooster in another plate. Her eyes drifted towards the vegan omelette and brown bread slices in another box and as another idea popped into her head, she picked it up. She would creatively arrange a ferocious lion's face.

His phone rang at the moment and excusing himself, he went out of the room. Cyane stiffened and watched him as he paced the length of the hallway, listening to the other person. It was a man's voice on the other line.

Watching Xanthos, Cyane began cutting off the edges of the bread and then buttering it up. He noticed her and gave a tight smile before walking to his other apartment and then promptly closing the door. The last few days, whenever he was not with her or the king, he had been spending his time there, alone.

She picked up two strawberry slices and set up the eyes to her art. However, her attention was fixed on the front door. She couldn't pick up anything and that bothered her. With delicate fingers, she arranged the phloem bundles of the banana as whiskers.

Why did he need so much privacy that he had to go to the other room to talk? It was not the king because Xanthos answered the king's phone right in front of her. It couldn't be his friends either because they had still not come around after the fallout. Who else could it be?

As Cyane pondered, she placed the pointed triangle-shaped slices as the ears and then set up a black grape as the snout. She still needed to set up the mane and as she looked at the grocery items that Xanthos brought earlier today, she was pleased to see a box of black dates.

Opening the seal, she picked a couple of them, threw away the seeds and began to thinly slice them.

When she heard the door to the other apartment being opened, she relaxed a little and arranged the now thinly sliced dates as tufts of hair on the tips of the lion's ears all the while waiting for Xanthos to walk in.

He walked straight towards her and she smiled at him, "I have done another. A lion... see" she said with a grin and pushed the plate in front of him.

He stared at the plate and then looked at her with a questioning brow. The grin on her face evaporated when she saw her art on the plate.

"That's not a Lion" Xanthos murmured amusedly as he pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of her latest food art.

"No" Cyane agreed as she stared at the food art. Her heart began to pound in her chest and she felt uncomfortable watching her food art because the eyes of the creature in her art were red.

Blood red.

She had to put the green grapes as the lion's eyes. Why the hell did she use strawberry for eyes?

"It looks like a Lynx" Xanthos mused, "The pointed ears and all. Lynx are common in the foothills of the Sylvan mountains, aren't they?" he asked as Cyane continued to stare at her artwork in horror.

She had seen those creatures before. Not the Lynx but the one she had just unknowingly set up on Xan's plate. Where? She could not remember. But she had seen them.

Flashes came to her then. Of screams and tears. Of blood and fear.

"Are you alright?" she heard Xanthos asking as she continued staring at the eyes.

Those eyes.

She recalled seeing a flash of those blood-red eyes and she tried hard to remember where, but she couldn't.

"Cyane," Xanthos called, his strong arms wrapped around her shoulders to pull her towards him.

"Red eyes" Cyane whispered. "They have red coloured eyes."

"Who?"

"They. They have it" Cyane gasped incoherently, her amethyst eyes lost.

___

A stunned Xanthos cupped her pale cheeks with one hand and forced her to look at him. Her skin was cold and growling, he pressed her against his chest. In the two weeks, she had been with him, he had never seen her like this and it worried him.

"Look at me. Cyane" he called as his wolf howled inside him and paced anxiously, wondering what was happening to his mate. When calling her name didn't help, he brushed aside her dark hair and nuzzled his nose against his mark on her neck.

As his wolf tried to reach out to her, he closed his eyes and tightly wrapped his arms around her waist, so there wasn't even space for air to travel in between them.

He rubbed her back and gently ran his hand on her head until her rigid frame eventually softened in his arms and she came back to the land of the living.

He pulled back to look at her and she blinked at him like a deer caught in headlights.

"What happened?" she asked, confused.

"You were presenting me with your food art" Xanthos reminded, arctic blue eyes fixed on her.

"Nai" Cyane replied in Greek and smiled, "I was to set up a lion's face when you got that phone call" she muttered scratching her head. "Who was it?"

"A contact" he answered truthfully and she raised a questioning brow. "It's for a job. That's how I earn money" he grinned lazily and she compressed her rosy lips.

Xanthos knew what she was thinking and he let her.

"Fine. Let me get back to my work" Cyane huffed pulling away. "Do you want a lion's face or a wolf's? I can do both."

"Are you sure? You just did—"

"That was a sheep" she cut him off with a chuckle. "It was nothing. I can carve out many other animals."

"Like Lynx?" he teased with a smile.

Cyane scrunched up her nose before saying, "I have never done a Lynx before." Xanthos's smile faded away and he stared at her, "I could try it now if that's what you want."

Xanthos continued to stare and when she turned to face the kitchen counter, he quickly held her arm and pulled her towards him. When she gasped, he lowered his head and kissed her mouth.

His wolf sat back in satisfaction as she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back almost immediately. Slowly he pushed them back until she was pressed against the counter.

He wanted to do things to her and he also knew she would run like a scared cat if she found out all the things, he wanted to do by spreading her across the countertop, ready for him.

As his tongue brushed against hers, his free hand slammed across the countertop searching for the plate and when he found it, he roughly shoved it off the counter.

When the plate broke with a loud clang, Cyane jumped and pulled away from him. "Oh no!" she cried and looked at the mess on the floor.

"Don't move" Xanthos warned. Holding her waist, he set her down atop the counter and bent down to collect the broken pieces of the plate. He then quietly threw the brown bread, strawberries and sliced dates into the bin.

"Your food got wasted," Cyane said dejectedly.

When he was done, Xanthos looked at Cyane, whose lips were swollen and who still had a blush down to her neck. She looked beautiful. Flawless to him.

But there was a flaw. Xanthos just grasped that there was something wrong with her.

He couldn't deny it any longer because now he realized that she had been telling the truth all along when she said she did not recall what had happened to her parents. When she said she did not recall certain things in her life.

She wasn't lying or making things up.

There was something that scared her and it had red eyes and probably a face of a Lynx. Whatever that was, had most certainly killed her parents too.

___

"Will you make me a new one?" he asked, his voice a caress on her overheated skin.

"Sure" she mumbled without meeting his gaze. Her heart continued to bang rapidly against her chest and she could still feel tingles spread down her toes.

How he could behave as everything was normal, when she felt so shaken, was beyond her?

But then she reminded herself that these kinds of kisses were nothing special to him. He was used to this.

That thought alone deflated her mood and her shoulders slumped and she lost interest in her artwork. Xanthos noticed that of course and he asked her.

"Nothing. I..." Suddenly Cyane couldn't hold it back anymore. She had wanted to ask certain questions from the day she had seen Everly and so she did, "Do you do that often?"

"Do what?"

Now Cyane paused because she didn't know how to continue further. Nervously licking her lower lips, she cleared her throat and looked away before asking, "Kiss girls?"

When there was no reply from Xanthos, she looked at him through the corner of her eyes and saw that he was watching her with a bewildered look. All of a sudden Cyane was mortified at herself for asking such a question.

She had no bloody right.

"Fo-forget it" Cyane stuttered.

"I don't kiss every girl under the sun. I only kiss those I want" Xanthos clarified and of course it hurt but the other part also startled her.

"You want me?" Cyane asked in a whisper.

"If I have not made that clear before today then I suppose I am losing touch" Xanthos countered with an amused look.

"How many other girls have you wanted?" she asked instead because she couldn't just let the other part of his comment slide away as if it was nothing.

"Not as many as you think" he replied smoothly.

Tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear, Xanthos held her chin and forced her to look up. Cyane held her breath when her eyes met his arctic blue ones. Except now they were shining bright like a summer sky.

One corner of Cyane's lips tilted upwards and she lowered her head to hide her smile. Guessing and finding out were two different things and now she didn't know how to react.

His confidence was attractive and Cyane figured that was what had pulled her from the start. She was captivated... completely!

"You are beautiful. Inside and out, which makes you a treasure I want to hoard close" Xanthos whispered and Cyane sucked in a breath. She could hear the sincerity in his words and that startled her. No man had ever said something like that to her before and no man had ever looked at her like Xanthos was looking at her just now.

When she came to this part of the world, she knew she was asking for trouble and he was trouble with a capital T.

She would be the first one to shout that but even after knowing that she couldn't help herself. He was that flame and she was the moth that was hopelessly enthralled. She would be burned; she was sure of that too but she also knew she wouldn't regret it.

"Did you say the same to those other women you have wanted?" she asked quietly because she refused to be another number.

Xanthos shook his head in denial and whispered, "Only you. You were the only one who stopped me in my tracks."

He meant it literally and figuratively and knowing that bit thrilled her and made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.

"Well, I suppose you can kiss me then" Cyane shrugged.

"I won't stop with a kiss" Xanthos warned, making his stance loud and clear.

As their eyes locked and held, Cyane felt her heart thudding in her chest. She gulped audibly and his eyes watched her throat as she did so.

Need overpowered fear because she wanted him just the way he wanted her. She was shivering with anticipation when he closed the distance between them and pulled her towards him, his strong arms enclosing her. Lowering his head, he kissed her slow and deep, fiercely claiming her mouth which caused a ball of heat to sliver low in her belly.

Eager with suppressed need, Cyane gave in, battling her tongue against his, tasting him and wanting more.

She was dimly aware of Xanthos picking her up and settling her on the hard surface of the kitchen counter, bringing their eyes and mouth on the same level. When his mouth pressed kisses on her jaws and trailed further down her throat, she closed her eyes and wrapped her legs around his hips; the action only stroking the fire that was spreading within her.

When he took off his t-shirt, she undid the zip of her dress from her back. When her fingers trailed down his chest, he pulled down her dress, exposing her breasts.

Cyane held her breath, self-consciously but Xanthos didn't blink or frown. Instead, she watched his eye turn a darker shade of blue before he gave a low growl and cupped one small swell in a hand and then stroke a hard peak. Cyane flinched and gasped, before holding his head. When his mouth laved one peak she clutched his hair and threw her head back in abandonment.

She wanted more. She wanted everything with this beautiful, broken man. She wanted to let go of everything that was binding her and just cherish this moment with Xanthos because she was sure she would never feel something similar in her life with anyone else again.

His phone began ringing when he was placing kisses under her breasts.

Cyane stiffened but Xanthos did not pay any attention to it as he continued placing open-mouthed kisses across her chest.

"Xanthos," she said looking around until she found his phone right beside them on the counter. Cyane stilled like a statue when she saw the caller ID— Sire.

It was the title in which he addressed King Stanislaus.

When he felt her body go taut in his arms, Xanthos looked up, his handsome features fiercely clenched. His eyes drifted towards the phone and gnashing his teeth, he breathed in and out a few times before picking up his phone. However, the line got disconnected and he immediately called back.

As Cyane rearranged her dress, she tried her best not to listen in to his conversation with the king. While pulling up the zip of her dress, Cyane began thinking with furrowed brows. For the earlier call, he had gone to the other apartment but he was answering this one right in front of her.

What was so important in the previous call that he couldn't talk in front of her?

"I am thrilled for you Sire. It's the best news I have got in a while" Xanthos said silkily and Cyane looked at him in interest. One corner of his lips had curved upwards to a grin that seemed... predatory.

Suddenly curious, she listened in.

"Saint had woken up a week ago but as I said, I had to keep that a secret."

After hearing the king's words Cyane hopped off the counter and gritted her teeth. That creep was out of his coma? She had to inform Minerva and Lysander.

"What is the other good news?" Xanthos probed, this time watching her.

"He is going to be your new king from today," The king said from the other end and Cyane clenched her fists.

This was getting worse every passing second.

The smile got slowly wiped off Xanthos's face before he asked, "He will be crowned today?"

"Indeed" The king growled his reply. "From now on, I expect you to show Saint the same amount of respect and admiration you have been showing me. He will be your king and you will follow his orders."

Cyane's eyes widened in outrage when she heard that but it almost popped out in rage when Xanthos said, "I understand Sire" in a quiet, monotonous way.

"Very well. However, considering that I am still your king at the moment, I have one last order for you" The king continued and Cyane was curious to know how much more of Xanthos's blood would the old leech suck.

"Anything Sire," Xanthos said, his arctic blue eyes fixed on her angry face.

"I want you to come to the coronation along with your lady friend."

Her eyes darkened, but she couldn't get any angrier than she already was. However, Xanthos's face turned into the cold mask it usually was and he gave no reaction.

When there was no reply, the king continued, "I am very sorry, I know your relationship with her is just yours but I have been hearing all about your lady friend for weeks now and I am curious to meet the girl who made Hound chase her all over the streets."

Of course, the news had spread out. Miki and Brody had already warned about this before.

"I understand your curiosity Sire. I am surprised you would want to meet her" Xanthos said coming closer to her and Cyane furrowed her brows, not understanding his move.

"Why wouldn't I?" The king countered with a low growl. "From the way you sound so protective of her, I believe she means something to you and that makes me all the more curious to meet her."

"Then I will bring Cyane to you so that she can finally meet the king. Thank you for the invitation. I will be there to witness this prodigious moment" Xanthos replied, standing on the other side of the counter and when he raised his hand to touch her swollen lips, she smacked it away and glared at him.

He smirked and then pocketed his phone.

"I am not going anywhere" Cyane snapped.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to meet your wretched king or his son and how dare you to tell my name to the king? He is not worthy of even knowing it" Cyane ground out, shaking in fury.

"Sorry" Xanthos apologized and she scowled. She had a sense that he was apologizing for sharing her name, not the other bit.

"You can go to the palace and witness the 'prodigious moment' that you are so excited about," Cyane said sarcastically using quotations with her fingers, "But don't count me in. I cannot stand by simply and clap when that creep gets crowned."

She might lose her head completely and rip him to shreds if she was ended up being in the same room as Saint.

"So, we go after the ceremony" Xanthos suggested and growling, Cyane stepped closer to him.

"Eísai koufós?" she snapped in Greek, losing her head.

"English please," Xanthos said smoothly.

"I asked, are you deaf?" Cyane growled and one corner of Xanthos's lips curled upwards. "I am not going anywhere where that creep is being honoured. I am not going anywhere near that creep. Period."

"Why not?" Xanthos asked, cocking an eyebrow and Cyane looked at him as if he had lost some marbles. "Are you ashamed?"

"I have nothing to be ashamed of" Cyane snarled, eyes the colour of flames.

"Then face him," Xanthos said, his eyes cold and unflinching. "Look him in the eye. Don't give him any power over you."

He was getting to her. With just those few words he was getting to her and Cyane realized he was right.

She had a right to refuse to see Saint and have nothing to do with him but that would do her no good, especially when she knew she had the power in her own hands to crumble Saint Winthrop into dust. What Saint had done that day was to her and her alone.

People did believe what she had said and they were willing to fight her battle but she didn't want them to. This was her battle with Saint and she wouldn't let anyone else fight him.

She was here to be brave and this was her chance to be brave and look at the enemy in the eye. She would crush Saint Winthrop like the bug he was.

He might become the king of the wolves in Aelius but he would never become her king and today, when she was presented with such an opportunity, she would go and bring his truth in front of everyone present so that they can see him and decide for themselves if they wanted a king like Saint to rule this kingdom, which had its glorious history.

"I will," Cyane said and Xanthos nodded. "I will come to meet the king. Not because he asked but because I want to look him in the eye and show him what his future holds."

"Okay" Xanthos whispered and then cupping her cheeks, he placed a kiss on her forehead. "No matter what happens in the courtroom, I want your word on one thing," Xanthos said carefully and Cyane looked up in confusion, "I want your word that you are not going to reveal yourself to them. They should never know that you are a Lycorian. Can you do that?"

"Yes," Cyane agreed immediately because she had no intention of revealing her true self to King Stanislaus either. "When are we leaving?" she asked when Xanthos pulled back.

He glanced at his phone once and then turned to go to the other apartment. Cyane followed only to see him tuck a gun on his back, underneath his shirt.

Why did he think a gun was necessary? Is he going to fight the king? Shoot Saint?

She wanted to ask but Xanthos swiftly moved around the room picking things, arranging them and it was so fascinating for her that she simply stood leaning against the wall and watched him quietly.

He was a blur for her and it was difficult to follow his movements. One second, he was typing something in the laptop while another second, he was pulling at some plugs and turning off some buttons.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the screen.

"Deleting" Xanthos replied calmly as he stared at the screen and typed something on the keyboard.

Cyane watched the screen and realized that he was clearing records but it wasn't the normal way by pressing the delete button. No. He was doing a complete wipeout in a more complicated way which was beyond her knowledge.

"Why?"

"Because I want the king to trust me and not what others had told him about me."

The fact that he still wanted the king to trust him bothered Cyane and she frowned at his back.

"Why is it so important to you? Why can't you see that the king is horrible and unreasonable to you and your friends?" Cyane demanded in frustration.

"Why can't you see that the king can be reasoned with?" Xanthos countered and Cyaned furrowed her brows.

Was that possible? Cyane did not believe that but for Xanthos, she was ready to give a chance.

___

They climbed down the stairs of the apartment, hand-in-hand. The woman and her son who lived on the floor below passed them and she gave a kind smile to Cyane while the boy waved at her. Cyane waved back hesitantly because she was nervous and she didn't know why.

They came to an abrupt halt when they saw Miki, Brody and Grayson, standing near Xanthos's jeep with a grim look on their face.

"Got the message," Grayson said, showing his phone screen and Cyane furrowed her brows when she saw her and Xan's photo on the screen. "Everyone knows" Grayson growled, looking around and sure enough, several wolves in the area were looking at them curiously.

If this photo had reached them, then this photo had reached all over the kingdom which meant Lysander and Yolanda would also know. Cyane worried about their reaction but she did not have time to ponder over it much.

"We cannot let you go alone" Brody said, shaking his head and Cyane blinked, stunned to hear those words.

"It's fine. I can handle it" Xanthos muttered as he helped Cyane get in the front seat of his jeep.

"I know you can, but I don't want you to handle it alone. You have always been there for us and now it's our turn" Brody argued.

"If that's why you are here, then there's no need. I don't need you to pay me back" Xanthos growled and Cyane quietly looked at her lap, letting him and his friends sought this out on their own.

"Xan, come on, it's not payback" Grayson frowned and Xanthos cocked an eyebrow, "I am here because I want to be. You are my friend and I have realized that I have always been selfish but this day, I cannot leave you alone. No matter what the price."

"Yeah. You are our friend. Only one whom we can trust and I know you don't trust us because we have never given you any reason to. I am sorry for disappointing you, but I cannot let you go alone today man! You are the only one who's been constant in my life for years and you are the only one who hasn't disappointed me" Brody shrugged and Xanthos nodded, reluctantly.

"Great! That's settled then!" Miki huffed, getting on the backseat, "Unlike them, I will be honest. I am here only because I know her people are dangerous and they will kill us if something happens to her" Miki pointed an accusing finger at Cyane, but Xanthos only scoffed and got into the driver's seat.

Ducking her eyes, Cyane hid her smile and when she looked at the rear-view mirror, her eyes met Miki's carnelian ones.

Miki's reasons might have sounded vain but he was also the only one who had been selflessly supporting Xanthos for years and Cyane was pretty sure, he had something to do with bringing Brody and Grayson here today.

She shot him a grateful smile and averting his gaze, Miki put on his sunglasses while Xanthos turned on the engine.

___

The palace was beautiful. Cyane wouldn't be so petty as to refute that claim but the clouds above the palace were dark and gloomy, just like the air around it.

It was surrounded by fortified walls built from Basalt stone just like the palace. Xanthos brought the jeep to a halt near the giant iron gates. Cyane flinched a little when she saw the rust on those iron bars.

"We are late" Grayson huffed because the entrance was blocked with no parking space.

"There are too many vehicles here already. We have to walk the rest of the way" Xanthos told her and she shrugged.

"Cover the mark with your hair" Brody warned her and Cyane did just that. Throughout the journey, his friends had given her various ideas to cover her scent and her mark. They had even attempted to drop some silver sulphide on her neck and when she had glared at them, they had realized that silver hurt her just as much as it hurt them.

Eventually, they all settled to cover her scent with strands of their hair. So now, she had no particular scent and it would confuse all the wolf around. It had made Xanthos furious but he had reluctantly agreed to it.

As she climbed down, Cyane realized that it was a long way to the old building of the palace. Almost a hundred meters away from the gates. The building had no particular shape, it was spread out in acres of land. Tall trees stood proudly and formal gardens spread beautifully on either side of the road that led to the entrance.

As she stood near the jeep, all Cyane could think about was her family. Her grandpa used to work in this very palace along with the king. Yolanda had told her that she and her aunt used to play in these very palace grounds when they were little.

When her grandpa had left the kingdom, he had left everything behind and he never wanted anything back after losing the most precious treasure of his life, his daughter.

Cyane wasn't here to claim anything back either. She was here to make sure what happened to her family did not happen to any other family from this day on.

In Lycoris, even the worst criminal was given a chance. One last chance to see if there was any hope for him and she was here to see if there was any hope for King Stanislaus.

No, she wouldn't kill the king. That was Lysander and Minerva's revenge. But if she did not see any guilt in the king's eyes today then, she knew she wouldn't have any guilt while killing Boon in the Iron Fort either.

"Are you okay?" Xanthos asked, his fingers brushing hers.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out through her mouth, Cyane nodded and then looked at Xanthos's arctic blue eyes. His face was once again stoic and she gave him a small smile.

Blinking, Xanthos let the mask crack for once and then cupping her face, he gave her a slow, lingering kiss on her lips, startling his friends.

"Remember what I told you?" Xanthos whispered against her lips, his forehead pressed against hers.

"Yes" Cyane breathed out and after pecking her lips once more, Xanthos held her hand and began to walk ahead, with her right beside him and his friends protectively following behind.

___

It was a long way to the throne room indeed.

Throughout the walk, Cyane kept her back ramrod straight and looked ahead just like Xanthos without making eye-contact with anyone.

Wolves stopped, stepped back to make way for them as they marched silently on the stone walkway that led to the wide entrance steps.

Cyane could hear the whispers and could feel the stares at her, at Xanthos, at their joined hands but she ignored it all because she had been trained since young to ignore the attention.

She tried her best to mask her face into an impassive expression and by the time they began climbing the entrance steps, Cyane knew her face revealed nothing. To Cyane, it felt like the sound the flat soles of her sandals made, echoed around every time she mounted a stair.

The first thing she saw when she climbed up the marble stairs was the flower arrangements on the stone column pillars on either side of the stairs. Every inch of the palace walls was adorned with flowers of various colours. Cyane supposed the in-your-face arrangement was done to remind the guests that this was a celebration.

A joyous moment, regardless of their feelings and approval.

She lowered her lashes, climbed up another stair and this time as she looked up, she saw a leather clad-feet.

Her eyes trailed upwards and then met Crown Prince Saint Winthrop's malicious green eyes for the first time in three weeks.

They were late indeed because, with legs spread wide apart and hands braced on the armrest, Saint Winthrop proudly sat on the Imperium Throne with a crown in his head.

No longer a prince. A king now!

Cyane bridled. Neither shocked nor thrilled. Just angry that no one could stop this.

Of course, Saint noticed that because his green eyes gleamed and his lips curled upwards to form a cruel grin.

That vicious grin only fuelled Cyane's hatred against the current royal family. It was a wrong move from Saint and he did not even realize it. He had waved a red flag in front of a raging bull and curling one side of her lips upwards, Cyane crossed the threshold and stepped inside the palace, bringing destruction along with her.

___

Absolute silence descended over the throne room when Cyane walked in beside Xanthos. They came to a stop in the centre of the throne room, with almost fifty pairs of eyes on them.

Brody, Miki and Grayson stood behind, carefully watching and assessing everyone. Their stance was rigid, ready to fight anyone, any moment.

"Xanthos, I am so glad you could join us" a voice called loud and clear and Cyane's eyes flickered to the person it belonged to.

He no longer had a crown in his head, but she was still able to recognize him as King Stanislaus. He was old. Cyane assumed he was around her grandpa's age but former King Stanislaus somehow seemed older than her Poppy. He was tall and he seemed physically fit but his hands were prosthetic because Lysander had cut them off years ago.

Stanislaus had thick grey brows and a healthy amount of hair in his head, which Cyane guessed was dyed a natural black. Yolanda had indeed inherited her father's green eyes, but while hers were gentle and soothing, something malevolent shined in the former king's eyes.

His words said one thing but his eyes conveyed something else altogether.

"Sire" Xanthos and his friends said in unison and bowed their heads. "Forgive us, it seems we are late."

"Yes, you are" Stanislaus grinned and Cyane narrowed her eyes, the hidden meaning behind their words, crystal clear for her. "The ceremony was to happen in an auspicious moment and we couldn't delay it any longer. As you can see it all went very smoothly and my son, Saint Winthrop is your new Regius Lupus."

Xanthos bobbed his head in acknowledgement while Saint grinned like a Cheshire Cat.

"That's right. What I say, you and your little group of friends have got to follow" Saint said and she could hear Miki growling lowly from behind.

"Now is not the time to dictate my son, now is the time to get to know your people better," Stanislaus said gently to his son, who nodded reluctantly. He then looked at Cyane and smiled, "Xanthos, I am so glad to see you brought your lady friend with you. Introduce us" Stanislaus asked, his eyes affixed on Cyane.

"Her name is Cyane and she already knows who you are," Xanthos said with a shrug.

"Wonderful" Stanislaus grinned while Cyane simply stared at him, "Where are you from Cyane?"

"Scevola" Cyane replied flatly.

"I am afraid you have to be more specific. Although Scevola isn't as big as Aelius, it's still big in its own accord and so I want you to be more specific" Stanislaus grinned.

"I am afraid I cannot point out a specific place," Cyane said in an equally sweet tone and smiled for added benefit. "My family was constantly moving and we never stayed in a place for long enough to consider it home."

"I see. Which family do you belong to? Maybe I would know them?"

"I don't think so" Cyane shook her head sadly, "My family does not consider mingling with the likes of you as necessary."

The crowd was stunned into absolute silence as Stanislaus narrowed his eyes. Cyane grimaced, then faked a laugh before continuing, "I mean no offence... Sir."

"None was taken. It seems to me you come from a poor family and have never been around royals before" Stanislaus smiled sweetly and Cyane raised her brows.

If only he knew...

"None like this for sure" Cyane spread her arms around her to make her point.

"So, what are you doing in Aelius, Cyane?" Stanislaus probed.

"It's a beautiful kingdom with a rich history. I was curious and I came to visit" Cyane shrugged.

"It is a beautiful kingdom. I have worked hard to improve its culture and heritage so that people can forget all about the stains of the past and live happily" Stanislaus said proudly, "So, you are on a holiday?"

"Of sorts."

"May I ask, how did you meet Xanthos?" Stanislaus asked her, his eyes on Xanthos.

Oh crap! Cyane and Xanthos hadn't ever discussed this bit but Cyane knew Xanthos as well as his friends would go along with whatever story she cooked up.

"I met Miki first actually," Cyane said and she could feel Miki's surprised eyes on her. It was true of sorts. The first person she had seen that day in the woods had been Miki but the main reason Cyane chose Miki was because she knew he was not afraid to lie to the king.

"That's right Sire" Miki chuckled, "We met in the convent."

"Ah! A believer I see" Stanislaus said.

"I needed someone to show me around this new town and Miki and his friends offered to help."

"How kind of them" Stanislaus crooned. "When did you meet?"

"About two weeks ago" Miki answered.

"And you have been staying with them since?"

"Not them. With Xanthos" Cyane clarified loud and clear and waited for Stanislaus's next question. She knew he was on to something and she was just curious to see what his cunning game plan was!

From what she had heard about him, she knew he liked to manipulate situations and people and she wanted to see how they are going to tide this situation in their favour.

"Yes. With Xanthos. The rumours have reached me" Stanislaus grinned which caused Saint to growl and cough the word, 'Slut'.

Hearing his son's low growl, Stanislaus turned to look at him, "What is it, Saint?"

"She is lying" Saint spat and Cyane frowned at him. "I have seen her in Aelius long before that!"

"What do you mean?"

"I have seen her three weeks ago. The day I got kidnapped by Johnny and Ash. I had seen her that day" Saint pointed his accusing fingers at her and everyone in the crowd looked at her curiously.

"Where did you see her?"

"I saw her with Johnny" Saint hissed and Cyane glared at him.

So, this was their game plan? To trap and blame her!

The crowd gasped out loud while a few of them growled. Cyane could feel several outrageous eyes on her. Miki and Brody growled behind her while Xanthos remained impassive beside her.

"What did you say?" Queen Marcella in shock.

"She was with Johnny. She was with them when they kidnapped me" Saint said and whispers and murmurs grew loud in the crowd.

Stanislaus raised a silencing hand and then faced his son, "My boy, are you sure it's her?" Stanislaus asked, extending an arm towards Cyane.

"Of course. I know what I saw before I was taken away. She was with them. She helped them in kidnapping me. Maybe she even helped Johnny and Ash kill Alex and Gideon" Saint sneered and at the mention of Gideon's name several loud growls echoed around the area.

The reaction shocked Cyane because she realized that the people in the crowd were more supportive of Gideon and outraged by the news that she could hurt him.

"How dare you?" Cyane hissed in outrage, taking a threatening step forward and glowering at Saint, who sat on the throne and watched her with a smirk on his evil face.

A hand enclosed around her wrist at that moment and she turned to look at Xanthos who slowly shook his head.

"Silence!" Stanislaus thundered and the room grew silent again. Stanislaus let out a deep breath and then faced his son. "That's a heavy accusation my boy and if it's false, it would look bad on you" Stanislaus warned his son and Cyane shook her head in disgust. She knew what the father and son were trying to do and she wondered, how she could prove herself innocent.

"It's not a false accusation father," Saint said firmly. "It is the truth but I have no proof to convince you of the truth."

The acting was done so well that Cyane resisted the urge to slowly clap in sarcasm.

"If this girl is at fault, a trial must be conducted." Someone in the crowd said and Cyane glared at the old man.

"Everyone had heard the rumours that there was a girl in the factory that day. A girl who had escaped! She could escape only because she was one of them" Another one said.

"We all falsely believed Saint had kidnapped her when it was the other way around. This girl is the culprit" Someone else declared.

"Only Johnny knew the truth but the Hound killed him. Now we know why he did it! She even had the Hound trapped under her spell."

"She is a witch. She has killed several young wolves of our kingdom. She is a spy for Scevola. They had sent her here to kill our young boys." A woman hissed.

Distressed and shaken by all the accusations, Cyane clenched her fist and stared at the crowd and watched several pairs of accusatory eyes fixed on her. No one believed her innocence and she was shocked.

They had already accused her without even hearing her side of the story. How fair was that?

Gulping, she moved closer to Xanthos until she was standing almost behind him. Being around him soothed her and she felt safe but he was standing unmoving as a rock and he hadn't yet uttered any word or showed any emotion.

Neither angry nor sadness. What kind of a mate was he? Weren't mates supposed to protect each other and always be possessive and overly protective?

She did not like those traits but at the moment she just wanted some sort of affirmation from Xanthos and the fact that she was getting none, caused her heart to bang harshly against her ribcage. Her skin felt cold and her mouth dry.

"Xanthos" she breathed out and looked at him to see that he was staring straight ahead. She looked in the direction and her eyes met the green ones of Stanislaus.

The triumphant glint in his eyes was visible to her and she gritted her teeth because now she realized that he was irredeemable! He had planned all this to make her look like the bad guy so that his son could get the support of the people.

For Xanthos, she had given him a chance but Stanislaus was not worthy of it at all.

He had never met her before, yet he had planned her doom and had been prepared to sacrifice her so that his son could be a ruler who could rule without any obstacles as she was the first and foremost obstacle in Saint's path because she was the only one who knew the truth and who could paint Saint in a bad light.

Yet, she couldn't utter the complete truth without compromising Xanthos or Gideon, who have both lied to protect her and god forbid, if she uttered Lysander's name... she couldn't even imagine the chaos that would erupt here!

Stanislaus must have suspected Xanthos had lied and that was why he was playing this kind of game to trap Xanthos or just her.

"Silence" Stanislaus said smoothly, raising his prosthetic hand and Cyane's eyes flashed dangerously. "My son, your king has accused this girl of kidnapping him and his friends but he has also stated that he has no proof to prove himself right. That is not true. Xanthos and Karl were in the building that day. They had gone to rescue my son along with Gideon, Alex and his team. The others did not return home alive but Xanthos and Karl did and now, we are going to ask them to tell the truth as they have seen it!" Stanislaus shared and the crowd readily agreed.

"Very well then, Karl, please step forward" Stanislaus began and Cyane turned her head to look at the other survivor. She did not remember seeing him in the factory that day but what if he had seen her?

"Sire" Karl bowed his head in respect, his attention fixed on Stanislaus, standing near the throne seat.

"Did you see this girl in the factory that day?"

"No, Sire. I did not see her" Karl said and Cyane let out a breath that she hadn't even been aware that she was holding in.

His answer stunned the audience and they looked at each other.

"Did you see some other girl in the factory that day?" Stanislaus probed.

"I did not see any girl but I did catch a scent that day," Karl said and Cyane gulped, while behind her Miki muttered a curse.

"And does that scent match Cyane's?"

"Yes, Sire. It is her scent. She was in the factory that day" Karl finished and Cyane closed her eyes.

Lies again because they had covered Xanthos's friends had covered her scent and make it unrecognizable.

As the murmurs grew, Stanislaus spoke again, "Xanthos, please step forward."

Cyane watched as Xanthos took a couple of steps ahead, away from her and towards the stairs that led to the Imperium Throne seat.

"I understand Cyane is your friend, but I do wish that you state the truth and bring justice to all your fallen brothers" Stanislaus began smoothly and Cyane frowned.

He had a way with words and just with them, he knew how to manipulate a situation to his favour. By saying those words, he already let it sink into the crowd's mind that whatever Xanthos said it would be a lie to protect her.

"Did you see Cyane in the factory that day?" Stanislaus repeated the same question.

"No" Xanthos replied.

Stanislaus's eyes darkened after hearing that but he clenched his fingers to a fist and then continued, "Did you see some other girl in the factory that day?"

"No."

It was a one-word reply and there was no further addition to it.

"Did you catch any unknown scent that day?"

"No."

Xanthos said again and Cyane heaved a sigh, relieved to notice that he was still protecting her.

Why? She had no clue but she was glad he stood by her today.

"She has already confirmed that you both are in a relationship. Why do you expect us to believe you?" A smart-ass guy asked from the crowd and Cyane gritted her teeth because she knew Stanislaus's cruel mechanisms were working again!

"You have not believed me before and I do not expect you to believe me now," Xanthos told the guy, looking him in the eye. When he collided with icy blue eyes, the guy paled and then quietly sat back in his seat.

"Know your place rogue! I will not let you intimidate my pack wolf" An elderly guy stood up in outrage and Cyane glared at him, while Xanthos's friends growled in warning.

"I am afraid, Robbie does make a point, Xanthos," Stanislaus said gently and Cyane scowled at the old man, while Xanthos turned back to face him. "It is hard to believe your words when Cyane clearly stated that you both are in a relationship. I had asked you to find out information from Johnny too but you had told me that he had had no information about the girl. At the time, I took you for your word, however, now I do wonder if you have been lying to me."

"Why would I lie?" Xanthos asked quietly.

"For the girl, obviously" Saint chuckled which caused others to laugh as well. "Mutts like you do not get any decent girl and when they do, they use every trick in the book to get laid and sluts like her immediately fall for those tricks."

"Watch it" Miki hissed in warning as few in the crowd laughed like it was the greatest joke ever. Cyane gritted her teeth as she felt blood rush all over her body, setting fire on her veins.

"Careful!" Stanislaus growled at Miki, who was shaking in fury. "Saint is your king and if you disrespect him again, I will have you imprisoned."

Compressing his lips, Miki harshly looked away and glared at the floor. However, Cyane did not look away. She kept her eyes on Saint and showed him all the rage she felt within.

"I met Cyane for the first time two weeks ago and the people in and around my building can vouch for that" Xanthos shrugged smoothly and that silenced Saint, who looked at his father for support.

Cyane scoffed! Of course, the creep had no brain of his own!

"Rogues! All rogues live in and around your building" the same elderly wolf sneered again and Cyane wondered, who was this guy and what problem did he have with the rogues.

"Rogues, who are loyal to Sire," Xanthos said flatly.

"But I am not your king anymore Xanthos" Stanislaus countered, watching Xanthos from below his lashes. "While I did not doubt before today of your loyalty to me, I don't think my son, your new king can say the same."

Cyane furrowed her brows, wondering what he was about to say next.

"You say you and all the other rogues of the kingdom are loyal to the throne. The crowd here does not believe you, so I think you should prove it to them!" Stanislaus suggested and Cyane had a bad feeling about this and so did Xanthos's friends because they all stared at each other in confusion.

"How?" Xanthos asked.

"However, your king demands" Stanislaus said, extending his arm towards Saint, who tapped his fingers excitedly against the armrest with a smug look on his face.

"Are you saying you and the other rogues, whom you call your friends are loyal to the Imperium Throne?"

"Yes," Xanthos said.

"Very well. If you consider yourself as a representative of those rogues, then I have no problem with it. However, since your loyalty is in doubt here, I would like you to prove yourself to me not just for your sake but also as a representative of the rogues you say are loyal to the throne."

Xanthos nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Saint's. Cyane's heart thudded in her chest and she clenched and unclenched her fingers because the feeling that something bad was about to happen just wouldn't go away.

Saint looked at her and then grinning widely, he stood up tall and proud, the crown shining in his head.

"Kneel before me!" Saint announced, placing his hands on his hips. The crowd grew silent after hearing those words and waited, curious to see what would happen next.

Cyane bared her gritted teeth and clenched her fists. Brody, Miki and Grayson growled but Xanthos raised his hand to silence them.

"Kneel and prove your loyalty to me" Saint goaded, pointing his finger near his feet, where he expected Xanthos to kneel.

"No" Cyane shouted, glaring at Saint. "Xanthos will do no such thing."

"There's no need for you to do this Xan!" Miki argued at the same time, while Brody and Grayson kept shooting daggers at Saint.

"There is every need" Saint sneered. "My father was an excellent ruler but many, like me, believed he was too lenient with you rogues" Saint began and many in the crowd nodded, which made Cyane grit her teeth.

What the hell was their problem with the rogues? Have they not heard of live and let live policy?

"He saved your lives and gave you home. He took you in when no one was ready to and what have you ever given to him in return? He only expected loyalty from you and yet, by hiding this woman in your building, you have been disloyal to him. Not just you, Hound. You and everyone else in your building" Saint pointed an accusing finger at Xanthos.

"If you do not kneel before me, then I will bring everyone in the building to the trial. I will do everything in my power to wring out the truth from the" Saint swore and Cyane's eyes darkened in rage.

Everyone understood what he was implying and no one in the crowd called him out for it. He would torture everyone in Xan's building and that included the old man on the ground floor, the mother and son she had waved goodbye today and Grayson and Jayson, who was also an innocent.

"Is this how you are going to rule?" Cyane spat out in disgust, staring at Saint. "Is this how your father ruled?" She continued, looking at Stanislaus who glared at her.

"Cyane"

The commanding voice came from Xanthos and she watched him as he slowly shook his head. His arctic blue eyes were fixed on her and through them, he was sending her a message, silently asking her to remember the promise she made to him before coming here.

But Cyane couldn't hold it in. She never learned to hold it in. She had only learned to control it to her advantage.

She couldn't watch it. She couldn't watch Xanthos kneeling before Saint. She just couldn't. He did not have to do that. He had sacrificed so much for his friends. He had taken beatings meant for them but he did not have to do this for her. She wasn't his friend or his king. She was... she was his mate and she expected nothing from him.

Not his love, not his protection either. She just wanted him to be free, not bound to someone.

"The people in that building are innocents," Xanthos said quietly, turning back to Saint.

"You are going to say that because you have each other's back" Saint rolled his eyes heavenwards. "They would lie for you and you will do the same for them. I will believe in their innocence, only after I believe in yours."

"You are no different to me than your father," Xanthos told Saint. "Your father had given me a new life and purpose and I am loyal to that with every cell in my body. I will continue to be loyal and do whatever it takes to prove you of that ultimate truth."

"NO" Cyane and Miki shouted at the same time.

"Xan don't."

"This is too much"

Brody and Grayson growled.

"You will not do this for me. You will not do this for anyone" Cyane told Xanthos, repeatedly shaking her head as her heart hammered in her chest.

"I am doing this so that everyone can see," Xanthos said, looking over his shoulders and Cyane furrowed her brows. What did he mean?

What was he trying to say? Everyone who? The crowd?

Nodding once at Saint, Xanthos slowly climbed the stairs. There was eleven of them and silence loomed over the court.

Cyane looked at the crowd, the people present there and finally understood Acheron's rage against the kingdom.

I think a total wipe-out is what Aelius needs... Lachlan, Ash's bodyguard had said those words to her and she had called him and Ash, mad.

Someone has to get mad; Lachlan had said that day and it was the truth. Did Lysander believe in these people? These people who couldn't stand up and argue even though they knew what was happening was wrong.

They looked uncomfortable. Some looked smug and some were cringing in their seats but none spoke up.

Why didn't they? Couldn't they see that what was happening was wrong? Or did they not know the difference? Were they so used to getting kicked in the teeth by their king that they didn't know any better?

Their silence closed in around her for never before in her life had she faced such humiliation. Heat erupted from Cyane's body and she pressed her feet firmly on her shoes to stay put because she was trembling in rage.

Climbing up the last stair, Xanthos stood right in front of Saint, towering over him and Saint gulped.

"Kneel before your king" Queen Marcella, who was watching the entire event sitting cross-legged in her seat, commanded with a self-satisfied grin on her face.

Without taking his eyes off Saint, Xanthos slowly lowered himself to genuflect in front of Saint and Cyane looked away, unable to watch it.

"Cyane," Miki said, placing a hand on her shoulder, but immediately pulled them back when he felt how hot her skin had gotten.

When Xanthos knees touched the stone floor, Saint heaved a sigh and looked at his father with a grin.

"I believe in your loyalty" Saint pronounced graciously and Cyane closed her cloudy eyes, but refused to shed a drop of tear in front of these people.

What did Xanthos mean? She couldn't help but wonder. What was he trying to tell her?

"That's right Hound" Saint called happily. "You are now my loyal dog just like you were my father's" Saint grinned placing his hands on his hips and to add insult to the injury, he then raised his right leg and placed his feet over Xanthos's right shoulder.

Few in the audience chuckled, while many others looked uncomfortable.

"Bastard" Miki hissed in rage and Cyane's eyes flew open.

The sight in front of her— Xanthos, her mate, down on his knees in front of the Saint, the creep who had assaulted her, was shocking enough but to see Saint's legs on Xanthos's shoulder made her scream in rage.

"ENOUGH!" Cyane roared, her voice was animalistic.

A loud boom of thunder echoed around the area, startling everyone.

"Remove your foot from his shoulder before I break them" Cyane warned, walking threateningly towards Saint.

"Mind your words, girl" Queen Marcella challenged. "He is your king."

"Your pathetic son is not and will never be my king" Cyane hissed out curtly at Marcella and everyone gasped. "Your son is nothing but a lecherous creep who doesn't deserve to be where he is. He is beneath me because I am—"

"ARREST HER!" Stanislaus bellowed and immediately the palace guards rushed forward.

What followed next was something no one predicted.

After Stanislaus thundered his command to have Cyane arrested, the palace guards rushed to follow his orders. There was a blur of the moment and the very next second, Xanthos was standing protectively in front of Cyane, while his friends surrounded her and baring their fangs and claws, they growled and snarled, daring wolves to come forward.

But there was another collateral damage by this turn of events.

With his hands placed on his lips and his right leg leaned over Xanthos's shoulder, King Saint Winthrop had been standing tall with an arrogant smirk on his face, feeling like he was on top of the world.

Following Stanislaus's command, Xanthos abruptly got off the floor and lunged off the stairs to protect his mate. When he did that, King Saint, who had been completely leaning on to Xanthos, lost his balance and after failing to find a secure footing, he fell headfirst, down the stairs and then went tumbling down the eleven stairs until he fell flat on his stomach on the carpeted floor.

As Saint fell off the stairs, the crown flew off his head and rolled on the floor before coming to a stop near Xanthos's feet.

The silk material of his cape was twisted and curled around his body as Saint groaned in pain, lying on the ground.

Someone from the crowd snickered. Before anyone could find out who it was, more and more people started chuckling until the sound came out as a burst of collective laughter.

"My son" Marcella cried and rushed down the stairs to help her son, while Stanislaus stared at his son in shock.

The crowd was chuckling and shaking their head in pity and Stanislaus flinched for it felt like a slap on his face. They were laughing at his son. At their king!

His cat green eyes then flickered towards the crown and he gritted his teeth when he saw that it was lying near Xanthos's feet.

He looked up at Xanthos and found that the Hound was growling lowly at the guards, who were surrounding him and his friends.

From her stance behind Xanthos, Cyane watched Saint lying on the floor with a satisfied look on her face. He was beneath her and right now, he was near her feet.

The laughter of the crowd was a soothing balm. Having her mate close to her also calmed her tensed nerves and eased her, bringing rational thoughts back into the surface.

These were the people. Neither good. Nor bad. Just a common citizen who had no sides but went in the side that brought a little spice into their mundane life. She had believed the people in the audience were hired by Stanislaus. Some might have been but not all. The others were just wolves of the kingdom.

They had no voice of their own. Their voice was taken from them long before and now they simply stood by the side of power to protect themselves. They probably knew Saint wasn't worthy of being their ruler, but they didn't have any alternative to him either. So they neither supported Xanthos nor did they completely support Saint.

"A king who couldn't hold the crown for even an hour" someone chided but it was audible enough to cause people to laugh louder.

"Who said that?" Stanislaus demanded but his voice was drowned out.

"Please help him" Queen Marcella cried, watching her son in distress. Saint tried to get up but stepped on his cape and was dragged down again which caused the crowd to hoot with laughter.

There was a warning growl and Cyane's eyes flickered towards Xanthos who was shaking in rage. As the people in the courtroom continued laughing at their fallen king, Xanthos let out a ferocious snarl before slamming his fist on the ground. Then, there was nothing but silence in the room.

Cyane watched Xanthos with wide, startled eyes. She had never seen him this angry before and it was scary. The crowd was also staring at him with fearful eyes as he knelt on the ground and growled louder and louder.

Few of the guards helped Saint stand up. He roughly shoved them away, pushing off their helping hand. His hair was disarrayed and his cheeks were flushed in embarrassment. He was glaring at the ground, refusing to meet anyone's eyes as he quietly stood, near the foot of the stairs that led to the Imperium Throne.

Queen Marcella was trying to get her son's attention but her eyes kept flickering fearfully towards Xanthos, who was still growling loudly. Everyone was watching Xanthos, waiting to see what he would do next.

Dark lashes rose to reveal eyes that were as cold as the glaciers in the artic, and met Stanislaus's gaze unflinchingly.

"To get to her, you will have to go through me" Xanthos stated through gritted teeth and Stanislaus inhaled sharply. The guards gulped and watched as Xanthos stood protectively in front of Cyane, covering her from the eyes of the former king.

The wolves in the crowd looked at each other, stunned by the unexpected turn of events.

"I once made a promise to you and I have now made a promise to Cyane" Xanthos began and Cyane furrowed her brows, curious to hear what he has to say next.

"What is it?" Stanislaus asked in barely restrained fury.

"I promised to take her back to her home safely and I have every intention of keeping it; after all, it was you Sire, who taught me the importance of a promise" Xanthos replied and Stanislaus drew his head back, stunned to hear those words being thrown against him.

Cyane lowered her head to hide her smile because she now understood what Xanthos was doing. He was going against the orders of his king but Stanislaus couldn't punish him for it either because it was Stanislaus himself who always kept reminding Xanthos and his friends of their promise to him.

Stanislaus was trapped. In the same way, he trapped others and that was the best way to play with him

If he orders Xanthos to go against his promise to her, then it meant that Xanthos could also go against his promise to Stanislaus and there was no way in hell the old man would so easily set free the deadliest fighter of his kingdom.

Stanislaus was no fool and he must have immediately realized what was good for him and his unworthy son.

"My sincere apologies to you Sire if I have offended you. I did not mean to do such a thing and neither did Cyane or my friends" Xanthos assured and Cyane resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "It is a joyous day and it should be celebrated as such" Xanthos continued, his eyes shifting towards Saint, who was still glaring at the carpet.

Picking up the jewel-studded crown that was lying near his feet, Xanthos held it in his hands and then wiping some invisible dust off it, he strode towards Saint.

"Former King Stanislaus Winthrop's, eldest son and hire, Saint Winthrop is the new King of the Kingdom of Aelius. May he rule long, for I know he will rule justly" Xanthos said flatly as he extended the crown to Saint.

Saint growled, refusing to accept the crown from Xanthos.

Noticing her son's embarrassment, Queen Marcella snatched the crown from Xanthos and holding her son's hand, she began dragging him up the stairs.

The moment Saint sat down on the Imperium Throne seat, Queen Marcella placed the crown in his head again.

"Long live the King," Xanthos said loudly, his eyes on a red-faced Saint.

"Long live the King" Miki chimed along with the crowd, who repeated it a couple of times before clapping cheerfully.

Saint got crowned again but Cyane was joyous to see his humiliation and so, she kept mum while the drama unfolded.

Stanislaus raised his hand to silence the crowd, who looked oddly flushed and uncomfortable.

When silence fell again like a thunderclap, Xanthos spoke again. "I did not mean to embarrass you Sire or humiliate your son. I am bound by my promise."

Nodding once, Stanislaus cleared his throat and then spoke again, "A promise is a promise and I understand you consider yourself responsible for her. You have picked a stray and I am glad you are wise enough to know that you cannot keep it as a pet."

Cyane raised her brows, amused. Nothing could piss her off now because she was on cloud-nine after witnessing Saint's humiliation.

"I suggest you leave now, Xanthos. You and your little group of friends. Take the girl with you and drop her off to her home at the earliest so that you can fulfil your promise to her. I understand how important it is to you, which is why I will give you a week to fulfil your promise, and once this week is done, Cyane will be labelled as an outlaw in the Kingdom of Aelius on the charges of being insolent and disrespectful towards King Saint and former queen Marcella" Stanislaus said harshly and Xanthos nodded quietly.

It was only then that Saint looked up with a satisfied look on his face.

His green eyes met Cyane's and as her slender body shook in suppressed mirth, Saint flinched and looked away.

Pleased to see Saint's reaction and his humiliation, Cyane let her gaze flicker to Stanislaus. Light green eyes that were harsh and cruel looked at her with barely hidden contempt.

He had his chance today and he blew it off. There was no stopping her now. Cyane swore, she wouldn't even flinch as she killed Boon to get the Essence. There would be no regrets from her side either.

Her grandpa was right. Stanislaus was beyond redemption and there must be a place in hell that was reserved just for him.

Fearless, Cyane squared her shoulders and met his gaze head-on. With just gleaming Amethyst eyes, she showed him her victorious grin and challenged him to bring his worst.

Raising her chin, she moved her gaze to Saint and sparing him one disgusted look, she walked out of the palace with Xanthos and his friends, all the while aware of Stanislaus's furious gaze on her.

A week to leave Aelius? Well, Cyane had a feeling Stanislaus would do something to get rid of her sooner because he now undoubtedly saw her as a threat.

A confident smile appeared on her face for she couldn't wait...

****

Ah... So, what do you think? I know many will be unhappy with what Xanthos let happen to him but hey, Saint did just get his comeuppance for humiliating Xanthos. But for what he did to Cyane... well, you have to wait a bit for that!

A bigger drama will unfold for that but this is a start....

Next chapter on 23rd.... However, if I have an audit that week, then it might be pushed back by a few days. Sorry for that! ☹

Please vote and share your views in the comments.

I love you all.

Stay safe!