A sigh of contentment left my lips as I approached the gates of The Lycan Palace. I had made it on time. Exactly thirty days later, I had returned with the entire story and enough evidence to save Miraya; just like I had promised myself.
I walked over to the guards and spoke in a voice ringing with confidence. “I am here for the trial.”
“Trial?”
“Yes, the Trial of the wereheretic.”
The guard looked at me with a weird expression. “Had you gone somewhere?”
“Yes… Is that a problem?”
His expression softened. “No wonder you don’t know about it. She was executed three weeks ago.”
His words shook my very existence. The air left my lungs and my shoulders slumped. “This is not possible… Y… You are probably mistaken. The Lycan King had given me thirty days to prove her innocence.” I shook my head vehemently. “He won’t… He can’t go back on his words.”
“Why don’t….”
The guard was saying something, but my mind was too buzzed to register what his words. The guard was mistaken; he had to be. Hera couldn’t be dead. She was probably still in that prison; waiting…. Waiting for me to save her.
Dashing through the gap between the guards, I ran right through the gate. Scrambling up the stairs, I entered the palace before the shocked guards could gather their wits.
They chased after me; waving their spears and swishing their silver swords. One of them caught up to me halfway through the corridor.
Zap! He swung his spear at me. I dodged it and elbowed him. Hissing in pain, he lunged at me again. This time, the silver tip of his spear grazed my shoulder. My steps faltered; slowing me down.
Hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor, and soon I was surrounded by guards. Wiping off the sweat from my brow, I looked around.
There were about ten of them. I was assessing their positions when the head guard spoke up. “This man breached the security of the palace while the court is still in session. We will have to present him before our King right away.”
My body went limp, and I let them capture me. This was the best way to get an audience with the King. They led me through a section of palace I hadn’t been before. Walking through the black-tiled passage, we arrived at a large hall.
Half a dozen officials were sitting on regal chairs placed in a circular arc. Several others sat in smaller chairs placed in a v formation, their gazes keenly fixed on the Lycan King who was sitting on a throne placed higher than everyone else.
The head guard bowed and signalled to an official. The officer’s face contorted in a deep scowl the moment he saw me. “Did he breach the entrance?”
“Yes, my lord.” The head guard bowed low before walking to the center. Bowing deeper this time, he greeted The Lycan King, “I apologise for interrupting, your highness.”
The Lycan King’s gaze drifted from the guard to me. His face blanched. “Justin?” His eyes narrowed and his lips twitched at the corners. “Your habit of barging into my palace hasn’t changed.”
Freeing myself from the guard’s grasp, I walked to the centre. I bowed from my waist and spoke in a respectful tone, “I didn’t mean any disrespect, your majesty. Today was the last day to present evidence, and the guards wouldn’t let me in. So, I had no choice.”
I raised my head and at him with a pleading expression, “Please grant me the leave to explain myself.”
He slumped in his seat and waved his hand. “Go ahead.”
“Thank you, Your highness. I am here to present evidence in favor of Hera.” My voice got slightly choked, and I swallowed hard. “If the council hears the entire story, it will realize that her actions were justified.”
“There is no point in telling us anything, Justin.” An officer dressed in red robes with a golden border stepped forward. “The wereheretic has already been executed. You are only wasting the court’s time.”
“No! That is not possible.” My gaze shifted to the Lycan King. “Please tell me he is bluffing.” Tears stung my eyes. “You had promised to wait till the next full moon… You….”
My words got choked. The Lycan king still didn’t speak.
I dropped to my knees and begged, “Please, your highness… Please say something…. You had clearly given me a month’s time to prove her innocence.”
The Lycan King’s expression hardened and his grip on the armrest of his chair tightened. “The wereheretic tried to escape. So, we had to kill her.”
A strange ring buzzed in my ears, and my mind blanked out. The king himself had admitted to killing Hera. The stab of his words was so sharp that it shredded the deepest parts of my soul.
I had failed. I had failed to fulfil the promise I made to myself, to my mother. I had failed colossally. Licking my dry lips, I stuttered, “H… How could you go back on your words?”
“Justin!” my father’s voice boomed in the room. “How much more are you going to embarrass me and my pack?”
Startled, my head snapped to my left; my gaze landing on his rigid form. His jaws were clenched and his eyes were fiery with rage and humiliation.
His presence intensified the burn of failing. Hera; the one who saved my mother was dead and the man responsible for her death was still free.
My breath hitched. “I have embarrassed you? You are the one….” I caught myself before I spoke too much. If I accused him of killing my mother, I would also have to disclose the fact that she was still alive. This would put her in unnecessary danger.
“Stop it now, Justin. Get up and apologise to the king.” He spoke through gritted teeth. “I am sure his highness will forgive you. After all, you are the future of the Moonmist Pack.”
I clenched the edges of my robes and shut my eyes. My father had only one son. If something were to happen to me, his pack would come under the direct control of the Lycan King. He would lose all the control he had over the pack.
When I opened my eyes again, they were brimming with determination. I would crush the very ambition he had tried killing my mother for.
“You don’t need to apologise, Justin. I forgive you.” The Lycan King said in a controlled voice. “You can leave now.”
I looked at him straight in the eye, “I am afraid I can’t do that, your highness.”
“What in the freaking world is wrong with you Justin?” my father roared, rushing towards me. He grabbed my arm and made me stand with a sharp tug. “Have you forgotten all the etiquettes and rules?”
“It is because I remember all the rules that I can’t leave.” I snapped back, shrugging myself out of his grip. “The Lycan King’s words can’t be taken lightly.” I dropped to my knees again and looked at The King, “I failed to prove the wereheretic’s innocence in the time allotted by you. So, I will accept the consequences.”
The Lycan King’s eyes widened and a quick gasp left his lips. “There is really no need for that… You haven’t committed any crime. You were just trying to fight for what you believed was right.”
My eyebrows furrowed together in a deep frown. Why did the King sound so flustered? He was probably feeling guilty for not keeping his end of the deal.
My gaze shifted from him to my father. The anger in his eyes was replaced with something else now; fear. I had made the right decision. This was the best way to deal with my father.
“According to the deal we made, I had to prove Hera’s innocence before you executed her.” Clearing my throat, I insisted, “Since Hera is dead, it would be fair to say that I failed. I should be charged with treason and executed.”
My father dropped to his knees by my side and begged, “Justin doesn’t know what he is saying, Your Majesty. Please forgive him and let him leave.”
“I know exactly what I am saying, Your highness. I couldn’t prove Hera’s innocence. So, I am willing to accept the consequences and die.”
The court erupted in a series of hushed mumbles. Some people said that it was right to execute me. Some others argued that I shouldn’t be killed.”
A booming growl ripped through the hall, plunging it into deep silence. The Lycan King rose to his feet; his gaze landing on me with an expression I couldn’t decipher.
“Take him to the Ice Palace. Let him stay there for thirty days. If he survives, I will find another way of executing him.”
“Your highness!” My father gasped. “Please have mercy on him.” He pressed his palms against the cold floor and lowered his head further. “Please don’t kill him. He is my only son.”
“It’s okay, father.” I said, helping him sit up. “I am sure you can manage the Moonmist Pack even without me.”
“You punk! How dare you say something like that?” His scorching gaze bore through mine. “You are my only son, Justin. What will I do if something happens to you?”
I wish I couldn’t see it, but I could. He wasn’t upset because his son was going to die. He was agitated because I had crushed all his plans with a single blow. I had shattered his years of planning with a single move.
“I know you will manage,” I said in a dead voice and got to my feet. My lips curved in a weak smile as the guards grabbed my arms and led me out of the hall.
Even if this move was going to cost my life, it was worth it. Without me around, my father would have no reason to hold on to his ambitions. My mother’s existence won’t be a threat to him, even if he found out that she was alive.
“Justin! Wait a minute!” The guards were leading me out of the palace when a sweet voice sounded behind me.
My heart skipped a beat, and I spun around; the familiar strings of bond tugging at my insides. “Corel,” I uttered in a voice laced with anguish.
It had been over a month since I saw her. After what happened, I just couldn’t bring myself to meet her. I was so hurt and betrayed, but now that I looked at her beautiful face, all the anger dissipated like wisps of smoke.
My heat fluttered, and I melted under her gaze. My lips curved into a weak smile. “Corel, I am glad that you came. It is nice that I could see you once before going to the Ice Palace. I…”
She raised her palm, stopping me from saying anything further. “You don’t have to pretend anymore, Justin. I know what is in your heart. You care only about that bitch.”
My heart ached at the coldness in her voice. I did care for Hera, but I had feelings for Corel too. Drawing in a deep breath, I tried to explain, “That is not true…. I love you. I love you even after….”
“Stop fooling yourself, Justin. You are totally obsessed with that wereheretic. She dominates your thoughts, your dreams.” Her expression hardened and something sinister flashed in her eyes. “I don’t want to burden you with this unwanted relationship anymore.”
She stepped forward and placed her hand on my shoulder. Looking into my eyes, she stated in a bland voice, “I, Corel Ralph, the daughter of Draco Ralph, reject you as my mate.”
A gasp left my lips as the anguish from the broken bond seared through me. Gripping the fabric of my shirt closed to my chest, I gulped, “Why did you have to do this, Corel? I… I was going to die, anyway. Couldn’t you have just let me hold on to this last shred of affection? It would have made staying in the Ice Palace bearable.”
She snorted and shook her head. “That is enough, Justin. I really have no patience to deal with your drama. So, please just accept my rejection and set me free.”
A laboured breath escaped my lips, scalding my throat along its way. My teeth dug into my lower lip as I struggled to gather my emotions. I knew that Corel never loved me. It is just that… A pained sigh left my lips.
“I, Justin Hemming, the son of Hades Hemming, accept your rejection. May the Moon Goddess bless you with a happy and wholesome life.”
“I will get going, I guess….”
“Corel!” I called out as she spun around to leave. “Will you come and meet me once before I am executed?” When she didn’t reply, I added, “Please, just once.”
“Stop it already, Justin.” She snapped without even looking at me. “There is nothing between us.”
Her words carved into my heart as she strutted away without as much as a second glance. That is what you get when your trust is misplaced.
How I wished I had investigated more about Hera before telling the Lycan King about Dreki? She would be still alive…