Chapter 257

Charles

During the chaos, I had the Greenvalley Elder arrested along with Devin. The rest of his family had been brought to the dungeons soon after. The man had the nerve to pretend as if he didn't know why I was so pissed off with him. Fury simmered beneath the surface as I watched the Greenvalley family huddled in the corner of the holding cell.

The Elder looked back at me with an arrogance that reminded me of my uncle, but everything would be coming to light soon.

Amy hadn't been the only young woman made a breeder in a clan, and I was going to expose every single one of them, and it wouldn't be hard.

I looked over the group then turned back to the Enforcers near by.

"Interrogate them all under truth cuffs. I want to know how many of them are above the board, where the other breeders are, and how far this goes."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

I walked away, setting my jaw. As I passed Devin's cell, finding him still unconscious, I couldn't help but laugh. Amy had surprised us all with that, been braver than most could have been or would have been...

Braver than me in some ways.

I had amply opportunity and a mountain of evidence against Tessa, millions of reasons to reject her long before meeting Grace, but I couldn't do it.

I reached my office, poured myself a glass of whiskey and sipped.

I'd let Devin sleep off his rejection, pump him with enough stamina potion to attend Cecil's birthday party, and throw him back in his cell. The thought of disappointing her ached when it was such a simple fix.

Luckily, he had until tomorrow to pull himself together.

"Your Majesty?" I looked up at the attendant entering the room. "The twins are here."

I got to my feet and followed her down the hallway to the birthing room. Amy was asleep, a ripple of healing magic washed over her. The twins were in bassinets. Grace stood over them, looking down with an expression I couldn't name.

"I hate it," she said softly.

I approached her and peered down, smiling at the two little bundles, each of them wrapped into a royal color: gold for a princess and red for a prince.

"I hate that... That she had to do that and risk putting her kids in jeopardy."

"She didn't have to," I said. "And... I don't think Amy would have risked it."

"You said a rejection would weaken you."

"It would, most likely," I said. "But my bond with Tessa is much older than Amy's bond with Devin, and they were much closer in power. What little power transferred between them was... probably neglible in the long wrong, andit was Devin who suffered."

"What does that mean?"

I sighed, leaning on the crib. "A rejection is an invocation of judgment by the Goddess, a spell. You don't know how she'll rule."

Whether she'd grant the separation or not, whether she'd take your power or give you more--no one really knew. The way to speak to the Goddess directly had been lost centuries ago.

"Will he be alright?"

"He'll live."

"I meant for Cecil's birthday."

I snorted. "If I have anything to say about it."

The next morning dawned bright and crisp, a stark contrast to the turmoil of the previous day. The castle bustled with activity. The staff had already decorated the main hall and set up the large courtyard for games. Grace had done the honors of fixing Cecil's little tiara on her head with pins for the raider games that would be played later.

Laughter echoed through the halls as children arrived with their parents, bearing gifts and well wishes for the birthday girl. Cecil hugged a lot of people she recognized from the fair and greeted a lot more.

I could tell that Grace was a little on edge, but she relaxed as the parents engaged her in conversation.

Lunch was a loud affair. It reminded me of when I was a kid and having a birthday. The colossal cake shaped like a fairytale castle took center stage and Cecil had lopped off the highest tower for herself.

"Can she really eat that much cake?"

I chuckled and offered her a slice. "Lycan cake isn't as sweet."

She tried and wrinkled her nose. "Doesn't taste much like cake."

I laughed. "Trust me, to her it's plenty sweet."

After lunched, we headed outside to play raiders.

"Mommy, Uncle Charles, you'll be on my team, won't you?"

I grinned at her. "My sword is yours princess."

Other parents joined in and the courtyard erupted with shrieks of laughter and mock battle cries.

Grace looked happier than I'd ever seen her as we charged into enemy territory at Cecil's lead. I couldn't help but grin, my heart swelling with a fierce love for this remarkable woman and the family we would have together. Amy and the twins observed with an amused smile from the shadow of the terrace with a few older caretakers. She was coddled by the elders in my family, all those who had known Devin's parents and Devin as he grew up.

I could see how at peace she was, especially since the entire Greenvalley family was absent.

It seemed like we played for hours before it was time to head in for a nap. The dinner feast would happen in a few hours, and that's when Cecil would get her dance with her father.

In the quiet, Tessa's father approached me with my uncle, both of them looked like they'd come to start shit. I kept directing the staff on the decorations of the main hall for the dinner and braced myself for the worst.

"Charles," my uncle began, his voice hesitant, "that was quite a party. Cecil seems like a delightful child."

"She is," I agreed, a smile gracing my lips. "And a handful, but only in the best way."

"Indeed... a shame she isn't really yours." I narrowed my eyes. He glanced at Amy. "Speaking of children… given that their mother--"

"Don't even think about finishing that statement. Amy's rejection of Devin is based on the ground of his deceit. She was judged in the right, and for all of Devin's wrongs, I don't make it a habit to punish victims. Amy and her children are in my care."

"But they are not heirs," my uncle said. "You have no heirs."

I glanced at Tessa's father. "You bring this up for a reason."

"My daughter," Tessa's father started. "Don't think I don't know. My daughter tells me everything. I know you have her locked away on some charge. How long do you expect the Elders to stand by and watch you not produce an heir for the throne? A real heir?"

I met his gaze coldly. "And are you really going to let some omega shame your adopted son that way? He's the closest thing you have to an heir."

"But he is not an heir," I said. "He is not a Blackwoods, not even in name any longer. His trial will proceed because the law demands that he pay for what he's done... Him and your daughter. Neither will get mercy simply because they have a connection to me."

Her father paled slightly, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features. My uncle nodded, his expression unreadable.

"You expect to try Tessa?" My uncle asked.

"Yes," I said. "And based on the evidence I have it does not look good for your daughter. I would suggest you focus on building her some form of defense."

"But she is--"

"I have been lenient," I said slowly. "Merciful... Patient with more people than I should be over the course of my life." I narrowed my eyes at him. "I do not plan to continue on that path."

"How long are you going to keep her locked up?" Her father asked.

I smiled at him. "Until I feel like she can stand in court and face her charges realistically or with some humility."

I turned from them.

"You can't do this," he hissed. "She is a lady of the clans! She deserves to be treated with proper respect."

"She's a traitor," I said and looked over my shoulder. "And if you'd like me to continue showing as much leniency as I have towards traitors, you will let it go..."

He narrowed his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"

"Ryon is safe and sound." His eyes bulged. "Do with that information what you will."

I walked away from them to finish making arrangements for the festivities. Then, I went upstairs to find Cecil and Grace cuddled together in Cecil's suite. I smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed. Cecil's face was smeared with cake, and a contented smile graced her lips. In the quiet moment, I took a deep breath and hoped that I was doing the right thing.

After Devin, would be Tessa, then... the Elders would have to answer for their actions as a whole. It was going to be ugly one way or another.