Page 17 of A Reign of Malice (Wolves of Lunara #3)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SLOANE

T he return to my body is jarring, like being ripped through space and slammed back to Lunara.

My eyes snap open, breath rushing into my lungs as if I’d been close to drowning and only just broke the surface.

My limbs are cold, my fingers tingling as sensation comes back in a slow, almost painful wave.

I lurch forward, bracing myself against the wall, my pulse hammering as I try to ground myself. My body feels like it doesn’t quite belong to me yet, as if part of me is still down there, in the dark with him.

Julian.

His name lingers in my mind, foreign and yet familiar.

Even my wolf’s presence feels warmer just thinking of him, stirring with something dangerously close to longing.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to process everything he’s told me.

Aeson’s brother. The rightful King of Venaris.

A man who was betrayed, cursed, and locked away in the depths of this castle, forced to endure centuries of torment while the world thought him dead.

And if he’s to be believed, Aeson killed his own mate not only to paint Julian as the monster, but so he could keep his secrets and have the throne unchallenged.

I press my palm to my forehead, exhaling sharply. Gods, I was nearly bound to him. I still might be if I’m not careful.

“Damn it,” I breathe, starting to force myself to my feet.

“Sloane!” Clara’s voice crashes through the fog in my mind, her hands gripping my shoulders before I can fully straighten. She’s shaking me lightly, her green eyes wide with barely concealed panic. “You were out for twice as long. I was beginning to think something went wrong. I thought?—”

“I’m fine,” I cut in.

She scowls, her gaze appraising every inch of me. “You don’t look fine.”

I wave her off, forcing the tremor from my hands. “I’ll be fine, then. What matters most is that I talked to him and got the answers we need. Well, most of them.”

Clara’s expression flickers between exasperation and intrigue. “And you’re sure we can trust this person? I know he’s your mate, but that doesn’t always mean something good as we’ve seen in the past.”

I don’t fault her for questioning my judgement or Julian. In fact, I appreciate that she’s going to dissect everything I’m about to tell her. Even though my gut tells me Julian should be the alpha of this pack, we need to be sure. Especially when I might start a war by trying to free him.

I go over everything with her in hushed whispers—who Julian is, what he said about how Aeson betrayed him, how he’s been trapped in that hell for centuries. I tell her about the chains that are killing his wolf, and the magic in the water meant to keep him powerless.

And most of all, I tell her about the lie.

About Aeson’s mate, Lira. About her sacrifice. About the fact that the very man I considered bonding with killed his own fated mate to protect his place as the Alpha King.

By the time I finish, Clara’s pacing the length of the hallway, her arms crossed so tightly over her chest I half expect her bones to snap.

“I knew he was bad,” she mutters under her breath, “but damn it —this is worse than I ever imagined. Killing his own mate? Trapping his brother? He didn’t just want power, he wanted to erase any threats to it. Likely still does.”

I nod, jaw clenched. “And I could be next.”

Clara stops pacing, turning to me. “So what’s our next move?”

I open my mouth to respond, but a solid thud echoes from down the corridor. Both of us freeze.

My pulse spikes.

We stayed too long.

Clara’s gaze meets mine, and without a word, we move.

She grabs the ruined shirt, stuffing it back beneath her blouse as I lift the heavy frame and position it back on the wall. My hands move quickly, my breath steady despite the tension coiling in my gut.

Once everything’s back in place, we step away, assessing our work.

It looks untouched, but the air is thick with something unseen, something pressing.

“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Clara whispers through my mind.

I don’t argue.

We slip out of the hallway, walking as fast as we can without looking suspicious, making our way back to my room without another word.

I keep my senses on high alert, but no one stops us.

There are no lingering shadows. No sudden figures stepping from the darkness. No heartbeats too close for comfort.

Still, my wolf doesn’t settle until we’re safely inside my chambers, the door locked behind us.

I exhale slowly, pressing my back against the cool wood.

“That was too close,” Clara mutters, rubbing her hands down her face.

I nod but push away from the door. “We can’t think about that now. The other royals are arriving soon, and if we’re not there to greet them, Aeson will notice.”

Clara curses but doesn’t argue. She moves to the fireplace first, pulling the ruined shirt from beneath her blouse. Without hesitation, she tosses it into the hearth then strikes a match. Flames consume the fabric in an instant, curling around the bloodstained cotton before reducing it to ash.

I stare into the fire, bile rising in my throat. Aeson’s blood wasn’t the key.

And Julian was about to tell me who might’ve set the spell before I was yanked back to my body.

I grit my teeth, forcing the frustration aside.

Later. I’ll deal with it later .

For now, we need to play the part.

As soon as the evidence is gone, we move quickly, changing into more formal attire. There are three purple gowns on the bed, and I badly want to ignore each of them, but I’m playing a game and now isn’t the time to push Aeson. Not until I’m ready.

I nod toward the middle one, and Clara helps me into the dress. It’s fitted around my chest and down to my waist, with intricate embroidery along the bodice. The full skirt is the least obnoxious of the choices and sways quietly around my feet as I walk to pick out my heels.

Clara disappears into her room for only a few minutes while I touch up my makeup. She returns in a sleek emerald gown, and I smirk. She undoubtedly chose the Alcaris color on purpose. Even though I’m not ready to openly challenge Aeson, I’m not going to stop her from doing so.

Without saying a word, she steps behind me, her fingers deft as she weaves my hair into intricate braids and pins them around my crown, leaving most of the strands to cascade down my back.

She works in silence but tension rolls off her in waves as she asks, “Are you ready for this?”

I hold her stare, my back straight. “As long as you agree I’m right to believe Julian then absolutely.”

Her mouth goes flat as she considers my words. “I’ve never liked Aeson, and now I know why. But I also don’t like that we have no one we can trust to agree with or even counter what he’s telling you. Yet…”

I hold my breath as she pauses.

“Considering he asked you to stay away and that he’s worried about your safety with Aeson and when you got too close to the water, he stopped you, so you wouldn’t be at risk of getting hurt. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but those aren’t the actions of a monster.”

My shoulders drop as the tension melts away. I thought the same thing. But I also know the mate bond can twist emotions, make things feel more certain than they are. That’s why I need Clara to help me be sure.

With her agreement that he’s not likely the monster here, freeing Julian is now the priority. After that, after we know for sure who he is, I’ll decide what we do next.

Clara and I head downstairs with only a few minutes to spare.

Or so I think until I see Aeson waiting for us .

His arms are folded over his chest, his face a mask of irritation. “You’re late.”

“I thought I was early,” I reply smoothly, staying beside Clara.

“I just sent Dasha to retrieve you.” His gaze rakes over me, a slow, assessing sweep. “They’re coming up the drive now.”

I wait for some kind of appreciation from him that I wore what he picked, but none comes.

Typical.

Instead, he strides toward the front entry, seamlessly stitching a smile onto his face before throwing open the massive double doors. His arms spread wide in welcome, his voice carrying over the courtyard even before the other royals have exited their carriages.

Gods, this is painful to watch.

“King Asher, King Theo,” he announces, completely dismissing their mates. “My friends. I’m so glad you could make it.”

The crisp evening air settles over my skin as I follow, keeping my head up. I wait at the end of the castle stairs, the weight of my crown light on my head, as Aeson greets our guests on his own.

The courtyard itself is sprawling, an expanse of polished stone framed by towering marble pillars.

The banners of Venaris hang from the highest points, their deep purple fabric rippling in the wind.

At the far end, the grand gates are closing now that the royal procession has arrived in an elegant display of power.

Their arrival is marked by sleek carriages adorned in their kingdom’s respective colors.

Isla steps out first, her blue cloak billowing as she lifts her chin, focused eyes scanning the courtyard with the confidence of an alpha queen.

Asher is beside her, dressed in grey slacks and a long-sleeve shirt that matches Isla’s cloak.

Next, Theo and Estee emerge, commanding the space around them. She’s dressed in a rich maroon gown, dark curls framing her face, and she moves like the royalty she is, ignoring Aeson as he did to her and Isla in his initial greeting.

I barely contain my smirk as she marches past him. Gods, I’ve missed her.

Before I can say a word, she’s in front of me, pulling me into a tight hug.

I tense for only a second before relaxing into it, wrapping my arms around her in return. “Estee.” My grin widens.

“We have a lot to discuss,” she whispers, holding on longer than I expect. “I’ll be in your room tonight.”

When we part, Isla quickly moves in, and there’s no time to respond. Does Estee know something I don’t? I told her enough, and while I appreciate her urgency, it sets me on edge as I hug Isla next.

The three kings walk toward us, and Theo’s gaze sweeps the courtyard before settling on me as he adjusts his charcoal tie. His lips press together. Asher follows his line of sight, but his expression is less guarded, his irritation at being here clear as day.

I lift my chin, my smile firmly in place while I play my role as queen. “Welcome to Venaris.”

Asher holds my stare for a long moment then inclines his head. “Let’s hope it’s worth the trip.”

There’s no warmth in the words, and I don’t miss the way his fingers twitch at his side, as if he’s resisting the urge to act.

I expected Estee to share what I told her with Isla, but I didn’t consider the reaction of their mates. I hope it isn’t going to ruin everything before I have the chance to free Julian.

Aeson moves next to me, sliding his hand around my waist with his usual grace. “Let’s get you all settled before dinner. I hope you’re hungry. We’ve prepared a feast.”

His chuckle falls flat, an awkward silence filling the space for a second too long before I speak up. “I’m sure they’re more tired than anything else, my king,” I purr. “Dinner will be sure to brighten everyone’s moods though. Dinner and drinks.”

“Now you’re speaking my language,” Theo rumbles. “The seas were rough, but I’m sure an hour to rest will be plenty.”

Aeson eyes me. I’m not sure if I’ve helped or not, but either way…

The game continues.