bChapter 164 /b

    ra’s POV

    I could feel my heart beating in my chest, the pulse throbbing against my ribs. Mi stood there, staring at me as if bI /bbhad /bbpped /bbher /bbin /bbthe /bface, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her hands trembled, her face shifting through a spectrum of color—first red, then bgray/b, before paling bto /bia /isickly shade.

    “She just missed one meal. It’s not a big deal,” she gritted, her voice trembling but trying to maintain some dignity.

    “And that makes it more dangerous. We can’t risk her escaping,” Lance snapped, his tone harsh, sending a chill through bthe /broomb. /bbHis /bvoice was like a whip cracking in the silence.

    “She’s just a maid, Mi,” I added, trying to calm the rising tension. “She’s closely watched by dozens of guards. There’s no bdanger /b

    “She’s a Gamma,” Lance’s words cut through the room like a de, his voice rising with fury. “I’ve seen her take down more bguards /bbthan /bbI /bcan count. Don’t underestimate her!”

    Mi’s cheeks burned crimson, and I saw the tears brimming in her eyes, her humiliation hanging in the air like a dark cloud. bI /balmost felt sorry for her. Almost.

    “Can we not do this in front of everyone?” she pleaded, her voice softening, as though she could still reim some form of control. b“/bI’m bstill /byour queen, Lance. Please, don’t make me look weak in front of the maids.”

    Lance didn’t even flinch, his eyes cold and indifferent. “A decent queen wouldn’t cause me so many problems. Maybe you should reflect bon /bthat,” he said, the finality in his voice cutting deep.

    Could feel Mi’s eyes burning into the back of my head, her jealousy practically suffocating the room. She turned, barking orders at bthe /bmaids and guards.

    “Get out. Now.”

    Everyone scrambled to obey, heads bowed in silence. As thest of them left, Lance’s voice softened as he turned to me. “Go find something for your thumb,” he said, his tone moreposed.

    I nced at Mi as I turned to leave. She was ring at me, her eyes filled with unspoken venom. The door clicked shut behind me, but b! /bdidn’t walk away. My feet moved of their own ord, pressing me against the door, straining to hear the exchange on the other side.

    “You can’t treat her like this, Mi. Not like a ve!” Lance’s voice was low, but sharp with anger.

    Mi’s voice cracked as she retaliated, “But why? Why are iyou /isuddenly so protective of her? What’s changed? Was it because you like herb? /bDo you think she’s pretty and now you feel sorry for her?”

    Lance’s response was furious, his patience wearing thin. “Stop acting like a jealous woman! What the hell is wrong with youb?/b”

    A crash rang through the air, and I could almost hear the vase shatter, the noise echoing with the force bof /bbtheir /b

    For a moment, there was silence. Then Mi’s/sobs broke the stillness. The raw, ugly sound of her grief bfilled /bbthe /bspace bbetween /bbus/b.

    Lance’s voice was strained as he spoke againi, /iirritation dripping from every word. “I’m not buying thisb. /bbra /bbmatters /bbtoo /bbmuch /bbto /bbThorne/bb. /bbI. /bstill need Thorne’s help, and keeping the woman he loves safe bis /bimportant.”

    “But you don’t get it, my King!” Mi screamed. “It was Thorne who told me to teach that bitch ba /bblesson/b! bHe’s /bbthe /bone bwho /bbepted /bbthat /bmaid you sent him! He doesn’t care about ra!”

    15335 F B Aug

    Lance sounded beyond frustrated now, his voice rising to a sharp edge. “You’re an idiot. Thome didn’t sleep with her bhe /bhazit slegs in anyone else since he got here. He said he wanted her tortured because he was jealous, but you’re missing the bpoint/b. He still kept her d what he saysb!/bb” /b

    Mi’s voice faltered, disbelief thick in her words. “Thorne… he still loves her?”

    Lance’s voice turned cold. “ra is independent, strong, fierce, and attractive. She’s everything Thorne needs. And don’t fool yourself stes way better than a pretty face who has nothing else.”

    Thatstment hit Mi like a p. I saw her face twist with anger, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. “Why bare /byou so bfond /bbof /bher?” she spat, her voice venomous. “Do you think ra’s attractive?”

    Lance didn’t hesitate. “Don’t start with me, Mi,” he warned, his tone darkening. “Just keep things civil with ra. If byou /bbdon’t /bbwant /bbher /baround, send her to the kitchen. I don’t care.”

    “I hate her,” Mi muttered, her voice low and dangerous.

    “Then suck it up,” Lance retorted. “You’re not hurting her. Period.”

    Mi’s breath hitched, and I could feel the tension in the air as she struggled to maintain control. “Why is Thorne so important to you anyway?” she hissed. “I heard a rumour… Are you really making him king? What does that make you? What about me? Am I bstill /bbthe /bbQueen/bb?/bb” /b

    The question hung in the air, heavy and threatening. And I couldn’t stop myself from wondering the same thing. What was Lance breally /bnning? Why was he protecting Thorne so fiercely?

    Lance didn’t even flinch at Mi’s words, his voice cutting through the space between us. “Stay out of bmy /bbusiness,” he said, the bfinality /bof bhis /btone making it clear that the discussion was over.

    I felt the weight of his words settle in my chest, my stomach twisting with frustration. I didn’t know if I’d ever get the answers I was seeking But I knew one thing for sure–I wouldn’t stop trying to find them.

    Before I could think any further, I knocked lightly on the door.

    “Come in!” Lance’s voice sounded almost relieved.

    I pushed the door open, and instantly, my eyes locked with Mi’s. Her face was flushed with tears, her eyes avoiding mine.

    “What do you need, ra?” Lance’s voice softened as he turned toward me.

    “If there’s nothing else, I’m going to the kitchen to have dinner and head to bed,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

    Lance nodded briskly. “Right. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be working in the kitchen. Wendy will fill you in.”

    Mi suddenly called out, her voice sharp, “My King, while ra’s still here, I want to ask about our wedding.”

    “Not this again,” Lance groaned, his eyes rolling. Go ask the wedding nners. I’ve paid them benough /bbto /bbkeep /bbme /bbout /bbof /bbthis /bmessb./bb” /b

    But Mi wasn’t backing down. “I want my parents at the wedding. They’ll want to be here bwhen /bbI’m /bbcro /b

    Queenb!/bb” /b

    I raised an eyebrow. Her parents? I hadn’t heard anything about them since I left the Direstone bPack/bb. /bbThe /bbnews /bbwas /bba surprise/bb, /bbto /bbsay /bbthe /b

    least.

    “YOUR parents?” Lance roared, his anger reaching a boiling point. “We’re at war with the Direstone Packb! /bbDo /bbyou /bhave bany /bbidea /bbhow /bbmuch /btrouble it’ll be to bring them here? No! Absolutely not!”

    “But ra can go,” Mi snapped, defiant. “She can go bto /bbthe /bDirestone Pack and bring bthem /bbhere/b. bIt’s /bbmy /bbwedding/b, Lanceb, /bI bneed /bbthem /bhe

    b??? /b

    15:35 Fri, 8 Aug

    “You’re insane!” Lance’s voice was explosive. “If she leaves, she won’te back.”

    “Not true,” Mi retorted, her voice ice cold. “I have a bomb imnted in her choker. She’lle back, I won’t do the wedding unless bmy /bparents are here!”

    Lance’s voice dropped to a dangerous calm. “Fine. I won’t be threatened. This marriage is over now.”

    I couldn’t help the small sneer that tugged at my lips. As much as I hated the idea of returning to the Direstone Pack, Lance was bright/bb. /bI wouldn’te back after that threat. But I also knew that Lance would never let me leave.

    Turning, I exited the room, leaving the two of them to continue their shouting match.

    The next day, I reported to the kitchen as Lance instructed. The head maid was ba /bchubby woman with a kind smile. She didn’t give me ba /bbhard /btime, instead handing me a basket of potatoes to peel.

    I found a quiet corner, set up a stool, and got to work. I didn’t mind working in the kitchen. It was busy, chaotic, and nobody had time to bother me. For the first time in a while, I felt a sense of peace. It gave me time to think… to n my escape.

    And then, in the middle of it all, I heard it–a soft tap on the window. My eyes shot up, but there was no one there.

    I shook my head, doubting myself, but then it came again–a crisp, clear tap. I looked up, and there, grinning through the window, was a bsh /bof ming red hair and a wide ismile/i.

    i“/iKimberly.” I gasped under my breath.