CHAPTER 126: FIRE BURNS IN THE MOONHALL

I chewed on my nails. My encounter with Damon not only riled me up but also confirmed my suspicion.

Damon knows I’m after the Queen’s position. It’s too early for him to know, and this could ruin everything.

The sound of the door grabbed my attention. Drevon walked into the room and halted his attempts to take off his jacket when he found me on the couch near the window.

"Eloise, it’s late, you should be sleeping."

"Is it?" I look at the sky, and the stars are up already. "I didn’t know."

He walked to me in a heartbeat. "Are you alright?"

"I’m fine," I replied, but it was a stupid answer because I was far from that.

Drevon sat beside me, hand snaking my waist and pulling me close. His silence was enough to tell that he wasn’t convinced about my reply.

"What if your brother finds out about our plan? Doesn’t that put everything in jeopardy?"

Drevon tipped his head, staring in space briefly. "I want him to find out."

I froze. "What do you mean?"

"It doesn’t matter if I merge the court quietly. Word will fly. As you know, the castle whispers and the wind carries them strongly."

I gulped. "B-But that will give him time to try to stop it! He could have alerted his court, and they are thinking of some kind of action to take."

"Yes," Drevon nodded. "Any action he’ll take will be treason."

"Oh..."

How come I never thought of that? Osha once told me how merging courts was a traditional thing, especially between the Royal Couple. Damon might be the crown prince, but any action against it would be an insult to tradition.

"You needn’t worry yourself, my little wife. I already thought this through. For now, it’s only mostly under the guise that I’m simply merging the court with no motive at all."

This was a smart move. Then why did Damon make such a declaration? He should know any attempts to stop this progression will welcome Drevon’s wrath, so why was he so sure of himself when he said those words to me?

"Eloise?"

I knew such confidence; he had something up his sleeve, but what could it be?

I felt my cheek being pulled. It snapped me out of it.

Drevon’s hand moved to my chin, and he brushed his lips against the side of my face. "Thinking far ahead, little wife. That’s a good move, but doing that to completely ignore my presence wounds me."

I shivered, my hand clenching my robe.

"I-I just don’t want us to be one step behind. Even though our court merging is the only focus, we shouldn’t forget assumptions will come, especially from the Dowager and Sloane, and—ow!" I flinched when I felt Drevon’s teeth nibble my neck.

I placed my hand on his shoulder as an attempt to push him off, but I felt him smile.

"I thought of that, too. But Mother didn’t believe you’d have your court and that I’d try to merge with yours. This will definitely be a shock for her. That will teach her not to underestimate my little wife."

His lips moved from my jaw, and with ease, they caressed my lips. What started as a tender smooch turned into a feral lock.

Drevon groaned as he deepened the kiss, forcing his tongue into my mouth like a starved man. Just those few seconds of passion, and I was already melting like a puddle.

"Is it cheat day?" He asked with desperation, taking my lips once again.

I almost answered, but a sudden knock came from the door.

"My liege, Your Grace!"

Drevon growled deeply as he retreated his lips, but still kept me close. "Come in!"

My cheeks burned as the door opened and Garrick rushed in.

I thought I’d be the center of attention since I couldn’t stay composed as Drevon did, but Garrick’s erratic eyes told me that was the least of the situation.

"What is it?" Drevon asked, sensing his distress.

"The fire burns in the Moonhall."

Moonhall?

"What’s that?" I asked, being the only one who didn’t understand.

"The Fates are coming."

~•~

The Moonhall was a dwelling built for the Fates. There was a torch that never burned but only when they announced their coming. From what I’ve heard, it hasn’t burned for years, so the sudden fire has caused unrest in the empire.

I paced the room. Drevon has been on edge ever since the news of the Fates. Now he was currently speeding up the process of the merge; it’d be finalized today.

I wish I could be there, but there was something else I needed to take care of. A knock echoed through the room.

"Come in!"

It opened as Osha and Ravyn stepped in.

"Princess," Ravyn gave a bow.

"You heard, didn’t you?"

"Kind of hard to miss with the entire castle on edge. It’s been years since the fire burned in the Moonhall. The Fates are coming."

She said it as if it were something menacing. It only got me more nervous.

"I wonder why they are coming; the last time they did was because of the induction of a new monarch."

I gulped. "I think I might have a guess."

They turned to me.

"I think they are here for the Queen position."

Ravyn huffed. "The Fates are not matchmakers."

"Then why else would they suddenly announce their coming?"

They didn’t say anything, reading the meaning into my words.

"But that has never happened before," Ravyn assured me. "They could be coming for other reasons, too."

I hoped so. But why was I so scared? Well, I know... I was terrified about Sloane being destined to be Drevon’s mate and Queen. What if the Fates are coming to solidify that claim?

"Ravyn," I said her name, and she understood what I meant.

"Sloane has been visiting the Dowager more frequently, ever since she made it back to the castle grounds."

They are plotting something, alright.

"Your Grace," A knight said at the door. "Lady Sloane requests an audience."

Speak of the devil.