CHAPTER 267: _WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS GOING ON?

Lucian’s POV

*****

"I’m not hidden." As soon as that ancient voice echoed through the Arcadian courtyard, Lucian frowned.

All heads swerved to the direction the voice came from—except his. He hesitated.

Just a second ago he’d been arguing with one of the Arcadian Councillors, telling her to call out their High Matron. To handle the situation in Silverpine.

Something was awfully wrong here, and the fact that these witches weren’t addressing it sickened him.

The councillor, Morwen, was stubborn, insisting the High Matron doesn’t involve herself with foreigners. Right. Yet the whole Kingdom was at war with the Dark Lands.

Who was calling the shots behind the scenes if not the kingdom’s supreme leader?

Well... It seems he’ll get answers to that question soon.

"It’s... It’s the High Matron." One of the Arcadian soldiers whispered, voice shaky in a mix of awe, fear and reverence.

Lucian watched all of them fall to their knees around him, bowing their heads on the pristine marble floor.

Meanwhile, Elian grabbed Lucian’s arm, tugging him gently. "L–Lucian. She’s... She’s actually here. Look."

Slowly, Lucian followed his mate’s gaze, squinting at the figure behind the ancient voice from earlier.

Even Councillor Morwen bowed her head, hair falling over her face.

The High Matron levitated several meters in front of the group. She was surrounded by an almost holy white light, her arms spread as if she’d come to save the world or something.

Her robes flowed around her like clouds, the air itself freshening up.

However, Lucian’s frown only deepened when he realised he couldn’t see her face under the white hood covering it. Again... Suspicious as fuck.

"Alpha Prince Lucian." Her voice came again, soft like bell chimes. "I hear you seek an audience with me. Welcome to Arcadia. I hope your stay so far has been... Pleasant."

Pleasant? Pleasant?!

His fists clenched beside him. That had to be sarcasm.

"With all due respect your grace," he cleared his throat, stepping forward. A few soldiers peeked from their bowed states, probably gobsmacked by how he spoke to their High Matron.

They can continue bowing if they please.

"I’d like to talk to you about... Where do I even begin?" Lucian gave a dry laugh, looking away briefly. "Oh, right. Let’s start with how the Dark Hand, an organisation plaguing the continent, seems to be made up of mostly witches."

Even though he couldn’t see her face, he had a feeling her expression shifted as she spoke. "Unfortunate. It seems this Dark Hand has gotten their claws—"

"Seems?" Lucian repeated the word with disgust. "I’m sorry, aren’t you supposed to be the most powerful being on the continent right now? I’ve heard rumours."

The air suddenly felt chilly. His hair stood on end, silence running deep in the courtyard. No one flinched. No one dared breathe too loudly.

Even he couldn’t help tensing up.

Did he push too far?

"One would expect your tone to be more diplomatic, Lucian Stormborn." The High Matron descended, arms slowly clasping in front of her chest.

Her voice lost its previous warmth, now colder than an aeon-old glacier.

Lucian nearly shrank. Nearly.

He’ll be damned before backing down.

"My point is..." He started again, ignoring the heightened beating of his heart. "If you, the High Matron. The most powerful being on the continent—"

"Debatable." She muttered. "But do go on."

Air left his lips in a strained huff. "If even you aren’t aware of what’s going on in your Kingdom. Of how deeply this corruption has infiltrated our leadership... Doesn’t that bother you?"

Those words weren’t meant for her alone.

As he spoke, he took note of Councillor Morwen. The witch still had her head bowed, but her eyes were visible. And now they held doubt.

Faint. Yet still present. And growing.

"Arcadia currently has all its focus on reclaiming the Dark Lands." The High Matron blurted calmly. "It’s normal that we don’t have much focus on this Dark Hand organisation."

Each word that came out of her mouth shot his anger through the roof.

How can she be so calm about any of this?!

It seemed she noticed the change in his mood. "I believe my councillor here has told her she’ll send people to investigate the Silverpine forest properly. If truly there’s any Dark Hand involvement—"

"But there is, your grace." Surprisingly, Elian was the one who spoke up this time.

Lucian swallowed, glancing over his shoulder and giving him a look that spelt "what are you doing?"

Elian ignored him, stepping forward and standing beside Lucian. "You can ask your councillor about what we reported, ma’am. Umbra beasts attacked us while we were trying to investigate the forest."

The Alpha Prince smiled slightly before clearing his throat. "Not to mention the signs of bio augmentation magic AND unauthorised witch soldiers. Someone is calling shots from the shadows. Under YOUR nose."

He noticed the low flare of the light surrounding the High Matron. Just a bit but enough to make him take a subconscious step back.

"You question my authority." She sounded more amused than angry, although even that was laced with venom. "This organisation. The Dark Hand. Didn’t they originate from Lunaria?"

Lucian felt like digging his claws into his scalp at this rate.

What the actual fuck was going on here?!

"You know." He laughed dryly, shaking his head. "All this while, your Councillors have hidden you from me. Claiming even my father never had an actual audience with you. Now I’m seeing you in... Person."

He paused.

Yes... Even his father hadn’t seen this mysterious woman. So how coincidental was it that she’s just shown herself to them? Now? After all this time?

"If you’re here to insult me, Alpha Prince." The High Matron gave a dismissive wave. "Well... Have at it. But I’m done with this fickle conversation. I have more pressing matters than going back and forth with your mundane—"

She was interrupted by the flickers of the runes on the walls. The lights blinked erratically. A small tremble even shook the entire structure, causing Lucian’s heart to drop to his stomach.

This whole thing was floating hundreds of meters above ground. If it collapsed for whatever reason—

"What was that?" Councillor Morwen, straightened, raising her head to the glass dome with a frown.

Lucian followed suit after giving Elian a glance, squinting at the early afternoon sky. Birds flew. Just a few. Then they multiplied, clustered together like a flock. Cawing and chirping in a panicked formation.

"Do you feel that?" Elian muttered behind him, forcing Lucian to turn around.

A dead silence stretched through the courtyard. Even the kneeling soldiers raised their heads.

No fortune teller needed to tell them something’s wrong.

"That... Magic fluctuation outside." The High Matron whispered, tone hesitant.

Then—

BOOM!

A powerful explosion sounded outside. The sky above the dome burned with red fire, causing the building to shake.

"Shit!" Lucian rushed to Elian, grabbing his arm and keeping him close. "What the fuck is going on?!"

Elian’s breathing hitched just then. Slowly, his mate brought his lips to his ear, whispering in a shaky voice:

"It’s... It’s Kyren." Came the words that made Lucian freeze. "I can feel it. The energy fluctuations through the bond. But... But it’s not just him."

Lucian’s blood chilled.

"G–Garrick." Elian rasped. "It feels like he’s fighting Garrick."