CHAPTER 86: _BEING INFILTRATED

Lucian’s POV

*****

"Aurora." He breathed out with relief when he saw his sister walk in, placing his hand on his chest.

But then he paused when he saw the glint of suspicion in her eyes as she looked between him and Elian. It only took her two sniffs for her lips to curve slightly.

"Well... I guess the tens of bedrooms in this palace aren’t enough for alone time." She muttered, shaking her head. "What are you doing in grandpa’s old study room, Douche?"

Elian snorted beside Lucian but Aurora turned her gaze to him. "You too. I’m guessing he put you up to whatever this is but—"

"Aurora, we don’t have time for this!" Lucian snapped, raising a hand and ignoring her stunned expression. "The palace is being infiltrated."

Aurora blinked before glancing out of the room door. Then she stepped in, closing the door behind her.

"What the heck do you mean infiltrated?" She asked, arching an eyebrow and folding her arms in front of her chest. "Should we tell Dad? How bad is it?"

Lucian shook his head. "We can’t tell Dad yet."

Her frown deepened. There was that look of suspicion in her eyes again.

"If we can’t tell him then at least, fill me in with the details." She remarked, tapping her fingers on her collarbone. "You can’t just tell me something this serious without details. Should I be worried?"

Lucian parted his lips but didn’t know where to begin. How does he tell his sister that her mate was a traitor and his crazy ex-situationship was working with him?

Aurora was calm but he’s seen her when she’s angry... It’s not a pretty sight.

"Aurora," Elian suddenly stepped forward, glancing at Lucian briefly. "We’ll fill you in as soon as we go check if one of the head palace guards is—"

"The only priority now is getting you somewhere safe." Lucian interrupted, swerving his head to him. "You wandering around the palace is stupidity at its finest."

Elian snorted with sarcasm. "Right. And the two of us fucking like there’s no tomorrow here while your Psycho ex is out there doing goddess knows what isn’t?"

Lucian’s nostrils flared as he turned to face him fully. "I already told you the real reason why I dragged you in here. I got carried away. Besides, you—"

"Can you two handle this couple’s counselling session some other time?!" Aurora yelled out, forcing them to turn their attention back to her.

Oh, right...

"You two are pointless." She sighed, clutching a necklace with a blue gemstone around her neck. "I’ll contact Magnus and ask him to make a confirmation with the palace guards on—"

"You can not..." Lucian stepped forward, grabbing her wrist before she could connect the call. She gasped, glaring at him but he continued. "... You can’t call him."

There was a long and agitatingly awkward silence after that, Lucian slowly withdrawing his hand from her.

Aurora furrowed her eyebrows, staring at his face like she was trying to read him.

Soon, realisation flickered in her silver eyes and she shook her head, taking a single step back.

"Is... Is Magnus involved in this in any way?"

Lucian’s body tensed up but he knew he couldn’t hide the truth from her.

"We have reasons to believe that he is." He said with a solemn tone, staring at her with pity. "And so is Estella. We don’t know how deep the whole thing goes but..."

He paused when he saw the horror on her face. She looked like she’d been stabbed, and had the knife twisted on her stomach all at once.

Despite their differences, he loved his sister. Seeing her looking so devastated and knowing some bastard who was equally out to get his mate was behind it made his eyes flare with anger.

However, just when he was about to say something, Aurora spoke up with pure disbelief.

"It can’t be. This can’t be true." Her chest heaved heavily and when Lucian tried approaching her again, she swatted his hand away.

Elian coughed awkwardly just then. "Uh, sorry, Aurora, but there’s still a part of my life being in danger. I can’t stay here forever."

Lucian glanced back at him with a glare but he raised his hands in mock defeat. "Just saying..."

Suddenly, Aurora let out a heavy sigh, making Lucian bring his gaze back to her. This time, there was resolve in her eyes as she gazed into Lucian’s.

"Fine." She said simply, parting aside strands of her silver hair. "If you’re going out there to bust my mate or whatever, I’m coming with you to see it with my own eyes."

Lucian’s expression turned into a frown as he shook his head. "No."

But Aurora was unrelenting. "What the heck do you mean by ’no’? You expect me to just sit back and let you drag my mate’s name in the mud without seeing for myself?"

Lucian shook his head. "Aurora, this isn’t some game to tag along in. I can barely ensure Elian’s and my safety with everything that has happened within the last few minutes."

Elian blurted just then. "Wait, what?"

"Of course." Aurora scoffed, her usual sass finally coming back. "You can’t be trusted with safety when you can barely control yourself enough to keep it in your pants."

Elian barely held back a laugh but looked away when Lucian tried glancing over his shoulder.

Lucian knew any further arguments with his sister would only delay things more than they already were.

So he decided to let it slide and forced a smile. "Very well. You can... Tag along."

Aurora nodded, tapping his right cheek before turning around to the door and leading the way, her ice blue gown flowing behind her.

Elian followed next, walking past Lucian with a wink.

The latter soon followed after drawing in a deep breath, but when three of them walked out of the room and were about to bend a corner down the hallway, Lucian felt something off.

His eyes narrowed when he heard the sound of several footsteps drumming toward their direction. It appeared to be a small group of guards.

From the stern expressions on their faces, he knew it wasn’t going to be good.

After one last glance at Elian, Lucian cleared his throat, raising his chin at the incoming guards. "Gentlemen. I—"

"Alpha Prince Lucian." One of the guards who led the rest said with a sharp voice. "By the order of the Alpha King, you’re under arrest for having possession of destroyed magic surveillance charms."

Lucian’s heart dropped to his stomach, his mind reeling.

The heck?