Chapter 109

Theodore

"Coward," I snarled, though the sound of my voice seemed to echo through the hall.

The room erupted into whispers, scandalized and disgusted at Rylan's words. Even those who had backed Rylan seemed to recoil.

Violet’s voice cut through the noise, cool and sharp. “You disgrace yourself more with every word.”

The High Priest narrowed his eyes at Rylan, his aura flaring with divine energy. The air grew heavy, thick with unseen power.

“You brought this accusation in public. You have been challenged,” he said, voice ringing through the grand hall. “You do not get to turn away now.”

With a flick of his wrist, the High Priest called forth magic that locked Rylan in place. He stiffened, his limbs frozen, his mouth parting in panic. A silver glow pulsed around him, holding him prisoner in his own skin.

“I will grant you one last chance,” the High Priest decreed. “Withdraw your words. Confess your lie, and you will walk away with your life.”

Rylan’s face twisted with prideful fury. His gaze darted around the room, landing on Owen, then shifting to the men who had once stood at his side. But there was no salvation in their faces—only horror and distance, as if they already knew what was coming.

His lips curled into a sneer. “He will take responsibility for---”

A flash of blinding white light erupted from above, striking Rylan down in an instant. The force sent people stumbling back, hands thrown up to shield their eyes. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as the scent of burning filled the air.

I had expected a challenge, a fight, something—but not this.

His wolf screamed.

A ghostly silver form was yanked from Rylan’s body, thrashing and howling as it was torn from its host. The spirit of his wolf—his very soul—was ripped away, vanishing into nothingness. His body thrashed. He screamed and clutched at the air. Fear twisted his features. Then, the form was gone as was the light.

He fell silent. Still. Then collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut. His body hit the polished ballroom floor with a dull, lifeless thud and didn't move.

Dead.

Silence followed.

Terror pulsed in the air.

The judgment of the Moon Goddess had fallen. Violet stood rigid beside me. I could feel her awe. I felt it too and the strange pulsing warm around me as if the Goddess had embraced me for just a moment. I felt he presence slip away from me. Then, there was a haze of light swirling around Violet. My pulse hammered in my ears. Did she feel it? She had to. Our bond trembled and rippled, warmed and practically glowed in my chest.

Across the room, Owen swayed on his feet, his face ashen. He looked as though he might vomit right there in front of everyone. His hands clenched into fists, but I could see the way they trembled and the fear on his face.

The weight of divine justice had landed like a hammer, and we all felt the aftershocks. It would probably be all over the news by tomorrow.

Blessed by the Goddess, indeed…

The girl collapsed to her knees, her shoulders shaking as sobs wracked her small frame.

“It wasn’t him,” she choked out. “It wasn’t Alpha Theodore… it was one of my father’s friends.” Her hands covered her face, her voice thick with desperation. “He—he made me do this. My father made me. P-Please… Please don't…”

A horrified murmur swept through the crowd. The room shifted, people stepping away as though the weight of her words could taint them.

From the corner of the ballroom, a man let out a sharp, furious noise. “You lying little whore!”

Heads turned as a burly, red-faced man—one of Rylan’s closest allies—stepped forward, livid.

It was… pathetic, really that he'd stepped forward without even being named. I didn't know if that made him the most inept criminal or too terrified to stick to his scheme.

“You dare accuse me?” he spat. “After everything your father did to cover for you, you ungrateful brat?”

The High Priest’s gaze settled on him with cold finality. “Would you like the Goddess to judge you as well?” he asked, voice like a blade. "As it's clear that you have no interest in taking responsibility for your actions and the Goddess does not look kindly upon those who would abuse the weak and vulnerable."

The man paled, his bravado flickering as he glanced at Rylan’s lifeless body. A second later, his instincts kicked in—he lunged for the girl, grabbing her by the arm, trying to drag her away.

“Enough.”

The glint of steel flashed in the dim light.

Violet stood in his path, the point of her dagger pressed firmly against his throat. Her eyes burned with fury, lips curled in disgust.

“Let her go, or I will slit you from navel to nose.”

The man froze, his breathing ragged. A single bead of blood welled up beneath the blade’s edge. He might have had some training, but he wasn't foolish enough to challenge Violet.

Violet shifted her glare toward Owen, who had yet to say a word. “Are you going to change the laws for him too?” she asked, her voice cutting through the tense silence. “Or will you force the temple to do your job again? She can't be older than fifteen and he's old enough to be her father. I don't think I have to explain to you what that means. At minimum, he should be jailed and she should be offered shelter.” She pressed the blade forward, making the single bead grow. The man let out a frightened gasp. "In the time of our founding, the alpha king would ask a noble to be his executioner."

Her eyes narrowed, glinting with light. "I volunteer."

Owen’s jaw clenched, his face dark with barely contained fury. He lifted a hand, signaling for the guards.

“Take him away,” he snapped. "There will be no bloodshed under my rule."

The man was seized by the guards, sagging in relief, but Violet stared after him. I could feel her barely restraining herself and memorizing is face, calculating.

I almost smirked as I felt her intent.

She was going to kill him somehow some way.

The girl trembled, covering her face and sobbing, a woman stepped forward—her face was sharp, her eyes filled with something that looked like concern but rang false.

“I’ll take her in,” she said smoothly. “She’ll be safe in my home.”

The girl’s reaction was immediate. She recoiled, shaking her head wildly, terror in her eyes. Violet turned her dagger on the woman. The band on her brow blazing like the light in her eyes. That same light that had gathered over Rylan was starting to gather over the woman's head. She went pale, looking as if she would run screaming or faint.

“You belong in the ground with your husband,” Violet said, her voice echoing through the air, amplified by the magic of the hall.

I bit my lip as the sound of it, the feel of it washed over me like a burning hot, full body caress.

Violet

"If the child is--" I reached of one of my hairpins, ready to throw it at the woman's feet, ready to challenge her, or maybe Owen. Maybe both, but the High Priest caught my hand before either of them had really seemed to understand my intention.

He smiled at me. "You have already followed in your mother's footsteps quite enough for one night."

He took the hairpin from my hand and placed it back in my hair gently.

"According to the temple's laws, she is a vulnerable party, victimized by bother the territory of her birth and the territory of the man who has wronged her. His wife is not an eligible candidate." He turned. "According to that law, it is customary that a noble family open their home to her."

"She'll come with me," I said, not even giving anyone a chance to speak, not that any of them would challenge me on it. I turned to her. "I offer a place in Darkmoon where you can be cared for and educated, supported in your suit against your father and the father of your unborn child should you choose to keep it."

Her eyes widened. The murmur of disbelief rang through the hall, but I didn't care about it. I kneeled beside her and pulled her towards me, smoothing my hand over the girl’s trembling back. It was bare. The dress was so… revealing. Rylan had put her on display on purpose, all but whored her out.

Without even asking, Theodore was there, dusting off his jacket and offering it to me. I wrapped it around her as she trembled.

"Let's get you somewhere I can take a look at your injuries."

Her jaw trembled, but she nodded, allowing me to get her up and lead her out of the ballroom in the deafening silence.