Chapter 320: _Might Prove Useful
Lucian’s POV
*****
"Lucian?" Elian almost instantly noticed the shift in his mood, tapping his palm quietly. "What’s wrong?"
The Alpha Prince’s jaw tightened, grip on Elian’s hand subconsciously loosening.
Estella Thorne.
She was dressed in a black gown sparkling with silver moonstones. Her blonde hair was tied in a stylish ponytail, hazel eyes scanning the crowd as she walked in slowly.
"Look," Lucian mumbled at Elian, voice clipped. "At the far end of the—"
"Wait," Elian’s eyes already followed his gaze. "Is... Is that Estella?" He could barely keep it together, tone laced with dread. "Fuck. I thought the Council of Fangs had her under custody? W–Why is she here?"
The council of fangs.
As if on cue, Lucian soon spotted two older people moving behind Estella.
Gamma Drax and Delta Reina.
Both flanked either side of Estella from behind, faces stern and gazes glued on her.
Like that was enough to contain that psycho.
Flicking his eyes to the spiritual leaders saying chants around his father’s coffin, Lucian came to a decision.
He’ll keep things cool.
For now.
Reina and Drax must have good reasons for releasing her. Or—
"I... I guess we have no reason to keep her locked up anymore." Elian murmured what Lucian could only term the unthinkable.
His eyes narrowed, neck whipping to Elian. "Huh? Elian, is that you in there, or is your system capable of possession now?"
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"That you more than anyone should know how dangerous that girl is," Lucian leaned closer, careful not to keep his voice raised.
Meanwhile, Estella had taken a seat, adjusting her gown. Her expression seemed solemn now, eyes lowered almost in shame. As if she knew he had his focus on her.
"She was manipulated too, Lucian." A rare hint of empathy tinted Elian’s voice. "Her ’brother’ was killed years ago and had his body taken over by Garrick. She wasn’t even aware of any of it and got tricked into thinking her parents were still alive."
"Is any of this supposed to make me feel sorry?" Lucian nearly laughed. "Because it’s not working."
Elian leaned back, puckering his lips. "Since when were you this... Critical?"
"Since the bitch kidnapped you and Aurora and tried using you as leverage to make me marry her." Lucian didn’t stutter. "I get Garrick fucked her up, but she grew up knowing her brother was one of the good guys. She literally affiliated herself with the Dark Hand."
"Seraphyne and your father were affiliated with them too." Elian shrugged. "Well, this back and forth is getting long. Let’s just wait till the ceremony’s over before doing anything... Hasty."
The Alpha Prince kept silent, drumming his fingers on the armrests. Around the hall, the lights dimmed as the spiritual leaders finally got to the end of their chants.
"By the blessings of the goddess," Elder Gauis stepped forward, hands raised over the levitating coffin.
Instantly, everyone rose to their feet, including Lucian, Elian and the rest of them on stage.
Silence stretched in the hall like a shroud.
Every head bowed.
Lucian felt a knot in his stomach anytime anyone mentioned the ’goddess’. Not only because she’s dead. But because the person he loves was one of the only pieces of her left.
And yet lived in rejection, ostracization and unbearable pains most of his life.
Pain that he helped inflict.
Clenching his fists, Lucian kicked those thoughts aside. He reached out to Elian, grabbing his hand and squeezing tight. The latter stiffened with surprise at first but soon squeezed back, glancing with a smile while keeping his head lowered.
"I commit the soul of our ruler, Alpha King Arian Stormborn to the silver light of your presence." Elder Gaius continued solemnly. "And may his son, Alpha Prince Lucian Stormborn, take his place to become an even better ruler for this great empire."
Lucian and everyone else raised their heads at that point. The lights brightened up as the crowd broke into applause and cheers. Some cried. Others hugged themselves, whispering how ’great’ Arian was and how they’ll miss him.
None of it phased Lucian.
His eyes trailed to Estella again. However, he froze when he noticed she had her gaze locked on him.
No cruel smile. No glint in her hazel orbs that made it seem she was ready for mischief. Just... Exhaustion. Apathy he’s never seen in her.
For the briefest moment, as the spiritual leaders carried the coffin off the stage, heading to the royal burial grounds—Lucian’s heart softened.
Maybe Elian was right. Maybe Axel’s sister had a change of heart and genuinely just wanted peace after everything she’s discovered.
Yet it was just that. A ’maybe’.
"I guess there’s only one way to find out..." Lucian muttered to himself, tearing his gaze away from her when she didn’t stop staring.
.
.
The ceremony dissolved slowly after that.
Not all at once—never all at once with Lunaria.
Conversations stayed hushed, grief still clinging to the air, but the political weight had already begun to lift. The grand hall felt... thinner. Emptier. Like a lung after a long-held breath finally released.
Lucian remained standing for a while, gaze fixed on the doors through which his father’s coffin had been taken.
Only when the last echo of footsteps faded did he straighten fully.
"Now," he said quietly.
Elian didn’t need clarification. He was already on his feet, silver-streaked hair catching the lantern light as he followed Lucian down from the dais. Their fingers brushed—then intertwined with intent this time, not comfort.
Estella still hadn’t moved.
She stood near one of the marble pillars now, posture composed, hands folded neatly before her as if she were a guest waiting to be dismissed. Gamma Drax and Delta Reina lingered several steps behind her, their presence unmistakable.
Lucian stopped a few feet away.
"So," he said coolly. "Care to explain why a convicted conspirator is strolling freely through my father’s funeral?"
Reina’s gaze sharpened instantly. Drax sighed through his nose like he’d expected this.
"She’s been released temporarily," Reina replied. "Under council supervision."
Lucian let out a short, humourless laugh. "That’s not an answer."
"She might prove useful," Drax added. "In matters concerning the Dark Hand. And... other threats."
Now that was vague. Deliberately so.
Lucian felt something dark stir beneath his ribs.
Celestial sovereign authority rose instinctively, a low pressure building in the air. Not visible. But present enough that Drax’s shoulders stiffened and Reina’s fingers twitched near the hilt of her ceremonial blade.
He could compel them.
The thought slid in uninvited.
One word, layered with command, and they’d tell him everything they knew. About Estella. About whatever they were hiding behind that carefully neutral phrasing.
His jaw tightened.
Then—
"What the hell is she doing out of a prison cell?!" Aurora’s voice rang across the hall like a cracked bell.
Lucian turned sharply.
His sister stood at the edge of the aisle, silver gown pooling around her feet, Seraphyne a step behind her with a hand half-raised as if she’d tried—and failed—to stop her.
Aurora’s eyes burned, locked squarely on Estella.
Estella turned.
And to Lucian’s surprise—she bowed her head.
"Aurora," she said quietly. No mockery or venom. "I’m... sorry."
The word landed... wrong.
"I’m sorry for what I did to you. To both of you." Her gaze flicked briefly to Elian. "I won’t pretend I wasn’t complicit. But I was angry. Maybe delusional. And I let myself be led."
Aurora laughed. A sharp, brittle sound.
"Led?" she snapped. "You kidnapped me. You and Magnus. You dragged me across the city, locked me in a facility, and almost ruined my life."
Seraphyne’s jaw clenched at the name.
Estella flinched—but didn’t look away.
"Magnus was far worse than me," she said, voice steady. "You don’t know half of what he was planning. Assassination attempts. Coup alignments. Lucian was next on his list."
Lucian stilled.
"What?" Elian breathed.
"I tried to stop him," Estella continued. "Too late. And badly. I won’t ask for forgiveness. But don’t lump me with him."
Aurora’s fists trembled at her sides.
"You still chose the Dark Hand," she said. "You still chose power."
"I chose revenge," Estella replied. "And it cost me everything."
Silence fell thick and uncomfortable.
From the corner of his vision, Lucian saw Elowen, Sylas, and Seraphyne watching from a distance. None of them intervened. This wasn’t their fight.
Lucian exhaled slowly.
"This conversation isn’t over," he said to Estella. "But it ends tonight."
He turned to Reina and Drax. "You said she would prove ’useful’. Explain."
Reina hesitated. Drax looked away.
Lucian felt it then—certainty like ice in his veins.
"You know about the wards," he said flatly. "Don’t you?"
Both council members froze.
"The palace wards have been compromised," Reina admitted after a beat. "We don’t know how. Or by whom. But the system has been... altered."
Lucian’s blood went cold
Before he could speak—
Footsteps echoed sharply behind them.
Heavy ones.
Four figures approached in unison, obsidian robes marking them unmistakably.
The Eastern Wolves Council.
Elder Mateo stepped forward, eyes keen and calculating.
"Compromised wards?" he repeated calmly. "Did I hear that correctly, Alpha Prince?"
The hall seemed to hold its breath again.
Mateo’s gaze swept Lucian, Elian, the council of fangs—then Estella.
"Care to explain," he said, voice sharp as drawn steel, "why this information is only coming to light now?"
Shit.
