Chapter 136: The Weakest Link
"Unfortunately, Lyra found the truth. She discovered what I was. A Wanderer. That my magic was not pure. That the tricks I had taught her were dark. She found out from old books cause she studied a lot. She confronted me. She told me it was against the oath of sisterhood. Told me to leave Lycanthria, that if the circle found out, she wouldn’t be able to protect me from the consequences. I had nowhere to go. I begged. I pleaded with her. I asked her for time. To let me prove that I meant no harm. I told her I was on the run from something far more dangerous than the Circle and had to protect my child. She said it didn’t matter. The oath was the oath. She threatened to tell the circle." Her voice broke.
Aveloria’s voice was tight. "And what did you do? You killed my mother."
Eirene nodded once. "I killed her."
Silence reigned. Aveloria stood perfectly still. Fresh tears streamed down her face, but she made no sound. She did not attempt to wipe it away.
"I killed her. All I could see in that moment was the threat to my child. All I wanted was revenge for what my father did to me. If the Circle exposed me, word would spread. My father would hear. He always heard. I feared his wrath."
Aveloria’s voice came out low and shaking. "So you killed my mother. Just like that?"
"I thought if getting that revenge and protecting my child cost me a dear friend, I did not care. I told myself I did not care. And I did not feel like I had a choice."
"You had choices!" Aveloria snapped. Her voice rose sharply. "You could have walked away. You could have taken Rowena and gone somewhere else. You could have built your army far from here. You could have grown stronger, powerful enough to walk back to wherever your father is and end his miserable life yourself! You had choices. But you chose to kill my mother." She gritted.
Eirene closed her eyes. "You are right," she whispered. "You are right. I could have."
Aveloria’s chest heaved. "Why didn’t you?" she demanded.
Eirene opened her eyes slowly. "Because I was afraid. I was so scared all the time. Always anxious. And my power...it was fading. I had practiced so much dark magic over the years. When that happens, it eats at you. It drains you. I had to feed on potions to feel whole again. Seeking power doesn’t come without a cost. I was not thinking clearly. I was desperate. I told myself that once I became Queen, everything would stabilize. I would stop. I would build properly. I would protect Rowena."
Aveloria wiped at her tears roughly. "Do you feel any regret? Any at all? For killing her?"
Eirene did not hesitate this time. "Yes." The word came firmly. "Every night for years, I dreamed about that day. I see her face. I hear her voice. Not angry. Not accusing. Just disappointed. It got worse after I married Alaric. But there was no time for regret. I succeeded in becoming Queen. I bewitched Alaric enough to influence his feelings—enough to secure the marriage. I didn’t know that would be the beginning of more troubles for me. My status reached my father’s ears. He sent word. He demanded that Rowena be brought back to him. He wanted his child. And I wasn’t ready to give her up."
Aveloria frowned. "Did you secretly take armies to fight him? To get your revenge?"
Eirene shook her head. "No."
"Why?" Aveloria pressed.
"Being Queen made me cautious. All eyes were on me. Every movement I made was watched. The council monitored decisions. The generals questioned unusual orders. I could not simply declare war on Drakwyne without cause. Exposing my father would only expose me too."
Aveloria looked at her with disbelief. "So you did nothing."
"I did something. I had to be strategic. I bought Rowena’s freedom from my father in another way. I sent words to my father. I told him I would not give Rowena to him. But I promised him something else." Her voice dropped lower. "I promised him that as Queen of Lycanthria, I would strengthen our position. Together, we could eventually rule beyond our borders. I told him he would gain more through me than through forcing Rowena. It was a lie. I only wanted to deceive him, to keep him satisfied long enough to protect Rowena. He took my promise seriously. He believed it."
Aveloria raised her brows. "You were buying time."
"I thought I was buying time. I thought that if I fully secured my position, I could build power quietly. Then one day, I would turn against him."
"And did you?" Aveloria asked.
Eirene shook her head. "No. He grew impatient. He began sending threats. Subtle at first. Then direct."
Aveloria felt a cold certainty settle in her chest. "You put this realm at risk," she said.
"Yes, I did," Eirene replied without argument. "I did."
After a moment, Aveloria looked at her again.
"What is his name? Your father," she asked.
Eirene lifted her head. "Zareth, Dark Lord of Drakwyne." She replied.
Aveloria registered the name in her mind. She would find out more about him.
Eirene shifted slightly, trying to find a position that would ease her pain, but there was none.
"Once again, I found myself caught in my father’s webs. I was dying inside. So I needed stronger potions to feel whole, to function. So the coven from Drakeyne provided them. They gave me what I needed to survive. But there was a price for it."
"And what did they want in return?" Aveloria asked, though she already sensed the answer.
Eirene looked at her. "They wanted access. They wanted wanderers placed inside Lycanthria and spies within the court. And that’s how it began. I let them come into the kingdom, hid them, and disregarded their movement. At one point, I thought I had it all figured out. I could control them, monitor them, and use them as much as they used me. But I wasn’t strategic enough. The man who had made me suffer my entire life once again had me wrapped in his claws."
"You let them into my kingdom," Aveloria said, her voice flat.
"Yes. And I underestimated my father. I forgot that he always thinks ahead." She lowered her gaze.
Silence followed.
"They all know who you are. The wanderers know you are the Chosen of the Moon Goddess. When the prophecy started spreading, and people believed it was real, the wanderers started making their plans too."
Aveloria’s breathing slowed slightly, but she did not interrupt.
"They assigned me a mission. To sever one of your bonds. They feel threatened by your existence. They believed that if they could weaken the connection between you and your mates, it would lessen your chance of saving the realm. That is why I chose Marek."
Eirene paused.
"Why him?"
"He was the weak link. The easiest. He was already conflicted and insecure about his place amongst your mates. And—" She paused.
Eirene hesitated on her next words.
"And Rowena was madly in love with him. She’s never asked me for anything like that."
Aveloria’s jaw tightened.
"So I used my daughter’s feelings to get to him. I convinced myself it was temporary. I believed once the bond was weakened, I could repair the damage later. I told myself I was protecting Rowena and securing her future."
Aveloria stared at her. "So Marek was truly bewitched as his father claimed."
Eirene nodded. "Yes. His soul is likely split by now. One part remains for his true bond. The other part belongs to Rowena. That’s how the bewitchment works. It divides his soul, and he cannot be whole again until one side wins."
Aveloria took a step closer to the gate. "Marek has been missing since the bonding ceremony. Do you know where or how we can find him?"
Eirene shook her head slowly. "I do not know where he is. But I know he will be trying to find Rowena. That is what the bewitchment drives him to do. He is now what they call the Forsaken. And if the wanderers find him before you do, it will be nearly impossible to break the spell. He will belong to them completely."
"Rowena is also missing," Aveloria said.
She watched Eirene’s face carefully, expecting surprise, concern, or some reaction. But her expression did not change. There was a knowing look in her eyes as if she had expected this news.
"You seem to know where she is."
Eirene met her gaze. "Rowena is now crowned the Queen of Drakwyne."
