Chapter 64: Suspicious Wolf
The morning light crept in through the half-drawn curtains of Aveloria’s chamber. The room was too quiet, too still. She sat by the edge of her bed, running her fingers absent-mindedly over the soft fabric of her sleeve. Her confinement has still not ended, which bothered her so much.
A soft knock came at the door. She looked up, startled. "Come in," she said.
The door opened, and Galen stepped in. His hair looked slightly damp, as though he’d bathed in a rush, and there were faint circles beneath his eyes. He closed the door behind him and stood there for a moment, watching her with quiet concern.
"Galen!" She stood up immediately and rushed to embrace him.
"How are you, Ave?" Galen asked, his voice even but gentle. He held her tightly in his arms as if she would disappear if he didn’t.
"I barely slept," Aveloria replied. "This confinement is driving me insane," she withdrew from the embrace, her eyes assessing him. "How do you feel now? Are you perfectly fine? What about your wounds?" The words rushed out all at once.
Galen’s hands reached for her cheeks. "Calm down, I am fine."
Aveloria heaved a sigh as she embraced him again. "I’m glad you’re fine. I was so worried."
"I heard what happened." He pulled away, his eyes scanning her face as if he needed to be sure she was really standing in front of him. "Are you truly alright?"
She nodded once. "I am. Just tired."
He exhaled, a mix of relief and regret. "I should have come sooner," he said, his tone low. "I should have been here the moment they locked you away. I didn’t know until yesterday that it had gotten that serious. I tried—" He stopped, shaking his head. "It doesn’t matter. I’m sorry, Aveloria."
"You have nothing to be sorry for," she said, meeting his eyes. "You were injured. You needed to rest. I was worried about you, too, Galen. Are you sure that you are fully healed?"
"I’m fine now." His lips twitched faintly, the closest he had been to a smile in days. "Your well-being matters more than anything else. More than me."
She looked away for a moment. "You shouldn’t say that."
"I mean it," he said. "You’ve carried enough. You shouldn’t have to stand alone through this. You’ve been released."Galen sighed softly.
Aveloria’s head snapped up to look at him. "Really? I’ve been released?" She murmured in disbelief.
"Yes," Galen said. "My father and I spoke to the king. It took a while, but we managed to convince him to lift your confinement."
She held his hands, looked up at him with her eyes filled with gratitude and something softer. "You did that for me?"
He shrugged slightly. "It was only fair. You didn’t deserve punishment without proof. I couldn’t let them treat you that way."
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Galen nodded, watching her. But there was a tension in his stance, the kind that came when he wanted answers but didn’t want to push too soon.
After a few moments, he said, "Aveloria...tell me what really happened. Everyone’s been whispering, but I want to know the truth."
She hesitated, stepping away from him. "So it’s true. Lucien came around on the night of the feast, and he stayed till dawn. Someone must have seen him when he was leaving. But you won’t believe what he told me."
"Try me."
Aveloria walked back to the bed and sat on it. She took a breath and began to speak. "Lucien found something. He left me a note." Her tone was steady, but her eyes carried the weight of what she was about to say. "He discovered that someone from inside the palace might be controlling the Wanderers. That they’re not acting on instinct or rage, but command. That someone is leading them."
Galen frowned. "From inside the palace?"
She nodded. "Yes. Lucien believed that someone high-ranking was behind it. His note didn’t say who, but I’ve had my suspicions for a while."
"Who?"
Aveloria hesitated again, her gaze shifting toward the floor. "Eirene."
Galen blinked. "The Queen."
"Remember that bracelet I took to the temple, the one the priestess said would suck my soul? Eirene gave me a bracelet," Aveloria said.
Galen’s jaw dropped slightly. "That bracelet had dark magic."
"Yes."
He looked up at her. "Aveloria, that doesn’t make sense. If you are saying Eirene gave that dark bracelet and is also controlling the wanderers...that’s strange. Eirene can’t be a witch. She’s the queen. She’s been here for years. If she practiced dark magic, someone would’ve seen signs of it."
Aveloria’s voice was calm, but her eyes were unwavering. "I know what I am saying. Other instances suggest Eirene had a hand in this whole thing. And if I am wrong about Eirene, be sure someone is controlling the Wanderers from the palace, Galen. And whoever it is, they know too much about this kingdom."
"I am trying to comprehend everything. Can you tell me other instances that raise your suspicion towards Eirene?"
"Eirene’s the only person who could influence my father the way she has. You can tell from how easily he turned against me. She was the one who told him I’d broken royal protocol. She was in his chambers that same morning. I saw her leaving."
Galen frowned deeply, crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you saying the king himself might be under her spell?"
"I don’t know," Aveloria admitted. "But his behavior isn’t normal. He’s been...distant, suspicious of me, even cold. I know what I saw, Galen. I saw her leave his chamber, and right after that, he ordered my confinement. My instincts tell me she’s behind all of it."
He uncrossed his arms, pacing once before turning back to her. "What if you’re wrong? What if it’s someone else trying to frame her? The palace has always had internal enemies, and you know that. There’s always someone playing a deeper game."
"I’ve considered that," she said. "But my instincts have never failed me before. Something about her isn’t right. She has become dangerous. She’s making her moves obvious to me. And every move she makes feels deliberate."
Galen inhaled and exhaled deeply. He wanted to believe her, but his mind fought the possibility. "If you’re right, then this isn’t just about the Wanderers. It’s a threat to the entire kingdom."
"I know," Aveloria said. "That’s why we can’t ignore it. We need proof. We need to find something solid. Otherwise, my father will never believe us."
Galen’s eyes softened again. "How do we even start?"
She walked back to the drawer and brought out the note Lucien had left. "I have an idea. Elder Thalos might know something. He’s my mother’s brother, one of the oldest elders left. He was part of the council when the Wanderers first appeared. He knows their history better than anyone, and he also knows about my mother’s lineage."
Galen’s brow lifted slightly. "You think he might know who’s controlling them now?"
"Maybe not who," she said. "But he’ll understand the connection. The Wanderers have always been drawn to certain types of energy. If dark magic is involved, he’ll be able to trace it. I need to speak to him."
"Where is he?"
"Beyond the capital," she replied. "I heard he is currently at the old courthouse in the east of the high plains. It’s a day’s ride from here."
Galen nodded without hesitation. "Then we’ll leave right away."
Aveloria looked up. "We?"
"Of course," he said. "You’re not going alone. Not with what’s happening."
She smiled faintly. "You don’t have to come, Galen. You’ve already done enough for me."
"I’m coming," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You don’t know who’s watching you. You’ve been accused once already. If they’re truly working from within the palace, you’re still in danger."
Aveloria opened her mouth to protest, then stopped. His expression was serious and unyielding, and for once, she didn’t want to argue.
"Alright," she said softly. "We leave within the hour."
He nodded. "Good. I’ll make arrangements."
She turned to start packing a few things: a cloak, a book she had picked from her mother’s private library, and some documents, while Galen watched her quietly. Despite the tension of the past few days, there was a calmness in the air now, as if she had finally found direction.
"Let’s go."
But before they could leave, there was a sharp knock on the door.
Aveloria froze. "Who is it?"
The door opened before either of them could move. Evander stepped in first, his face unreadable, followed closely by Seraphina and Serene.
Aveloria straightened. "Evander?"
The twins walked in behind him, their expressions tense. Seraphina closed the door behind them. None of them spoke for a long moment.
Galen looked at them, wary. "Is something wrong?"
Evander’s gaze flicked from Aveloria to Galen and back again. His voice was steady but cold. "We need to talk."
Aveloria frowned. "About what?"
Evander glanced at his sisters. They both nodded. "It’s about Marek," he said at last.
"And Rowena," Seraphina added.
Aveloria blinked. "What about them?"
Evander hesitated for only a second before answering. "I saw them together."
Aveloria’s breath caught. "Together? What do you mean?"
Evander’s jaw tightened. "Exactly what it sounds like. I caught them kissing."
