Chapter 50
When King Miroslav pushed open the gates to the Asmoria dungeons, the Lycan Queen wasn’t surp d by the screams and cries of mercy filling her ears. Since the first time she had been bere, she knew that there was more to running a Kingdom. There was always going to be an outlaw who wanted to murder others, someone who committed crimes against humanity, and some who were in for their stupidity. In that category, Ralph knew two people, the same people she had come to see, even though today was simply for one of them.
She hadn’t thought much of coming to the dungeons, not with all she had endured with Drescher, however, she was mad at Polina. She wanted to give the woman a taste of her own medicine and if this was her chance to do it, then Ralph wasn’t going to hesitate. Polina had used her weakness against her, something that still riled up Ralph to this day. She couldn’t believe the woman she had trusted and made her an easy target. Perhaps it was a good thing that she was no longer the girl that had been brought into Astoria unconscious, yeah?
“Where is Polina?” the King asked and the high guards led the way to one of the private segments of the dungeons. The Asmoria dungeon system was like a whole new world on its own. There were several prisoners down here, some of whom hadn’t seen sunlight in over seventy years. Their torture was linked to their eternal life and that was a really long time. None of the people deemed terrible to mingle with the Asmoria community ever made it back up to the Kingdom.
Most of them took their own lives because of the extensive torture and they couldn’t handle facing their rates. It was a haunted house down here but instead of ghosts and demons, there were royal high guards; people who were trained to kill the life of a person even without slaying the person. Most of the prisoners were the walking dead, really. Just waking up, waking himself to the torture chambers and coming back to their little empty nests when their Lycan King’s enforcer, Heion deemed fit.
Heion was always a ray of sunshine up there until he came to the dungeons, and he was someone else entirely. And right. now, as the king and Queen went to where Polina was being held by Heion, the King knew what to expect, but Ralph.. she would need a little adjustment, because nothing could have ever prepared her for the sight she met right there.
“I think I’m going to puke,” the queen said when her eyes landed on the same woman who had tricked her into getting kidnapped.
“Over there, Your Highness,” Kara pointed towards one of the flush bins in the dungeons. It was like everyone who was new
to this place always puked their guts out, especially the new prisoners. That was how terrible the palace walls were but it was a no–brainer for the King and his warriors.
They knew what it meant to be betrayed and for people to destroy the little light they had in their lives. The only problem with Polina was that she had dared to take the light of the inner Kingdom. She had dared to close it up even before the people got to know her better. Ralphine was a treasure in the Kingdom and even the prisoners were aware of that. Maybe they had enough time to learn about the queen who could tell the King was not pardoning them or killing them completely. Perhaps that was all there was left for fate, yeah?
“Are you okay? If it’s too much, we can come back later, askim,” King Miroslav said as he looked at his crasthai, his eyes so gentle with her. He wanted her to want to be here and if she was not liking it, he could make arrangements for this place to be presentable and more humane for the next time she came. Oli, Miroslav was more than willing to do whatever it took to make sure his askim was alright.
“Yes I am okay. I was just shocked for a moment there but it’s all good. I’ll have to get used to all of this sooner or later.” Ralph said and Miroslav held her hand reassuringly, gently rubbing his thumb at the back of her hand, hoping to make this easier for her. He wanted to make sure that they were on the same page and no matter what happened however long it took. he would always be there with her.
“We can come back later, Ralph. It doesn’t matter… if you’re unconfortable. I want you to be a part of this, but l’in not in a hurry to pass the judgment, askim, the King said earnestly and Ralphi felt a tug at her heartstrings. Miroslav was making her feel all sorts of things. He was making her feel like she was never going to be alone and boy was that making her fall deeper and deeper in love with him. He adored her and she loved how fe he made her feel
“I’m safe with you. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Besides, I have you, remember? Nothing can go wrong when you’re close to me. Let’s focus on the mission, right?” Ralph said reassuringly and the King nodded at her, before pulling her into a warm hug.
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Chapter 50
She was his sanity and the Lycan in the dungeons who were watching could see that for themselves too. They were witnessing the most significant and unexpected change in history. Their King was affectionate.
Π
“I love you, so much,” Miro said as he pulled back from the hug and held her hand, like he was never setting it go again, no matter what trials the universe sent their way. There was just no way, not again.
“You see, Miro? He’ll break you, Ralphine, that is what he does. He will ruin you for everyone and leave you out in the cold,” Polina struggled to speak, but her words were coherent enough Ralph wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but whatever it was, she could find it out for herself. If the King was as bad then she would just accept her fate, Besides, it wasn’t like there was anything that she could do now. She was well past the point of running and never looking back.
“I didn’t know you cared that much for me, darling. But I guess that will be my fate then. It shouldn’t stress you out, whether he’s bad for me or good for me. At the end of the day, he’s mine Mine to love, and hold, mine to walk through the darkness. and light with. If I were you, Polina, I would worry about how you look like a corpse that had just been resurrected-” Ralph said and Heion chuckled amusedly before speaking words that got Ralphine’s brain lagging for a split second there.
“That’s because we killed her and brought her back to life. I think we’ve done it seventeen times. It’s a lot of… Fun, Heion said excitedly before he saw the Queen’s horrid face. Polina on the other hand was laughing at Ralphine. She didn’t mind the fact that’s why she ruined herself, but maybe she would try and work through that, right? Then again, how the fuck was she supposed to, when she looked like something out of a mummy movie, only the dirtier and horrifying version of the dead who were walking among the living.
“Okay, I’ll shut up now,” Heion said.
“Thank you, that was long overdue, Miroslav said, letting out a sigh.
Ralph watched how her Erasthai was being careful around her even though they had long established that whatever shit was happening, she would be a part of it. She knew that they were trying to help her adjust, but seeing Polina there Ralph wondered what happened to the other prisoners. She could see the bruises on Polina’s body. It was clear she had been stopped from using her own Lycan magic to heal herself. Her cheekbones were literally outside, and it was impossible to tell if she had even once stepped into a dining hall.
ever.
Her nails were clipped off, both on her fingers and toes. Her body was covered in dirt and blood, and her arms had some flesh hanging and dripping with blood. Her hair was completely haven, but it was clear that it was done roughly and without a care in the world, thanks to the bruises on her head. Her ways were picked off, and her nose was crooked. Her teeth were black and some were missing. Her lips were chapped and dry as hell.
Her entire being screamed for help and no one was helping her Instead, they were watching with amused faces as the woman stayed there trying to get them to kill her, even though that was the one thing Miroslav wasn’t feeling merciful enough to do. This woman had messed up his crasthai and he wasn’t about to pretend that the day was all rainbows and sunshine. He would figure out what the hell had triggered Polina that much.
“You know I’m right, you rogue wolf. Being a Queen means nothing. I wanted that position once but see what it did to me. I fell in love with Miro, and we own it. He tried to discourage me and I tried to dissuade my heart. But well, the heart will always want what it wasn’t. I thought sending Drescher after you would make it easier for him to leave your pathetic rogue werewolf ass and come back to me, but look at us now. You’re sitting on the seat I always hoped for since forever.
“If you think you can ruin me any more than this, then I bet you will have to kill me and let me rot this time. Because they can break my already broken heart. I was a good friend to Miro, but all of that disappeared because you showed up. I don’t know if anyone has ever told you this, but everything you touch turns into poison. Everything,” Polina accused and Ralph took a step back. She knew she couldn’t let Polina’s words ger to her, but it broke her heart knowing that the woman had done this out of love.
Perhaps if Ralph had left during the time that the King had willingly let her go, someone wouldn’t be dying because of her. Then again, there were three hundred lives that had been lost in Koslov because of her, so what was some more? Or maybe she didn’t want the bloodshed anymore. Maybe she wanted to pat a stop to this, but then Polina had sinned an entire Kingdom. There was no coming out of that freely. No matter what the rules said and how far the rules could be bent, there was only so much that could be done, in Palina’s case, death was too good a inercy,
“What do you want to do with her, Ibrahim?” Ralph asked as she looked at the woman before them. She knew Pulina was
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angry and she understood Polina, but this was the will of the fates. There wasn’t a thing that Polina or Ralph could have done to change it: If Ralph had even tried to leave and stayed, there was nothing more needed to prove the will of the universe here.
“She orchestrated your pain. The decision is yours to make.. I will make the decision on Drescher, but we need to deal with her first. She betrayed you as her Queen and she dishonored you. Whatever punishment you see fit for her, will be enforced by Hei, and his team, the Lycan King said and Ralph turned to look at her husband. Of the things she had expected, having power over someone else’s life was not it. However, she knew that this was her first test as the queen.
On one hand, she could forgive Polina, but then Polina would do it again, given her determination, not to mention she could find more allies. And the fact that this was her frost decision as the Lycan queen, it would show the Lycans what a Queen she was. If she forgave a traitor, then it would send a message to her people. Maybe kindness? But if she didn’t forgive Polina, it would also send another message to the realm. She would be considered another animal like Miroslav… Ralph was conflicted but with Miro beside her, she hoped that she was able to make the right decision.
“Okay,” Ralph said as she breathed deeply, and stared at the woman. Sighing. Ralph made her decision, one that got even Miro to take a step back from her. Was it really that bad? Damn.
