Chapter 85
After
my talk with Ada. I had never felt more exposed. More aware. It was as if the world had shifted slightly, revealing hidden pieces: and dangerous edges I’d never noticed before. My every step felt heavier, each shadow sharper. And yet, something about that conversation left me with a strange, unsettling clarity.
Alaric had sent me here to spy on Harden, to uncover his secrets, and to destroy him if necessary. But everything about this mission had blurred into something else entirely–something murky, complicated, and entirely too personal
I was still thinking about that when the knock came at my door, sharp and demanding. My heart jumped, pounding painfully against my ribs
“Yes?” I called out, gripping the edge of the chair beside me to steady myself.
“The King requests y
your presence,” came a firm voice. One of the guards.
I stood quickly, nearly knocking over the chair. “Now?”
“Yes. Immediately.”
exhaled slowly, smoothing down my dress. It was plain, faded from endless scrubbing and chores, yet somehow my hands shook as if I were being presented before royalty in silk and jewels,
“Alright,” I managed, opening the door. The guard nodded curtly, his face expressionless.
“This way.”
I followed him silently, pulse drumming louder with every step we took toward Harden’s chambers. I had never been called directly there, always summoned to the throne room or a public place where servants bustled in and out. Private chambers implied something different–something far more dangerous.
The guard knocked twice, the sound resonating with finality. Then he stepped aside, motioning for me to enter. The door swung inward, revealing Harden standing by the window, His tall frame was outlined by the pale glow of moonlight, his back turned to me.
I hesitated at the threshold, heart hammering in my chest. “You asked for me?”
He didn’t turn immediately. Instead, he stood in quiet contemplation, looking out across the sprawling city below. Finally, he turned slowly, eyes dark and unreadable, the intense expression sending a chill down my spine.
“Come in, Elena,” he said, his voice low and controlled. “Close the door.”
I obeyed, hearing the soft click of the latch behind me. The air in the room felt too thin, my breaths shallow.
He watched me for a long moment, studying my face, my posture, every small twitch of my fingers. Finally, amused smile
“Relax,” he murmured. “IfI intended harm, you wouldn’t be standing.”
I swallowed, straightening my shoulders defiantly. Then why summon me privately?
lips curved into a faint.
He gestured to the large oak desk beside him. Spread across it were aged parchments and worn manuscripts, their edges frayed with time. A faint, strange script scrawled across their surfaces, flowing lines and elegant strokes that were both foreign and oddly familiar.
I
“What is this?” I asked cautiously, stepping closer.
Harden lifted one parchment gently, holding it as though it were fragile. “The Old Tongue. A language of magic and power. It’s ancient, Elena Dangerous.”
I reached out, fingers brushing the rough parchment. “Why show me?”
“Because you’ll need to learn it,” he said simply.
My gaze snapped up. “What?”
“You’re intelligent,” he said evenly. “Resourceful, observant. You already understand court intrigue better than half my council. But for what comes next, you’ll need more than instinct and cunning. You’ll need knowledge”
Chapter 85
His eyes never left mine, intense and unwavering.
“And why would you trust me with this?” I asked softly, hardly daring to breathe.
He tilted his head slightly, a knowing smile flickering across his lips. Trust isn’t free, little wolf Eam it”
1 bristled slightly, lifting my chin. “And if I refuse?”
“You won’t,” he said, voice calm but certain. “Your curiosity won’t let you.”
He moved around the desk, coming closer until barely an arm’s length separated us. My pulse quickened, a mixture of fear and anticipation tightening my chest. His gaze was piercing, stripping me bare as easily as if my secrets were printed clearly on my skin.
“I don’t understand.” I whispered finally, “Why are you giving me this?”
“Because you’re here for answers,” Harden replied softly. “And I think you’re starting to realize they’re not as simple as Alaric made you believe.”
The mention of Alaric jolted me, and I took a small step back. Harden noticed immediately, eyes narrowing.
“You still fear betraying him,” he murmured. “Yet I wonder if he fears betraying you.”
My jaw tightened. “I don’t know what you mean.”
at to spy on me, Elena. But tell me
“Don’t you?” He leaned closer, lowering his voice until it was barely more than a whisper. “You were sent to honestly do you still believe everything he told you? Do you still trust his every word?”
I faltered, unable to reply, the conflicting emotions swirling within me too tangled and complex to unravel. He watched me carefully. lips curling slightly.
“Exactly,” he said. “You have doubts. And doubt, Elena, is the first step toward truth.”
He straightened then, stepping back slightly and giving me room to breathe again. “You’ll study these texts. Daily, Learn them inside out. I’ll know your progress each evening.“–
“And if I can’t?” I asked quietly.
His gaze sharpened. Then try harder.”
He moved toward the window again, turning his back and dismissing me with that single, commanding gesture. “You’re excused, Elena.”
I hesitated, anger and confusion boiling inside me. I didn’t move.
“You’re treating me like a pawn,” I said, voice shaking slightly with barely contained frustration. “You speak of trust and knowledge, but all you want is another weapon in your war against Alaric.”
He paused, looking back at me over his shoulder. His eyes softened just enough for me to notice. “Maybe at first. But now?”
“Now what?” I challenged
He turned fully to face me again. “Now, I see something else. Potential Strength. And a heart too restless to simply follow someone else’s orders forever”
My breath caught, chest tightening. “You don’t know me.”
“No,” he said gently. “But I’d like to.”
My heart skipped, treacherous heat rising in my cheeks.
He smiled, genuine and gentle–a rarity from him. “Go now. Start learning. Earn the truth.”
I moved toward the door, heart hammering with a thousand unspoken emotions. Just as my hand touched the
doorknob, he spoke again.
“Remember every
ry word. Elena,” he said softly. “Your life might depend on it.”
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