Wolfless Luna's Royal Return novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: What His Mother Did

They took Garrick to the guard hall, because Alaric would not let him walk out of the palace.

Thirty palace guards lined the walls.

The two Vandeleur warriors waited by the door with their eyes on the floor, and Wynne stood close to Garrick with her nails digging into his sleeve.

The King came in last, in a plain coat, his crown left behind.

He took one chair and sat in it as if he had done so ten thousand times.

"Speak," he said to Garrick. "You said strength. Whose?"

Garrick held his burned hand against his chest.

His breath came in short, hard pulls.

"Eleven days ago I was the strongest Alpha in Eldmark," he said. "I have not lost a challenge in six years."

"We know," said Alaric.

"Since the night I rejected her, I can't shift all the way. I lost a sparring match to a boy of nineteen. Last night at the feast I couldn't lift my own sword."

"Because you're a fool," said Wynne.

"Because something is wrong with the mark."

He looked at me then.

He didn't look away.

"My mother told me, before she died," he said. "She called me to her bed the last night and she said, whatever you do, do not let Elspeth Chenoweth leave Vandeleur."

"Why?" I asked.

"She said you were the reason I won."

The hall was silent.

"I thought she was being sentimental. A mother's love for a daughter-in-law who made good bread." His voice was ragged. "I didn't understand. And then it started to drain."

"What did she do, Garrick?" The King's voice was calm and cold. "Say the words."

← Chapter 9 · All chapters · Chapter 11 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend