Chapter 109: Let the Treachery be unraveled

The entire night was as restless as it could be for Reika. Her mind only on one thing. "I can't take this anymore." She whispered to herself. Reika pressed her hands into her temples." I'm just not enough. How might I save any of them?" She thought about how her Alpha was still laying unconscious in his room, and how all the people pushing for her to begin a journey with her to be a stronger Luna. All this was beyond her. Unable to bear this choking loneliness, she stepped into the acrid-smelling room of Ileus with its weakly glowing crystals set here by the royal healers in hope that their radiance might restore vigor to him. She fell on her knees beside his bed; her fingers touched his cold, dead hand. First, the storm that was blazing in her mind had overwhelmed her, and she was capable only of staring at him; then she had to talk. "Ileus… I don't know if you can hear me," she began in a shaking voice, "but I need you to wake up. I need you more than ever." Tears streaming down her face, and the words that tumbled out were in currents of frustration and sadness. "I try to hold this kingdom together, and yet everything seems to fall apart. Ariadne out there marshaling her forces-and I am so powerless to contain her. Many have lost their confidence in me-I have lost my own confidence. And now." She laid a hand upon her stomach and heard the quake in her voice. "I'm carrying our child, Ileus. Our first pup. And all I'm filled with is dread." Her voice had trembled while her fingers had dug deep and tight onto his hand. "How would I raise a child when even the world is falling apart? How could I protect them if even the protection of this very kingdom wasn't possible? The soft sobbing from her was all that reverberated in this quiet room. More minutes, more minutes kept on with her seated in that place and baring her soul. Without her knowing exactly how long sat talking to him-the only listener of the story-to all her hopes and fears. The sudden, sharp knock cut into the fragile silence. Reika hastily wiped her face clean and swung to the door, finally one of the guards stood white-faced and his chest heaving. "Luna!" he cried. "The city is under attack!" Her heart stopped. "What?" "The eastern gates are breached," he informed her further, "and Ariadne herself is leading the charge!" Reika felt the rug pulled from beneath her feet. "Raise the alarm and rally the men. I'm on my way at once." The guard bowed and hied out. She turned back to Ileus one last time. "I must go," she whispered. "But please, if you can hear me… come back to me. To us." ---The Battle Unfolds The courtyard was a chaos of activity, soldiers scrambling to their posts. Reika moved through them with the commanding presence required, though inside her heart raced. She went up onto the outer wall, and her breath caught at the sight in front of her. Save for the eastern quarter, the city was now a scene of wildest confusion, and pyres of flame were already roaring across its streets as the flood of Ariadne's men poured in through the breached gates. And foremost of all the attacking host was Ariadne, the wind whirling her scarlet cloak backward while her face twisted into a snarl of evil exultation. At the sight, Reika's blood boiled, but a number of things happened at once: Her ire turned to astonishment as she took note of the man standing beside Ariadne. "Finley?" she breathed, the sound not much louder than a whisper. It couldn't be. Finley had been one of their trusted advisors-the man who had stood by Ileus all these years. Yet here he was, clad in enemy armor, cold and unyielding. Daisy rose to her side, pale-faced. "Luna… is that- "Yes," Reika's voice repeated strained with anger from her lips. "He betrayed us." Kael strode forward, unsheathing his sword. "Your orders, Luna?" Her gaze tore off the battlefield; her mind was racing. This was a dagger plunged into her, the manner of Finley's betrayal, and she didn't have time for it now. "We hold the line," she said. "Send reinforcements to the eastern gate and protect the civilians. We can't allow them to take the city." Kael nodded and was off, shouting orders to the men. Ariadne's voice shrieked shrill with malice. "Reika! Come down and face me, if you dare!" Reika fisted her hands. Oh, she would dearly love to go out there and fight Ariadne-to make her pay for all this destruction she had caused-but she knew that was not an option as of now. She must think of the ways of saving her kingdom and people. "Luna," Daisy said in a tight urgent voice, "you can't "I know," Reika cut her off. "She's trying to get under my skin. She won't succeed." And yet, even as she said the words, the image lingered before her of Finley standing beside Ariadne, the betrayal graven in every line of his face. As the fight continued on, there showed up a number of his enemies, coming with a white flag of truce. One carried a scroll he passed over the gates to Kael. Kael took it immediately to Reika. "It is from Ariadne," he said, passing it on. Reika unraveled the scroll and, frowning deeply, hastened to read through the bold, taunting script: "Reika, I warned you that you were never suited to rule. And now your city burns, and your people cry out for a true queen. Submit yourself now, and I will spare what little is left of your pathetic kingdom. Resist, and I will reduce to ashes all you have ever held dear-your crown, your people… and your unborn child. Decide wisely. Ariadne. Reika's hands shook a little as she read the last line. Her eyes flashed down and then back up to Kael. "She knows," she said calmly. Kael's jaw flexed. "Doesn't matter. We keep you safe, Luna. No danger to come your or the pup's way." She drew a deep, deep breath and steeled herself. "There is no retreat. Ariadne thinks she can make me run scared. To hell with that. We fight on. Final stand." Kael nodded once; his eyes showed stars of resolute will. "As commanded." The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, casting a surreal gloom over the battlefield as Reika stood upon the walls of the castle, watching the enemy encampment below. Ariadne's surging power tore her mind asunder, Finley's betrayal, and the life growing inside of her. Yet, in that unpopularity, one little spark flickered: the possibility that Viktor and Alfonso might come back with the golden spider rose was not removed. If ever they could, Ileus would wake up, and together they could put an end to the war. Then, from across the battlefield, a thundering rumble-what was an ominously sickening sound-cooled the very blood in her veins. It wasn't clashing soldiers or clashing armor and weaponry; something more repulsive altogether. The eyes of Reika went wide as she turned to regard Kael. "What was that?" Kael's expression darkened. "Something's coming."