Chapter SIXTY- NINE: KIERAN’S LITTLE SECRET
As soon as we arrived back at the palace, the guards already had the spy, a slender man, gagged up on a chair.
“Thank you, you all have done well, I will take it up from here,” Kieran said.
As I saw him sitting there, the urge to just squeeze him in my grip overwhelmed me. I dived towards him.
“Hey, hey. Let me handle it. We need to know who had sent him here. After that, we can do whatever we want with him,” Kieran held me back.
I nodded and retrieved letting Kieran approach him.
“Who sent you here?” Kieran asked.
But the man looked away. Kieran got closer to his face, “I ask again, who sent you?”
“I am loyal to my master,” He said.
Kieran chuckled, “Loyal? Oh I see.”
He walked back and then stormed towards him. His eyes glowed and he faced him revealing his claws to him. On seeing this, the man shook on the chair. His eyes suddenly lost the boldness that it once had. I knew just what he was going through.
“Speak!” He roared.
“It was Lord Ryan,” his voice quivered.
“Ryan? How could he do this to me?” I askedrhetorically.
“Go on…”
“He asked me to come into town in a disguise and spread the news to the people so that she would be thrown out and he would have her back.”
“How desperate can he be? Why didn’t I even think of this?”
“Continue!” Kieran barked.
“That’s all,” He trembled.
“Did he say what his next line of action would be?” I asked.
“No… no, he only said that if I do this, he would spare my family. Look, I didn’t mean to do this. I just did what I was told because my family is in his custody.”
I pulled Kieran away.
“Ryan has really done his bit in this one.”
“How can we make this rumour stop now that we know who is behind it?”
“At least, we has a few information in our grasp. Let’s be grateful that we know the source.”
“Yeah, that’s right. So what do we do with him now?” I asked.
“He is of no use, I’ll ask the guards to do away with him.”
“No, Kieran. He is just another victim.”
“So what do you suggest we do?”
“Just let him go.”
“Are you sure? He might return to cause more harm.”
“Did you see his eyes? He sure doesn’t look like he would like to come back here.”
Kieran walked back to the man.
“I’ll let you go back to Ryan but you deliver a message to him.”
The man nodded.
Kieran pinned him down and the man scampered for safety but Kieran was not done with him just yet.
“First, you will go into town and tell everyone what you have done. Then you would go back to your master and tell him all that has happened here. Don’t forget to let him know that his plans has failed. If I ever see your legs here again, I’m sure going to cut them off. Now go!”
He jumped off as he headed out.
“Do you think that the people are going to listen?” I asked.
“Yes. It would take time but they would listen.”
I exhaled and wished that I could believe him but some part of me still felt that it was going to take a miracle before everything would be back to normal.
…
“What’s on your mind?” Kieran asked from the study table. We had returned to his chambers.
“A lot,” I said facing the ceiling as I laid on the bed.
“Care to share?”
“Was just wondering if the people would actually listen. I mean what if they think it is just a plot to make them stop?”
“The people are smart but not a coward. They all know that he is a spy and spies don’t do good in a town.”
I nodded.
“I was meaning to ask you Kieran, what was Claudia talking about?”
He exhaled and faced the light but said nothing.
“Come on Kieran.”
“Are we still on this again? Besides, it’s not important.”
“If it is not so important, then why don’t you just let it out?”NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
He sighed.
“Clara, just let it go.”
“No, I won’t,” I smack my fist on the bed.
“What is wrong with you?” He asked.
“What is wrong with me?”
“Yes, you are suddenly acting crazy.”
“Yes, I am crazy. You go around telling everyone about me. Parading me around like I am some important figure here. And when I ask you, you always have a way of changing the topic. What is it? What are you hiding?”
“Clara,”
“You keep acting like you care. In the face of everyone you act nice towards me. Just stop the pretence, it is passing me off.”
“Clara!”
“What?!”
“Will you just shut up and listen?”
I said nothing, sitting up as I folded my arms.
“I’m listening.”
“It’s not like I owe you any explanation but I’ll tell you anyway.”
He paused and stared at me but I avoided his eyes.
Then he exhaled and walked out of the chair. Whatever it is he had to say, he sure wasn’t ready for it. But I didn’t mind. I couldn’t stop him. I needed to know the truth. At least I knew I deserved that.
“When Kimberly died, I just couldn’t bare it. I had known her since we were just kids and we always knew that we were destined to be together. Losing her took a part of me,” he spoke in a low tone.
“How?”
“You know, I wasn’t always like this. I always had my feelings in check. But without her, it was like my world had ended. Since I am the Lycan King, I was lucky to have a new mate but on the day we were to be mated, I rejected her.”
“What?”
“Yes, it was so bad that every other lady that I could have been with fled. They didn’t want to face the humiliation the previous lady had felt. And deep down, I was glad that they fled because I never wanted them. All I wanted was to sit alone here in my room. Drink wine and handle the affairs of my people from a distance. But as the days went by, it became very difficult as everyone wanted to see me or talk to me.”
“Oh that’s horrible.”
“I had already sworn with myself to be with no one else. I lived a life of solitude. A life filled with hate and everyone called me ruthless.”
“I see. Explains a lot now.”
“But when I saw you that day…”
“You saw Kimberly right?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?”
“I needed someone to play that part. Just to reassure the people that I was alright again. You had that peace glare that she had.”
“Hmm… I never knew you went through all of that.”
“It was hard at first but since you came in here, things has changed.”
“What do you mean?”
“Going through all of this with you has shown me that I still have a purpose to live.”
“I showed you that?”
“Yes. I mean with all you’ve been through, it’s a lot. Everyone could have given up.”
“Yeah. Thank you for telling me this.”
“I am not telling you this to pity me. I’m only telling you this to get off my neck,” He chuckled.
“The whole thing was beginning to get in my head. I just needed the clarification. Well now that everything is a bit stable, I bet I can finally head back to my room.”
He nodded, “Yeah, but not tonight. The guards and maids will escort you back to your room in the morning.”
In the morning, just as Kieran had said, the maids escorted me back to my room. And even if I had to wear a make up everyday, I still felt better knowing what it was all for.
“The king seeks your presence.”
“Why?” I asked the guard standing by the door as morning came the next day.
“You have been invited to have breakfast with him.”
“Okay, I would be there shortly,” I said.
…
“You know, I was really hoping for breakfast in bed,” I said approaching him.
“You wish.”
Then I settled in.
“So what are we having?”
“I don’t know I asked the chef to surprise me.”
One of the maids walked in with the dishes and placed it on the table.
“Mmm… what is that? Smells so good,” as she poured the water in the glass and turned to leave, her elbow knocked off the glass with water. I jerked and held her hand involuntarily as water spilled on me. She looked back at me.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry, I will get that wiped off,” she said and looked away but there was something about her eyes. So cold and very much familiar.