Rise of the Warrior Queen (Kaia and Silver) novel Chapter 53

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

THIRD POV.

The air in the room grew thick with tension, as if the storm outside had found its way in. The flickering candlelight cast long, trembling shadows across the wooden floor, stretching toward the feet of the ghost king who stood silently in front of her, still glaring.

King Leander’s expression darkened, his ethereal form pulsing faintly. He didn’t speak, but the tension between him and Agatha was obvious–like old wounds threatening to tear open.

Agatha straightened her back, despite the pain flaring at her side. “He is not just a commoner,” she said at last, her voice low but firm. “Gareth is an alpha-”

“An alpha,” Leander growled angrily. “If you will not do what needs to be done, then you’d better make sure that that commoner does not go anywhere near that throne, Athena. I swear on my very own grave, I will strike him dead!”

Agatha looked him in the eye. “He won’t. I’ll make sure of it. You don’t need to worry.”

Lightning cracked outside, illuminating the ghost’s face for the briefest second. In that flash, his sorrow cut deeper than his anger. His voice, when it returned, was softer–almost defeated.

“I spent my life trying to build something that would last beyond me,” he whispered. “A legacy. A kingdom. A line.” He looked up at her again. “And I lost everything. My queen. My child. My soul. If that boy falls, Athena… we both lose our final chance. He is my only chance at redemption.”

Agatha’s lips pressed into a thin line. Her shoulders sagged slightly under the weight of everything unsaid. ” You think I don’t know that? You think I haven’t sacrificed for him? For you? You think I sleep at night knowing what’s waiting in the dark for that child?”

He stared at her.

She turned away, walking slowly to the window. She touched the cold glass, watching as the rain streaked

down like tears.

“I’m doing what I can, Leander,” she said quietly. “But we cannot force fate to bend to our will. The Goddess might have brought him here, but she also made him fragile–for now.”

There was a pause.

Then King Leander’s voice came again, rough and direct.

“Where is Theron?”

Agatha turned slightly toward him. “In his cage,” she answered. “Resting.”

King Leander’s expression hardened again. “Get him out. I want him by the boy’s side at all times.”

Agatha’s jaw tightened. “He’ll know something is wrong if we start surrounding him with protectors.”

“He already knows something is wrong!” King Leander barked. “He’s felt the darkness. He’s seen things. Don’t treat him like a child, Athena! Treat him like a king!”

The word king echoed in the room like a bell tolling across time.

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CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

Agatha closed her eyes but said nothing.

King Leander’s ghost narrowed his glowing eyes.

“What about the ring?” he asked.

Agatha gave a small nod. “He has it. I made sure of that.”

“And the necklace?” he pressed.

Agatha hesitated. Her lips parted, but no words came at first. Finally, she said quietly,

“It’s with the girl.”

At that, the lights in the room flickered violently. Leander’s ghost flared with anger.

“I specifically ordered it to be given to him, not the girl,” he snapped.

Agatha raised a hand, trying to calm the energy building around them.

“Stop destroying my home, Leander. And I understood your order perfectly well. Things got… complicated,” she explained. “But don’t worry. The necklace is safe.”

The ghost’s expression darkened further.

“Safe? You gave a powerful heirloom to an outsider! How can you trust her?”

Agatha straightened, her voice steady.

“Because I know Kaia. She doesn’t have an evil bone in her body. And I didn’t give it to her, Leander. I simply

left it with her when I realized she had it.”

Leander let out a low growl. “She shouldn’t be trusted with the heirloom. Or with the boy, for that matter.”

Agatha’s tone sharpened slightly, though her calm never broke.

“Are you questioning the Moon Goddess now too, Leander? Trying to defy the Goddess‘ will by keeping them

apart when she brought them together–is that what you’re doing?”

There was silence.

Then Agatha added, more gently,

“He’s in good hands, Leander. Daniel and his mate have taken him in.”

The ghost turned slowly, eyes narrowing. “Daniel?”

Agatha nodded. “Yes. Daniel Grayson.”

“Does he know?” King Leander asked.

Agatha sighed. “I don’t think so… but I believe Daniel suspects.”

The ghost fell quiet. A long moment passed.

Then he said softly,

“Why can’t I sense him?”

Agatha hesitated. She glanced away before replying,

“He’s fine. He’s just not on pack grounds at the moment.”

< CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

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