Chapter 33
Chapter 33
“I know… but I missed you. Did you miss me too?” he asked softly, and I felt my resolve begin to melt under the weight of his words and his teasing.
I quickly pushed him away. Yes, I missed him and still have feelings for him, but that’s no reason to let him get close again. He had toyed with me before. He knew from the beginning that I was the princess of the Urzua Kingdom, and he was well aware of the rift between our families and kingdoms.
"Leave now, before my brother finds you, Troy," I said coldly, stepping away. I locked my bedroom door, fearing someone might burst in and see him. Even though Troy has wronged me in so many ways, I can’t let anything bad happen to him.
"What? After I risked my life sneaking into your room, you’re just going to send me away?" he replied in disbelief. I turned back to face him, his brows furrowed, and I could feel his frustration building.
"Why? Did you expect me to throw my arms around you after everything you’ve done? Have you forgotten? You played me, Troy! I thought I was the one deceiving you by not revealing all of who I am, but in reality, it was me you were toying with me the whole time! You knew who I was from the start! Yet you welcomed me into your home, and let me grow close to you. And for what? So you could sabotage the investigation into my parents' death?" Each word felt heavier as it left my chest.
He stepped closer and gripped my shoulders. "I swear, I never planned any of this! Yes, I knew who you were from the start, I saw you—but I never meant any harm! I didn’t bring you into my home because you’re the princess of the Urzua Kingdom. I brought you in because I was afraid you’d get lost in Tyreese. I knew how innocent and vulnerable you were back then,” he pleaded, trying to convince me. Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes. His words touched something deep within me because if they were true, the walls I had been trying to build between us would crumble even further.
"No matter what you say, I won’t be satisfied until the truth comes to light. I know how badly you want a mate right now, but I’m not going to marry you just because you need me, Troy. And I definitely won’t marry the son of the man suspected of killing my parents," I replied coldly. For a moment, I thought I saw a flash of darkness and pain in his green eyes. I knew my words must have hurt him, but this was the right thing to do for now.
He released me and stared at me blankly. "Fine..." he muttered, locking his gaze with mine. "I’ll do whatever it takes to clear my father’s name. And I’m not doing this just because I need you in my kingdom, Eli. I’m doing this because... you mean something to me," he said firmly. I swallowed hard and fell silent. My heart ached so deeply that I could barely speak. All I wanted was to be alone and cry my heart out.
"I'll go now," he said. I nodded and let him leave. He disappeared into my walk-in closet, returning through the hidden passage he had used. I entered the closet myself and saw the tunnel he had slipped through, leading from my attic all the way to the rooftop.
I just hoped they made it out of the Urzua Kingdom safely.
The next day, Alpha King Phoenix summoned me again to share everything he knew about the murder of my parents, and how, even now, no solid evidence had been found regarding their deaths.
"We all know the palace was heavily guarded that night, and it was confirmed that none of us were present, leaving only Father and Mother here. The murder was executed with precise planning, exactly as the killer intended. Strangely, Rema’s men managed to infiltrate the palace and kill our parents without resistance. It was a quiet, peaceful night—no one would have suspected a murder was taking place. But then, a witness came forward and claimed she saw the murderers. They all had the same tattoo on their necks," Alpha King Phoenix said, placing a sketch of the tattoo the witness had described in front of me.
"It’s a knight’s sword," I observed. Alpha King Phoenix nodded.
"Yes, it is. And everyone knows the only person with such a tattoo is the former Alpha King, Terrence Evans—Troy’s father. This was enough evidence to arrest him. But they also have enough proof that the former Alpha King was bedridden at the time and incapable of ordering or even planning a murder."
"What if it's true that it wasn’t Alpha King Terrence who killed our parents?" I asked. Alpha King Phoenix shot me a sharp glare at my suggestion.
"Are you defending them now, Eli?" he asked, his tone dark.
"No... I’m just saying that... it doesn’t make sense! I can’t see why they would kill Father and Mother!" I protested.
"I don’t care about excuses, Eli! What I want to know is who killed our parents! It’s been years, and we still don’t have answers! What will the neighboring kingdoms think of us? That we’re weak? That we can’t even solve a case involving our own family?"
"So, you're okay with accusing people who might be innocent and had nothing to do with their deaths?"
"How sure are you that he’s innocent, Elisaria?" His question left me silent because I didn’t have enough proof to say otherwise. I clenched my jaw and met his gaze with determination.
"I’ll do my own investigation, Brother..." I declared. He shook his head, his expression mocking.
"I never thought you’d become this stubborn, Eli. And to think you fell for him? I doubt your investigation will be impartial—"
"What are you implying? Do you really believe I'd side with him just because we’re bonded as mates? Do you honestly think I’d betray our parents? No! I’m doing this not to protect Troy, but because our parents deserve real justice! I want fairness, Brother! If your idea of justice is to force blame without enough evidence, then that’s not something I can accept. I won’t stop until I uncover the truth," I said firmly.
His serious eyes revealed how much my words had affected him. I’ve known him all my life, and I’m well aware that hitting his pride and ego is his greatest vulnerability.
Once I reached my room, I immediately called for Mariel, instructing her to find someone who could assist me in conducting my own investigation.
"Your Highness, the person you requested has arrived," Mariel announced as she walked into my office, holding the door open for him. I sat behind my desk, observing him closely. Out of everyone I could have chosen, he was the one I knew was most qualified to help.
"It's an honor to be summoned by Your Royal Highness..." he said, kneeling and bowing before me. I smiled. "It's been a long time, Jack." I could see the wrinkles near his eyes, but his strong posture and rugged features remained unchanged.
"Five years, Your Highness," he replied. I nodded. "You may stand, Jack. I need to discuss something with you," I said. Jack rose and looked at me intently. This was Jack West, the general of the Urzua Kingdom's hunter pack. When he was still training to become a general, my father had assigned him as my personal bodyguard when I was just five years old. I know how skilled and capable he is, which is why I chose him for this investigation. He may be ten years older than my brother, but his fighting prowess remains unmatched.
"I want you to dig deeper into him," I said, handing Jack a sketch of Zander Evans.
"He’s... the prince of the Rema Kingdom, Your Highness," Jack replied. Of course, Jack knew him.
"Yes, and I find him highly suspicious. So, please, uncover everything about him—who he really is, his character, and the people he surrounds himself with," I instructed. Jack nodded without hesitation. I took the sketch back, lit a lighter, and burned Zander Evans' image.
Once Jack left and it was just Mariel and me, I noticed the surprise on her face.
"Do you have any questions, Mariel?" I asked, absentmindedly playing with the lighter.
"I'm just curious... instead of investigating the death of the former Alpha King and Luna of the Urzua Kingdom, why focus on Zander Evans? Do you believe he’s connected to your parents' deaths?" she asked.
"That’s a good question, Mariel. But no, I’m not investigating him because I suspect him in my parents' murder. It’s because... I don’t want him interfering with Troy," I explained.
Zander Evans has his eyes on Troy's throne. As long as I refuse to marry Troy, Zander will grow stronger, positioning himself to seize the throne. I can’t allow that to happen, which is why I need to uncover his weaknesses.
"In that case, who will investigate your parents’ murder?" Mariel asked curiosity in her voice. I smiled and flicked the lighter in front of me.
"We will. So, get ready, because our secret rendezvous out from the palace will happen sooner than you think," I said, making her gasp.
