CHAPTER TWELVE

~Aiden~

Today should’ve felt like victory. After weeks of sleepless nights, back-and-forth negotiations, and hours of pretending to care about small talk, I finally sealed the deal. Darkmoon’s biggest investor had agreed to partner with us. Father would be proud, or so I thought.

By the time I returned to the castle, dusk had fallen over Darkmoon Valley, draping its towers in a deep, silver glow. I stepped into the castle, already exhausted but burning with the need to share the news. For once, I wanted to see approval in my father’s eyes instead of judgment.

“Your Highness,” Luna Siarah greeted, stepping into my path. “Dinner’s ready. I made it myself tonight.”

I barely looked at her. “Good for you.”

She gave a small, awkward laugh. “I thought we could all eat together.”

I nodded once, out of politeness, and brushed past her.

In my room, I stripped off my jacket and washed the day off my skin. The water ran hot, almost burning, but it didn’t take away the irritation crawling through me. By the time I changed into something clean and returned downstairs, I felt no better.

Nora was helping Siarah set the dining table. “Where’s my father?” I asked, adjusting my cufflinks.

Nora glanced up. “Not home yet, Your Highness, but he should be soon. The Alpha’s convoy left a few minutes ago.”

“And Jayden?”

“Still at the studio, I believe.”

“Of course he is.” I sighed and turned for the door.

I couldn’t sit here pretending to enjoy family dinners with someone who didn’t feel like family.

I needed some air. I found one of the guards who’d been with me earlier today, the same one who’d escorted me to see Riya.

“How is she?” I asked him.

The guard hesitated. “She’s been taken away, sire.”

My body went still. “Taken away? To where?”

“I don’t know, sire. Earlier today, the Alpha sent for her. Someone came and took her from the castle.”

The world around me dimmed, and a slow burn started in my chest. “You let that happen?”

“I… there was nothing I could do, sire. The order came from above.”

From above. That phrase echoed in my head like a curse. My fists clenched. I could feel my heartbeat pounding against my throat.

Taken away. Why? By whom? And why didn’t anyone tell me?

My mind spun with possibilities, none of them good. Had something happened to her? Had she been punished, or worse? Had Father ordered her to be killed?

I turned away sharply. I was halfway back to the castle when I heard the faint rumble of engines in the distance. The king’s convoy. Of course. Perfect timing.

I stormed toward the entrance. My father would have answers. And if he didn’t, someone would bleed for it.

Before I could reach the main hall, a soft hand caught my arm. “Aiden,” Luna Siarah said gently. “Please, calm down. Let your father come in first.”

“Let him come in first?” My voice came out colder than I intended. “Do you know what happened to her?”

She blinked. “Who…”

“Don’t play dumb with me,” I snapped.

Her lips parted, but I didn’t let her speak. The anger that had been simmering inside me finally erupted. “You think you can touch me and tell me to calm down?” I hissed, jerking my arm free. “How dare you touch me, you…”

“Aiden!” she gasped.

“You whore,” I spat before I could stop myself. “You cheap, lying thing. Don’t you ever… ever… touch me again.”

Her expression shifted from shock to fury. Before either of us could say another word, the heavy doors opened, and my father stepped in.

“Enough!” his voice boomed, cutting through the air. “You do not speak to your mother that way, son!”

“She’s not my mother!” I shouted back. “This thing…” I pointed at her, trembling with rage, “can never be my mother!”

For a second, silence filled the room. Even the guards froze. Siarah’s face darkened, her eyes blazing with venom.

Then, boom! Her hand landed on my cheek. For a moment, I just stood there, stunned. The sting spread across my face, hot and humiliating.

“Don’t you ever,” she hissed, “speak to me like that again. Ever. In your useless life.”

My father’s eyes turned hard. “Apologize to her. Now!”

I looked between them, almost laughing at the absurdity of it. “What?”

“I said apologize,” he repeated sternly.

“You must be a joker,” I muttered, shaking my head. “You want me to apologize to her? After everything? After…”

“That’s enough!” he barked.

“No, it's not enough. Where the hell is she?” I barked at him.

“Who? Who are you even speaking about?” 

“The Nightfang princess. Where did you take her?”

Father burst into laughter. “Is she what's making you this agitated?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “She’s been sent to the human world to work off her father's debt under Steele.”

“What?” I paced, rubbing my temples. “But you know that’s dangerous, Father.” Then I turned to Siarah. “Are you even a mother? You assume Luna-ship and then leave your daughter imprisoned. As if that isn't enough, you still go ahead and send her to servitude… gosh.”

“Enough! Enough! You won't keep speaking to your mother like that, Aiden. Be warned.”

I took a step back. “No. I’m done playing this perfect royal son you want. I’m done pretending this family isn’t broken.”

Then I turned to leave.

I’d barely taken three steps when the front doors burst open again.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, what’s going on here?” Jayden’s voice filled the air as he strolled in, looking between our faces like he’d walked into a warzone.

The tension was thick enough to choke on. My father glared at me, Siarah’s hand still trembling at her side, and the guards looked ready to vanish into thin air.

At the sight of Jayden, everyone hissed in irritation and turned away. I didn’t even look back. I just kept w

alking.

Because if I stayed one more second in that cursed room, I might do something I couldn’t take back.