Chapter 003: Stripped Off Dignity 1

(Liora's POV)

“You cannot be serious,” I whispered, the words barely carrying across the heavy silence of the room. A cold dread settled deep in my stomach, turning my blood to ice.

“I am entirely serious,” Alistair replied, his voice devoid of even a trace of warmth or remorse. He smoothed the front of his coat with agonizing precision. “Verkhane demands satisfaction for an insult to their crown. Compensation in gold or land will not move a king who has more of both than he knows what to do with. But a pure-blood Omega? An offering of rare blood to appease his appetite? That is a gesture fit for a king.”

“I am your wife!” The words tore from my throat before I could stop them. My hands trembled as I stepped closer to him. “I am the Queen of Solmora! You cannot simply hand me over to a monster like a vessel of wine!”

Alistair’s eyes darkened, and in a single swift motion, he grabbed my wrist, his grip tightening until the skin turned pale. “You have been Queen in title only, Liora. For five years, you have occupied my palace, consumed my wealth, and failed in the singular duty required of a royal consort. You gave me no heir. Seraphina will give me what you could not.”

He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear, sharp with malice.

“You should be grateful. At last, your blood will serve a purpose.”

He shoved me back, releasing my wrist so abruptly that I stumbled against the edge of the dressing table. Mirrors rattled, and bottles of perfume clinked together like small, frantic bells.

“Alistair, you… have you gone mad?”

“Watch your tongue.”

He adjusted his coat again, as though our conversation had been nothing more than an unpleasant interruption to his day.

“You will leave for Verkhane before the next dawn. I suggest you spend the time preparing yourself instead of making a spectacle.”

“Before the next dawn?” I stared at him. “You are seriously taking my home away from me, in the most disgraceful way, shipping me off to a beast? Do you have no respect for me?”

“Your home?”

His laughter was quiet and cruel.

“You seem to have forgotten yourself. This palace belongs to the crown, I am the crown. Everything you are, and have, belongs to me.”

I shook my head, struggling to comprehend how easily he could speak of sending me away. How could five years of marriage mean so little to him? How could the vows he had made before the Moon Goddess be so easily discarded?

“I won't go.”

His expression hardened. “You do not have a choice.”

“I will not allow you to send me away to be killed!”

“Then perhaps you should have thought about that before becoming such a disappointing wife.”

He turned towards the door.

“Alistair!”

He didn't stop.

“Your Majesty, please!”

The door closed behind him.

For several seconds, I stood frozen in the middle of my chambers, staring at the space where he had been.

Then the fear gave way to something else.

I couldn't let him do this. I couldn't simply wait for the next dawn while he prepared to hand me over to a king whose reputation was enough to frighten entire kingdoms.

There was still one thing I could do.

My parents.

They had never approved of the way Alistair treated me, but they had always urged me to be patient. They believed the marriage could still be salvaged, that perhaps Alistair would soften once I gave him an heir.

I wished that had been the case, but I was still unable to conceive.

I hurried towards the door and called for my court lady.

“Please, I need you to send a message to my parents. Tell them I need them at the palace immediately.”

She looked concerned. “Is something wrong, Your Majesty?”

“Just do as I ask.”

She bowed and hurried away.

I spent the next hour pacing my chambers, unable to sit still. Every time I imagined being taken to Verkhane, my stomach twisted. I had heard enough stories about the Beast King to know that being sent to him was no ordinary punishment.

I didn't know if he truly drank the blood of pure-blooded wolves, or if he was as monstrous as the rumours claimed. But I knew one thing.

I didn't want to find out.

When my parents finally arrived, I barely waited for the servants to announce them before rushing to meet them.

“Mother. Father.”

My mother immediately took my hands.

“Liora, darling, what's happened? Your message sounded urgent.”

I looked between them, trying to hold back the tears gathering in my eyes.

“Alistair wants to send me to Verkhane.”

My father's expression changed.

“What?”

“He says he's offering me to King Hazem as compensation for the ship they destroyed. He says my blood will be useful to him.”

My mother stared at me in disbelief. “He cannot do that, you are the queen of this kingdom.”

“He intends to. He's given me until next dawn.”

My father released a sharp breath, his face darkening with anger.

“Where is the King?”

“I don't know. But you have to speak to him. Please, Father. He won't listen to me.”

My mother pulled me into her arms.

“Don't be afraid. We will speak to him. He cannot treat his wife this way and expect everyone to remain silent. Has he been drinking too much?”

For the first time since Alistair had spoken those terrible words, I felt a small flicker of hope.

My father insisted on seeing the King immediately. I accompanied them, and together we made our way to his private audience chamber.

Alistair was there with Seraphina.

She sat beside him, looking entirely comfortable on the seat that belonged to me, while he leaned towards her, listening to something she whispered.

The moment we entered, his expression soured.

“What is the meaning of this?”

My father stepped forward. “Your Majesty, we have come to discuss your decision concerning our daughter.”

Alistair leaned back.

“Ah. I see.” He glanced at me. “You ran to your parents.”

“I have a right to defend myself,” I replied.

“Defend yourself from what? A generous opportunity to finally be of use?”

“Alistair!” my mother exclaimed.

He turned his attention to her. “I would advise you to remember who you're speaking to, I am your King, it is ‘Your Majesty’ to you.”

My father moved slightly in front of my mother.

“Your Majesty, Liora is your wife. Whatever has happened between the two of you, she is still the Queen of Solmora. You cannot simply offer her to another kingdom as though she were an object.”

“An object?” Alistair repeated, looking amused. “Interesting choice of words. I have spent five years treating her like a queen, yet she has failed to give me the one thing I married her for.”

“That's enough,” my father said.

“No, please. Let us speak honestly for once. Your daughter has enjoyed the privileges of being Queen without fulfilling the responsibility that comes with it. Five years, and not a single heir. What exactly am I supposed to do with a barren wife?”

My mother's hands clenched. “Do not call my daughter that.”

“Why? Is it untrue?”

“She has suffered enough because of something neither she nor the physicians have been able to explain. You know that! She is not simply refusing to give you a child.”

“Seraphina has been married to me for only six months, and already she has given me more hope of an heir than Liora has in five years.”

Seraphina lowered her eyes, pretending to be embarrassed by the praise.

My stomach turned.

“Please, Alistair,” I whispered. “Don't do this in front of them.”

He looked at me with open disdain. “Why? Are you ashamed? Perhaps you should be. You have brought nothing but disappointment to this family.”

My mother stepped forward.

“You have no right to humiliate her!”

“Then perhaps you should have raised a daughter who understood her duties as a wife.”

The slap cracked through the room.

For one breathless moment, nobody moved.