All Chapters of Claimed by the Ruthless Alpha Prince: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Elara’s POVThe King.But it’s not the sight of royalty that makes my knees nearly give out. It’s the two figures standing nearby, watching my approach with expressions that cause my stomach to clench with dread.Magnus Blackwood and his daughter, Harper.They’re here. They followed me all the way to the royal palace, determined to see me punished for the crime of wanting freedom.The guards force me to a stop about twenty feet from the throne. I stand there, dripping wet and shivering, but I keep my spine straight and my gaze level. The nobles around the room continue to murmur among themselves, their whispers carrying clearly in the vast space.“Look at her.”“So defiant.”“Doesn’t know her place.”I ignore them all, focusing on the imposing figure seated on the black throne in front of me.The King leans forward slightly, his pale eyes fixing on me with cold interest.“So, you are the runaway bride who disobeyed my orders.”Terror floods through me, but I force myself not to crumpl

Kael’s POVAn hour.An entire hour I’ve been searching this godforsaken place, and still nothing. No trace of her beyond the lingering stench that makes my wolf want to claw its way out of my skin.I pace the empty inn room like a caged animal. The bed sits unmade, sheets tangled from where we slept. The window hangs open, curtains fluttering in the evening breeze. Everything exactly as I left it when the bewitched inn owner lured me downstairs with her glazed eyes and honeyed words.“Elara!” I roar for what feels like the hundredth time, though I know it’s useless. She’s not here. She hasn’t been here for over an hour.The thick, cloying, unfamiliar magical scent clings to everything. It coats the back of my throat like oil, making me want to retch. Whoever did this was powerful. Professional. They knew exactly what they were doing.I’ve torn through every inch of this place. The bathroom, the closet, under the bed. I’ve searched the entire inn grounds, following every possible escap

Kael’s POVBy the time this is over, Zari will understand what it truly means to cross the future king. And if she has harmed one hair on Elara’s head, she will pray for the mercy of a quick death.A mercy I have no intention of granting.Blood coats my hands. My arms. The front of my shirt, where arterial spray caught me as I tore out that guard’s throat with my bare fingers.The Tashina estate’s main hallway is a gallery of carnage. Bodies litter the marble floor—servants who tried to flee, guards who thought their loyalty meant something. The white stone walls are painted red now, abstract patterns that speak of violence and rage.I step over a corpse, boots squelching in the spreading pools. The metallic scent of blood mingles with the acrid stench of burned magic. Some of the witches believed their magic could stop me and tried to fight back. Their efforts are scattered across the floor in charred remains.“Where is she?”My voice echoes through the vast space, flat and emotionle

Kael’s POVThey hurt her.They whipped her.They made her bleed.And I wasn’t here to protect her.I step forward, and the world narrows to this single moment of retribution. My wolf is howling for blood, demanding justice for our mate, and I don’t fight it.Before anyone can react, I thrust my hands into the chests of the two guards holding the whips and rip out their still-beating hearts.The satisfaction that floods through me is dark and primal.These men hurt what’s mine.They deserve this. They deserve worse.Their bodies slump to the ground with wet thuds. Blood pools on the pristine marble floor, spreading outward in thick crimson rivers.A collective gasp echoes through the throne room. Someone screams. Several nobles press themselves against the walls, looking frantically for the fastest escape route.I let the hearts drop from my hands. The soggy splats echo in the sudden silence.Blood drips from my fingers as I look around the room, deciding who should be next.Let them a

Kael’s POVLord Vance seizes the opening.“My daughter is far better suited for the role. She has breeding, class, and political connections. If the Prince is determined to keep this woman,” Vance says disdainfully, gesturing toward Elara, “perhaps she could serve as a concubine. Someone he can… visit when the mood strikes him. My daughter would be understanding of such arrangements.”Elara flinches beside me, and something inside me snaps.“A concubine?!”The throne room falls silent at my tone.“You want to know what this woman has accomplished?” I step forward, my voice echoing throughout the vast space. “Elara is a genius herbalist. She has developed a way to neutralize wolfsbane poisoning—something no healer in this kingdom has ever managed.”Lord Vance scoffs.“The Prince is clearly—”I cut him off sharply.“She saved my life. This woman healed me when I was dying. She has also discovered a cure for nightshade poisoning. Tell me, Lord Vance, what has your daughter accomplished b