Zara's heart pounded, but her expression remained cold, unreadable. She had no intention of giving Alaric the satisfaction of a reaction.
"You have no right to be here," she said, her voice sharp as steel.
Alaric stood in the moonlit balcony, his jaw clenched, his dark eyes searching hers. "I asked you a question."
Zara exhaled, turning her back on him. "And I refuse to answer it."
The accusation in his gaze made her chest tighten, but she would not give him the satisfaction of an answer.
"Say something," Alaric pressed, his voice sharp and demanding. "Is it true?"
Zara exhaled slowly, her expression never breaking. "You should leave, Alaric."
His brows furrowed, his jaw clenching at her dismissal. "Not until you answer me."
"I owe you no explanations," she said coldly, moving past him toward the vanity where her crown sat.
She lifted it with delicate fingers, running a thumb along its edges. "You are not my advisor and most importantly, you are no longer my—anything." The hesitation in her voice was almost imperceptible, but Alaric caught it, and it only fueled his anger.
He took a step closer. "This is because of him isn't it?" He whispered silently "the way you have changed towards me, you're harsher" he added.
Zara spun to face him, her patience snapping. "You nearly let him die Alaric!!!"
she hissed, with her voice sharp as a dagger.
"Erythian was on the verge of dying because of you, and you expect me to forget that?"
Alaric scoffed and with a voice his voice tight with barely restrained anger, he said "This is because of him" he aggressively runs his fingers through his hair "I guess the rumors are true after all? you are marrying him?" He added.
Zara exhaled through her nose, finally turning to face him. His expression was unreadable, but his jaw was clenched, his dark eyes were filled with something dangerous.
"You really rode all the way here to interrogate me?" she asked, her tone laced with exhaustion.
Alaric scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself, Lysandra. I just want the truth." He steps closer "The truth about you and Erythian,"
Zara's lips curled in a bitter smile. "And if I refuse to answer?"
His hands clenched into fists at his and he is silent from the betrayal of just finding out that Zara has decided to proceed fully with the marriage, Alaric was furious and everything within him wanted to wreak havoc but for some reason, he kept bringing himself to a point of calm; deep down, it was because of the queen, he kept his calm because of Lysandra.
She took a slow step toward him, lifting her chin. "You don't care about me Alaric, all you're concerned about is That I dare to care about someone other than you" Her voice was cold, cutting, meant to wound.
Alaric's nostrils flared as he took a step closer, the space between them charged with tension. "You shouldn't care for him, let alone marry him…You know what he is, what he's capable of. You know what he's done."
"And you think you're any better?" she shot back, fire burning in her eyes. "You think your hands are clean?"
Alaric exhaled sharply, his gaze darkening. "I don't expect you to worship me, Lysandra, but I do expect you to remember who has been fighting for you. Who has bled for you."
Zara's nails dug into her palms as she forced herself to remain composed. "You fought for me? You bled for me?—SO DID ERYTHIAN!" she repeated, her voice filled with disdain. "Is that what this is about? That I didn't thank you?"
His silence was damning.
Zara let out a bitter laugh. "Unbelievable. You almost let Erythian die, and now you're angry that I didn't grovel at your feet in gratitude?"
Alaric's jaw tightened. "I did what was necessary."
"You did what was convenient!" she hissed. "You stood by and let him suffer because it was easier for you to look away. You wanted him dead, Alaric, and you almost got what you wanted."
For the first time since he entered, something flickered across Alaric's face, guilt, perhaps. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by something much colder.
"So now you'll marry him," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Zara held his gaze, refusing to waver. "Well, yes, surely it is not you whom I intend to marry."
Something inside Alaric snapped.
His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist, not forcefully, but firm enough to keep her from walking away. "You don't mean that," he said through gritted teeth.
Zara yanked her hand free. "Don't tell me what I do and do not mean."
Alaric let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. "You're making a mistake, Lysandra. A mistake that might cost you everything."
" and who is this person that might take everything from me? —or wait, do you already think you're my salvation?" she asked, voice dripping with mockery.
Alaric took another step toward her, invading her space, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "I think you're too blinded by whatever spell he has over you to see the truth."
Zara refused to move, refused to look away. "And what is the truth, Alaric?"
"The truth," he said, voice low, almost a whisper, "is that I WANT you, I want to love you and protect you Lysandra and I would burn an entire kingdom to the ground if it meant keeping you from harm."
Silence.
The air between them was suffocating, thick with unsaid words, with feelings neither of them dared name. Zara felt her heart pound against her ribs, felt the undeniable pull between them, but she refused to give in. Not now.
"You don't own me," she said, voice quieter this time.
Alaric's gaze flickered to her lips for the briefest moment before he forced himself to step back. "No," he admitted. "You're right, I don't but all I've ever wanted has been to show you that I want to serve and love you more than anything else in this world"
She swallowed hard but said nothing, Alaric meant every word he spoke.
Alaric took a slow breath, steadying himself before delivering the final blow. "When I first came here, my sole intention was to warn you until the talk about Erythian came up" he stepped closer. "POWERS?—Lysandra, Is it true what they're saying or not? Are the rumors true?"
Zara stiffened.
For a moment, she considered lying, considered brushing past him and ending the conversation altogether. But something in his expression told her he wouldn't let it go.
"I see," she murmured, tilting her head slightly. "So you've heard the rumors too."
Alaric exhaled sharply. "I didn't hear it from 'the rumors,' Lysandra."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice as he reached into his coat and pulled out a folded piece of parchment.
"I got a scroll."
Zara's blood ran cold.
Her heart pounded as she stared at the parchment in his hand, her mind racing. How much did he know? Who sent it? What exactly was written on that damned scroll?
She forced herself to meet his gaze, even as her body screamed at her to run.
Alaric watched her closely, waiting for a reaction. And when he saw the flicker of fear in her eyes however brief, his lips curled into something almost triumphant.
"That got your attention, didn't it?" he murmured.
Zara exhaled, forcing herself to regain control. She straightened her shoulders, masking her panic with cold indifference. "You shouldn't believe everything you read."
Alaric let out a quiet laugh. "No Lysandra, this time, I think I just might."
He stepped back, tucking the scroll back into his coat. The weight of his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he finally turned toward the door.
Zara clenched her fists, forcing herself to breathe evenly. She needed to get that scroll.
Before he reached the threshold, Alaric paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Sleep well, Your Majesty," he said, his tone mocking. "It might be your last peaceful night—but I wouldn't let that happen if you just said the word; when I said I Loved and would protect you, I meant it."
Zara stood in silence, her entire body rigid. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, she finally allowed herself to let out a breath.
Her fingers trembled as she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the storm raging inside her.
This was bad.
This was very, very bad.
"Reaching out to Alaric for help would truly show him that she has been back in to a corner and that everything that has been said about her powers are true" The queen thought.
She was conflicted, she knew that Alaric was the one person that could make this all go away but at thesame time, she understood that reaching out would confirm his suspicions; this would mean that Alaric and Erythian would know about her powers and she had no idea how they might use it against her.
That reality scared The queen more than anything.