Crossing the Border (Rania) novel Chapter 234

Chapter 234

If the elders intended to exploit Rania’s position as queen to pressure her, then she was determined to wield that very status as a shield for her own protection.

Though not the quickest to grasp lessons, Rania had at least absorbed something valuable from her past encounters with these elders. At this point, nothing they demanded could truly satisfy them—unless they succeeded in breaking her spirit. But she was resolute; she refused to grant them that victory.

After about fifteen minutes, she finally revealed what she had been painstakingly writing. In truth, the message was brief—so brief that the elders read it in mere seconds. The delay was intentional: Rania had crossed out so many words, rephrasing and erasing repeatedly, deliberately prolonging the process to frustrate them.

On the paper, she had written that she was merely following the king’s explicit command to stay away from the palace, as it was not a safe place for her at the moment.

“The palace is the safest place for you, my queen. Don’t you see? You are responsible for the deaths of our two finest warriors,” Elder Gallant said sharply.

The loss of Deryl and Ares was a raw wound for Rania, especially since their memories remained vivid and painful.

She fixed Elder Gallant with a sharp glare and then wrote again.

[I cannot disobey the king’s direct orders, can I?]

That single line silenced the room. No matter how exalted Rania’s rank was, Maximus’s word was absolute. Defying the king’s direct command was tantamount to treason—even for the queen herself.

Rania had learned to navigate this delicate balance and used it to shield herself from their attacks.

Elder Gayle, on the other hand, appeared genuinely impressed with how Rania managed the situation, though Elder Gallant was far from finished complaining.

“My queen, please return to the palace. There are many matters that require your attention there. It’s clear the king’s plan has failed if you’re still being targeted even in hiding. The palace remains your safest refuge,” Elder Gallant urged, his eagerness to bring her back almost desperate.

Rania responded once more in writing, taking her time as always, which only seemed to rile Elder Gallant further.

[The king will arrive soon. I intend to wait for his further instructions.]

“My queen, you simply cannot do that. The palace cannot be left leaderless,” another elder chimed in, trying to support Elder Gallant, who was visibly losing patience.

Rania glanced at Elder Gayle, silently signaling that he was more than capable of managing the palace in her absence. After all, as the royal beta, it was his duty to oversee affairs when the king was away and the queen absent.

The elders noticed this but still tried to argue, only to be met with Rania’s calm, written reply.

[I want to return as well, but I must honor the king’s orders above all else. If you can persuade him to let me come back, then I will leave immediately.]

From the corner of her eye, Rania caught Elder Gayle suppressing a chuckle.

Without hesitation, she knelt beside him, cradling his trembling body in her arms, paying no mind to the spreading blood staining her dress.

She pressed her hand over the wound desperately, but her palm was slick with blood—the injury refused to close. Only one thing could cause that: a silver bullet.

Silver was deadly to shifters, as it prevented their natural healing abilities.

“Karin!” Rania called out urgently.

She grabbed one of the warriors and ordered him to fetch the healer, repeating the command until the man understood the gravity of the situation.

“But your safety, my queen!” he protested.

At that moment, the alarm blared loudly throughout the compound, signaling an attack on the pack. Confusion swirled in Rania’s mind. How could the pack be under assault? Alpha Letto had already eliminated half the enemy forces. How could the remaining few pose such a threat?

There was no time to dwell on questions as a warrior lifted Elder Gayle into his arms and hurried to escort Rania to safety.

In the distance, the sounds of chaos and battle grew louder, echoing ominously through the halls.