Let Them Kneel (kaelani and Julian) novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Her eyes flicked once more toward the glowing fractures beneath their feet.

“It’s been staring everyone right in the face.”

Silence spread outward like a ripple.

Draevyn blinked.

For the first time since she had known him

truly blinked, as though he was completely blindsided.

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Confusion creased his brow.

“Kaelani,” he said carefully, stepping toward her again. “Perhaps you should go back inside and get more rest.”

His tone softened – concerned. Patient.

Manufactured.

“You’re not making any sense.

A faint smile touched his mouth.

“I think you may have fallen ill.”

Kaelani let out a low, humorless breath.

“What could I possibly have fallen ill from?” she asked.

Her chin lifted.

Pride burned through the weakness still clinging to her limbs.

“I am a Lycan,” she said – boldly. Publicly. For the first time without hesitation or shame.

Her voice carried across the courtyard like a challenge.

“Lycans don’t simply fall ill.”

Draevyn was clearly caught off guard – but only for a moment.

Then he gave a small, almost patient smile.

“Well,” he began smoothly, spreading his hands as though calming a child. “You are in an entirely new realm. One unfamiliar to you. It wouldn’t be surprising if—”

“Save the bullshit.”

Kaelani’s voice cut across the courtyard like a blade.

Loud.

Sharp.

Final.

The effect was immediate.

Music faltered.

Laughter died mid–breath.

Chapter 173

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Lanternlight flickered as conversations collapsed into stunned silence.

Every head turned.

Kaelani stepped toward him.

One step.

Then another.

Each movement deliberate… predatory.

“I. Know. Everything.”

Her voice wasn’t loud now.

It didn’t need to be.

The silence of the courtyard carried it farther than a scream ever could.

A beat passed.

Then

she added, colder—

“She showed me.”

For the first time since she arrived in this realm, something dark flickered behind Draevyn’s eyes.

Not confusion.

Not concern.

Something more calculating.

“Who?” he asked quietly.

He already knew.

She saw it in the tightening of his mouth. In the way his posture went perfectly still like a beast preparing to strike.

But she said it anyway.

“Lyressa.”

The name struck the courtyard harder than any shouted accusation.

Unease rippled through the gathered Unseelie.

Draevyn’s expression hardened.

Not fear.

Annoyance.

Cold irritation that someone had disrupted his carefully constructed world.

“You dream–walked the Seelie Queen.”

It wasn’t a question.

It was an accusation.

A dangerous one.

Chapter 173

The crowd gasped.

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The reaction rippled through them like a fracture splitting stone

an evil one at that.

shock, disbelief, outrage. Dream–walking a sovereign queen

It wasn’t just forbidden.

It was a violation of ancient law.

And Kaelani had done it without hesitation.

Kaelani’s gaze never left Draevyn.

“She was calling to me,” she said, her voice steady despite the fury simmering dangerously close to a boil. “She was looking for someone to listen. Someone willing to hear her version of the story.”

The charm Draevyn wore like a crown dimmed.

Something in his composure splintered.

“So yes,” Kaelani continued, lifting her chin slightly. “I let her in.”

The admission sent another uneasy murmur through the courtyard.

“And I saw everything.”

Her words sharpened.

“What you did. Who you really are.

Kaelani turned toward the crowd.

Toward the faces watching her with growing tension.

The three Seers were pushing slowly through the gathered Unseelie now, pale robes brushing against dark silks and shadowed armor. Alarm and confusion warred openly across their features as they drew closer, their ancient eyes fixed on Kaelani like they were trying to read the truth straight from her soul.

Kaelani didn’t soften.

Didn’t hesitate.

“It wasn’t Lyressa,” she said, her voice rising just enough to carry across the courtyard. “She wasn’t the one stealing the light of the Seelie women.”

A ripple of disbelief moved through the crowd.

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