Let Them Kneel (kaelani and Julian) novel Chapter 222

Chapter 222

Brielle’s face drained of color

‘Absolutely not,” she snapped. “They’ll imprison him.”

Kaelani tilted her head slightly, disbelief flashing across her expression.

“He tried to kill me,” she said plainly. “He pulled the trigger.”

Her gaze didn’t waver.

“You might have found that convenient,” she added coolly. “But what happens the next time he aims at someone else?”

She let the question settle.

“What if it had been one of your maids?”

A breath.

“What if it had been your daughter?”

“I will not call the Council on my son,” Brielle said, rising to her feet.

“Then I will,” Garrick answered.

Her head snapped toward him, fury blazing in her eyes.

“You are a backstabber through and through, aren’t you?” she hissed. “Turning on your own family for-”

Her gaze slid to Kaelani, contempt curling her lip.

“-that mutt.”

Garrick stepped forward, something old and dangerous returning to his posture.

“That’s my daughter,” he said, and there was no hesitation in it. “I already turned my back on her once. And it was the greatest mistake of my life.”

He didn’t look away from Brielle.

“Unlike the rest of you, she didn’t leave me to rot in a cell when she had every right to.”

His jaw clenched.

“I bent over backward for this family. Gave you everything. And what did it cost?”

His voice rose now.

“It cost this pack its integrity. It cost me my spine.”

His hand gestured sharply toward Christian’s unconscious body.

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“I let our children run this pack while I stood by and called it leadership. I ignored their cruelty. I excused their disgraceful behavior.”

“No more,” Garrick said. “They are old enough to understand that their actions carry consequences. And Christian will face them.”

Kaelani placed her hand lightly on his shoulder.

He turned toward her. The fury still lingered in his eyes, but it faltered under the steady warmth in hers

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She gave him a small, knowing smile–not in need of defending, but acknowledging that this time, he had chosen correctly. Then her attention shifted back to Brielle.

“If you refuse to recognize what he’s done as a violation of this pack,” she said, “then you stand complicit in it.”

Her voice did not rise.

“And if that is your position, you will be banished from Silveredge. You may seek asylum elsewhere and hope another pack finds you worth the risk.”

The words landed without flourish.

She turned toward the guard.

A single nod.

He stepped forward and lifted the lid of the ceremonial box.

Inside, the Blade of Silveredge rested on dark velvet, its steel faintly luminous beneath the room’s light, ancient glyphs etched along its length.

Kaelani reached inside and wrapped her fingers around the hilt. Without another word, she turned and walked toward the doors.

One by one, they followed.

Kaelani descended the steps into the courtyard, the Blade of Silveredge gleaming at her side.

“Where is Christian’s beta?” she asked.

The guard appeared at her side. “He never appointed one, my lady. He didn’t believe anyone was worthy.”

Kaelani rolled her eyes once.

“Of course he didn’t.”

Her gaze sharpened.

“Mind-link every guard at every post. Every border. Inform them that Garrick’s firstborn, Kaelani of Silveredge, is invoking her birthright and will be claiming the Alpha seat.”

The guard straightened immediately. “Yes, my lady.”

Kaelani turned to Evelyn.

Spread it through the pack. If anyone has an objection, they may voice it now.”

Flara stepped forward at last, chin lifted.

[object.”

Kaelani’s gaze slid to her, cool and unimpressed.

Anyone else?” she asked. “Anyone with an opinion that actually matters?”

Llara huffed a breath, folding her arms as though the entire display offended her personally.

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