Let Them Kneel (kaelani and Julian) novel Chapter 96

She took a breath.

“It began with whispers. Maidens found lifeless in their beds. Whole villages cloaked in mourning and terror. Lyressa launched a public investigation, claiming it to be some kind of plague. But that was quickly dismissed since it was only targeting young women. So, Lyressa appointed none other than Lord Draevyn to uncover the truth.”

Kaelani blinked. “She hired him?”

“She did,” the woman confirmed. “He wasn’t Lord of Shadows then. Back in those days, Lord Draevyn was a High Commander of the Unseelie Court—one of the most respected among the elite. He served with honor, fierce in battle and incorruptible in duty. Even those in the Seelie Court acknowledged his strength, though few dared speak it aloud.”

Her voice fell to a near-whisper, thick with something sacred.

“Perhaps Lyressa believed that choosing him would deflect suspicion… that appointing an Unseelie would make her look impartial. But what she underestimated was that Lord Draevyn was loyal to the realm—not to her. And when he uncovered the truth… everything changed.”

“It was Lyressa all along. She was using dark sorcery to steal the light of her own people—of young Seelie maidens. Consuming their radiance, draining them of their essence to keep her own light from fading.”

Kaelani’s stomach turned. “Their own queen?”

“She betrayed her people,” the woman said, her voice grim. “When Lord Draevyn confronted her, she tried to use the stolen power against him. Her goal was to rule over the entire realm completely and enslave the Unseelie. But she was not prepared to challenge someone as powerful as him.”

Her gaze flicked back to Kaelani. “He didn’t kill her though. He froze her. Locked her in a suspended state of stasis—along with her most loyal advisors, her elite guards, and any high-ranking Seelie suspected of conspiring with her.”

Kaelani was speechless, swept away by the gravity of what she’d just learned.

“Eventually… the entire court. Even the commoners,” the woman added. “Lord Draevyn said the Queen’s madness had spread like a sickness. Her greed for light… her hunger for power… it was infectious.”

She let out a slow breath.

“He did what had to be done… to stop the rot.”

Kaelani’s brows drew together. “So… the entire Seelie court is just… suspended in time?”

The woman nodded. “Every last one of them, unfortunately. Lord Draevyn wants to release them. He’s said as much. But the risk… he fears unleashing whatever darkness still sleeps beneath their skin. He won’t endanger his people again.”

“How long have they been frozen?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify