Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 216

Chapter 216 A Prince in Fury

61%1

+20 Free Coins

Bran let out a quiet breath. “Yes, Your Grace. His Highness does look unwell. But he was in no state to be reasoned with. He forced his way through. We couldn’t stop him-and we dared not lay hands on the Crown Prince.”

Before he could finish, a commotion broke out from the outer court. Guards were trying to restrain someone. Over them rose Alaric’s voice-sharp, strained, edged with anger.

Cassian lifted his gaze just as Alaric shook off his attendants and strode straight into the inner grounds.

He wore informal robes, thrown on in haste, collar crooked as though he had come straight from his sickbed. His face was pale, lips drained of color. Only his eyes burned an unnatural red.

His gaze fell at once on the pavilion.

The gauze curtains hung low. On the daybed within, a small figure slept peacefully.

Alaric stopped short. His eyes darkened further as they locked onto Cassian.

“Uncle,” he demanded, voice tight, “what exactly is this supposed to mean?”

“You’re asking me?” Cassian let out a quiet, humorless laugh. “It’s well past nightfall. You ought to be resting in the Crown Prince’s Wing. Instead, you force your way into my residence and cause a disturbance. What is that supposed to mean?”

His tone was even.

The authority beneath it was not. It settled over the courtyard without sound, pressing cold against Alaric’s spine. Behind the curtain, Elower shifted faintly, disturbed by the noise.

Alaric’s chest tightened. That’s Elowen.

He clenched his jaw. “You know why I’m here, Uncle Cassian.”

He raised a hand, pointing toward the daybed in the pavilion. “We grew up together. She always meant to marry me. You knew that. So why did you take her?”

“Take her?” Cassian’s voice cooled further. “The marriage was decreed by His Majesty-your father. She is my lawfully wedded Duchess of Duskmoor. If you claim she was taken from you, are you questioning His Majesty?”

“I-”

|||

1/3

14:53 Sat, Feb 21

Chapter 216 A Prince in Fury

Alaric faltered. His face grew even paler. He could not defy his father’s decree.

But he would not accept it.

“It was an accident,” he said hoarsely. “Ella loves me.”

61%

+20 Free Coins

He lifted his head, eyes blazing. “You’re the one Father trusts most. Even now, you hold more power than anyone at court. You could have chosen any woman in Avenlor. Why did it have to be her?”

His voice roughened. “Hale family has fallen. Her family is gone. She has no influence left. She brings you no advantage. And she isn’t even the greatest beauty in the realm-”

“Alaric.”

Cassian’s voice cut through him like steel. “She is.”

Alaric froze.

“I’ll assume your fever has clouded your judgment,” Cassian continued. “So let me make this simple.”

His gaze fixed on Alaric through the drifting curtain, heavy and unyielding.

“First. She is not your Ella. She is my wife. By rank and by law, you address her as Aunt.”

The word struck like a hammer. Color drained from Alaric’s face.

“Second. At the banquet announcing the marriage, she stated before the court that she wished to marry me. That is why His Majesty granted the match. And now you claim she loves you?”

A faint scoff followed. Alaric stared, disbelief written plainly across his face.

Elowen says that? No. That’s impossible.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify