The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 139

The Hunt had truly begun-2

Sonia took a step forward, her composure slipping further now, her eyes burning into Caleb.

“You cannot just refuse,” she said sharply. “This is not only about you.”

Finally-

Caleb looked at her.

And the coldness in his gaze made her falter for just a second.

“Exactly,” he replied quietly.

A pause.

Heavy.

Charged.

“This is not just about me.”

And something in the way he said it-

Made the entire room uneasy.

Clam

The silence that followed his refusal was suffocating.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Every pair of eyes in the chamber was locked on Caleb, tension crackling in the air like a storm about to break, the Council visibly unsettled, his father radiating restrained authority, and Sonia-

Sonia looked like she was balancing on the edge between fury and panic.

Good.

Caleb remained still at the center of it all, his posture straight, his expression controlled, but behind that calm surface-

His mind was razor sharp.

Calculating.

Observing.

Because this moment-

This reaction-

It mattered.

7.6

The Hunt bad fruly begun 2

King William’s voice cut through the tension, low and commanding.

“You will explain yourself. Now.”

Claim

Caleb inclined his head slightly, as if acknowledging the demand, his tone measured when he finally spoke again.

“Of course, Father.”

A pause.

Deliberate.

Controlled.

He stepped forward just slightly, enough to command attention, enough to shift the focus fully onto him.

“This union…” he began slowly, his voice calm, almost thoughtful. “Is not something ordinary.”

The Council stilled, their expressions tightening in cautious attention.

Sonia’s brows furrowed faintly, confusion flickering across her face.

Caleb continued, his gaze sweeping briefly across the room before returning to his father.

“It is not merely a mating,” he added. “It is a symbol. A message. A cornerstone for the future of our kingdom.”

Subtle nods appeared among the Council.

Agreement.

Expectation.

He could feel them leaning in.

Hooked.

“And because of that…” Caleb went on, his tone deepening slightly, “it should not be rushed.”

There it was.

The shift.

Small.

But unmistakable.

Sonia’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.

The King’s eyes narrowed, studying him more carefully now.

Caleb kept going.

The Hunt had rely begun 2

Steady.

Precise.

Claim

“As the Messenger of the Moon Goddess,” he said, turning his gaze briefly toward Sonia, his expression unreadable, “Sonia deserves more than a hurried ceremony dictated by convenience.”

The words were smooth.

Polished.

Convincing.

And yet-

Behind them-

Every nerve in his body was alert.

Watching.

Reading.

Waiting.

Because this wasn’t about convincing them.

Not entirely.

This was about testing them.

He saw it then.

Clear as day.

Sonia’s initial reaction-

A flicker of panic.

Raw.

Uncontrolled.

It lasted only a fraction of a second before it disappeared, replaced by something else.

Relief.

A soft exhale.

Her shoulders easing just slightly.

Too slightly for most to notice.

But not for him.

Not for a predator.

3/6

Claim

The Hunt bad hely begun 2

Calcb’s mind locked onto it instantly.

There it is.

That was not the reaction of someone confident in her position.

That was the reaction of someone who feared losing control of the timeline.

Of someone whose plans/depended on urgency.

On speed.

On pressure.

And now-

He had disrupted it.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

The King crossed his arms slowly, his gaze still fixed on Caleb, assessing, weighing every word.

“You suggest a delay?” he asked, his tone neutral, but probing.

“Yes,” Caleb replied without hesitation.

A calculated answer.

“A proper preparation,” he continued. “A ceremony worthy of the Messenger… and of the Adama name.”

Murmurs spread again among the Council, this time less aggressive, more contemplative.

Because his argument-

It made sense.

Too much sense to dismiss outright.

Sonia stepped forward again, her composure returning, but not fully.

Not completely.

“If this is about grandeur,” she said carefully, her tone controlled, “that can be arranged without postponement.”

Caleb’s eyes flicked to her.

Sharp.

Cold.

And for a brief second-

She faltered again.

46

The Hunt bad truly begun 2

“Ham not speaking about decorations, he replied calmly.

A pause.

“I am speaking about significance.”

Silence fell again.

And this time-

It held.

Because now-

The seed was planted.

Doubt.

Delay.

Time.

Exactly what he needed.

Because the longer this stretched-

The more chances he had.

To dig.