The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 196

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 196: Captive**

[Third-Person’s POV]

Caroline Kingston was nothing if not resilient.

When the King ordered her dragged down to the palace’s shadowy lower levels, a chill of foreboding settled in her stomach. She understood all too well that she was teetering on the edge of two grim possibilities: death at the hands of the King himself or at the merciless grip of Alexander. The thought of either fate made her heart race with dread. In that moment, she found herself questioning which was the more merciful end.

But if there was one thing Caroline was known for, it was her unyielding spirit. Surrender was not in her nature. Even in the face of despair, she clung to the hope that she possessed valuable knowledge that could turn the tides in her favor. As she was unceremoniously thrown into a holding cell, she wasted no time, shouting hoarsely for the King to grant her one last opportunity to prove her worth.

Just then, the heavy door creaked open, and Gregory stepped in, his presence igniting a flicker of hope within her.

“What do you want?” he snapped, irritation lacing his words.

“Alexander has a vulnerability,” she replied, her voice steady despite the chaos around her.

A frown etched itself between the King’s brows, his skepticism evident. “Let me guess, this weakness is conveniently tied to his wife, Evelyn?”

Caroline’s heart plummeted at the mention of Evelyn. She masked her rising panic, nodding with a feigned nonchalance.

“Exactly,” she said, her tone almost sing-song. “If you truly want to bring Alexander to his knees, you must start by targeting her.”

“I already know that, Caroline. In fact, after bringing you here, I reached out to an old acquaintance—someone I trust to get the job done,” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous.

She narrowed her eyes, feeling the bite of his condescension. “And how does this friend of yours plan to breach the compound? Alexander’s security is impenetrable.”

“So what? Are you attempting to barter your way out of this prison with some clever tidbit of information that only you possess?” he retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Caroline clicked her tongue, a sly smile creeping onto her face.

“As a matter of fact, yes. Unless you’d prefer your friend to fail miserably and hand over the throne to Alexander…”

Gregory’s disdainful sneer reminded her of why they had once found common ground. He crossed his arms, lowering his gaze in contemplation.

“What do you want in return for this information?”

“First and foremost, I demand my freedom from this wretched cell. Then, you will ensure I can leave without a trace,” she declared, her voice firm. “And I assure you, once I’m gone, you’ll never hear from me again.”

“My, my. That’s quite the proposition. But is the information you possess truly worth such a price?”

“You tell me,” she shot back, her eyes narrowing. “What time is it?”

With a furrowed brow, he glanced at his watch. “Half-past one. Why?”

“I know precisely where Evelyn is at the Manor. Her routine is as predictable as Alexander’s. She’ll be in the greenhouse, working alone. As for how your friend can get through the border… I have a method that will allow him to breach the wall and snatch Evelyn without anyone being the wiser.”

After Caroline meticulously laid out her plan, the King finally nodded, his expression hardened with resolve.

“Once Evelyn is in my possession, I will fulfill my end of the bargain.”

Wait a minute…

Suddenly, everything clicked into place. Back when Alexander was gathering evidence to implicate Michael, he had mentioned a third party involved in the assassination attempt.

According to the manager at the junkyard, this man wore a jacket adorned with an old royal shield. It was that very detail that hinted at the royal family’s attempts to orchestrate Alexander’s downfall.

“So, it’s you,” I said, my voice steady. “You’re the one the King hired to eliminate Alexander during that car crash.”

The man grinned, a glimmer of approval in his eyes as he reached into his pocket for a pack of cigarettes. He took a long drag, the smoke curling around him as he spoke.

“That’s right. You’re quite perceptive,” he acknowledged. “I must admit, I was genuinely impressed when I learned Alexander survived that crash—not to mention astonished to discover he was never paralyzed at all. The man must possess an iron will to maintain such a facade.”

I shook my head, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes.

“What does the King hope to achieve with this charade?”

“The King wants your foolish husband to understand that it would be unwise to continue threatening me,” a low voice interjected.

We turned to see Gregory standing in the doorway, a smug expression plastered across his face, though I could sense it was merely a mask.

“So I’m just a pawn in this game,” I said, my voice laced with bitterness. “Do you really believe that keeping me here will magically resolve everything?”

The King stepped forward, his glare piercing. “I suggest you choose your words carefully,” he warned, his tone low and menacing. “I’ve already made it clear to Alexander that I would not hesitate to send pieces of your pack to him as a lesson.”