CHAPTER 25: THE EDGE OF LOYALTY

The moon hung high above the ruined castle, casting an eerie glow over the scorched walls and shattered towers. The remnants of the battle still lingered—collapsed archways, broken weapons scattered like fallen leaves, and the faint scent of blood and smoke that clung to the air. The kingdom, though victorious, remained fragile, its people uneasy as whispers of treachery coiled through the halls like a slow-moving plague.

Darius sat on the edge of his bed, wincing as Evelynn gently adjusted the bandages around his ribs. Though his strength had returned enough for him to move about, the pain still racked his body with every breath. He loathed his weakness, the way it kept him restrained when he knew threats still lurked in the shadows.

"You should be resting," Evelynn murmured, her hands careful but firm as she secured the wrappings.

Darius let out a breath, shaking his head. "Rest is a luxury we cannot afford."

Evelynn studied him, frustration flashing in her eyes. "Pushing yourself too soon will do more harm than good. You need to be at full strength."

Before Darius could argue, the chamber door creaked open, and Lucien strode in, his expression dark. His usual composed demeanor had been replaced by something grimmer, the weight of responsibility evident in the tight set of his jaw.

"We need to talk," Lucien said.

Darius gestured for him to proceed.

Lucien hesitated, glancing at Evelynn before speaking. "We found a body."

Evelynn stiffened, her fingers pausing over Darius's bandages. "Who?"

Lucien exhaled. "A council member. Lord Aldric. His throat was slit, his body discarded in the lower corridors."

Silence fell between them.

Darius's grip tightened against the edge of the bed. "And what does that tell us?"

"That the traitor is still within these walls," Lucien said grimly. "And they're getting desperate."

Evelynn shot a glance at Darius. "Selene claimed the betrayal ran deep. Could this be their way of silencing Aldric? Perhaps he knew something."

Lucien nodded. "It's possible. But there's something else."

Darius motioned for him to continue, his golden eyes piercing through the tension in the room.

Lucien's voice lowered. "Before his death, Aldric sent a letter—one that never reached its intended recipient. We found it on his body."

Evelynn's pulse quickened. "What did it say?"

Lucien hesitated, then handed Darius a worn parchment. The ink was smudged in places, but the words were still legible:

The walls have ears. I have seen too much. Trust no one, not even the ones closest to you. Kael's influence is greater than we feared. The next strike will be from within.

A cold chill settled over them.

Darius read the words again before slowly lifting his gaze. "He was warning us."

Lucien nodded. "The question is—who was he warning us about?"

A knock at the door interrupted them.

A guard entered, his face grim. "Your Majesty, Selene is requesting an audience."

Darius and Evelynn exchanged a glance before he nodded. "Send her in."

Moments later, Selene entered the chamber. Her emerald eyes were sharp, her every movement calculated. She had been the one to expose the presence of a traitor in their midst, but the true identity of the betrayer still eluded them.

"I heard about Lord Aldric," she said, crossing her arms. "It seems our traitor is covering their tracks."

Darius studied her, his gaze unwavering. "You told us that someone close to me had betrayed us. Do you know who it is?"

Selene exhaled, choosing her words carefully. "I have suspicions. But no proof. And without proof, accusing the wrong person could be fatal."

Lucien stepped forward. "Then we draw them out."

Evelynn looked between them. "And how do you propose we do that?"

Lucien's jaw tightened. "By making them think they've won."

Darius narrowed his eyes. "Explain."

Lucien glanced at Selene before continuing. "We let them believe their deception is working. We make them feel comfortable enough to slip."

Darius's expression remained unreadable. "And how do you suggest we do that?"

Lucien's lips pressed into a thin line. "By staging your downfall."

Evelynn's heart lurched. "What?"

Lucien kept his gaze locked on Darius. "They want you weak. If they believe you're no longer a threat, they'll make their final move. That's when we strike."

Darius leaned back slightly, considering the weight of Lucien's words. He knew the risk. Feigning weakness in a court of power-hungry nobles was like bleeding in a den of wolves.

But it was the only way to expose the one who had already cost them so much.

Finally, Darius nodded. "Then we give them what they want."

The news spread quickly.

By morning, the castle was buzzing with rumors of the king's deteriorating condition. Servants whispered of his failing health, of his inability to rule. Some claimed he wouldn't last the week.

From the shadows, eyes watched.

Darius played his part well, remaining in his chambers and appearing weak when necessary. But his mind was sharper than ever, and his resolve had never been stronger.

Evelynn stayed close, her worry genuine even as she understood the necessity of the deception. Every time she saw Darius feign exhaustion, every time he let his voice falter, it sent a pang through her. But she trusted him. And she trusted that they would not fail.

Days passed, tension mounting with every whispered secret that slithered through the halls.

And then, finally, the betrayer made their move.

It happened in the dead of night.

Darius lay in bed, his breathing slow and measured. The candlelight flickered, casting shadows against the stone walls. The castle was silent—too silent.

Then, a creak.

A shadow slipped into the chamber, moving with the precision of someone who had planned this moment for a long time. A blade glinted in the dim light.

The assassin was careful, stepping closer, inch by inch, their breath steady.

But just as the blade was raised—

Darius moved.

In a blur, he caught the would-be assassin's wrist, twisting it sharply. A pained gasp filled the room as the dagger clattered to the floor.

Guards burst through the door, torches illuminating the stunned face of the betrayer.

Evelynn's breath caught.

Lucien's eyes darkened.

And Darius's expression hardened as he looked upon the one who had sought to end his life.

The traitors had finally revealed themselves.

And there would be no mercy.