Chapter 176

[ 1,171 words ]

Arabella:

The Queen seemed taken aback by my demand. For the next few moments, she didn’t say anything. She simply sat there, flipping her pen between her fingers as though she was trying to decide what to say.

I waited for her to respond, but before she could, the intercom on her desk rang. She picked it up with an irritated look. “I am busy, and I don’t want any calls or interruptions. Is that understood?”

Without waiting for a reply, she slammed the receiver down, then she turned back to me, giving me a pointed look.

“Arabella, do you understand that Jasmine is going to be the future Queen?” she asked. “Or is that what you’re after? You think if I throw her into the dungeons, you’ll get to take her place?”

Oh, I might just do that, Your Highness. After all, Lucien is my mate.

Of course, I kept that thought to myself. Astraea, however, was delighted.

“Future Queen, my ass! Astraea giggled in my head , “Please tell her! I want to see how fast that old woman forgets her royal manners when she finds out her son belongs to us.”

“By the way, I like that idea! Send Jasmine to the dungeons. At least she’ll finally have a room in the palace that belongs to her. She’s been chasing our mate for three years, and the poor girl still hasn’t caught him.”

The Queen watched me sitting quietly for a while before chuckling and shaking her head. “Arabella, I can’t just send Jasmine to the dungeons because you…”

“Please, Your Highness,” I interrupted her. “This is my condition. If you want me to drop Anika’s investigation, Jasmine needs to be punished according to the law.”

I kept looking into her eyes, hoping she understood how serious I was.

“Nothing can bring back Lucien’s… I mean, His Highness’s beast. But Jasmine still needs to pay for what she did. And as for her becoming Queen, that’s Lucien’s decision to make. I have no say in it.”

“Yeah!” Astraea danced in my head. “Tell her we’re not after Jasmine’s seat. We’re after the man sitting on the throne. The seat just comes with him.”

Theodora didn’t answer immediately. She tapped her fingers against the desk, apparently considering my words.

“Fine!” She slapped her palm against the table. “I agree.”

I hadn’t expected her to give in so easily. She picked up the receiver of her intercom and pressed a few buttons.

“Sean, I need you to take care of something. Come to my office in a few minutes, and I’ll explain the rest. But first, I want Jasmine arrested.”

She paused, listening to whatever Sean was saying.

“No, don’t let her know beforehand. Wait until after dinner, when she’s about to retire to her room. Have the guards arrest her then. She’ll be given a fair trial, of course, but until then, she is to remain in a cell.”

The Queen listened for another moment, nodded to herself, and disconnected the call. I was still trying to believe she’d actually agreed when she turned back to me.

“Now, where were we?”

“My mother, Your Highness,” I reminded her. “You promised to help me find out what happened to her.”

“Ah, yes.” She leaned back in her seat. “You want to know the truth about your mother, Arabella? Then you’ve been approaching the wrong person.”

I wasn’t sure I understood her. “What do you mean?”

“Instead of questioning your father, you should be questioning his wife.”

“His wife? You mean…”

“Vikki Toussaint,” she confirmed with a nod. “That woman knows everything. And believe me, she can be made to talk if you use the right… tools.”

Tools? What kind of tools was she talking about?

I must have looked confused because the Queen smiled and waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll explain everything to you. But before I do, there’s something we need to take care of.”

When I shot her a questioning look, she added, “I need to bind you to my command, Arabella. And for that, I’ll need your consent…” She shrugged, “It’s just to make sure that you don’t go back on your word.”

For a moment, I couldn’t believe what I’d heard. “Bind me to your command?” I got to my feet so quickly that the chair scraped against the floor.

Was she serious?

I’d already experienced what it was like to have my own will taken away from me. I’d spent years suffering because of it.

And now, after everything I’d been through, the Queen wanted to put me under her control? Again?

The Queen kept looking at me for a while before finally shaking her head.

“It’s alright, Arabella. Take your time if you need to. I’m not forcing you to decide right now.” She gestured toward the chair I’d just abandoned. “But you have to understand my position, too. I need some security. Something that tells me I can trust you.”

When I remained silent, she sighed. “I know this is difficult for you, dear, but believe me, it’s the only way. I’m taking a big risk here, and I’m doing it for your sake.”

For my sake? I wasn’t sure how making me give up an investigation into her own daughter’s murder was supposed to be a favor to me.

“Think about it,” she continued. “I’ve already ordered my assistant to arrange Jasmine’s arrest, just as you requested. But what guarantee do I have that you’ll keep your word? What if I help you with everything you need to know about your mother, and tomorrow you decide to start investigating Anika’s murder again? What am I supposed to do then?”

She spread her hands. “I need some assurance, too, Arabella. Surely you can understand that.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to decide what to do.

“Hey, Arabella. Take the offer. Let her bind you.”

Astraea’s sudden suggestion caught me off guard.

Have you lost your mind? You know what happened to me last time when the pack alpha bound me!

“Oh, will you listen to me first?” She complained. ” Once you’re bound, you won’t be able to tell anyone what happened in this room. Fine. But who says you can’t write it down on a piece of paper?”

I went quiet.

“If she only stops you from speaking about it, there’s nothing stopping you from writing it down.”

Well, that was actually worth thinking about.

Of course, I had no idea whether the Queen’s magic would allow such a loophole. But if Astraea was right, I might still have a way to tell Lucien everything.

“Goddess, Astraea. I think that’s the first sensible thing you’ve said in ages.”

“You’re welcome. Now stop insulting me and get on with it.”

I almost smiled. The Queen was still waiting for my answer when I finally opened my eyes.

“Fine, Your Highness,” I said. “I’m ready to be bound.”

Her face lit up immediately. “Wonderful!” She pushed her chair back and got to her feet. “Then let’s do it, Arabella.”

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