The Last Fae Princess

6_I Find You Guilty

Declan POV

My eyelids feel heavy as stone, but I force them open, and the first thing I become aware of is pain. Not the sharp, blinding agony I felt before, but deeper and constant. A cruel ache that seems stitched into every nerve beneath my skin.

Gradually, my surroundings start taking shape. The white ceiling and fluorescent lights. The machines beeping steadily beside me and the smell of antiseptic. Agonising memories of what Elize did flash through my mind, and I am instantly infuriated.

I want to get out of bed, find that b***h and torture her, but a heavy hand presses on my chest and pushes me back into the pillows.

“Easy, son,” Dad says sympathetically, but sternly. “Your system is still full of drugs. You should sleep it off.”

“No,” I croak, trying to sit up, but the dizziness wins, and I slump back in bed.

“Did you find Elize?” I mutter, reaching for my bandaged face.

“No,” Dad exhales deeply. “Dean followed her scent to the border. She’s no longer in our territory.”

“I’m going to kill her,” I grunt, and flinch when pain explodes across the left side of my face.

“Damn, it hurts,” I hiss, grinding my teeth as I sit up.

“About that,” Dad says, and the look in his eyes makes my stomach twist. "The acid caused more damage than the doctors initially thought. The scars are permanent."

“Permanent?” I swallow. “That’s … that’s impossible. I’m a wolf. Wolves heal; that's what we do.”

Dread gathers in my gut like storm clouds when I see pity in Dad’s eyes. Pity. Father has never looked at me with pity. Not once - not ever - and my blood runs cold.

"The scars are permanent," Dad explains sympathetically. “Because of the wolfsbane and silver she added.”

“That b***h,” I grunt, clenching my fists as I control my breathing, unwilling to accept the ugly truth.

"The doctors tried everything," Dad says. “They couldn't repair the tissue. The damage was too extensive. I’m sorry."

“That f*****g b***h,” I repeat, the machine beside my bed beeping frantically as my chest rises and falls rapidly.

“Calm down, Declan,” Dad says, his eyes on the machines. “We’ll find a way to …”

“I want to see,” I cut him off.

Dad grabs a handheld mirror from the cabinet, and I take it from him with trembling hands.

“Let me help,” Dad mutters when I reach for the bandages.

My heart pounds wildly as he unwraps my face, and I must force myself to keep looking and not close my eyes.

“Oh, Goddess,” I croak when I see my face and the mirror slips from my fingers. It is a nightmare of twisted flesh and pale, shiny scars. My cheek is distorted and my jaw uneven. My skin stretched and warped, and one side of my mouth pulls slightly downward.

“My face,” I start hyperventilating. “It’s gone.”

“Declan, it’s not …”

“Look at me!” I shriek. “I’m a monster. A … a freak! Something children would have nightmares about.”

“Declan, you must remain calm,” Dad says urgently.

“Calm?” I yell, ignoring the pain in my face. “Tell me, Dad, how am I supposed to do that?”

“You’re still you,” Dad says calmly. “You can still …”

“Seriously?” I snap. “Do you honestly think the pack will obey and respect a monster for an Alpha?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Dad replies, but I do detect a hint of doubt. “It’s not about how you look; it's about how you lead.”

“Oh yeah,” I huff. “And what about your ultimatum about a mate and an heir? Not even a blind person could love this face.”

“Forget the ultimatum,” Dad says. “Things obviously changed, but I do think it’d be a good idea for you to get away for a while.”

“What good would that do?” I argue. “It’s not going to heal me.”

“Dean and I had a long conversation last night,” Dad says, ignoring my protest. “With Leonard’s death and Elize’s attack, we decided it would be safer for you if you’re out of sight for a while. I’m sending you to the Northern border.”

“To do what?” I snort. “Scare away the vampires with my hideous face?”

“No,” Dad replies firmly. “I’m sending you because you need to regain your confidence as a man. Your face doesn’t determine your worth, son. There are reports of a new vampire nest, and … and Dean killed two vampires right at our border. They’re active and vicious. Find them, exterminate them. Lead our men to victory. Find yourself. Find the man you’re supposed to be, and when you come back home, you can take over from me as Alpha.”

I exhale deeply and close my eyes. All I want to do is get out of this bed, find Elize and rip her apart. I do not care about the vampires or anything else.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Dad sighs. “You want Elize, and believe me, so do I. And you still can, but first you must heal, Declan. In the meantime, Dean will look for her.”

Dean! His name hits like lightning. That bastard! I bet it is his idea to send me away.

“I think Dean should go to the border,” I say, stubbornly. “At this point, he’s more equipped to fight. We don’t even know the damage to my wolf.”

“No,” Dad shakes his head. “Elize is still out there, and still a threat. It would be easy for her to find you at home, and …”

“I’m not afraid of her!” I explode and instantly reach for my face when pain surges through me. “I want her to come; I want her to find me. It will be the last thing she’ll ever do.”

“Enough!” Dad snaps. “I’m still the alpha, and what I say goes. Make no mistake, what Elize did was wrong. We’ll find her, and she’ll pay for it, but son … you were looking for it. I heard how you rejected her, and honestly, I’m ashamed. I never taught you to be cruel.”

“She still had no right to throw acid in my face,” I growl.

“You’re right,” Dad nods. “But you humiliated her publicly, and Elize is a proud woman. You should’ve known better.”

“What?” I snort. “You want me to apologise to her?”

“What’s done is done,” Dad exhales deeply. “Rest and heal. Once you’re discharged, you’re leaving for the border.”

With a huff, I turn away from him and listen to Dad leaving the room. Fine, I’ll go to the border. I’ll use this anger to exterminate the vampires, and while doing so, I’ll search for Elize.

Nia POV

With my wrists bound in silver restraints, the warriors escort me towards the packhouse. I am painfully aware of the whispers and stares following us, but I ignore them. Let them watch; I do not care what they think. I was there, and they were not. I know the truth, and that is enough for me.

The massive doors of the council hall open, and the warriors shove me inside. A chill runs up my spine as I am led to the centre. I look around and meet Beta Lenny’s gaze. He stares at me with blatant hatred. I keep his gaze until Alpha Daniel clears his throat.

I look at him and hold my composure when I notice Dean beside him. Dean looks like a man who has spent days feeding his hatred.

“Nia,” Alpha Daniel says, studying me. “You may speak."

“It wasn’t murder,” I say, my voice crystal clear as I tell the truth. When I am done, silence settles across the room, and for a brief moment, I thought they might actually believe me.

“She’s lying!” Dean explodes. "She murdered Leonard."

"It was an accident,” I try again. “He wanted to r**e Stacy.”

"He can't defend himself now, can he?" Betta Lenny yells, his nostrils flaring with anger.

I nearly laughed. Their logic is breathtaking. Apparently being dead automatically makes someone innocent. By that standard, every serial killer in history deserves a halo.

“I demand the death penalty,” Lenny says to Daniel, and my stomach drops.

“No,” Alpha Daniel shakes his head. “The death penalty will not be imposed."

"She's manipulating everyone," Dean jumps in. “She …”

“Enough!” Daniel snaps. “Nia's testimony is consistent, and Stacy’s testimony backs it up."

“They’re lying!” Lenny shouts, but Daniel ignores him.

“Silence!” Daniel exclaims, and the room goes quiet.

Alpha Daniel looks at me so long and intensely that I must fight the urge to squirm under his gaze.

"Nia," Alpha Daniel finally speaks. “Your actions killed a man, and I find you guilty of manslaughter, and you’re hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.”

The blood drains from my face as I stoically look at him. Life? Hell, they might as well kill me.