Thane Suspects
1382 Words
CHAPTER 15
Lyra's POV
Three days after the emergency council meeting, I stepped into the meeting room. I could sense the elders’ gaze on me but I ignored, walking to the throne in Marlik's body and sat.
The hall was silent. Each one of them exchanging meaningful glares. I smiled inwardly, noting how distant they were from each other. The division was clear.
"Welcome Your Majesty." They chorused and I nodded watching their gazes. Their expressions didn't seem like they were pleased to have me there.
"It's a great thing to have you here, Your Majesty." Elder Oran greeted warmly. He couldn't hide how glad he was about the present situation.
I nodded expressionlessly while surveying the hall. My eyes settled on Elder Hudson who seemed to avoid my gaze. I could sense Elder Thessa watching everything with calculating eyes.
"Your Majesty," Elder Cael called. "Today's session is about tax collection from the border territories." He explained and I nodded.
"What was the last decision concerning that?" I questioned.
"And that is why we are here discussing it again," Hudson replied sharply. I raised a brow, trying to figure out what that meant. "The enforcement of the last decision should be stricter." He added, briefly glancing at me.
"I don't consider that to be the right decision," Elder Oran spoke. "We should be more lenient with the territories that support the new trade policies." He suggested.
"Lenient, you say?" Hudson questions fuming and the chamber erupts into arguments. "Do you think that is right to say at all?"
"Why would you also suggest that?" Oran yelled at him. The others also argued among themselves, raising their voices.
I sat back, saying nothing, watching them tear each other apart. I watched in satisfaction, that was exactly what I wanted.
"Your Majesty has been unusually quiet during these sessions," Elder Cael finally speaks, calling everyone's attention. All eyes turn to me, watching keenly.
"I'm listening," I replied simply in Malrik's deep voice.
"But not leading," Hudson snapped, facing me properly. "A Wolf King should guide his council, not watch them fight like dogs." He added, seething.
I squinted, leaning forward. "Perhaps I'm curious to see which of you are dogs and which are wolves." I said in Marlik's cold voice.
"What!" I heard gasps rippled through the chamber.
I glanced around the hall watching the elders exchange glances but there was someone who didn't seem shocked.
Thane.
He stood still observing silently. We both locked eyes for a while, until he raised an eyebrow before glancing around the hall. Could he have suspected something?
I ignored the thought, watching the Elders stare back at me, speechless. They had nothing to say and I had gotten enough of them. I announced the end of the meeting and I stepped out of the meeting room, heading back to Malrik's suite.
"That was an interesting comment, Your Majesty," Thane said, cornering me in the corridor.
"Was it?" I asked, still walking.
"The Malrik I've known for sixteen years doesn't play games with his council. He crushes opposition quickly and decisively." He replied and I stopped abruptly.
"Maybe I'm trying a new approach," I replied, confidently in Malrik's deep voice.
"Or maybe," Thane smirked, stepping closer. "You're not yourself." He added, locking eyes with me like he did earlier in the meeting room.
My heart pounded but I forced Malrik's cold expression. "Careful, Thane." I replied. "That sounds dangerously close to treason." I added, maintaining eye contact.
Thane stared at me for a long moment, trying to figure out something. I tried to avoid any suspicious movement and I remained staring too.
"I've pledged my loyalty to the Wolf King," Thane said. "I just want to make sure the man I'm following is actually him." He added.
"And if he's not?"
I watched Thane's hand move to his sword. "Then I'll do what needs to be done." He replied, I felt his gaze study me, deep and unsettling, as though nothing could be hidden from him. We both stood staring at each other, intensely.
Finally, Thane steps back. "Enjoy your evening, Your Majesty." He said, taking a final glance at me before walking away.
"Gosh," I exhaled, after he left. I unfolded my fist, noting how sweaty it was. I glanced around once again, sensing he had left completely. "That was too close." I muttered.
I walked back to the suite, meeting Malrik pacing around in my body. I paused, watching him and he stopped when he sensed my presence.
I entered the room properly, ignoring his cold stare.
"You almost got us caught today." He snarled.
"How do you know what happened in the council meeting?" I asked, staring back at him in my body with a raised brow.
"Because I'm not an idiot." He snapped. "I have informants everywhere in this palace." He added and I nodded, throwing off his formal jacket.
"If you're so smart, why don't YOU attend the meetings?" I demanded.
"And that's because I'm trapped in your weak, useless body!" Malrik yelled.
"My body isn't weak—"
"It can't lift a sword properly!" He interrupted. "I tried training this morning and could barely manage ten swings!"
I turned to face him with a smirk. "Sounds like a YOU problem."
Before I could turn back to the wardrobe, Malrik crossed the room in a flash, grabbing my collar. "This is YOUR fault." He yelled, glaring angrily at me in my body. "All of it. If you hadn't kissed me in the trials—"
"If you hadn't kissed me BACK—" I snapped. Our faces were inches apart as we both glared at each other.
I could sense Malrik's breathing become heavy as he stared at me. "I should have killed you the moment you fell into that river." He replied.
"Then why didn't you?" Lyra challenged, drawing close to him in my body.
His gaze fell on my lips before he spoke. "Because I'm a fool," Malrik whispered. I couldn't utter any other word as my eyes were fixed on my own lips.
I suddenly wanted to claim them, Malrik waited no more as his lips crashed against mine. I shut my eyes as I felt the world spinned.
I could feel n****e itching at the feel of his touch, that way when I realized we had switched out bodies again. Malrik gasped, back in his own body and his hands travelled through my back before gripping my hips.
I wrapped my arm around his neck as Malrik in his own body, pressed me against the wall by his massive frame.
Malrik disengaged from the kiss and I tried to catch my breath. "We need to stop doing this," I muttered.
"I know," Malrik growled, but his mouth descended to my throat. I pulled him closer, not getting enough of him. His teeth scraped my skin and I moaned softly.
Just as his hand slid under my dress, I felt the world's spine suddenly and I felt my hand rub on my own body. I gasped and Malrik stumbled back in my body, breathing hard.
"f**k!" He cursed.
I slumped against the wall in Malrik's body, staring at Malrik in my body. "We can't even kiss for five seconds without switching," I said.
"This is a nightmare," Malrik muttered. He glanced at me once more before walking away.
I glanced around the room before walking back to the wardrobe to change in another robe. Malrik did not return to the room until night.
We both slept silently on opposite sides of the room. No one uttered any word to the other but I could hear Malrik tossing and turning.
"Can't sleep?" I asked quietly.
"Shut up, witch." He replied sharply and we both remained silent again. "I'm going to find a way to break this curse. And when I do, I'm going to kill you." He replied, not hiding his anger.
My chest tightened at his word but that was what was bound to happen. "I know." I replied, simply.
He had threatened me a gazillion times already. The sooner I finished the goddess task, the sooner I could get away from here, forget all about him and find Kael.
"Good." He answered but we both didn't sound convinced anymore.
- Writer
