Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle
Chapter 100: Hallucinogenic tonic

Chapter 100: Hallucinogenic tonic

The tears spilled freely now, no matter how hard she tried to stop them.

Lupien watched her, jaw clenched. His fists trembled at his sides.

"Oh really?" he said through gritted teeth. "Then I’m curious to see how long you last without crawling back to me. I could break every rule for you, even claim you as my concubine despite the fact my uncle had you first. But since you’re so righteous..." His voice dropped, low and cold, "Let’s see how long you last in my manor without protection."

He took a shaky breath.

"Mark my words, Sorayah....being favored by the Alpha Emperor is as dangerous as being hated by him. And both will get you killed." He turned away. "You may leave now. Be sure to return here at first light tomorrow."

Sorayah bowed, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.

"Thank you, Your Highness," she said quietly before turning on her heel and rushing out of the chamber.

Once outside, the tears she had fought so desperately to control finally broke free. She wept like a child denied comfort, her sobs racking her thin frame as she fled into the night.

She walked blindly toward Dimitri’s manor...her supposed place of safety but her heart was unraveling.

"I’m so sorry, Father... Mother..." she murmured between sobs, lifting her face to the sky. "I’m sorry I’m not strong enough yet. But I will be. I’ll make him kneel. I’ll make him beg for his life..."

Her vow was interrupted.

Before she could react, a large, muscular hand clamped down over her mouth from behind. Her eyes widened in shock as the intruder yanked her back, dragging her silently through the gates of Dimitri’s manor...the very place she had been about to enter.

"It’s me," came a deep voice from behind.

Only then did Sorayah stop struggling. Her eyes widened as she recognized the voice.

Dimitri.

Her back was pressed against the cold stone wall, and he had her caged in with his arms braced on either side of her head, his breath warm against her cheek.

"Why are you up to Your Highness?" she asked breathlessly, tears still glistening in her eyes. "Why would you behave like a..."

"Kidnapper?" Dimitri finished smoothly, a half-smirk playing on his lips. "You can say it. I don’t mind. But before you start yelling again, let me ask you this, why are you crying? Did Lupien do something to you?"

Sorayah looked away, her jaw clenched tight. "What do you think he did to me?" she snapped. "But you shouldn’t concern yourself with that."

Dimitri’s expression darkened. He slowly pulled back, folding his arms over his chest, his voice cool and edged with frustration.

"And why shouldn’t I be concerned?" he asked pointedly. "And just so you know, if I hadn’t intercepted you when I did, you would’ve already been in the hands of Empress Luna’s men."

Her eyes widened. "What?! She was going to kidnap me?"

"Oh yes," Dimitri said casually. "Her manor is close to the Alpha Emperor’s, and your little emotional outburst must’ve woken her up. She doesn’t like disturbances, especially from new faces that catch the Emperor’s attention." His smirk returned. "If I hadn’t gotten to you first, and she had, you’d be facing her punishment. And believe me, Luna’s punishments are never mild....they’re cruel and calculated."

He didn’t wait for her reply. "Anyways let’s go. We don’t have time to waste here." His voice dropped into something harder, colder.

Dimitri seized her hand and pulled her with him, guiding her deeper into the safety of his manor.

Inside the grand, dimly lit chambers of Dimitri’s manor, he sat with deliberate grace in his ornate chair, one leg crossed over the other, while Sorayah stood nearby, her chest still rising and falling from everything that had just transpired. Her heart refused to calm. Her hands trembled, and the storm of emotions stirred relentlessly in her chest.

"Now," Dimitri said after a moment of silence, his tone unreadable, "what exactly happened tonight at the Alpha Emperor’s manor? Why did you run from his chambers in tears? Did Lupien hurt you?" He leaned forward, his voice softer this time. "Be honest with me, Sorayah."

Her mouth opened, then closed. But before she could answer, Dimitri continued.

"You do realize where you were, don’t you?" he asked. "The Alpha Emperor’s manor is the most heavily guarded place in the entire palace. Even if a fly sneaks in, it doesn’t leave alive. And the maids... they die monthly. Killed under accusation after accusation. So what did you do?"

Sorayah’s blood ran cold.

"Killed?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her face paled. "You mean... the servants?"

"Yes," Dimitri said calmly, leaning back in his chair as though recounting an old tale. "They’re killed for the simplest offenses. Some for stealing glances, some for stepping where they shouldn’t, others simply because..." He shrugged, then smiled coldly. "Because none of them is the woman he lost which is your sister Pearl. Well I’m just understanding all this."

Sorayah’s heart dropped like a stone.

"Lupien tolerates them briefly," Dimitri went on, "but when his patience wears thin, he takes out his frustration on them because they aren’t her." His smirk widened. "That’s why I said she was more than a friend to him. No matter what he claims."

He reached into his robe and pulled out a small white cloth, neatly wrapped and tied. Unfolding it, he revealed a bundle of dried herbs....unassuming and fragrant.

"Here," he said, holding it out to her. "You’ll be in charge of attending to the Emperor. This"....he gestured to the herbs..."is a special substance. Mix it into his incense during your duties. No one will question it. It smells like perfume, harmless... but if anyone finds out what it really is, the blame will fall on the incense maidens. Not you."

Sorayah recoiled in horror.

"What?!" she cried, her voice cracking. "You want me to poison him? You’d risk the lives of innocent maids just to get to Lupien? Are you for real?"

Her voice fell into a whisper, but the fury in her eyes burned.

"That’s not poison," Dimitri corrected, his voice as smooth as ever. "It’s a hallucinogenic tonic. Nothing lethal, just something to loosen the truths he keeps hidden. Truths that could ruin everything he’s built... and possibly restore what was taken from you."