*cheers to 100 chaps!!
[NOUR]
"I like you thinking, councilman…" Nour trailed off knowingly.
"Jericho," the councilman said, and Nour smiled like a predator who had his prey right where he wanted them. It wasn't that she didn't tell, especially judging by how uncomfortable they all were because of that wedding.
"Of course, Councilman Jericho. A wedding cheered for by the king, one that he blessed himself and one that the whole realm will be cheering for.
"What better publicity could there be for the crowns' custodian, right?" Nour said with a stunning smile, even as Grant glared at him.
The crown prince wasn't fazed, really. He loved how this day was taking them, and honestly, he wanted to see who would snap first; if it was Grant or his darn council.
"Surely you wouldn't want to disappoint the king, would you?" Nour added with a sinister knowing smile on his face, even as he feigned innocence despite knowing Grant was so close to snapping.
Maybe it was not what Grant wanted, but it was definitely what Nour wanted to see through.
Grant was losing his mind.
It was obvious in the way that his facial muscles strained in the way that life was slowly becoming something else for him. This wasn't what he had wanted. But he didn't have that much of a choice at the moment.
"What are you playing at?" Grant asked, not mincing his words. He was done playing nice with the son of the man he had killed. He wasn't supposed to act like it was all sunshine and rainbows when they both knew the truth.
The only thing that was evidence, and it wasn't hard to tell why Nour was here. But would Grant voice that bit out really, even though his council knew what they had all done? Would it be any better for them at this point?
"You're a funny man, Grant. Anyway, I already informed my home. The Lycans of Udrad are coming with their king to the wedding. King Unar Stitt-Wynter," Delbert said smugly.
Grant choked on air involuntarily.
It was as if his mind hadn't even managed to process the whole thing before he was being forced to understand and make peace with so many of the craziest factors. It just didn't make that much sense, but choices were not a thing for Grant at this moment.
"Jeez, are you alright?" Nour asked, his voice smooth. Way too smooth, like he really was enjoying this. And honestly, he was. He was loving every bit of this madness.
"The king will also come with his consort, His royal highness, Alanor Gideon Zion Wynter, one of the legendary Merdel twins," Delbert added gladly with pride on his face as his eyes locked onto Grant's.
There was a challenge in his eyes like he was daring the man to step up and say something… Anything about it?
Instead, Grant paused, like the name that had been dropped was one from a nightmare he had wanted to never talk about again. One that he refused to lean into, yet seemed to follow him all over.
The way that he struggled to move on years ago, and now all he was listening to and realizing was that that name alone was his undoing. That name was his doom, and he couldn't escape it.
Gods, Grant was screwed.
He hated what was happening. He despised Lord Tristan and his mate even more for putting him right in the middle of this shit. But who was to tell them the difference between right and wrong in a time when life was not so easy to come dumb?
Who was to explain to the man that life itself was filled with so many challenges and that this batch of challenges was well engineered for him to be trapped in? Who would be that kind to him?
Oh, how Grant was stressed out.
The murmurs from the council seemed to make it even worse for Grant because they knew what and who Alanor Wynter was. Sure, not who he was to Grant yet, but they knew of the tales that screamed the beast of the Midlands.
They had watched Alanor Wynter do the unthinkable to their kin, all because they harassed kids. They knew the beast of the Midlands, and even worse, they knew what Alanor had done to get his vengeance on his father-in-law, the fallen Udrad king.
They knew it all a little too well, the myth that was never a myth. The man who had burned an entire kingdom because of his anger and vengeance. Oh, but they knew it too well, and now they were about to face the man who terrified the worst of their kind.
Nour watched it all happen.
He watched the emotions on their faces like they were things that they could deal with. He watched them like the sun itself was not ready for what was coming, like life had eventually gone off and would probably never have any meaning for them.
They watched it all, and fuck if the universe was not playing games in the worst of ways.
"What are you guys being dramatic for? This is supposed to be a planning committee for my wedding of the century if the Lycans come," Nour said casually as if it meant nothing. But they all knew what this was.
They understood it too well and Nour…
He loved it.
He loved the tension that was brewing.
"You'll have to be your best Enforcer. And look dashing too. You wouldn't want Alanor to see you… Lacking or sweating. That would be a really great shame," Delbert added in mock sympathy, and a few councilmen snickered at that.
It was like they were not sure what the fuck tomorrow would be other than the obvious fact that tomorrow was bound to be explosive as fuck. It wasn't even that hard to see through.
Grant's hands fisted, the humiliation washing over him.
He despised the team that had put him in that position, but who was to explain to him that this was just the beginning of it all then? Who was to make him understand such an important aspect of life?
"We wouldn't want to disappoint the king. I suggest we give the enforcer time to think and pace to prepare for what's coming," Councilman Jericho said calmly, even though there was nothing calm about the situation.
It took a while for the council members to agree.
Soon enough, they were dismissed, leaving Grant, Nour, and Delbert in the throne room.
Grant was still trying to wrap his head around what the fuck had just happened.
"He looks pissed," Delbert said quietly to Nour, who was watching Grant with a smug smile on his face.
"We haven't even begun the investigations into Father's death. Let him seethe as much as he wants," Nour said calmly, like he was doing Grant favors.
And clearly, the enforcer of Acrod didn't like it because he stormed out stiffly, struggling to hide the rage that was simmering under his skin.
"Fuck," the enforcer grunted as he headed towards the one place that would either offer him reprieve or leave him to a fate so cruel.
The king's private garden.