Chapter 45
Bennett’s dark eyes locked onto Azalea, a twisted smirk curling his lips. “I’m here for you, Azalea,” he said, his voice dripping with venom. “You ruined my life, and now, I’m going to make sure you never live peacefully again. You’ll feel the pain you inflicted on me, every single bit of it.”
Azalea’s heart pounded in her chest as his words sank in. She glanced at Federico, who stood rigid beside her, his jaw clenched and his eyes blazing with fury. Without hesitation, Federico turned to Gabe and Jake, his voice firm and commanding.
“Take him to the dungeon,” he ordered.
Gabe and Jake stepped forward, ready to drag Bennett out, but before they could lay a hand on him, King Marcos’s voice boomed across the hall.
“Stop!”
Everyone froze, their eyes shifting to the king, who had risen from his seat, his expression unreadable. Bennett’s smirk only widened as he crossed his arms over his chest, clearly pleased with the king’s intervention. Azalea’s breath caught in her throat, her pulse quickening as the room went silent.
Thomas and Leandro exchanged smug glances, a shared look of satisfaction passing between them. They stood on the sidelines, watching the scene unfold with undisguised glee. Azalea’s stomach twisted at the sight of their delight, knowing that whatever was coming next, it wouldn’t bode well for her.
King Marcos descended the stairs with deliberate steps, his gaze fixed on Bennett. “There’s more to this than we know,” the king said slowly, his voice carrying across the room. “For that reason, Bennett will not be taken to the dungeon. He will stay here as a guest in the kingdom until we uncover the truth.”
A gasp rippled through the crowd, shock, and confusion written on everyone’s faces. Azalea’s blood ran cold. A guest? How could he be a guest after what he just said? After the threat he had made?
Maya, standing a few feet away, looked just as shocked as Azalea felt. Her face had drained of all colour, and her wide eyes darted nervously between Bennett and the king. Fear flickered in her gaze, a silent plea for this nightmare to end.
Queen Selena and Queen Lucia, on the other hand, exchanged pleased smiles. Their eyes gleamed with satisfaction as they observed the chaos unfolding. The two queens had made no secret of their disdain for Azalea, and now they seemed to relish in the trouble that Bennett’s arrival had caused.
Some of the elders in the room nodded in agreement with the king’s decision, murmuring amongst themselves. Azalea felt a wave of dread wash over her. She had no idea what was happening, but it was clear that whatever secrets Bennett held, they were dangerous.
“Your Majesty,” Federico said, his voice tight with restraint. “This man is a rogue. He poses a threat to the kingdom and Azalea. We can’t allow him to stay here.”
King Marcos lifted a hand, silencing him. “I understand your concern, Federico, but this is not a decision made lightly. There is much we do not know about this situation, and until we have all the facts, Bennett will remain under close supervision.”
Bennett chuckled darkly, leaning casually against the nearest pillar. “Close supervision, huh? Sounds like a lovely arrangement, doesn’t it?” His eyes gleamed as he glanced at Azalea. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of each other.”
Azalea’s stomach turned. She wanted to scream, to shout, to protest. But the words caught in her throat, suffocated by the heavy weight of the king’s decree. How could she possibly survive with Bennett roaming freely in the kingdom, plotting his revenge?
Thomas and Leandro both smirked in unison, their eyes alight with satisfaction. They were enjoying every second of this, revelling in the chaos Bennett had unleashed. Azalea’s chest tightened as the brothers exchanged knowing looks, clearly thrilled by the prospect of her downfall.
Federico stepped closer to the king, his voice low but laced with urgency. “This isn’t safe, Your Majesty. Bennett’s presence puts everyone at risk. We should at least confine him.”
King Marcos shook his head, his tone final. “No. He will stay as a visitor. And tomorrow, we will hold a meeting to address this issue in full. Until then, the ball must go on. We cannot allow this situation to disrupt our event.”
Federico’s hands balled into fists at his sides, his frustration palpable. But he knew better than to argue with the king in front of the court. With a curt nod, he stepped back, his expression dark with barely suppressed anger.
Azalea could feel her legs trembling beneath her, her knees weak with fear. She wanted to run, to hide, to escape from the nightmare that had descended upon her. But she knew there was nowhere to go. Bennett was here, and he wasn’t leaving anytime soon.
King Marcos turned to the gathered crowd, his voice commanding as he addressed them. “Let us continue with the evening. This matter will be dealt with in due course, but for now, we must not allow it to overshadow our celebration.”
The tension in the room was palpable, but slowly, the guests began to disperse, resuming their places as music once again filled the hall. The atmosphere was tense, however, and Azalea could feel the weight of countless eyes on her as she stood frozen in place, Federico by her side.
Maya remained near the back of the room, her face pale and her hands trembling. Azalea could tell she was just as scared, if not more so. Whatever connection Maya had to Bennett, it was clear that it terrified her. And that terrified Azalea even more.
“Azalea,” Federico whispered, his voice tight with concern. “Are you okay?”
She nodded stiffly, though she felt anything but okay. Her mind was racing, her heart pounding as she tried to process everything that had just happened. Bennett was here, free to move about the kingdom, and there was nothing she could do to stop him. Worse, the king himself had allowed it.
“I’ll keep you safe,” Federico added, his hand gently squeezing her arm. “I won’t let him hurt you.”
Azalea swallowed hard, nodding again. “I know.”
But even as she said the words, a part of her wondered if there was any way to stop the storm that was coming. Bennett was relentless, and now, with the king’s protection, he had the power to destroy everything she held dear.
Across the room, Queen Selena and Queen Lucia whispered to each other, their smiles barely concealed. They were enjoying this-seeing Azalea squirm, seeing her world unravel. Azalea clenched her fists, anger bubbling up inside her. She had fought too hard to let them win.
But as she caught Bennett’s gaze once again, that twisted smile still plastered on his face, she knew this was far from over.
The ball continued, though the mood had shifted. Guests murmured amongst themselves, casting glances at Bennett as he stood near the edge of the room, his presence an undeniable shadow over the festivities. The music played, but the joy of the evening had been tainted by the looming threat of what was to come.
Maya edged closer to Azalea, her voice barely a whisper as she spoke. “What are we going to do?”
Azalea shook her head, her throat tight. “What do you mean? Do not ask me anything, we’re not in this together!”
Maya’s eyes were wide with fear. “He’s not going to stop. You know that, right? He’s going to make good on his promise.”
Azalea’s chest tightened as the weight of Bennett’s words hung over her. He had promised to make her pay for what she had done, and now, with the king’s backing, he had the power to follow through on that threat.
The night dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity. Azalea’s mind was clouded with fear, uncertainty, and the overwhelming dread of what would happen next. But one thing was clear-this was only the beginning.
And as the ball carried on around her, Azalea knew that tomorrow’s meeting would change everything.
The real battle was just beginning.