As soon as Evans and Aurora reached a secluded corner, they halted their strides and found themselves in a hushed conversation.
Evans appeared restless, his fingers fidgeting nervously as Aurora noticed his unease. Concerned, she gently urged him to share what was troubling him. With a deep sigh, Evans gathered his thoughts and decided to reveal the truth.
“I… I saw the Concubine,” he began, his voice trembling, “having… having an intimate moment with another man last night.” He paused, his words hanging in the air, leaving Aurora anxious for more details.
Aurora pressed on, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Please, go on. Tell me everything,” she implored. However, Evans hesitated, his gaze shifting uncomfortably. He hesitated to reveal the person’s name, fearing the consequences it might bring upon her.
Before Evans could find the right words, Aurora’s intuition kicked in. With a sudden realization, she interrupted, “The man the Concubine was with… it’s Jericho, isn’t it?” Her voice carried a mix of shock and anger.
Evans’ eyes widened in surprise, astonished at how accurately she had guessed.
“How are you still alive after discovering this?” Evans blurted out, his concern evident.
Aurora responded with a touch of bitterness, “They know the King would never believe the accusations of murderers, I guess.” She uttered, feeling angry that the king trusted Xena so much yet she was a bitch.
“Hmmm, the King trusted a guard now and he seeks to find the truth but it ended up that the guard lied,” Evans said with worry on his face.
A mischievous idea took hold, and Aurora, as she understood Evans, couldn’t contain herself any longer. In a loud voice, she voiced out.
“Did you tell the King that his brother is involved with his woman!? But before she could continue speaking further, Evans quickly covered her mouth, his eyes wide with fear.
“Don’t put me into trouble, anyone can hear you” Evans pleaded, his voice filled with urgency.
“Why would you tell the king?” Aurora questioned, her gaze penetrating Evans’ eyes. She couldn’t help but wonder if this revelation was the reason behind the king’s recent coldness towards her. However, she knew she couldn’t solely blame it on this discovery, as the king had always shown indifference towards her since the incident with the late Alpha.
Evans let out a sigh, his eyes reflecting a mix of frustration and resentment. “I suppose my deep-seated hatred for that woman consumes me,” he confessed. “I can’t simply stand by and watch the king shower her with love and attention, knowing she was unfaithful to him. Even the other woman whom the king refused to acknowledge didn’t betray him.”
“I hope Jericho isn’t aware that you witnessed them last night, because…?” Aurora’s voice quivered with concern.
“He’s aware, and I think he might also know that I told the king,” Evans expressed his worry. “After I caught them and informed the king, Jericho sent Jaguar to investigate. But when Jaguar went inside, he only found Jericho there. Now I’m scared, especially since Jericho and the king are going hunting together. I don’t trust that man.”
“Don’t worry too much,” Aurora reassured. “The guards will be accompanying them, won’t they?”
“No, that’s what scares me,” Evans replied anxiously. “The king specifically mentioned wanting to have a private hunting session with his brother. They agreed to disguise themselves and go unnoticed. It’s just the two of them, the king and his brother.”
Aurora’s eyebrows shot up in alarm, her fear intensifying.
“You have to go and warn the king,” Aurora urged, her voice filled with concern.
“I can’t, I can’t face the king now,” Evans replied, his voice trembling. “I’m certain Jaguar must have informed him that I lied, considering there was no woman in his chamber last night. I fear for my life, Aurora. I wonder if the king will spare me after this.”
Aurora’s worry deepened, realizing the gravity of the situation. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as anxiety washed over her.
“What are we going to do now?” Aurora asked, her voice filled with desperation, and she instinctively bent down, as if trying to find an answer hidden in the ground.
Evans’s voice trembled as he replied, “I don’t know.” His uncertainty mirrored Aurora’s fear and uncertainty.
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King Malik stood in his chamber, dressed in his hunting clothes. He meticulously selected his weapons for the hunt, his fingers brushing over the hilt of his trusty sword and the weight of his bow in his hands. These were his companions, his tools for survival and conquest.
As he readied himself, he remembered everything Evans had told him and Jaguar’s response, but he questioned why he had chosen to believe Evans.
King Malik’s brow furrowed as conflicting thoughts swirled in his mind. Did he want to believe Evans was lying? Was it a way for him to distance himself from Xena, to break free from the obligations he felt towards her? The doubts gnawed at him.
Just as he contemplated the situation, the chamber door swung open, and Morena entered. “Good morning, my king,” she greeted respectfully, but her keen eyes couldn’t help but notice the air of unease that surrounded him.
Turning to Morena, King Malik responded with a curt nod. “Good morning, Morena.” His gaze met hers, and she could sense the shift in his demeanor, a darkness that had settled upon him.
“My king you sent for me, ….” Morena hesitated wanting to ask the king what was wrong, sensing that something was amiss, but before she could inquire further, the king spoke.
“Yes, Morena, I have a task for you. I want you to test Xena this morning. I need confirmation if she truly lost a baby last night.”
Confusion flickered across Morena’s face. “But my king, we conducted tests last night…”
Interrupting her, King Malik asserted his position. “Morena, you know about my infection, how it has affected my fertility. We both know the only chance of me impregnating a woman is if I use the drugs immediately after intercourse. I have never used them with Xena. I need to know if she is truly pregnant.”
At that moment, Malik’s thoughts turned toward the possibility that Xena may have been intimate with his brother. The doubts and suspicions weighed heavily upon him.
“Very well, my king,” Morena replied, her voice laced with understanding, though her own emotions were entangled in the complexities of the situation.
Armed with his weapons, King Malik made a resolute decision. He was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the consequences. With Morena by his side, he left the chamber, heading out for his hunting expedition.