Chapter 31

Kael’s POV

I sat at the court, my fingers digging into my palm as I tried to steady the storm building inside me, but it was useless because the more I thought about it, the tighter my chest felt.

I had taken that break expecting things to settle, expecting at least a moment of quiet before everything resumed, but this was the last thing I had anticipated.

Edmund was back, and it didn’t take much to understand why. Even a kid would know that his intentions weren’t pure.

He didn’t return for peace, and he definitely didn’t return to serve.

He came back to remind me of everything I had tried to bury, everything I had fought to rise above, and most importantly, to make my life unbearable in ways only he knew how to.

I had beaten him once. I hope I’ll do it again this time.

I still remembered it clearly, the moment I forced him out, the moment I thought I had finally gotten rid of him for good, but looking at it now, I should have finished it then.

I should have made sure he never had the chance to walk back into my life like this, and here he was again.

I watched the entrance as the seconds stretched into minutes, my patience thinning with each passing moment until he finally walked in, unbothered, almost relaxed, as if keeping me waiting wasn’t an act of disrespect but something he was entitled to.

He made me wait five full minutes. That was crazy and no one would ever dare to do that to me except for him

The audacity alone made my jaw tighten. I swallowed my saliva gulp wondering what was going to happen after.

"I want you out of this court," I said immediately, my voice cutting through the room before he could even settle. "You have no right to be here, and that is exactly why I called this meeting."

He didn’t even flinch.

Instead, he smiled, like he had been expecting that reaction all along. He seemed way prepared and he might actually win me this time around.

"I’m afraid that’s not your decision to make," he replied smoothly, his confidence grating against my nerves. "I was banished, not executed. My time is up, and I’ve returned."

His gaze swept across the room before landing back on me, amusement flickering in his eyes. Setting him aside was the only choice I had back then, who’d have imagined he’d come back a few years later.

I thought people would just give up after the whole thing, but he didn’t seem like he was ready to give up.

"And it seems one of the cursed brothers has managed to become Alpha. The people allowed it’s,but I don’t even thinkthe moon goddess is fully insupport "

A low, mocking laugh followed, and a few of the council members joined in, their voices quiet but loud enough to reach me.

I felt it instantly. I could feel my vein popping out of my forehead. The anger surging through me while I tried my best to hide it.

My fist tightened against the armrest, my veins pulsing as I forced myself not to react the way I wanted to.

"There is nothing stopping me from doing to you what I did to my father years ago," I said, my voice lower now, more dangerous, the warning clear in every word.

His smile widened.

"Oh?" he tilted his head slightly. "So we’re starting rumors again? I hope you all can listen to the way he is threatening me right now in case anything happens to me. I guess you know who to blame for it."

That hit exactly where he intended it to.

The room fell into a heavier silence, the entire court members started stealing glances at themselves. The fact that whatever he said was going to happen and it was actually happening.

I hated him.

Not just for what he was doing now, but for everything he represented. He made me remember my past and everything I had gone through. He was the biggest instigator and everyone knew which made it more annoying.

"I don’t think the council supports your return," I said, forcing control back into my voice, even though I already knew how weak that sounded. "And in case you’ve forgotten, their decision matters."

It was the last move.

"I don’t think the council supports your return," I said, forcing control back into my voice, even though I already knew how weak that sounded. "And in case you’ve forgotten, their decision matters."

It was the last move I could pull, but something tells me it would be hard for me to do whatever I really want to do right now.

He stepped forward into the center of the room, his presence filling the space with an ease that made my stomach twist.

"Of course," he said, stroking his beard slowly, his smirk never leaving his face. "Let them decide."

That confidence alone told me everything..He had already won and he knew. I just didn’t know how yet, I didn’t know how he got to have their attention.

"If you are in favor of him staying," I said, my voice steady despite the tension clawing at me, "raise your hands."

For a moment, no one moved.

The council members exchanged glances, hesitation clear in their expressions as they weighed their choices, their loyalty, their fear.

Some looked at me directly, their eyes filled with something close to apology, but one by one.

Their hands went up. Some of them were reluctant at first, but everything got to change slowly. They still raised their hands.

That was all it took.

A sharp sound echoed through the room as my hand struck the armrest, the frustration finally slipping through as I stood abruptly.

I didn’t say another word, there was nothing for me to say anymore. It looked like they already made their decision.

He was back.

I walked out before the anger could make me do something reckless.

This couldn’t happen again.I wouldn’t allow it. I needed to do something about it.

******

By the time I got to my room, the tension hadn’t eased even slightly, and the moment I stepped inside, my eyes landed on him.

Riven. He was sitting on my bed with his leg crossed.

"I’m not in the mood for a conversation," I said immediately, cutting him off before he could speak. "Just leave."

He sighed standing from the bed while I walked past him, not uttering any more words.

"I can help you deal with him."

My steps halted.

Slowly, I turned back to face him.

"No," I said firmly. "You’re not getting involved in this."

He raised a brow slightly, but I continued before he could interrupt.

"I’m not a child anymore, and I don’t need you cleaning up my mess," I added, my tone sharper now. "If anyone is going to kill him... it will be me."

The words sat heavy in the air between us. Riven sighed, running a hand through his hair as he leaned back slightly. I care about my brothers a lot.

Edmund wasn’t just a problem for me.

Everyone knew what he was capable of.

Everyone knew how loyal he had been to my father and how much he despised us for being what they called cursed.

The memories of those years still lingered, buried deep but never gone, and thinking about it now only made the anger burn stronger.

"I know what you did last time," Riven said after a moment, his voice quieter now. "And I’m telling you, I can handle this one too."

I shook my head.

"No."

Silence settled briefly before something else crossed my mind.

"Where’s Nicole?" I asked, my tone shifting slightly. "I haven’t seen him since we got back."

Riven’s expression changed almost instantly, amusement flickering across his face.

"Oh, he’s busy," he said casually. "Enjoying himself with our dear princess."

Riven’s expression changed almost instantly, amusement flickering across his face.

"Oh, he’s busy," he said casually. "Enjoying himself with our dear princess."

My jaw tightened slightly, but I didn’t react immediately.

"They’ve been together since yesterday," he added, clearly entertained. "Rumors are already spreading."

I forced a small smile, even though it didn’t feel right. Was I truly jealous right now?

"That’s great," I said, my voice controlled. "Good for them. They should enjoy it while it lasts."

Riven watched me for a second, like he was trying to read something I refused to show.

"Speaking of her," he continued, shifting the topic, "don’t you think it’s time to wrap up the competition?"

I frowned slightly. "She just—"

"I know," he cut in. "You’ll find a way to defend her, but this isn’t about that anymore."

His tone turned serious.

"You have a bigger problem now, Kael. Someone who’s already inside your territory, already making moves. The competition is the least thing you should care about right now."

I exhaled slowly. He wasn’t wrong.

I frowned slightly. "She just—"

"I know," he cut in. "You’ll find a way to defend her, but this isn’t about that anymore."

His tone turned serious.

"You have a bigger problem now, Kael. Someone who’s already inside your territory, already making moves."

I exhaled slowly knowing fully well that he wasn’t wrong.

Not this time.

"Fine," I muttered. "End it."

"You want me to tell her?" he asked. I nodded.

"I’ll handle the rest."

That meant she would be moved with the others. She should brace up for anything.