Chapter 240

Ella POV

“Do you think this changes anything?” Diana asked as she moved towards me, forcing me to back towards Alexander.

My fists were clenched so tightly that my nails cut into my palms. The heat of anger coursed through me as my wolf began to surface, barely restrained.

"You're so weak, Ella," Diana sneered, her voice dripping with hate as she circled me. "You act like you understand anything. You’re nothing but a child playing at being a queen."

I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to lash out. She wanted me to lose control, to stop thinking logically.

I couldn’t afford to do that with Ironfang here. I wasn’t experienced enough with my wolf. If I acted on pure instinct, he would put me down like an animal.

"You’re not even worth my time," I said, trying to sound confident, though the tremble in my voice betrayed her.

Diana’s laughter echoed around us, a shrill, mocking sound that made my blood boil. "You think you can stand there, pretending you’re above this?" I demanded, my eyes flashing.

"You're nothing to him. Nothing at all."

I narrowed my eyes, trying to understand what Diana was getting at. She just kept repeating the words, despite the fact that they weren’t working on me.

That’s when I realized she wasn’t talking to me. She was talking to herself. She truly was losing her grip on sanity.

"You’re wrong," I muttered under my breath, my voice barely a whisper.

Diana stepped closer, her gaze icy and filled with contempt. "I’m wrong?" she sneered.

“Alexander does care about you,” I said firmly. “If he didn’t, you never would have gotten away with so much.”

Her eyes seemed stormy for a second, then she growled and shook it off.

"He’s nothing but the murderous bastard child of the Northern King. Don’t you get it, Ella?" Diana’s voice grew louder, her fury starting to rise. "You’re just a pawn in his game, the same as I am. And he’s going to use you, just like he’s used everyone else. He’ll destroy you the moment he’s done with you, and you’ll be left in the ruins."

“Murderous bastard child of the Northern King?” I shook my head. “You keep calling him a murderer. What are you talking about?”

“He didn’t tell you?” Diana asked with fake surprise. “He didn’t tell you how he got his first taste of blood at only 16?”

“16 is just a child,” I replied.

“The child of the Northern King,” Diana spat. “We used to send him to train in the North every summer. Told everyone he was away visiting family in the country. In reality he was training to join the Northern king’s forces. He was training with his blood uncle, Ironfang.”

I remembered the pain in August’s face again and what he had told me about Alexander and Ironfang being close at one time.

“Not surprised by that?” Diana asked, raising her brows as she brought her arm up to wipe the blood away from her face.

I shook my head. “No,” I answered. “I knew most of that already.”

“Oh, he has been so honest with you,” she said sarcastically. “But you still don’t know that he murdered my brother!”

The room fell silent. I could sense that Alexander had stopped moving, but I didn’t dare look. I held my ground, taking a slight step closer to Diana.

“It’s true,” I heard Alexander say.

“Murder isn’t the word,” Ironfang said.

I dared to turn my face away from Diana, looking at Alexander questioningly.

There was blood on his face from a cut above his left eye and he was panting slightly, but the look in his bright eyes was one of grief.

“Alexander carried out the excecution of a spy,” Ironfang said sharply.

“What?” Diana’s shocked reply came. “You didn’t–”

“Why would I tell you the details?” Ironfang asked, turning towards her fully. “I told you what I needed you to know. I needed an agent to give me information about Alexander’s movements, who better than his mother?”

“I had no choice,” Alexander said, looking at me pleadingly. “The King was questioning my loyalty, my life was at risk. I had to prove to him that I had what it took to be his warrior.”

“And what better proof than to put your blade through the heart of a traitor in the king’s presense?” Ironfang said, turning his attention back to Alexander. “You did it quickly, it was a more merciful death than the man deserved.”

I saw the tears in Alexander’s eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He tore his gaze from me, looking fully at Ironfang.

“I’m not his puppet anymore,” he said firmly. “And I never will be again.”

“Which is why you have to die,” he replied.

I took advantage of the distraction and surged forward, my fist connecting with Diana’s jaw with a sharp crack. The older woman staggered back, a flash of shock in her eyes before she regained her balance.

"You little bitch!" Diana hissed, rubbing her jaw. "You’ve only proven me right, Ella. You’re weak, just like your precious Alexander."

My breath came in ragged gasps as the adrenaline coursed through me. I was done holding back. Diana’s words had pushed me too far.

“You sold out your son because of something terrible that you forced him to do!”

“I didn’t make him kill my brother!”

“You gave him to the Northern king! He was a child, you were his mother. He only did what you told him to!” I cried. “You forced him to become a killer. All of that blood is on your hands!”

With a roar, I struck again, this time landing a solid blow to Diana’s stomach. The woman doubled forward.

But Diana’s face twisted with pure rage as she struggled to get up. "You won’t win, Ella," she spat, her voice low and venomous. "You can’t stop what’s coming."

I wasn’t listening anymore. I grabbed her by the hair, pulling her upright. Diana looked at me with a flash of fear as my fist flew at her. She tried to block but was too slow.

I sent Diana crashing to the ground, knocking her unconscious.

I didn’t wait to check for any signs of life, instead turning to Alexander.

Alexander POV

My heart was thudding powerfully against my ribs. The struggle against Ironfang was only part of the reason, Ella’s words were the other part.

How could she forgive me? How could she defend me from this? I had killed a man with my own hands, but she spoke as if I was the one wronged.

Ella stepped away from Diana’s still form, her eyes seeking mine.

Time seemed to stand still. Ironfang moved in a flash, I started to turn towards him but I was too slow, too distracted.

My body jerked violently as Ironfang, with a swift, brutal motion, plunged a knife deep into my side. The sound of metal cutting through flesh was sickening, and the sight of blood spilling onto the floor was too much.

"No!" Ella screamed, her voice ragged with panic.

I clamped my hand over the knife wound and looked at Ironfang in shock.

He smirked, his eyes glinting with satisfaction as he held up the knife. I stumbled, blood pouring from the wound, my breath coming in shallow gasps.

I had been wounded like this before, so I know that my reaction wasn’t right. This wasn’t just a knife wound. My knees buckled, and for a moment, it seemed like I might collapse entirely.

I fought it and straightened up, turning my head towards Ella.

"E-Ella," I gasped, my voice barely above a whisper. "Get... get out of here."

"No!" Ella cried, her voice breaking.

But Ironfang was moving toward me again, his knife raised.

“Get away from him,” she growled, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance. She moved towards me. I held my hand out to stop her.

She hesitated, looking at me, but I turned my eyes to the threat.

I swayed slightly, struggling to stay upright.

"Go," I whispered, pleading with her, my hand weakly reaching out. "You have to leave."

“No,” she said softly. “I’m not leaving you. If we’re going to die, then we’re going to die together.”

“How sweet,” Ironfang said with amusement. “I can help with that.”

I looked at Ella, but my vision blurred. She rushed to my side and my heart broke as I felt her arms wrap around me, helping to hold me upright.

I pulled her closer, placing a kiss to the top of her head. This was it. Whatever happened next, we would face it together.