Chapter 238: When Do You Intend To Hold The Claiming Ritual?
His tone made it clear that he already knew the answer. He was testing Cedric, watching how the old man responded, gauging his sincerity.
Cedric did not flinch.
"Yes, Your Majesty. That is precisely what his letter claims."
Draeven leaned forward slightly.
"Do you believe him, Elder Cedric? Do you believe that Astraea is the Mother of Dragons? Do you believe that Morgana has... interfered with our search?"
Cedric was silent for a long moment, his ancient eyes moving between the three brothers.
"No, Your Majesty. I do not believe him. I believe you have already found the answer to what you’ve been searching for. Carrick is attempting to play a game....a dangerous game of manipulation and distraction. He is trying to sow discord among the noble houses by claiming he possesses knowledge you do not. He is attempting to elevate his own importance by suggesting he has the solution to your problem."
Cedric paused, and something in his expression shifted, became almost knowing, almost satisfied.
"I believe, Your Majesty, that you are already in possession of what you seek. The Mother of Dragons is not Astraea. The Mother of Dragons stands in your palace. The Mother of Dragons is in your chambers."
The weight of that statement settled over the throne room like winter frost.
Thorne watched the old man with dark, unreadable eyes.
"How sure are you, Elder, that we have already found what we are searching for?"
Cedric met his gaze directly.
"There have been rumors, Your Majesty, of magical occurrences in your private chambers. Disturbances of power, manifestations of magic that have not occurred before. I received reports this morning of such an occurrence....last night, specifically. Windows frosting over. Sounds of objects moving of their own accord. The kind of magical disruption that only occurs when two powerful sources of magic come into contact."
The moment the words left his mouth, Kaelen and Draeven both turned their heads sharply toward Thorne.
Not in shock. Not in surprise.
In perfect, absolute KNOWLEDGE.
They had FELT it. Through the bond, they had sensed every moment of what happened in his chambers. They had felt the magic erupting, the power that shook the foundations of the palace itself.
They had known. And knowing, they had felt it all.
Thorne looked at them, and the smile that crossed his face was pure satisfaction.
Then he turned back to Cedric.
"Then I believe, Elder, that you have the answer to your problem."
Cedric inclined his head slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment and respect.
"I do, Your Majesty. And I have a question, if I may be permitted to ask."
"Ask," Draeven commanded.
"When do you intend to hold the claiming ritual? The ancient ritual that will bind the Mother of Dragons to the throne and to the three kings?"
The words hung in the air, heavy with significance.
A claiming ritual was not a simple ceremony. It was ancient magic....dragon magic older than the realm itself. It would bind her not just physically or emotionally, but magically, spiritually, in every way that mattered. It would mark her as belonging to them in a way that no amount of physical possession could replicate.
Draeven’s expression shifted, became more serious, more regal.
"Very soon, Elder. The ritual will be held very soon."
Cedric bowed slightly, and then he asked another question, one that made Thorne’s entire body go rigid.
"I ask because I have noticed a shift in the balance of power around the palace. A change in the magical current that runs through the realm. Since you have been in contact with her....since the two of you have been intimate with her, have you noticed the curse beginning to change?"
The question was carefully phrased, but its meaning was unmistakable.
The curse that plague the three brothers, It was beginning to shift.
Because of Morgana.
Draeven and Kaelen both turned to look at Thorne, their expressions unreadable but their meaning clear.
Thorne held their gaze for a long moment before turning back to Cedric.
Draeven answered instead, his voice carefully controlled.
"That is a matter we will discuss on another day, Elder. For now, I need you to focus on the more immediate problem. Carrick has come to our palace and is attempting to manipulate the situation to his advantage. This requires careful management."
Cedric bowed.
"What would you have me do, Your Majesty?"
Kaelen stepped forward, his pale eyes burning with something dangerous and strategic.
"Let him stay."
The words were simple, but they carried weight.
"Two to three days. Let him remain in the palace. He came here thinking he could play games with us," Kaelen’s smile was cold, predatory. "If we simply ask him to leave, he will see us as weak. He will return to the noble houses and spread rumors"
Kaelen paused, tiltted his head and he smiled.
"I intend to have a word with his said Mother of dragons."
He turned to look at his brothers, and his expression made the meaning absolutely clear.
"Don’t we, brothers?"
Draeven and Thorne both inclined their heads in perfect synchronization, a gesture of agreement so complete, so unified, that it was clear they understood exactly what Kaelen was proposing.
The three of them would speak to Astraea together.
Cedric straightened "Very well, Your Majesty. I will attend to the matter immediately. I will ensure that Carrick does not escalate this further, that he does not send additional letters to the noble houses claiming he possesses knowledge of the Mother of Dragons. Such claims could create chaos, could fracture the council, could undermine the stability of the realm."
Draeven’s looked at him and shook his head. "See to it that you take care of it, Elder. Manage this situation with absolute discretion. I will summon you back in three days’ time, when Carrick’s time in the palace comes to an end. At that time, we will discuss how this matter and what the outcome will be."
Cedric bowed deeply.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I give you my word."
***
The moment Cedric walked out of the room, Kaelen moved.
He walked slowly toward where Thorne was seated on his throne.
He stopped directly in front of his brother’s throne.
"You bastard." He said, looking at him with anger radiating off his body.
"She was sick yesterday."
Kaelen’s voice dropped lower, became rougher.
"Burning with fever. Weak. Vulnerable and completely defenseless."
He took a step closer towards Thorne.
"And the only solution you could think of was to fuck her."
Thorne looked up at his brother.
His dark eyes met Kaelen’s pale ones, and a slow, satisfied smirk spread across his face.
"What do you intend to do about it, brother?"