Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO KILLED MARA

Garrick ordered the gates closed.

The royal guard began defecting.

One by one.

Then entire companies.

The people had loved Aldric.

And now they knew someone inside the palace was trying to steal his throne.

Garrick needed leverage.

He found it in the bell tower.

Elara and Celestine were captured.

They were taken to the old dungeon.

Severin was already there.

His face was bruised.

Celestine looked at him through the bars.

“You deserve worse.”

Severin laughed.

“So do you.”

Elara approached.

“You killed Mara.”

Severin looked at her.

For the first time, his confidence disappeared.

“I ordered her death.”

Elara's hands tightened.

“Why?”

“Because she ruined everything.”

He told her.

Twenty-three years earlier, Garrick and Severin had planned to replace Aldric's heir.

A dead infant would be presented as Aurelia.

Years later, Celestine would be introduced as the surviving descendant of a distant royal branch.

Then she would marry into the direct line or inherit if Aldric remained childless.

But Mara witnessed the switch.

She stole Aurelia from the carriage carrying her toward death.

Then disappeared.

For twenty-three years, Severin searched for them.

He found Mara only weeks earlier.

“She refused to tell me where you were.”

Elara's eyes filled with tears.

“What did you do?”

Severin looked away.

“What did you do?”

“She died protecting you.”

Elara struck the bars.

Celestine grabbed her.

Severin continued.

“Her last words were that you would destroy us.”

Elara stared at him.

“Then she was right.”

Footsteps approached.

Garrick entered.

He carried the diamond crown.

He placed it on Celestine's head.

She recoiled.

“What are you doing?”

“Giving the people their princess.”

Celestine understood.

Garrick planned to force her onto the balcony.

She would announce Aldric's death.

Then order Elara's execution.

“I won't.”

Garrick smiled.

“You will.”

He pointed toward Elara.

“Or she dies first.”

Celestine looked at Elara.

For most of her life, she had dreamed about wearing that crown.

Now it felt like a chain around her skull.

Garrick leaned closer.

“Choose.”

Celestine slowly raised her head.

Then she smiled.

“All right.”

Elara stared at her.

Garrick looked satisfied.

May you like

THE MAID’S DAUGHTER

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE,” HIS FIANCÉE TOLD THE MAID—THEN THE MAFIA BOSS LOOKED AT HER LITTLE GIRL“Get out of my house. And take that...

**MY HUSBAND CALLED ME A “BARREN LEECH”—HE DIDN’T KNOW MY MONEY WAS KEEP...

My husband threw his wedding ring at my feet and told security to remove the “barren leech” from the ballroom.He had no idea he wa...

MY DAUGHTER’S NOTE STOPPED MY WEDDING—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE

MY DAUGHTER SLIPPED ME A NOTE BEFORE “I DO”—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE’S PLANPART 1 — TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE VOWS“Daddy, if you marry he...

Until Celestine added—

“I choose her.”