Juno’s POV
As if my thoughts had summoned him, I felt Augustin’s presence brush against my mind.
Berry? His mental voice was warm.
I closed my eyes, welcoming the link. How’s it going? I asked.
They all agreed. The relief in his tone was palpable, washing over me through our bond.
Joy surged through me at the news. Long live the Alpha King, I replied, unable to keep the happiness from my mental voice.
Did Fox catch anyone? he asked.
Yes. We caught Nia – Charles’s niece – and Remy, the Lakeside Luna. We’re about to question them and Lyric.
There was a pause before Augustin responded. Matthew asked me to detain Isabelle. She’s here at the manor, but because she’s pregnant, I’ve put her in a room rather than the dungeons.
I gasped aloud, drawing curious looks from Freya and Scarlett.
Detained? I asked, stunned.
She claims Charles would harm her if she didn’t spy for him. Matthew isn’t buying it. Do you want to speak with her tomorrow?
Yes, but let me talk to Matthew first. We’ll handle the three women today.
Be careful, Berry. Don’t get too upset in your condition.
I felt his concern, and my hand instinctively went to my slightly rounded belly. I’ll be fine.
When I opened my eyes, Freya was staring at me.
‘What happened? You looked shocked,‘ she asked.
I took a deep breath. “Matthew asked Augustin to detain Isabelle. She’s here at the manor. Apparently, she’s been working for her father.”
Freya’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. “The bitch got what she deserved.*
‘She’s in pregnant,” I added.
Scarlett’s eyebrows shot up, paused thoughtfully. “That’s rather harsh. I’ll go see her after we’re done today.”
I silently agreed with Scarlett. But I wouldn’t want to be in Isabelle’s shoes right now, but it wasn’t my problem to solve. She had made her choices, just as I
had made mine.
‘Ready?” I asked, looking at my friends. Both nodded, determination written across their features.
Together, we headed toward the dungeons, prepared to extract whatever information we could from our prisoners.
The air grew cooler as we descended the stone steps to the dungeon level. Jonathan, one of the guards, stood at attention when he saw us approaching,
“Luna,” he greeted with a respectful nod. “We’ve secured Nia and Remy as ordered. Lyric Stewart is ready for questioning.
“Any developments?” I asked.
Chapter 259
‘She seems confused and tired. Keeps asking to see her son, Jonathan reported.
I nodded. “Take us to her.”
Jonathan led us to a cell that had been converted into an interrogation room. Lyric sat at a small table, looking haggard but composed. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw me enter.
“Luna,” she said, the formality in her tone contradicting her disheveled appearance.
I pulled a chair across from her and sat down. Freya and Scarlett positioned themselves against the wall behind me, silent but watchful.
Lyric’s hands were cuffed to the table, and I noticed she was wearing only her underwear, a standard procedure to prevent hidden weapons or suicide attempts. Despite her state of undress, she maintained a dignified posture.
“Do you know why you’re here, Lyric? Do you understand why your husband has abandoned you?” I said calmly.
Lyric shook her head, her expression carefully neutral.
“Where is Fox?” I asked, watching her face closely.
“Fox was kidnapped by terrorists from Verdantia,” she replied without hesitation. “They sent demands…”
I cut her off. “What about Faye Gonzalez?”
A flicker of something crossed her face. “She’s an orphan. We’ve tried tracking her, but there’s no record…”
“Lyric,” I interrupted again, my voice dropping to a dangerous softness. “I’m going to give you one chance to be honest with me. One chance only. After that, things will become much more unpleasant for you.”
She swallowed but maintained her story. “I am being honest. The kidnappers sent an email with proof of life…*
I stood up, making the chair scrape loudly against the stone floor. “I see you’ve chosen the difficult way.” I circled the table slowly, watching her tense with each step. “Let me offer you a deal, Lyric. Your husband has already agreed to your execution for treason. Your life is forfeit. But if you cooperate fully, you might just survive this.”
Her eyes widened in fear.
“Your son Fox has been very helpful,” I continued. “He’s told us everything, about Faye, about Yosef, about the transfers, about you. His information was so good that Augustin has decided to spare his life.” I leaned down, my face close to hers. “I’m offering you the same opportunity.”
Lyric’s face had gone pale, and I could see the calculation in her eyes.
“Why did you bring Fox into this?” I asked, my voice hardening. “He’s just a child. Your child. How could you endanger him like that?”
Something in Lyric’s demeanor changed then. It was as if a switch had been flipped. The fearful, confused woman vanished, replaced by someone harder, colder.
‘I’m tired of pretending,” she said, her voice suddenly flat.
“Why did you sacrifice Fox?” I pressed, returning to my seat. “Your own son.”
Lyric’s expression had transformed completely. Her eyes now held a fervent light, her posture straightened with conviction rather than fear.
“The Levenston regime is a tyranny,” she stated, as if reciting a manifesto. “We want a government where people have a voice, not ruled by bloodlines and archaic traditions.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “So you overthrow a tolerant lord to install a puppet king? That’s your version of democracy?”
“It’s for the greater good,” she insisted, her chin lifting slightly.
Chapter 259
“And where did Fox fit into this greater good?” I asked, my voice dripping with contempt.
Lyric’s expression softened slightly at the mention of her son. “Fox would have been a fine ruler of Clifflands. He has the right temperament, the education…”
I shook my head, genuinely amazed at her delusion. “You really believe that, don’t you?
“Fox wasn’t just an observer, Lyric,” I said, watching her face carefully. ‘Faye had him making transfers that could identify him. Your friends tried to kill him.”
Her expression flickered with confusion.
“Even in our dungeons, someone tried to execute him. Someone from inside the manor,” I continued. “Do you think your King planned to share power with the Stewart family? Or was Fox just another pawn to be discarded?”
I stood up again. “Should we bring Fox in here? Let him tell you how we saved his life? How your friends tried to eliminate him when he became a liability?”
Tears welled in Lyric’s eyes, and for the first time, I saw genuine emotion break through her façade.
“They promised they wouldn’t hurt my son,” she whispered.
“What did you expect from terrorists?” I asked quietly. “Honor? Integrity?”
Lyric stared at the table for a long moment, her shoulders slumped in defeat. When she looked up again, her eyes were hard with a new determination.
“I want to see my son,” she said firmly. “And I’ll tell you everything I know. Everything.”
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