The Bride He Hates-Chapter 49: Trap For The Traitor

Over the next three days, Thornfield became a hub of careful and calculated preparation. On the surface, they were organizing a normal emergency council, but under that surface, they were setting a trap.

Victor worked relentlessly to create a false narrative about finding Order supply routes and communications networks. He fabricated documents that looked real, created detailed intelligence reports that seemed believable, and even planted false information to make the story more convincing.

"The point is to make Elise think this information is valuable." Victor explained to the war council. "She needs to believe that we’ve actually discovered something important about the Order’s operations, something she’d want to know about, something that would make her presence at the council look natural rather than suspicious, especially after the last episode."

Meanwhile, Adrian focused on the security.

"If Elise brings forces, we need to be ready for a fight. I’m doubling the guards, appointing warriors at every entrance and exit, and preparing strategies in case this turns into a siege." He spread maps on the table, marking defensive positions. "It’ll look like we have normal security, but we’ll actually have overwhelming force ready to move the moment we order."

Helena’s job was to coach Lyanna for her performance. They spent hours in private sessions, with Helena training her on how to interact with Elise naturally.

"You need to act normal, as if nothing has changed." Helena emphasized. "Elise will be looking for signs that we know about her betrayal, given the sudden information we gathered.

Any hint of suspicion, any change in your behaviour, and she’ll know it’s a trap. Can you pretend everything is fine? Can you smile at the woman who turned you into a tracking device and got dozens of innocents killed?"

"I’ve been pretending since I married Azrael." She replied. "I pretended to be a submissive wife when I wanted to fight back, pretended not to care when things hurt. This is just another performance, and I’ve become very good at performing now."

"Good. Because if you slip even once, Elise will know. Then she’ll either run or she’ll attack, and we can lose our chance to expose her in front of everyone."

King Damien, as expected, arrived first. He met Azrael in the war room, studying fabricated maps and intelligence reports.

"What information have you discovered, Thornfield?" Damien asked. "The message sounded urgent. You said you have critical information about the Order’s operations. What did you find?"

"We’ve found The Leader’s base of operations and their main supply lines. Victor’s network managed to capture and interrogate several Order operatives." He gestured to the fabricated maps.

"But attacking this target requires a unified force. Their base is heavily guarded, and Thornfield alone can’t fight against their forces. That’s why I’ve called everyone. We need help from every major court for this to work."

"This is solid intelligence. How sure are you about your sources?" Damein asked as he studied the maps.

"Sure enough to risk everything on it." Azrael lied. "If we attack together, we can end their campaign with one attack only."

"Shadowmere will help. You have my word."

Lord Richard arrived next. He accepted the explanation after asking detailed questions for which Victor had prepared answers.

Then, finally, Queen Elise arrived. Lyanna felt nervous. Elise entered with her usual confidence.

"Azrael, darling. Missed me so much that they called me again so soon after everything." She mocked. "I hope it’s worth the journey. You know how I hate travelling in winter."

Azrael accepted her greeting politely.

"Queen Elise, thank you for coming on short notice. The situation is urgent that’s why I had to call you."

"Well then, let’s see the important intelligence you’ve discovered. I’m curious about what could be important enough to summon every major court on such short notice."

The grand council chamber was filled with old, and dangerous vampires, all focused on Azrael as he presented the fabricated intelligence. He laid out maps showing the order supply routes. Victor provided detailed reports on logistics networks, weapons, and communication systems. It was all fiction, but it was convincing.

Everyone began planning a coordinated attack. Damien discussed troop movements and tactics. Richard offered Eclipse magical support for the attack. Even the minor courts contributed resources and forces.

Elise participated actively as well, suggesting strategies, offering resources from Crimson Dawn, and playing the role of concerned ally with perfect conviction. She pointed out weaknesses in the attack plan, recommended alternative approaches, and even offered to lead a troop herself.

Lyanna was both fascinated and horrified by how easily Elise lied. How perfectly she fooled everyone in the room who didn’t know the truth.

Hours passed in strategic planning. Troops were allocated, timelines were established, and contingencies were discussed. Then Azrael began the trap.

"Before we move forward, there’s one issue we need to address. There’s a problem that has troubled us since these Order attacks began."

The room went quiet.

"We’ve had intelligence leaks." Azrael said. "Someone has been feeding information to the Order. The Leader has been consistently one step ahead of us, expecting our movements, and attacking our weak points. It’s not luck. It’s not better intelligence gathering. Someone is betraying us from within vampire society."

Murmurs spread through the chamber. Some vampires looked uncomfortable, while others were angry.

"I need to ensure everyone here is trustworthy before we proceed with this attack." Azrael said. "If we attack the Leader’s base with a traitor among us, we’ll be walking into another ambush. So before we finalize plans, we need to verify loyalty."

Elise’s expression didn’t change. But Lyanna, who was watching her closely from beside Azrael’s throne, noticed slight tension in Elise’s shoulders.

"Of course." Elise replied. "What do you suggest? Background investigations? Loyalty oaths?"

Azrael gestured to Victor, who stepped forward holding an old ice crystal pulsing with magical energy.

"My spymaster has developed something more reliable than investigations or oaths." Azrael said. "It is a truth spell, extremely powerful, and completely reliable. It compels truthful answers to questions asked under its influence." He looked around the chamber.

"Everyone present will have to go for the questioning under the spell. If we’re all innocent, we’ll all pass. If there’s a traitor, we’ll know immediately."

The spell was real, Victor had found the ritual in the Eclipse archives. Several vampires looked uncomfortable but still agreed. This was too important to refuse.

"That’s not necessary. We are all allies here, all rulers of our own courts. Subjecting us to magical interrogation is excessive, and insulting to our position." Elise said.

"When it comes to vampire interests, we can’t take risks, Queen Elise. Moreover, you shouldn’t have any problem unless you have something to hide?"

Elise looked around the room, assessing the situation and looking for support or exits. But Adrian’s warriors were at every door. King Damien was watching her with sudden suspicion. Lord Richard also had a cold and calculated look on his face. She was trapped, and she knew it.

Finally, her mask slipped. The friendly smile was replaced by a cold and bitter laugh.

"Well played, Azrael. When did you figure it out? The ring, I assume? You finally checked it for magical tampering?"

Vampires stood up from their seats, some taking out their weapons, others shouting. Adrian’s warriors moved to surround Elise and her entourage. King Damien’s expression had gone from suspicious to furious. Lord Richard was already preparing magical bindings.

"You think I came unprepared?" Elise asked. "You think I’d walk into Thornfield without a backup plan? That I’d trust my life to your mercy after everything between us?"

She raised her hand, and suddenly the castle shook from massive explosions at multiple locations simultaneously. The floor trembled. Dust fell from the ceiling. Alarms began ringing.

Elise had brought saboteurs inside. While everyone had been focused on the council session, her people had been planting explosives in the castle.

"I told you. You’ll regret this." Elise announced, smiling wickedly.