The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 227: Between Love & Betrayal

For some reason, there was no part of Soleia that doubted his word. She did think that Rafael would fully keep to that promise, and in some other universe, their little family of three would be happy. But for one thing, Soleia couldn’t even be sure that she was with child. And for another, why would she go back with him?

Where could they even go?

King Recaldo and his men were hunting them down like they were weeds in his garden.

"Why have you come?" Orion snapped, making sure that his body fully blocked Soleia from Rafael’s view. "Don’t you have a throne to inherit? Or did your father make it very clear that you wouldn’t be having a throne until you bring back something worthwhile― in this case, Soleia?"

"Soleia is my wife," Rafael growled, his gaze instantly darkening from the moment Orion wedged himself in between them.

"Last I checked, she was mine," Orion said. "Your marriage was tied by fake names in an unrecognized marriage."

"And you are divorced," Rafael quipped back. "Sorry to burst your bubble, old friend, but King Godwin made it very clear that his daughter was no longer tied down in marriage."

Then, in a softer tone, he said, "Come, Soleia. Let me bring you home. I am sorry. I should’ve been there for you when you were attacked. I didn’t think Raziel would try anything in the palace, and that was my mistake."

Soleia bit her lip, looking down at her fingers. The blood ring that Rafael had placed on her finger was still glittering, the shiny surface practically shimmering as though there was a thin layer of fairy dust. When she looked at Rafael’s outstretched hand, she could see a matching ring on his ring finger as well.

They were still tied together, even if not legally, in marriage. This ring was proof of it.

Before she knew it, she had taken a step forward and out of Orion’s protection. She was only jolted back to reality when a hand latched onto her upper arm, tugging her back.

"Soleia, are you mad?" Orion hissed, pulling her back to his side. "If you go back with him, you’re as good as dead. If not by his hands, then by his father and brothers’."

"I―" Soleia opened her mouth, but no further words left her lips.

She understood where Orion was coming from. If she had gone back, she wouldn’t have been treated well. She had already betrayed King Recaldo’s trust once, and the most likely outcome she might receive would be to join the lab rats kept under Raziel’s supervision.

And that was a fate worse than death.

"What nonsense are you defiling her with?" Rafael snapped. "Soleia is my wife, and she will be my queen."

"On what throne?" Orion threw back. "Have you gone mad? Do you not see the wanted posters with your name and face on them?"

"They are temporary," Rafael said through gritted teeth. "But you, Orion Elsher, have proven to be a constant, persistent nuisance. Find your own wife and stop trying to steal mine!"

The carnelian that hung around Rafael’s neck quickly glowed red. A blood whip shot through the air at once, and Orion instinctively pushed Soleia out of the way as he fell in the opposite direction. Soleia gasped in surprise, her palms scraping against the ground and drawing blood as she hissed in pain.

Meanwhile, the blood whip under Rafael’s control slammed into the ground, causing the earth to shake as a thunderous boom echoed through the air.

Dust danced into the air, causing Soleia to cough. Through the smoke that was raised, she could see the glow of Rafael’s carnelian, illuminating his figure through the ashen cloud. It took no more than a second before a second glow lit up through the smoke, green this time. Then came the clashing sound of steel, and sparks danced.

Soleia cast a desperate glance around them. They were in a fairly empty area, but the noise of their fight would soon draw unwanted attention. If there were wanted posters all over the streets for them, then there would also be guards. Or worse, Prince Ricard and Prince Raziel.

Gritting her teeth through the pain, Soleia pushed herself up to her feet. She timed the clashes between the whip and sword and, taking a deep breath, dashed through the fog as silently as she could.

Orion’s ear prickled when he heard the footsteps approach them, and instead of raising his sword to meet Rafael’s whip, he chose to dodge out of the way. Right at the last second, Soleia all but flew in to replace him. She raised her hand, and just like before, Rafael’s whip had passed the point of no return.

Rafael’s eyes widened with horror when the person in front of him was replaced with Soleia. He watched as she raised a hand, and the blood whip collided with her finger.

Right against the ring he had created for her.

A shockwave blasted both of them back, and Rafael shut his eyes as he was thrust back until he hit a wall. Soleia, similarly, flew back until she was caught in a pair of strong arms, holding her in place. When she finally cracked her eyelids open, she was met with Orion’s worried gaze, and she smiled at him to show she was alright.

"Can you stand?" Orion asked worriedly, to which Soleia nodded.

With his help, she got onto her feet. Once she stood on her own, she stared down at her left hand. It was still trembling, and a trail of red ran down her wrist from her palm. But the spot where the blood ring had been was now empty, and Soleia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Clenching her fists, she watched as the carnelian that was in the ring she made glowed. She focused her magic, and slowly, the blood from her palm and on the floor was raised into the air to form a snaking rope.

She began to walk towards Rafael.