Chapter 896: Everything, To Its Place (Ch.897)
The tension in the throne room of the Eclipse Palace was palpable enough to be cut through with a knife.
Neveah could feel it long before the door was even opened. She didn’t mind it though. She’d been in enough such rooms, it was almost second nature now.
This was nothing compared to the grand audience hall of Dragon Keep, with the entire rider council, battle lords with centuries of experience and thousands of victories to their na, waiting on her words.
She hadn’t faltered then. She wouldn’t now.
Jian and Xenon had both offered to accompany her, individually or together but she’d turned it down. This, she would have to do herself.
"Her Grace, the Alpha Queen of the Eclipse Domain." A voice announced.
It sounded familiar. Vincent? She wasn’t quite certain.
The title wasn’t one she’d ever been interested in. But as the final and only successful challenger, she’d been the one to defeat the previous Alpha King.
By the laws of the domain, she was to succeed him. She’d won the throne by virtue of strength.
Funny. The Eclipse throne ant absolutely nothing to her. She wasn’t of Eclipse royal blood, and she had no ties to this domain either.
The doors ca open, and she walked in.
The central path led straight up to the throne. On either side of it were a few Winter wolves and all the Eclipse Alphas, perfectly distanced even within the confines of the hall.
Neveah’s gaze road the hall once before setting her sights on the throne. She crossed the hall in slow, confident strides, unfazed by the dozens of eyes that trailed her.
At the foot of the throne, she hesitated. Just for a mont, staring at the throne with a frown of disdain.
It was the last place she wanted to be. The decades worth of bloodshed of the Rauls all began and ended with this very throne. A piece of tal forged to be the representation of power and supremacy.
At this mont, it didn’t look like much.
She turned then, and before all the eyes present, she took her seat.
The Eclipse Alphas, in almost perfect tandem, bowed low.
Neveah let the mont stretch for a beat, before she broke the silence, "Spare the formalities."
The wolves straightened. They exchanged nervous glances, eyeing the winter wolves across the hall from them.
She didn’t need to hear their concerns to know. For so, they had openly declared support for Alessio, and now anticipated the judgent they would face.
For others, they had chosen to remain neutral, refusing to lend aid against Alessio’s tyranny when it was most needed.
A few still mourned drastic losses their packs had suffered putting up a resistance to the tyranny. Alphas beheaded... Lunas dismbered, warriors annihilated.
And for most, there was an even bigger concern.
The winter army had marched on the Eclipse Domain in this period of turmoil, perhaps this marked the day the domain would lose its autonomy.
The first of the four domains to be conquered since the peace accord was signed. It was the greatest humiliation seeing as the Eclipse Domain was believed to be amongst the strongest of the four.
But the decision was no longer theirs to make. What path the domain took from this mont, had beco Neveah’s responsibility.
She’d pondered over it a good number of tis in the past few days, in the silent monts of recovery, tucked in her bed.
The question on her mind had always been simple; how could she ensure the domain would not face the fate the Rauls had brought upon it again?
But there was no certain answer. What the future held, no one was in the position to tell.
Neveah wasn’t certain if King Nolan had aspired to conquer the Eclipse Domain for the title of supre Alpha King. But she did know whatever decision she made today, the winter wolves would abide by.
"This is not news to most of you...but there was a ti when I called Lothaire Raul, father..." She trailed off, her hand clutching the armrest of the throne.
The Eclipse Alphas exchanged glances, a few tensing up.
"For those who knew him..., you would understand that I was not raised to understand the concept of rcy." She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
"A lot of blood has been shed." Neveah trailed off, glancing around, "I should like to shed a lot more." She let her words hang,
A few Alphas winced. They knew their guilt.
It was important they knew that an end to the violence did not an she was incapable of inciting even more of it.
A choice was presented before her, and she’d chosen rcy. Not because it was in her nature, but because it was necessary.
"But... it’s tiring now." She shook her head slowly, "And so, I will not pursue rights and wrongs any further."
The relief was almost visible.
"You requested my audience to deliberate on what cos next... But that is not why I have co." Neveah was silent for a mont, "Here, with all present bearing witnesses, I forfeit all claims to the Eclipse throne."
"While I will always honour my birth place, my blood is forged of fla." She paused briefly,
Her eyes darted to Lucas Varleston and then Dane Hunts. She had considered abdicating the title to either of them, but that would only leave room for challenges.
The throne couldn’t be gifted, it had to be won.
"After much deliberation, I have chosen to commit the decision of succession to be determined by the ancient rights of Alpha gas."
More glances were exchanged, hushed whispers passing down the hall.
"As you have heard, this ans any one of you might rise to the title. The gas will be held as soon as possible, and will have a single rule...defeat will be determined by submission, not death." Her gaze shifted from one Alpha to the next. "We’ve lost enough already."
The Alphas nodded in solemn agreent.
"The gas will be overseen by the Alpha King of the winter domain, ensuring fairness and integrity."
"On the ascension of the new King, you have my word that the Winter wolves will leave Eclipse territory unconquered."
"A new era dawns. May the Creator decide."
She got up to her feet, exhaling a drawn out breath. Glancing over at the pillar where the royal crown rested, Neveah walked over to it, picking up the midnight blue ornant.
She knew what it was instantly. She’d known from the first mont she saw it.
"This...belongs to us. Now, everything returns to its place."
Neveah didn’t linger, heading out of the hall.
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