Chapter 422: Not crowned as the next Queen
Casaio returned to the palace that evening with a grim expression. Hours of interrogation had yielded nothing, the captured hunters hadn’t uttered a single word.
"Cas, I’ve been waiting for you," Zilia said the moment she saw him, her steps quick as she crossed the room.
He frowned, reading the tension in her face. "Is everything alright? How’s Idris?"
"He’s fine," she replied, shaking her head. "But this isn’t about him."
"What is it then?" Casaio asked, concern sharpening his voice.
"Why don’t you sit down first?" Zilia gestured toward the bed, already moving to the small table nearby. She poured him a glass of water and handed it over once he’d settled down.
Casaio took a few slow gulps, still watching her. "Zilia, you’re worrying me. What happened?"
Zilia sat beside him, her hands twisting together before she began to speak. She recounted everything, Juniper’s cruel words to Amelie; the confrontation between Gabriel and Dominick, and how the entire household had been thrown into turmoil.
By the time she finished, Casaio’s eyes had widened in disbelief. "What?" he breathed. "June said Noah isn’t a Sinclair?" His voice rose in anger.
"What’s even wrong with her?" Casaio muttered, disbelief clear in his voice. "First she blamed you, and now she’s targeting that little baby?"
"Mother confronted her," Zilia replied. "She warned June that if she ever behaves like this again, she might be thrown out of the palace."
"Mom won’t tolerate that kind of behavior," Casaio admitted with a nod.
Zilia sighed, her gaze distant. "It’s strange. June wasn’t always like this, or maybe we just never truly saw who she really was. It was supposed to be a special day for Gabriel and Amelie. Noah spoke his first two words, Cas, and June ruined it for them, especially for Amelie. She’s fought so hard to stand where she is today. Alex once wanted both her and Noah dead, and now this... June shouldn’t have been so cruel. If Noah grows up hearing things like that, what will he think of himself?"
Casaio’s expression darkened. "That’s truly disheartening. June destroyed their happiness." He pushed himself to his feet. "I’ll talk to her. This all started because we shared her wedding day. I never imagined it would create such a deep rift between her and Dominick."
"Of course, you should talk to her," Zilia said, rising from her seat. "But do it in Dominick’s presence. Don’t speak to Juniper alone, we don’t know what’s going on in her mind anymore."
"Sure," Casaio agreed. "I’ll be back soon."
He left at once. When he reached the chamber shared by Dominick and Juniper, he found a maid standing by the door.
"Inform them I’ve come," Casaio instructed.
The maid bowed and slipped inside. A moment later, Dominick appeared, his face pale and drawn. Casaio didn’t need to ask, Juniper’s sharp tongue had clearly found its mark again.
Dominick led him in. Juniper stood near the window, her posture composed but her eyes cold. She offered a graceful bow.
Casaio didn’t return it. "I heard about what happened today," he said evenly. "Apparently, I’m the reason behind your anger. I wanted to surprise Zilia that day, but I didn’t realize it would make you so unhappy. Still, what I can’t understand is, why call Zilia a spy? Why accuse her of threatening my position as the next Alpha King? If you truly had an objection, why didn’t you speak up at the altar when I announced my marriage to her? Why hide behind pleasantries only to turn vicious later? If this is who you really are, Juniper, then show that side to everyone, not just us."
"Brother, please," Dominick interjected, eyes fixed on the floor. "Don’t speak to her like that."
"You heard him, Prince Casaio," Juniper said, her tone laced with mock respect. "Leave. You have no right to lecture me. Yes, it all started because of you and your beloved mate. You two stole my happiness, and now, because I dare to speak of it, I’m the problem? Everyone in this family has an issue with me." She let out a dry chuckle.
"And what exactly do you expect me to do to fix it?" Casaio asked, his voice calm but edged with exhaustion.
"Don’t lecture me," Juniper snapped. "If you want to help, ask your mother instead. She’s the one who said she’d throw me out. But it won’t matter, Dominick loves me, and no one can separate us."
Casaio’s gaze shifted to his brother. Dominick stood silent, his eyes hollow with the weight of everything unsaid. The sight twisted something in Casaio’s chest. Without another word, he turned and left the chamber.
As the door closed behind him, Juniper exhaled sharply and muttered, almost to herself, "See? Even Casaio’s fighting for his mate. What I said wasn’t wrong. Zilia was caught spying. She should have been punished, not crowned as the next Queen."
Dominick lifted his head and looked into Juniper’s eyes.
"Nick, I won’t say a word to anyone about her past. You matter to me, Nick," Juniper said, closing the distance between them. She held his hands when he pulled them back.
"Why are you acting like this?" Juniper asked. "We have to act like a lovely couple, who support each other in everything."
"Yes, we have to pretend. And within these four walls of our chamber, we will live as strangers. Don’t even dare to come near me," Dominick warned her.
"Don’t say that, Nick. It makes me lose my mind!" Juniper bellowed, frowning at him. Then, grabbing him by the collar, she continued, "You have to keep showing the love toward me. I don’t want to destroy the life of your dear elder brother and sister-in-law. So, don’t provoke me." Her eyes shone golden as her dangerous intentions were revealed to her.
’I have to kick her out of my life. But I can’t do it yet. I’ve to plan out first how to get rid of her,’ he thought.