Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 131 The Prison
They filed into the dim light together with Ann leading them and Adam at her side, whilst Lexi followed with Allen, walking as close to him as she possibly could, much to his irritation. She took every opportunity to brush his arm with her own and flashed him a coy smile and fluttered her eyelashes at him suggestively every time he side-eyed her in disgust.
Although he remained silent, the grim line of his mouth showed just how irritated he truly was and as they took their seats, he found himself caught in the middle between Adam and Lexi with no way to move out of Lexi’s reach.
He sighed and turned to scowl at her, but his irritation was met with a wide grin. He swallowed the remark that he desperately wanted to make and turned to face forward, his shoulders tense at Lexi’s proximity as she scooted her chair across a little closer so that her arms were touching his.
Ann leaned forward in her chair and shot Lexi a warning glance but she was either oblivious to the meaning or just didn’t care. It was most likely the latter as the unapologetic grin and cheeky wink she sent her way showed no remorse whatsoever.
She sighed in resignation and sat back in her chair as Adam squeezed her hand with a smile. All Ann wanted was to get through today. Once the trial was concluded, then hopefully they could move on.
Ann’s gaze drifted across the room as a distant rumbling could be heard from somewhere along the many corridors that lay outside this
It was because of him that everything had come this far. If he had just kept away from that vile woman in the beginning, her mother would have still been alive and none of this would ever have happened.
Leopold looked as though he had aged a century in the past day. His once robust appearance now seemed sickly and frail, his face almost haggard and the huge bags under his eyes visible in even this dim lighting showed just how little sleep he must have been getting.
“Perhaps it’s his conscience eating away at him. Let’s face it, it’s about time.” Maeve snorted derisively.
Ann nodded her agreement. He was not the Alpha King that he once was, that was for sure.
“Once again, thank you for attending at such short notice. We are unanimous in our desire to have this… disappointing… matter resolved as quickly as possible.” A voice from the shadows above rang out.
“I would say disappointing is not representative of our true feelings on the matter…” another voice hissed.
“As I was saying…” The first voice continued loudly, “Many regrettable incidents have occurred over the past few years, for how long, we cannot be sure, but we intend to get to the bottom of this. The Alpha King Leopold will preside over the proceedings and will pass judgment based on our recommendations at the end. He is currently, still the reigning Alpha King, and as such, we cannot install another regent in such a short space of time without the general public becoming aware of the… situation.”
Ann visibly tensed as the voice from above spoke and the sound of a chair being pushed backward sounded from her side as Lexi stood in indignation at the news. None of this did anything to calm her nerves.
“Hold on, so the incompetent Alpha King gets to pass judgment on the woman who’s had him wrapped around her finger and nestled between her legs for the past god knows how long? Are you f***w*g insane?” Lexi yelled furiously as Allen pulled frantically at her arm to pull her back into her seat with a look of horror on his face.
Leopold’s face was like thunder as a light chuckle sounded from above.
“Unfortunately… yes. We are bound by the laws of our inst*itution and there was simply not enough time to arrange the coronation of our next reigning monarch, an issue that we will address as soon as this is resolved.”
“Do you have any idea how f*uc*king…”
“As much as we understand your frustration, and empathize with your feelings, please take your seat once more, and remain silent. You are here as a gesture of goodwill for the a*s*sistance you have provided and as a representative of the Daemon Lord. However, if you continue to speak out and disrupt the proceedings then we will have no choice but to remove you from the court and continue without you.” A cold voice rang out from above.
Allen tugged harshly at her arm with more f*orc*e than was necessary and she fell backward into her seat as she shot a furious glare at him.
“Just sit down and shut up for f“*s sake. For once in your life, will you just do as you are told?!” Allen hissed furiously as he met her glare confidently.
For a second, it looked as though she might argue, but the sound of the heavy doors swinging open and the unmistakable heavy thudding footsteps of the golems of the Elders interrupted whatever she had intended on saying.
The four of them watched quietly as the golems entered, each hauling a large, iron cart with thick glass between the bars and interspersed with holes which Ann presumed was to allow air to enter.
Inside the portable prisons stood a defiant and unrepentant Narcissa, clearly worse for wear as she glared out furiously from inside, and a miserable and dejected Ada, curled up in the corner of her own prison, hugging her knees as much as she was able to with her growing bump.
Ann risked a glance towards her father, and she didn’t miss the pained expression that crossed his face briefly as he gazed at his snarling ex-wife and the girl that he had thought was his daughter.
The Alpha King Leopold waited for the prison carts to be moved into their designated positions and cleared his throat before speaking.
“With the arrival of the guilty parties, I declare these proceedings open.” He announced, his voice cracking ever so slightly as he gazed sadly at the women before him.