The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 79: Interrogated ()

"What is the meaning of this?" King Askel asked in a dark tone, stepping forward and pulling Zariah behind him.

"By order of the Sea King, Lady Zariah Torin...you are coming with us!" Princess Shariah announced in a deadly tone.

A deadly growl escaped King Askel at Princess Shariah’s words.

"Any resistance will be considered an admission of guilt. Lady Zariah, I hope you do not make things difficult for us." Princess Shariah insisted as the battle mers moved forwards.

"You dare to apprehend My Queen? It seems the Sea Kingdom has forgotten the strength of the Ethereal Domain." King Askel growled out just as Luther and Nile rushed into the room.

"Prince Treyton, what exactly is this about?" Luther asked as he took position at King Askel’s side.

"All will be clear when Lady Zariah comes with us." Prince Treyton said in a hesitant tone, clearly not as intent on this affair as Princess Shariah was.

Meanwhile all the voices around Zariah had faded to the background, she barely took note of what was happening, her mind reeling from the fact that she had just heard what seemed to be Torin’s voice.

Zariah could not believe it, she had felt Torin’s presence fade away, she had felt the pain of their weakened, almost non existent bond,

Nile had said there were no methods, Zariah did not dare hope, yet hope blossomed within her heart.

’Torin...Torin is that you?’ Zariah thought to her wolf, her heart sinking when she received no response.

"Very well then...I shall require the lives of a hundred mers in exchange for this disrespect!" King Askel spat, his claws elongating as his eyes glowed.

"Lady Zariah... please comply." Prince Treyton called to Zariah as the situation spiralled down into a deadly face off, the tense atmosphere palpable.

Zariah shook her head, bringing herself back to reality at Prince Treyton’s words and passing a glance around, she quirked a brow.

"King Askel, it’s fine... since the summons has come with such insistence, I will go see the Sea King." Zariah said with a casual shrug.

"Mhíjani..." King Askel began to argue but Zariah placed a hand on his arm, shaking her head slightly.

"The Sea King would not dare act in such an unruly manner without justifiable cause. This is a critical moment for the supernatural realm...I will hear from him in person." Zariah assured.

Zariah stepped out from behind King Askel and headed into her room, pulling on a coat and a pair of boots that had been delivered to her room the previous night.

Zariah emerged to see King Askel had also changed his clothing as he walked up to her.

"I will be with you." King Askel said in a tone that left no room for arguments.

"Dismiss your guards, I will go with you but I will not tolerate being treated like a criminal." Zariah said in an icy tone.

Princess Shariah reluctantly complied and the battle mers took their leave.

"Lady Zariah...I truly apologize for this...I don’t..." Prince Treyton began once the battle mers had left.

Zariah was in no mood for his explanation, the Sea King had actually dared to give an order to apprehend her, regardless of what the reason might be, Zariah would ensure they understood that the Crimson Moon would not tolerate their disrespect.

"I don’t need your apology, after this is sorted out... the Crimson Moon will require an explanation from the Sea Kingdom, and Creator help you that explanation is not satisfactory." Zariah vowed in a deadly tone as she turned and stormed out of her room.

________________

The doors to the throne room were opened and Zariah stepped into the hall, passing a glance around.

There were only two people present in the hall, one was King Himan who sat on his throne, his tail flicking agitatedly beneath him.

And another middle aged merman Zariah had not met before.

Zariah understood King Himan could not summon his council considering they were not aware of the presence of guests from the Ethereal Domain in the first place.

King Himan glanced up at Zariah’s entrance, his eyes narrowed fiercely but he did not speak or make any moves, instead gesturing for Zariah and King Askel to sit.

"Save your courtesies, King Himan. I have left my domain and my people in such uncertain times at your request and you order for my mate to be apprehended...if you have a reason for this, this would be the right time to start speaking." King Askel said in a chilling cold tone.

King Himan frowned but complied with King Askel’s request, gesturing for Prince Treyton to begin speaking.

"Lady Zariah, where exactly were you last night between the 10th-11th hour?" Prince Treyton asked,

Zariah frowned slightly, she had not left the Coral Guest Palace at all since they had been escorted there by Prince Treyton.

Precisely because Zariah did not have anywhere else to go, and she did not even know her way around the Sea Palace to be anywhere else.

She had meditated for an hour before Kristen had arrived and had continued meditating after he had left till she had finally gone to sleep.

"In the Coral Guest Palace, obviously." Zariah replied with a casual shrug.

King Himan’s gaze narrowed slightly at Zariah’s words.

"You were the last to see Kristen yesterday, weren’t you?" Princess Shariah asked,

Zariah tilted her head to the side, she had indeed met with Kristen but if she was the last person to see him yesterday or not was a question she could not answer.

"Last person? What happened to Kristen?" Zariah asked with a raised brow.

"That is a question we should be asking you!" Princess Shariah snapped.

"Watch your tone!" King Askel countered Princess Shariah in a deadly tone, his eyes blazing with fury.

"King Askel... you can’t just take her side without knowing anything! The Sea Kingdom holds you in high regard, you have to uphold justice for us!" Princess Shariah insisted.

Deadly growls escaped King Askel and Luther’s lips and Zariah’s hand shot out to grasp King Askel’s wrist, restraining him before he could lunge at Princess Shariah.

"Know your place Princess... since when was it your turn to admonish the Ethereal King?" Zariah asked, passing the mer a glare before she reverted her gaze to King Himan.

"In response to your question, I did meet Kristen yesterday, in the Coral Guest Palace, in the presence of King Askel and Nile. The merman was with me for about an hour before he returned to his quarters." Zariah relayed.

"And afterwards?" King Himan asked,

"Afterwards nothing." Zariah replied.

"Lady Zariah..." King Himan said in a warning tone that further angered King Askel who growled low and dangerously.

"Lady Zariah... between the 6th-7th hour, where were you?" The strange merman who had not spoken previously finally spoke up.

Zariah heaved an exasperated sigh as she felt rage slowly begin churning from within her, like a raging storm awaiting the right moment to erupt.

Regardless of anything, Zariah was an Alpha, she was the Crimson Alpha... since when could she be questioned in such a manner?

"I am really trying not to be offended by this... but I am failing terribly. First, I do not even know who you are and it is proper courtesy to introduce yourself before hurling questions at me."

"Secondly, am I, Zariah Torin of Crimson Moon, being interrogated in the Sea Palace right now? Because if I am, then I will need to report accordingly to my Alpha." Zariah said in a dark tone.

"Lady Zariah, last night between the tenth and eleventh hour, a guard on patrol reported seeing you leave Kristen’s quarters." Prince Treyton explained.

Zariah quirked a brow and unable to help herself, a quiet chuckle escaped her.

"I have only arrived the Sea Kingdom for not longer than a day and what? Pray tell, how do I know the way to Kristen’s quarters?" Zariah asked in amusement.

"This is not a joke Lady Zariah, Kristen was attacked last night, there are no physical injuries on him but we found him unconscious this morning and he is barely breathing...there is an unidentified poison in his blood stream." The strange man spoke up again.

Zariah frowned again, her gaze furrowing in concern. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"And there was a report that said I was seen leaving his quarters last night?" Zariah asked rhetorically,

"I do not know what this is about but if I wanted the merman dead, I would have done so with justification after he attacked me in the Ethereal Domain." Zariah said in a dark tone.

"To my knowledge, Lady Zariah and King Askel have individual rooms to yourself. How can you attest that you did not leave your room even once last night?" King Himan asked,

"What nonsense are you going on about? You presume I would not know if my mate left the Coral Guest Palace last night?" King Askel countered in a deadly tone.

"I have no reasons to prove myself or defend my whereabouts to you King Himan, you clearly already have come to your own conclusion." Zariah said unfazed.

"Do you believe we cannot do anything to you because you are of Crimson Moon?! If you harmed Kristen, we will never let you off!" Princess Shariah snapped.

"I am standing right here to see just who dares." King Askel replied calmly, his words effectively shutting Princess Shariah up.

"Lady Zariah, Kristen did not show up for patrol yesterday...I went in search of him to discover him in such a state this morning." Prince Treyton began,

"I believe this has nothing to do with you, but...if we do not find out just what happened in Kristen’s quarters last night... Kristen will die." Prince Treyton said in a devastated tone.