Chapter 216: Playing A Longer Game

{Third Person}

Lysandra returned to her own palace with the young wolf prince being carried behind her by one of her servants.

The moment she entered her private sitting room, she dropped into one of the chairs with a furious expression while the maid carefully held the infant in her arms.

Lysandra stared at the child for several seconds before letting out a bitter laugh. "I know exactly why His Majesty did this."

Her maid-in-waiting looked toward the doors before approaching her carefully. "Your Majesty..."

"He wants me to raise this child so that he can keep me under control." Lysandra’s voice was filled with resentment. "

And he knows exactly what he is doing. If anything happens to this little wolf while he is under my care, he will finally have the excuse he has been waiting for to deal with me."

She leaned back and folded her arms across her chest, her eyes narrowing with anger.

"He knows I will do everything possible to keep the child alive. He knows I will protect him, feed him, keep him healthy, and make sure nothing happens to him. That is why he gave him to me. It is the same thing he did with Rowan all those years ago."

Her maid lowered her voice. "Your Majesty, please be careful."

Lysandra turned sharply toward her. "Careful about what?"

The maid hesitated before glancing toward the doors again. "We do not know whether His Majesty has placed any of his spies inside the palace."

Lysandra’s expression became even colder. "Let him listen." Then she rose from her chair and began pacing across the room.

"That man is manipulative and cunning. He thinks everyone around him is nothing more than a piece on his chessboard. He moves one person here, another person there, and expects everyone to follow whatever game he has created."

She stopped beside the window and looked out into the palace gardens. "But I am not one of his pawns."

Her voice carried a quiet bitterness. "I will not allow him to believe that he can control me simply because he handed me a child."

The maid remained silent.

Lysandra’s anger had not diminished. If anything, it had become more focused. She understood the danger now.

Sebastian had not trusted her with the child because he loved her or because he believed she was the best person to raise him.

He had placed the young prince in her hands because he knew exactly how carefully she would protect him.

The King had found another way to keep her in check. And she hated him for it.

---

Later that evening, Zarek came to see his mother.

He had already heard what happened and found her sitting in her private chamber with the young prince sleeping peacefully in a cradle nearby.

The moment he entered, his eyes went toward the child before settling on his mother. "Mother."

Lysandra looked at him. "You heard?"

Zarek gave a small nod as he approached. "I heard Father handed the child to you."

"He did." Lysandra’s expression hardened. "He has placed a responsibility around my neck and expects me to carry it without complaint."

Zarek pulled out a chair and sat across from her. "You know Father. Once he makes a decision, arguing rarely changes his mind."

"I know." Lysandra scoffed. "That does not mean I have to like it."

Zarek was quiet for a moment before looking toward the sleeping infant. "At least the child is healthy."

"That is exactly the problem." Lysandra’s eyes narrowed. "He knows I will do everything in my power to keep him healthy."

Zarek sighed. "Then perhaps you should simply do what you have always done. Protect yourself and make sure nothing happens to him."

"I intend to."

For a while, mother and son sat in silence. Eventually, Lysandra’s attention returned to another matter that had been troubling her.

"Do you think your father has great plans for this new wolf prince?"

Zarek gave a dismissive scoff. "What great plans can he possibly have for a month-old wolf when his precious son, Alexander, is still alive?"

Lysandra went completely still. Then her expression changed as the thought settled properly in her mind. "I was mistaken."

Zarek glanced at her. "About what?"

"Of course." She slowly leaned back. "As long as that cursed precious son of his is still breathing, he will remain the Alpha Prince."

Zarek’s jaw tightened. "I cannot even begin to understand what Father is thinking anymore."

Lysandra rolled her eyes. "That old wolf is hard to beat in this game."

She looked toward the cradle where the young prince continued sleeping peacefully. Then she released a small breath.

"We might remain under his control until we take our last breath."

Zarek did not answer. He knew his mother was right. As long as his father remained King, none of them could afford to underestimate him.

---

Elsewhere in the palace, Rowan had also received the news.

He sat comfortably in his private quarters with Yara beside him when the servant finished delivering the report.

After the servant left, Rowan leaned back with an amused smile. "Father is still very calculating."

Yara looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

Rowan glanced toward her. "He is using the young prince to checkmate Mother."

Yara immediately understood. "He knows she cannot afford to let anything happen to the child."

"Exactly." Rowan’s smile widened slightly. "Father knows Mother too well. He has given her something she cannot manipulate, cannot ignore, and cannot allow to fail."

Yara smiled as she picked up an apple from the plate between them. "So she is trapped."

"Completely." He nodded.

Yara carefully cut a slice and held it toward Rowan. He leaned forward and accepted it from her before chewing slowly. After swallowing, he glanced toward the palace windows.

"Mother may be clever, but Father has been playing this game longer than any of us."

Yara nodded quietly as she prepared another slice of apple for him.

For once, Rowan found the situation amusing. His mother had spent years trying to control everyone around her.

Now, without raising his voice or drawing a sword, his father had found a way to make her protect exactly what he wanted protected.