He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 25
But that fragile peace didn’t last.
My father went north again to oversee the postwar handover.
The day before the winter festival, one of Elliot’s personal guards arrived at the Alpha residence in secret.
“Prince Elliot’s orders,” he said grimly. “Lock every door and do not leave Ironvale territory.”
The capital’s streets were still crowded with holiday shoppers, and the news channels were all running normally.
But my heart sank.
I immediately used the Ironvale mindlink to put all guards on high alert, ordering them to allow entry to the residence only after strict identity verification.
Late that night, the national mourning alarm suddenly blared from the direction of the royal castle.
A few minutes later, the official channel announced King Adrian’s sudden death.
Chaos erupted outside the residence almost instantly.
I forced myself to stay calm, ordering the guards to lock down the garage, the gardens, and every electronic door.
Before the lockdown was complete, the entire security system was forcibly shut down by the highest royal authority.
Dozens of armed men in unmarked combat uniforms vaulted over the walls and stormed the grounds. Among them were Redhaven’s unregistered soldiers and royal guards who had turned traitor.
The man leading them was Lucian.
After months apart, he was almost unrecognizable.
Long confinement and drugs had hollowed out his eyes. His wolf nature had turned feral, and he radiated a cold, violent instability.
Queen Helena had clearly used the coup to open the royal security center and release him.