Chapter 7 - The Price of Loyalty“Don't move,” Roman warned, his voice echoing in the ruined ballroom. The cold wind from the shattered windows whipped my crimson dress around my legs, but I didn't flinch. I stood right beside him, my hand resting on my belly.
Julian looked at the red dot hovering directly over his heart. He forced a laugh, but the sweat running down his temple betrayed his arrogance. “You won't kill us all, Roman. If you eliminate the council, the entire infrastructure collapses. The banks will freeze our assets by morning.”
“You think I care about the money, Julian?” Roman stepped closer, his boots crunching on the broken glass. “You helped my mother torture my sister. You allowed her to put hands on my pregnant wife. You think a few frozen bank accounts will stop me from erasing you?”
Vivienne grabbed Julian’s arm, her eyes wild. “Harrison! Do something! You swore an oath to my husband!”
Lord Harrison closed the file slowly. He looked at Clara, whose vacant yet accusatory stare was the ultimate proof of Vivienne’s madness.
“My oath was to the Kane bloodline, Vivienne,” Harrison said solemnly. “Not to an adulterous wife and her illegitimate son. The council recognizes the will. Roman is the Regent until the child comes of age. You and Julian are stripped of your titles, your protection, and your assets.”
“No!” Vivienne screamed.
Julian was faster. Sensing his doom, he drew his concealed pistol and aimed it directly at Roman.
Bang.
The gunshot vibrated through the room, but it didn't come from Julian’s gun.
Marcus had fired from the doorway. The bullet caught Julian in his right shoulder, spinning him around. His gun clattered across the floor. He fell to his knees, clutching his bleeding arm, gasping for air.
Vivienne dropped to her feet beside him, crying out his name. The elegant, untouchable matriarch was finally on her knees, covered in the blood of her favorite son.
Roman looked down at them with no mercy in his eyes.
“Take them to the safehouse in the north,” Roman ordered his men. “They will live long enough to see my daughter born. They will see the Queens bloodline inherit everything they tried to protect. And then, they will face justice.”
As the guards dragged Vivienne and a cursing Julian out of the ballroom, the remaining elders bowed their heads to Roman.
But Roman didn't look at them. He turned to me, his hands shaking slightly as he checked my face, my arms, making sure I hadn't been hurt in the chaos.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice suddenly thick with emotion.
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“I’m okay,” I whispered, leaning into his touch. “But the baby... Roman, we need to go. Now.”
A sharp, unmistakable contraction slammed into my abdomen. The stress of the night had triggered it. My water had just broken.
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