Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King novel Chapter 161

Chapter 161: 0161

Lorelei POV

"What are you doing here?" I asked, still caught off guard.

Nala responded by arching one perfectly sculpted brow.

"Did your thoughts truly tell you I would stay away from an execution such as this?" she said with a grin.

"I confess, I carry a small disappointment. Your Alpha King has chosen an ending that comes far too quickly. Had the choice rested in my hands, I would have kept them breathing long enough for my beast to enjoy them... one piece at a time." She clicked her tongue dramatically before adding, "But a heart that has drowned itself in rage rarely remembers how to be creative."

As she spoke, her glowing eyes drifted past me before settling on Raven, and the playful smile on her face faded ever so slightly, replaced by a look of quiet curiosity.

Noticing the sudden shift, I stepped between them before the silence could become uncomfortable.

"This is Raven," I said quickly. "She’s... a friend from my past."

I then turned toward Nala.

"And Raven, this is Princess Nala of the Witch Clan."

The moment Raven heard the word Princess, surprise flashed across her face. Without being told, she immediately lowered her head in a respectful bow.

"My apologies, Your Highness. I didn’t realize your status. I should have greeted you properly."

But Nala dismissed the apology with a casual wave of her hand, her smile returning.

"That is quite alright. Any soul Lorelei calls her friend, I will welcome as one of mine."

"Friend?" Raven repeated under her breath, sending me a confused glance.

Truthfully, even I was confused.

"I didn’t realize we were friends," I said awkwardly.

Meanwhile, Nala’s smile only widened.

"Oh?" she purred, amusement dancing in her golden eyes. "If friendship has not grown between us... then what name shall we give this thing instead? Come. Place a name upon it for me."

Although the question was clearly meant for me, her glowing eyes never left Raven. There was something almost mischievous about the way she studied her, the corner of her lips curled into an amused smile that made me wonder what was going through her mind.

I let out an awkward chuckle and shook my head.

"Well... I’m grateful that you think of me as a friend, Princess."

Only then did Nala’s attention finally return to me. A satisfied smile spread across her face, as though she had gotten exactly the reaction she wanted.

"We all know why we’re gathered here tonight."

Kaelen’s cold, commanding voice carried across the courtyard, cutting through the low murmur of the crowd and silencing every conversation almost instantly.

Everyone’s attention shifted back to the center of the courtyard.

Dozens of guards and maids stood around the perimeter, keeping a respectful distance from the prisoners. Just like before, they had all been summoned to witness the execution of their own colleagues, a reminder of exactly what happened to those who betrayed the estate.

Kaelen stepped forward, the sound of his boots echoing against the stone pavement as his sharp amber eyes swept over every face in the crowd.

"These four stand accused of high treason, human trafficking, and the attempted murder of a member of this household," he announced, his voice calm yet powerful enough to reach every corner of the courtyard. "Hawke used this estate’s resources to operate an illegal trafficking ring right under our noses. I may be a cruel man, but I believe every one of you is capable of deciding for yourselves whether these crimes deserve mercy."

The moment the full extent of their crimes was revealed, shocked gasps rippled through the crowd.

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