Mated To The Barbarian King Who Is My Ex-husband's Father.

​After his aunt left, Arianna noticed the subtle shadow of worry that settled over Kane, despite his efforts to hide it. She wondered whether it was the sudden, message from the priest or the reminder of what had been done to Alara.

​They ate the rest of their meal in silence, the only sound between them being the low crackle of the fireplace filling the pavilion. She stole another look at him before finally breaking the quiet.

​"Is something on your mind? You seem to be lost in thought."

​"There is just so much happening lately, Queen Arianna," Kane admitted, setting his food down. He dipped his fingers into the water bowl beside him to rinse them. "I am trying to piece together the possibilities... trying to figure out who has been playing these dangerous games with me."

​Arianna held her breath, the urge to blurt out Cassius’s name rising in her throat. But she forced herself to stay silent. It was far too early for accusation—she needed concrete evidence to back up her claims.

​Besides, Cassius held leverage over her as well.

​One wrong move, and the table could easily turn against her instead.

​"Do you want to hear my opinion?" Arianna asked, glancing at him carefully.

​His eyes shifted to her, bright with genuine curiosity.

​She picked up a small cluster of grapes from the table, tossing a few into her mouth to buy herself a moment of composure.

​"Go ahead, my love," Kane urged, leaning closer. "I am listening."

​"Someone around you is doing this," Arianna said softly. "I mean, who would dare attack the women in your circle unless it’s someone right under your nose?"

​Kane leaned back, absorbing her words as his brows furrowed in thought. He stared into the dancing flames, the orange light reflecting off his piercing blue eyes. "I will handle the investigation myself this time, without involving anyone else."

​"Let me help you. It will make—"

​"No, my love," he interrupted, gently shaking his head as he reached out to cup her face with a warm palm. "You don’t need to shoulder this. I can handle it. The last thing I want is for you to put yourself in danger or stress yourself further."

​Arianna raised her eyes to meet his gaze. Looking at him, she couldn’t help but feel a sudden wave of admiration for the fierce, unconditional love he showed her. Will I ever be able to love him the way he loves me?

​A sudden pang of fear gripped her chest, her heart thudding against her ribs. She swallowed hard, quickly breaking eye contact to look away.

​"Did I say something wrong?" he asked, the immediate shift in her body language drawing concern to his eyes.

​"N-no..." Arianna shook her head quickly. Reaching out, she nudged the low table away to give them space before turning her attention back to him. "What was it like growing up for you? You already know my story. My parents barely paid attention to me because they were obsessed with having a son...a son they ended up losing anyway."

​"Why were they so desperate for a boy? Let me guess... they were terrified your line would end with a woman?" He let out a light chuckle, shaking his head at the absurdity of it.

​"Exactly," Arianna murmured, watching his reaction closely. "Wouldn’t you want a son, too? To carry on your name and your bloodline?"

"Yes, of course. I would be happy if the Goddess blessed me with a son. He would one day become an Alpha and lead our people," Kane said, his tone thoughtful as he stroked her hair. "But that doesn’t mean my daughter couldn’t be Alpha, too. If she is born first and desires to rule, the throne will be hers. I would make sure of it."

​Arianna blinked, genuinely surprised. In her homeland, her brother had always held supreme authority over her simply by virtue of his birth.

It had been understood without question that he would inherit the crown, and only after his tragic death did the line of succession fall to her—and even then, only on the condition that she marry and rule alongside a husband.

Yet here was Kane, casually offering his hypothetical daughter a choice her own father would have scoffed at.

​"You really are different from what people say," Arianna murmured, a faint, genuine laugh escaping her lips. "I wish my father could hear your answer to that question. Maybe it would have changed his narrow perspective."

​"He will surely hear it someday," Kane said, gently reaching over to take her hand. He lifted her knuckles to his lips, pressing a warm kiss against her skin before flashing a subtle grin. "Though do not get too excited... I don’t actually have a daughter yet."

​Arianna laughed at the lighthearted remark, but as she looked closer at his face, the smile faded from her lips. Beneath his dry chuckle, his eyes carried a heavy, lingering shadow of pain...the quiet ache of a ruler grappling with a barren curse and the fear of leaving no bloodline behind.

​"Forgive me for laughing like a fool," she said softly, her eyes filled with immediate regret and sympathy. "I truly believe the curse will be broken, Kane. You will have beautiful children."

​Kane offered a quiet, grateful nod. He opened his arms, inviting her close, and Arianna didn’t hesitate—she shifted forward and leaned directly against his broad chest, letting his warmth envelop her.

​He wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her close as he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

​"It’s going to be alright, my love," he whispered into the quiet warmth of the pavilion. "It’s going to be alright."

*********

"Since when did I get to be referred to as a snake, Aunt?" Cassius asked, his jaw tight with anger. This was the exact moment he needed her support, not her condemnation... unless, of course, she had somehow found out what he did to that crazy woman, Alara.

​"Are you not one?" Aunt Freya shot back, placing her hands on her hips.

​Her children stepped into the tent behind her, stopping dead in their tracks at the sight of him. Ragnar looked around the tent, thoroughly bewildered, trying to figure out how Cassius had slipped inside unnoticed.

​"Uncle... w-what are you doing in here?" Ragnar asked, his face a picture of confusion.

​"Leave us alone, Ragnar. You too, Samantha," their mother commanded without even looking back at them. "I have something important to discuss with your uncle."

​"I thought he wasn’t your ally anymore," Samantha chimed in, her voice dripping with sharp curiosity.

​"Will you shut up and get out?" Aunt Freya snapped, her index finger whipping toward the exit flap. "Get the hell out of here, Samantha!"

​"Sorry, Mother," Samantha muttered, lowering her head as she quickly followed her brother back out into the night.

​Aunt Freya let out a long, irritated sigh and turned back to face the man in front of her. Samantha’s reckless mouth was only making an already dangerous situation worse. "Those children are driving me mad... especially the girl."

​"I’m not surprised," Cassius shrugged, raising a single brow. His indifferent tone made it abundantly clear just how little he cared about her domestic troubles.

​"Why?"

​"Because you spoiled them especially the girl," Cassius said smoothly, taking a step toward her. "You’ve spent her whole life making her believe she can always get whatever she wants."

​The words stung like a whip.

​Aunt Freya’s eyes flashed with anger at his accusation. He was indirectly claiming she was a failure as a parent, undermining everything she had sacrificed for her family.

​"I did an excellent job raising those children without a father," she hissed, her voice dropping into a low, lethal whisper. "I did it beautifully."

"I doubt that. Why don’t you see for yourself? You raised Ethan, too," Cassius chuckled darkly.

​"I raised Kane, remember?"

​"Yes, but he would have ended up just like Ethan if not for Alara’s parents."

​"Oh, please. Do not speak her name with your unworthy mouth," Aunt Freya said, rolling her eyes. "I may have been an excellent mother, but I am so glad I didn’t raise you, Cassius. If I were your mother, I would have gone and drowned myself the moment I realized what kind of devil I brought into this world."

​His expression darkened instantly, a dangerous shadow crossing his face, but Freya couldn’t care less about his bruised ego.

​"What kind of monster are you that you inflict so much pain on her? After all these years, was your only solution to attempt to kill her?" Freya demanded, staring down at him as if searching for a shred of humanity in his eyes. "If you truly did this to her, boy, then you leave me with no choice. I am taking this directly to the King."

​A cold shiver ran down her spine when Cassius suddenly dropped to his knees before her, leaving her utterly stunned. Was he actually going to beg for mercy?

​"Will you believe me?" Cassius asked, his voice strained.

​"Believe what?"

​"I didn’t do any of the things you’re accusing me of! Someone is using this entire situation to drive a wedge between the King and me!"

​Freya looked down at him, her mind racing. It was almost impossible to discern whether a single truth had ever left his mouth.

They had been allies in dark schemes before, and she had watched him lie straight to Kane’s face without missing a beat. She didn’t trust him for a second.

​She was just about to order him out of her tent when a sudden, calculating idea struck her.

​"If you truly had nothing to do with her attack... then you need to prove it to us. To the King."

​"What is it?" Cassius eyed her warily, wondering what twisted angle she was playing now.

​"I want you to marry Alara," she said, a small, triumphant smile spreading across her lips. "Once you are bound to her, it will instantly kill all suspicion in everyone’s hearts."

​Cassius stared up at her in utter shock, thrown completely off balance. There was definitely something deeply unhinged about her.

​"Aunt Freya... have you completely lost your mind?"

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!