Novels by WINNIE WRITES

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHTALARIC’S POVBy the time the gates of Earldom came into view, my chest already felt tight, like the kingdom itself was sitting on my lungs. That fear again..that fear.I did not even pause to freshen up. The dust of the road still clung to my boots, my cloak smelled of sweat and war councils, and my mind was already miles ahead, calculating losses, weighing faces, remembering every word written in that cursed letter.Ten thousand gold coins did not simply disappear.I disbanded the escort the moment we arrived and ordered the council to be summoned immediately. No delays. No excuses. I specifically asked for the Queen Mother to be present. If this matter was going to be settled, it would be done in open court where lies trembled and truth had nowhere to hide.This was not just about gold.This was about control. And about trust.The court was already filled when I arrived. Murmurs rippled through the chamber like restless water, ministers pretending calm while the

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN.ELARA’S POVSleep finally claimed him. I lay there watching his chest rise and fall, slow and steady now, not tight with worry like it had been all night. The lines between his brows had eased. His fingers, which always seemed ready to reach for a sword even in rest, had loosened against the sheets. Tomorrow we would reach Earldom and my quest begins again.I turned slightly on my side, careful not to wake him. My gaze traced his face, memorizing it like I might need the memory to survive what was coming. My mission remained unchanged. Protect Alaric. Mentally. Physically. At all costs….or fall for Alaric. No..not it, not it.Rowland stood directly in the middle of that mission.And so did my past. So did the queen mother’s crown. So did my father’s shadow. So did the version of Elara that I'm yet to conquer and prayed would never be dug back up.With these people on my path, love alone would not be enough. I knew that.Still, I stayed awake longer than I should

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIXALARIC’S POVI stared at Anthony, my jaw tight, my chest heavy like something had lodged itself there and refused to move.“Did she specify?” I asked quietly.Anthony hesitated. That pause alone told me everything.“Tell us how it happened,” I added, my voice colder now.“She claimed it was a burglary,” he said. “Said thieves broke into the royal treasury late at night.”I let out a short, humourless laugh. “Wow. Nice.”Anthony raised his brows slightly. “You’re thinking what I’m thinking, right?”I looked away, my eyes drifting to the tall windows overlooking the darkened halls of the hotels. “No… it’s just…” I swallowed. “You know the truth, Alaric,” he pressed. “She probably took it.”My fingers tightened around each other. Every one knew my step mum was no good, I could see through her constant fake cares.“My issue is not just that the money is gone,” I muttered. “It’s why she would need such a huge amount….what is she planning??”“It’s fine,” Anthony said

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVEALARIC’S POVThe first thing I noticed was how quiet she had become. Not the awkward kind of silence. Not the angry one either. It was the soft, fragile quiet of someone holding too much inside and afraid it might spill if they spoke too loud. Elara sat across from me, fingers curled around a grape, eyes refusing to meet mine for more than a heartbeat.“So what’s it like?” I asked, my voice low, steady, even though my chest was anything but.She looked up, startled, then looked away again. Her lashes fluttered like she had been caught doing something she was not ready to explain.“Uhmm…”I almost smiled. She had been shy since the moment I confessed. Shy when I told her I wanted us to work. Shy when I said her name the way I used to, like it still belonged to me. It was funny, really. For years, she had been bold with her words, sharp with her mockery, fearless in the way she challenged me. She had always been over me, unafraid to look me in the eye and tell me exa

CHAPTER THIRTY FOURELARA’S POV“I am. I'm fine” I said trying to catch my breath Every head turned in my direction, curiosity sharp and unhidden demanding answers I was not ready to give. My fingers curled into the fabric of my gown as if it could anchor me.“What happened?” she asked, her voice low with concern.“When we are in,” I murmured quickly. “I will tell you.”I did not wait for her response before turning toward the inn, my steps hurried, my mind already racing ahead. All I wanted was distance. Distance from the questions. Distance from the memory of the chariot. Distance from him.Alaric.I followed her closely, careful not to glance around, careful not to collide with him, careful not to let fate place us in the same breath tonight. I told myself I needed space. That I needed time.We had barely stepped inside when Mason’s voice cut through my thoughts.“My queen. Your room is with the king. Valerie will take you there.”The words landed like a blow to my chest.I heard

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREEALARIC’S POV“And you said you weren’t interested,” she said, mocking, her lips twitching like she enjoyed the taste of my discomfort.I scoffed and looked away, folding my arms. “Tell me.”She leaned back slightly. “Not like you care.”“I do,” I snapped, then paused. My jaw tightened. “I don’t. I just want to know if I’m not sharing space with an enemy.”Her laughter burst out suddenly, loud and unrestrained. It startled me.“Of course you are.”I squeezed my face, dragging my hand down slowly. Saints above, this woman would be the end of me.“Is it?” I asked, voice low, suspicious.She laughed even harder, clutching her stomach now. “I would’ve sworn you swallowed a frog.”I glared at her. “Stop laughing.”“I can’t,” she wheezed, wiping at the corner of her eye. “You look so serious.”My patience was thinning, stretched to its limit.“It’s lovers,” she finally said, calming down. “We are lovers.”The words landed like a stone dropped into still water.Lovers.I