Novels by Lila Williams

Queen Mother Isadora collapsed to the floor, the crystal bottle shattering beside her. Dark liquid pooled around the broken glass like blood. For a moment, nobody moved. Nobody breathed.Then Prince Kael rushed forward, dropping to his knees beside his mother's still form."Mother!" He pressed his fingers to her throat, searching for a pulse. "She is still breathing.""Barely," Marcus said grimly. "That was nightshade extract. She has minutes at most."Isadora's eyes fluttered open, focusing on her eldest son with difficulty. "Kael... my boy...""Why?" His voice cracked like a child's. "Why did you do all of this?""To... protect you." Each word was a struggle. "The Moonspire... had magic... would have taken... everything...""We could have found another way.""No." Her hand grabbed his wrist with surprising strength. "Never... another way. They would have... destroyed you all."I stepped closer, anger overriding my fear. "My parents never wanted to hurt anyone. They were peaceful rul

Prince Rhett led me through a hidden passage behind the library walls. The narrow stone corridor smelled of dust and secrets. We moved quickly, our footsteps muffled by years of accumulated grime."Where are we going?" I whispered."My private study. Somewhere my mother's spies cannot reach." He pushed open a concealed door. "My brothers will meet us there."The room beyond was small but warm. Books lined every wall from floor to ceiling. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting dancing shadows across two familiar figures waiting in leather chairs.Prince Kael shot to his feet the moment he saw me. His gray eyes blazed with fury. "What is the meaning of this, Rhett? Why is this omega not in chains?"Prince Darius rose more slowly, his amber eyes confused. "The guards said she escaped. How did you find her?""Sit down, both of you." Rhett's voice carried an authority I had never heard before. "What I am about to tell you will change everything.""Nothing that omega says can be trusted,"

I ran through the dark halls like a hunted animal. Behind me, I could hear shouting and the sound of boots on stone. Prince Rhett's guards were searching everywhere. There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to go.My mother's locket bounced against my chest as I fled. The metal was warm from my body heat, as if her spirit was trying to comfort me. But comfort felt impossible now. Everything I had believed was a lie.I ducked into an empty room and pressed my back against the door. My lungs burned from running. My whole body shook with fear and shock. The princes were innocent. Queen Mother Isadora was the real monster.Heavy footsteps stopped outside my hiding place. I held my breath and prayed to the moon goddess that they would pass by."Check every room," Prince Rhett's voice commanded. "She cannot have gone far."The door handle turned. I scrambled behind a dusty table, but it was too late. Torchlight flooded the room, and Prince Rhett stepped inside alone."Come out, Princess Lyra of H

The hours until midnight crawled by like years. I tried to eat dinner, but every bite turned to ash in my mouth. I tried to rest, but sleep was impossible. The mysterious man's words echoed in my head over and over.Information about the night your parents died. Information that changes everything.What could he possibly know that I did not already know? My family was murdered in their beds. The Ironfang Pack had slaughtered them all to steal our throne. What else was there?When the palace finally grew quiet, I slipped from my room like a ghost. The halls were dark except for a few torches that cast dancing shadows on the walls. Every step felt too loud. Every breath sounded like thunder.The old chapel sat in the forgotten part of the palace. Dust covered everything, and spider webs hung from the ceiling like funeral veils. Moonlight streamed through broken windows, making everything look pale and dead.I waited in the shadows, my heart beating so hard I thought it might burst. What

Sleep would not come that night. Every shadow in my room looked like Lady Celeste's cold smile. Every sound in the halls made me think of Prince Rhett's green eyes, searching for my secrets. I sat on my small bed, hugging my knees, trying to decide what to do.Leave tonight and abandon my mission? Or stay and risk everything?The answer came with the morning bells. A guard appeared at my door, his face hard as stone."Prince Kael wants to see you. Now."My heart hammered as I followed him through the palace. The morning sun made everything look golden and beautiful, but I felt like I was walking to my death. What if Lady Celeste had already told him who I was? What if Prince Rhett had shared his suspicions?The throne room was empty except for Prince Kael. He stood with his back to me, looking out a tall window. The crown prince looked every inch a future king, from his perfect posture to his expensive clothes."You may go," he told the guard without turning around.I knelt on the col

My legs shook so badly I could barely walk as Prince Darius led me through the stone halls. The image of that letter burned in my mind like fire. My name. My real name. How did Prince Rhett know who I was?"You are safe now," Darius said, his deep voice gentle despite his scary size. "My brother gets carried away sometimes. He forgets that not everyone plays his word games."I wanted to laugh. If only he knew that his brother had almost caught the biggest game of all. Instead, I let tears roll down my cheeks. They were real tears, born from terror and the crushing weight of my mission."Thank you, My Prince. I was so scared."Darius stopped walking and turned to face me. His amber eyes were kind, so different from his brothers. "What did he ask you about?""Old bloodlines. History. Things I do not understand." I wiped my face with shaking hands. "I am just a simple omega. I do not know why he thinks I would know about such things.""Rhett sees puzzles everywhere. Sometimes there is no