Chapter: 9. The Man Who Doesn’t understandEvander’s POVThe image refused to leave my mind. A woman curled against a stone wall. Her hands over her head.Her breathing was so broken she could barely speak and the way she had reacted when the door opened.I had seen frightened people before. People facing execution. Soldiers after battle. Children caught in pack raids. Fear usually had a reason that could be identified.Elowen Veyra’s fear had been different.It looked like practice. Not by her. By whoever had frightened her often enough that her body no longer waited for permission. I closed the file in front of me.Then I opened it again, “Bring me everything you have on Elowen Veyra.”The official standing across from my desk hesitated.“Everything, Your Highness?”“Her basic records. Adoption. Birth information. Prison sentence. The incident involving Seraphine Veyra. Her release.”“Yes, Your Highness.”“And don’t inform the Veyra family.”The official bowed.“Understood.”He returned shortly afterward with a thin folder.
Última actualización: 2026-09-11
Chapter: 8. The Excuse I made For herElowen’s POVI woke before sunrise. For a few seconds, I didn’t remember where I was. Then the familiar ceiling came into focus.Veyra Estate. Home. The word still felt strange.I got dressed and went downstairs before most of the household was awake. Mother couldn’t have anything too heavy in the morning. She preferred warm food, and anything too oily made her nauseous. I remembered because I had spent years making sure she ate properly.I found the cook already preparing breakfast.“Could I use the kitchen?”She looked surprised.“Of course.”I prepared Mother’s usual breakfast myself. Nothing complicated. A small bowl of porridge, sliced fruit, and warm herbal tea. I placed everything on a tray and carried it upstairs. I had almost reached Mother’s room when a servant hurried toward me.“Miss, you don’t need to take that.”I stopped.“Why?”“Lady Seraphine already prepared breakfast.”I looked down at the tray.“Oh.”The servant smiled apologetically, “She said she would take it u
Última actualización: 2026-09-11
Chapter: 7. The Daughter Who Still WaitsElowen’s POVThe physician closed his bag.I looked toward Caelan.“Is Mother awake?”He seemed surprised by the question, “No. She’s resting.”“Is she all right?”“She was tired after breakfast.”I nodded, “Can I see her?”Caelan glanced at the physician, then back at me.“If you’re sure you’re well enough.”“I am.”He stepped aside and I walked past him. Nobody stopped me. The corridor outside Mother’s room was quiet. Most of the household was still downstairs preparing for the Lycan King’s visit. I reached her door and pushed it open gently.The familiar scent of lavender met me. I stopped.For a second, I was somewhere else. I was twelve again, sitting beside Mother’s bed while she complained about the tea Caelan had brought her. I was fourteen, reading aloud from a book because she said my voice helped her sleep. I was seventeen, arguing with her because she refused to take her medicine on time.Small memories. Ordinary ones. The kind that shouldn’t have mattered so much. Mother w
Última actualización: 2026-09-10
Chapter: 6. The Wounds They Didn’t SeeElowen’s POVThe physician arrived less than ten minutes later. I was already sitting on the edge of the bed in the guest room, my hands tucked under the blanket.The Lycan King stood near the window. Caelan was beside the door. Draven remained outside. I didn’t look at any of them.The physician pulled a chair closer.“May I examine you?”I nodded, then he reached for my wrist. I jerked away before his fingers touched me.The room went quiet. The physician didn’t react. He simply lowered his hand.“I’m going to touch your wrist now,” he said. “Slowly. Is that all right?”I looked at him,“Yes.”He moved carefully this time. His fingers pressed lightly around my wrist.I flinched.“Does this hurt?”“Yes.”“How much?”I hesitated.“Enough.”He glanced at the bruising around my wrist before moving to the other one.“This one?”“Yes.”“Both wrists?”“Yes.”He nodded and wrote something down.“Any pain in your ribs?”“Sometimes.”“Sometimes?”“When I breathe deeply.”Caelan shifted near th
Última actualización: 2026-09-10
Chapter: 5. Prison Never EndedElowen’s POV“We’ll see about that.”Draven’s words followed me down the corridor. I didn't look back. I carried the tray toward the kitchen, keeping my eyes on the glasses arranged across it. My hands were steady, even though his words kept circling in my head.Liar. Manipulator. Selfish little coward. I had heard worse.Two years in Blackstone had taught me that words could hurt, but they could also become meaningless when you heard enough of them.I placed the tray on the kitchen counter. Before I could turn away, Draven appeared in the doorway.“Elowen.”I stopped. He walked toward me.“Come with me.”“Why?”“You know why.”I looked at him. He seemed almost disappointed that I wasn't frightened enough.“You were there that night,” he said. “The evidence was found because of you. You admitted responsibility.”My stomach tightened. I remembered the room. The shouting. Seraphine crying. Caelan is looking at me.Please, Elowen. I had taken the blame because I thought protecting my fa
Última actualización: 2026-09-08
Chapter: 4. Replaced as a DaughterElowen’s POVBy morning, I had already memorized the new routine. Mother took her first medicine after breakfast. The second came three hours later. She wasn't supposed to drink coffee because it worsened her headaches, and she needed to eat before taking the tablets that irritated her stomach.I knew all of it. I had known about it for years. So I went to her room expecting to help at least. The door was already open when I got there. Seraphine sat beside Mother's bed with a tray on her lap.“Mother, you need to finish this,” she said gently. “The doctor said you shouldn't skip breakfast.”Isolde smiled at her, “I know, darling.”The doctor stood near the window, checking the medication chart.“Has she experienced any dizziness this morning?”Seraphine answered immediately, “Only briefly after waking up.”“And the headaches?”“Less severe than yesterday.”The nurse nodded and wrote something down. I remained at the doorway.Nobody noticed me. The doctor closed the chart.“She need
Última actualización: 2026-09-08
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