LOGINNeira's POV“Tell us what happened at the palace. How have you been coping?”Elen sat beside me while Lily placed a cup of tea on the table. They had both been waiting for me to talk since I arrived. I didn't even know where to begin.“It hasn't been easy working at the palace and trying to keep up with the disguise,” I admitted, wrapping my hands around the cup. “Every day feels like I'm walking on dangerous ground. I have to be careful about everything I say and do.”Lily pulled a chair closer, her eyes widening with keen interest. “Has anyone become suspicious of you?”“Not exactly. But Keiran has been paying more attention to me than I expected.”Elen studied my face. “And what about your feelings for him? You once loved that man. Has being around him brought any of those feelings back?”I looked down at my tea. “Something happened last night,” I confessed.Both women stared at me. Their expressions made my pulse quicken.“What happened?” Lily asked.I hesitated before answering.
Varessa's POVI kept my head lowered as I listened to the elders discuss the evidence against my household. Every word they spoke made my blood boil, but I couldn't afford to let my anger show.After everything I had done to secure my position, I couldn't afford to let my cover be blown, not now. I clenched my hands beneath the table, forcing myself to remain calm.“Your Majesty, do you have anything else to say?” one of the elders asked.I slowly raised my head, letting my eyes fill with tears.“I don't know who is behind this, but I would never betray my husband or this kingdom. Someone is clearly trying to use me to create trouble between the King and me. If they succeed, they will have an easier time bringing down the throne.”The elders exchanged looks.“Perhaps we should give the Queen time to prove her innocence,” one of them suggested.“I have nothing to hide,” I replied. “Investigate whoever you need to investigate. But I will not accept being treated like a traitor because s
Keiran's POV The report on my desk had begun to irritate me. I had read it three times, yet the details refused to make sense. Three families had disappeared from the smaller packs within two weeks. The few survivors we had found were too badly injured to give us much information, and our patrols had discovered no clear trail leading to the attackers. Someone was targeting our people, and whoever was behind it knew exactly where to strike. I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my forehead. “Have we received anything from the eastern patrol?” I asked, frustration laced in my voice. Draven stood across from my desk, holding another report. “Nothing useful. They found signs of a struggle near the old trading route, but whoever attacked the family had already cleared the area. No bodies, no weapons, no tracks we could follow.” “That makes four locations now where the attackers have managed to disappear without leaving anything behind.” “Five, if we include the weapons store
Keiran's POV The report on my desk had begun to irritate me. I had read it three times, yet the details refused to make sense. Three families had disappeared from the smaller packs within two weeks. The few survivors we had found were too badly injured to give us much information, and our patrols had discovered no clear trail leading to the attackers. Someone was targeting our people, and whoever was behind it knew exactly where to strike. I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my forehead. “Have we received anything from the eastern patrol?” I asked, frustration laced in my voice. Draven stood across from my desk, holding another report. “Nothing useful. They found signs of a struggle near the old trading route, but whoever attacked the family had already cleared the area. No bodies, no weapons, no tracks we could follow.” “That makes four locations now where the attackers have managed to disappear without leaving anything behind.” “Five, if we include the weapons store
KEIRAN'S POV I closed my eyes. No, I shouldn't be thinking about her.The door opened again, and Draven walked inside. He stopped when he saw me gripping the window frame.“Keiran?”I didn't answer immediately.He came closer, studying my face. “What's wrong with you?”“Nothing.”“Don't give me that. You look like you're about to tear the room apart.”I turned away from the window, breathing through my nose. “I'm going into rut.”Draven's expression changed. “Now?”I nodded.He looked towards the door Varessa had just walked through. “Then why did you send your wife away? Wasn't she the one who could help you through it?”I let out a frustrated breath.“It's not Varessa.”Draven frowned. “What do you mean?”“It's Rachel.”He stared at me as though he hadn't heard correctly.“Rachel? The masked woman?”“Yes.”“How is that possible? You barely know her. What does she have to do with your rut?”“I don't know!” I snapped, pressing a hand against my forehead. “That's what makes this so st
Keiran's POV The report on my desk had begun to irritate me. I had read it three times, yet the details refused to make sense. Three families had disappeared from the smaller packs within two weeks. The few survivors we had found were too badly injured to give us much information, and our patrols had discovered no clear trail leading to the attackers. Someone was targeting our people, and whoever was behind it knew exactly where to strike. I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my forehead. “Have we received anything from the eastern patrol?” I asked, frustration laced in my voice. Draven stood across from my desk, holding another report. “Nothing useful. They found signs of a struggle near the old trading route, but whoever attacked the family had already cleared the area. No bodies, no weapons, no tracks we could follow.” “That makes four locations now where the attackers have managed to disappear without leaving anything behind.” “Five, if we include the weapons storehou







