MasukASHERThe location was buried deep in the palace archives, in records Kael had tried to destroy but missed.An unmarked grave in the northern garden. Far from the royal crypts where my father rested. Far from anywhere visitors might accidentally discover it.Erik had buried my mother like she was shameful. Like her existence was something to hide.Maya found it three days ago while searching for information about Elara's research. She had not told me immediately, understanding I would need time to prepare myself.But time had run out. Mordain's parley was scheduled for this afternoon. And something in me needed to do this first. Needed to speak to the mother I barely remembered before potentially walking into a trap.The rain started as we left the palace, a cold drizzle that matched my mood perfectly."You do not have to come," I told Maya as we walked through the gardens."I know. But I want to. If you will let me."I nodded, grateful for her presence even though I could not find wo
MAYASeven days since Damien's death.Seven nights of waking up screaming.Seven mornings of finding Asher exhausted but determined, refusing to let me face the darkness alone.The nightmares had become routine. Predictable in their horror.I would dream of killing everyone I loved. Of the power consuming me until I was nothing but a vessel of destruction. Of standing over Asher's body, my hands dripping with his blood, smiling.Tonight's nightmare was the worst yet.I stood in the throne room, but it was filled with corpses. Every person who had ever trusted me. Wolves and Lycans. Blue Moon survivors. Palace staff. All of them dead by my hand.And I was executing them. One by one. Methodically.Rhea knelt before me, defiant even as I raised the blade. "You were supposed to be better than this.""I tried," I heard myself say. "But monsters cannot be anything else."The blade fell.Ethan was next. Then Miriam. Then every person who had believed in me.Until only Asher remained.He did
MAYAThe rain felt clean against my skin.Everything else felt corrupted. The black veins spreading through my body. The power eating me from inside. The guilt that had become a constant weight crushing my chest.But the rain was pure. Untainted.I stood at the edge of the ruined southern wall and wondered if falling would feel like flying."Are you going to jump?" Asher's voice came from behind me, careful and controlled."I am deciding if I am worth saving."The wind picked up, pulling at my soaked nightgown. One strong gust and the decision would be made for me.Part of me hoped for it."May I join you?" Asher asked.I shrugged. "It is your wall."He moved beside me, not touching, just standing at the same precipice. Looking down at the same rocks that had killed three soldiers when this section collapsed during Gabriel's assault.Their bodies had been removed. But I could still see the blood stains on the stone below."Tell me what you are thinking," he said quietly."That everyon
ASHERI watched Maya deteriorate and felt utterly helpless.Four days since her collapse. Four days of forcing food into her that she could barely keep down. Four days of holding her through nightmares that left her screaming and the room scorched with uncontrolled silver light.The black veins had spread. Now they crawled up her neck, visible even when she wore high collars. Miriam said it was the power consuming her from within, feeding on her will to live like a parasite.And I could do nothing but watch."Your Majesty, the supply reports need your attention."I looked up from where I had been staring at nothing, finding General Maddox standing in the war room doorway. How long had I been sitting here?"Leave them on the desk," I said."Sir, they are urgent. We need decisions about rationing before...""I said leave them."Maddox hesitated, then set the papers down and retreated.I knew I should look at them. Should make the decisions a king was supposed to make. But every time I t
MAYASleep, when it finally came, brought no peace.I stood in the ruins of Blue Moon territory, but this time everything was different. The silver light blazed around me, brighter than it had ever been in reality. Power unlimited. Strength beyond measure.And I was using it to kill my own people.My mother appeared before me, her throat already slit, blood streaming down her chest. "Why did you not save me, Maya? You had the power.""I did not have it then," I tried to say, but my voice would not work."Liar." My father materialized beside her, his chest torn open. "You let us die. You ran like a coward.""No, I tried to fight. I tried..."But they were right. I had run. Had hidden while my pack was slaughtered.The scene shifted. Now I stood in the palace throne room, but it was filled with bodies. Every person I had killed during the battles. Lycans and wolves mixed together in death.They rose slowly, their eyes accusing."Was it worth it?" a young Lycan soldier asked, the one who
MAYA"He cannot have just vanished," Asher said, staring at the empty cell.But the evidence was undeniable. The iron door remained locked from the outside, the mechanism undamaged. The chains that had bound Damien lay coiled neatly on the floor. And two guards lay dead, their throats slit with precision."Check the secret passages," I ordered. "He must have used them to escape."Rhea was already moving. "We sealed every access point we found. Posted guards at each one.""Then we missed one. Search again."While teams spread through the dungeon, I examined the cell. The message written in blood covered one wall.See you soon, my love. We have unfinished business.The handwriting was unmistakably Damien's. Elegant even when written in a dead man's blood."There," Ethan said, pointing to the corner. "The stone is loose."We pried it free, revealing a narrow passage behind. Barely wide enough for a man to squeeze through."How did we miss this?" Rhea demanded."Because it was not on any
MAYA The corridor fell into absolute silence.Damien leaned against the wall, blood dripping steadily from his wounds onto the marble floor. His eyes held mine with an intensity that made my skin crawl."You are lying," Asher said flatly, his sword still raised. "You want to get close to her. To f
OLIVIAThree hours earlier.I stood on the southern wall, watching the horizon darken with approaching torches.My shoulder throbbed where the healer had stitched the wound, but I ignored it. Pain was something I had learned to live with since the night Blue Moon fell."How many do you think?" Marc
MAYAI woke to the sharp sting of cold water hitting my face.My eyes snapped open, and I immediately regretted it. Pain exploded through my skull where Gabriel had struck me. The world tilted and spun, nausea rising in my throat."Finally. I was beginning to think I hit you too hard."Gabriel's vo
MAYAThe throne room fell silent except for Kael's ragged breathing.He stumbled backward, clutching his wounded side where Asher's blade had cut deep. Blood seeped through his fingers, staining the marble floor beneath his feet."Guards," he rasped, his voice cracking with desperation. "Seize her.







