ログイン共有
CHAPTER 41: The Debate
公開日:
2026-03-29 11:43:04
最新チャプター
BOUGHT BY THE BEAST CHAPTER 44: Awakened
I woke to power humming beneath my skin.Not the cold darkness of void corruption. Not the invasive wrongness of shadow magic.This was mine. Hot and alive and absolutely feral."Rielle?" Caspian's voice. Close. Worried.I opened my eyes.We were still in the ritual chamber. Still naked. Still tangled together on the stone floor.But everything felt different.Sharper. Clearer. Like I'd been seeing the world through fog my entire life and someone had just cleared it away."I can feel everything," I whispered."What do you mean?""The bond. It's... it's so much stronger. I can feel your heartbeat like it's mine. Feel your thoughts at the edges of my consciousness." I looked at him. "Can you feel it too?"Through the bond, his answer came not in words but in sensation. Yes. Overwhelming. Intense. Perfect."The Awakening worked," Seraphine said from somewhere nearby. She sounded exhausted. "You survived. Congratulations."I sat up slowly. My body felt different. Stronger. More coordinate
BOUGHT BY THE BEAST CHAPTER 43: Before the Storm
"Everyone dies?" I repeated. "What the hell does that mean?"Seraphine didn't answer immediately. She crossed to the window, staring out at Thorncross like she was memorizing it."The Shadow Court isn't coming for you specifically," she said finally. "They're coming for the bloodline. For what you represent.""My First Moon heritage?""More than that." She turned back to me. "Do you know why your mother ran? Why your kind was hunted for decades? Why they're all so desperate to control you?""Because First Moon bloodlines produce powerful offspring.""That's what they tell people. But it's not the whole truth." Seraphine's ice-blue eyes were sharp. "First Moon descendants aren't just valuable for breeding. You're keys.""Keys to what?""To the old magic. The primal power that existed before kingdoms, before Courts, before any of the structures we have now. First Moon blood can unlock things that have been sealed for millennia, things the Shadow Court wants very badly."My stomach dropp
BOUGHT BY THE BEAST CHAPTER 42: The Threat
I couldn't sleep.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the letter. Someone you love will pay the price.Caspian was beside me, awake too. Through the bond, I felt his mind racing. Running through possibilities. Threats. Weaknesses."We're missing something," he said into the darkness."What?""The timing. The letter arrived right after the debate. Right after you won public support." He sat up. "Whoever sent it is reacting, not planning ahead. They're desperate.""Desperate people are dangerous.""But also sloppy. They make mistakes."I sat up too. "You think they'll reveal themselves?""I think they already have. We just haven't seen it yet." He turned to look at me. "Who benefits most from you being distracted? From you focusing on protecting people instead of winning the vote?""The Council members who want me gone.""Exactly. This isn't about actually hurting anyone, it's about making you vulnerable. Making you doubt yourself right before the vote."He had a point."So what do we do
BOUGHT BY THE BEAST CHAPTER 41: The Debate
The main square was packed.Thousands of people. Lycans and werewolves both. Common folk who'd come to see their queen face down a Council member in public.A platform had been erected in the center. Two podiums facing each other. Aldric stood at one, looking confident.I stood at the other, trying not to show my nerves."Nervous?" Caspian asked quietly. He stood just off the platform with Ezra."Terrified.""Don't be. You've faced worse.""Have I? Because right now this feels worse than the Shade."Through the bond, I felt his amusement. "You'll be fine. Just remember what we practiced."What we'd practiced was staying calm, not letting Aldric bait me into emotional responses and sticking to facts.Easier said than done.A herald stepped forward. "Citizens of Thorncross! You are gathered to witness a formal debate between Councilor Aldric of House Stormwind and Queen Rielle. The topic: fitness to rule. Each speaker will present their case. The people will judge."The crowd erupted in
BOUGHT BY THE BEAST CHAPTER 40: Outplayed
Silvaine.The pieces clicked together."Morgessa's proxy," I said. "She's still working for her. Trying to finish what Morgessa started.""But Morgessa's in the dungeons," Caspian said. "She can't be giving orders.""Can't she?" Ezra pulled out another document. "Prison guard reports. Silvaine's visited her twice in the last three days. Claimed she needed to discuss transition of magical authority.""She's taking orders," I said. "Morgessa's directing this from her cell.""Then we need to stop it. Now." Caspian stood. "If we can prove Silvaine is acting on behalf of a traitor, her vote is void. That's one less vote against you.""And if we expose the blackmail, Isolde's vote might flip.""That's four votes supporting you," Ezra calculated. "Five if Stephen comes through.""What did Stephen say?" I asked Seraphine."He'll support you if you can prove the vote was corrupted. Show him evidence of blackmail and conspiracy, and he'll vote yes."I looked at the note in Ezra's hand. At the h
BOUGHT BY THE BEAST CHAPTER 39: Allies and Enemies
"We need to start with Isolde," Ezra said.We'd gathered in the war room. Me, Caspian, Ezra, and Seraphine. The four of us against whatever conspiracy was brewing in the Council."Isolde voted to support the coronation," I said. "What changed her mind?""Fear," Seraphine said simply. "She's pragmatic. Calculates risks. And right now, supporting you looks riskier than opposing you.""So we change the calculation.""How?" Ezra asked.I thought about it. "We show her that removing me creates more problems than keeping me. That the instability of a succession crisis is worse than the chaos I've supposedly caused.""That might work if she's acting rationally," Caspian said. "But what if she's being coerced? Threatened? What if someone's forcing her hand?""Then we find out who and eliminate the threat.""In three days.""In three days."Seraphine leaned back. "There's something else you should know. Isolde's daughter was at the east wall during the siege. Injured but alive. The girl's only
BOUGHT BY THE BEAST CHAPTER 7: The Hunt Begins
Getting ready to hunt people who wanted us dead turned out to involve a lot more weapons than I expected.David arrived an hour later with a duffel bag that looked like it could arm a small militia. He dumped it on the kitchen table and started pulling out guns, knives, and things I didn't even hav
最終更新日 : 2026-03-17BOUGHT BY THE BEAST CHAPTER 19: Trial by Combat
The hall erupted.Voices shouting. Some supporting Morgessa's challenge. Others protesting. The noise was deafening.Caspian's rage exploded through the bond so violently I actually stumbled."No." His voice cut through the chaos like a blade. "Absolutely not.""You cannot refuse a formal challenge
最終更新日 : 2026-03-17BOUGHT BY THE BEAST CHAPTER 9: Breaking Point
Caspian's phone rang at three in the morning.I jerked awake, disoriented, reaching for a gun that wasn't there. The safe house bedroom was dark except for the glow of Caspian's screen as he answered."Talk," he said, voice rough with sleep.I couldn't hear the other side of
最終更新日 : 2026-03-17BOUGHT BY THE BEAST CHAPTER 17: Preparations
The next morning, I woke up sore.Not the bad kind of sore. The kind that came from Caspian proving, repeatedly, that he was very happy about me agreeing to be his queen.Worth it.I stretched, felt muscles protest, and immediately decided I didn't care.Caspian was already awake, sitting shirtless
最終更新日 : 2026-03-17
あなたも気に入るかもしれません
BEYOND THE DARKNESS: The Alpha's Little Witch
Cassandra M259.6K ビューClaimed By The Vampire King
Racheal Perez14.1K ビューBENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha's Little Demon
Cassandra M766.2K ビューTempted by the lycan
Enny21.7K ビューElixir: Fated To The Three Alpha
Author Gloria1.9K ビューHer lovers with stripes
Lucy.m.n1.3K ビューHer Daughter’s Mate
Abby Reid822 ビューShelter
Glowing Rock2.1K ビュー
