Chapter 5: Shadows Behind the Crown

Mira's POV

The first light of dawn spilled across my chambers, soft and golden, but I didn’t feel any lighter for it. My body still ached from the restless night. I let the maids help me bathe and dress, but my reflection in the mirror betrayed me—pale skin, faint dark circles under my eyes, the look of someone who hadn’t slept well in days.

I picked up a brush of powder and sighed. “Can’t you see how happy I am? Wait—let me paint it on with makeup,” I muttered under my breath, recalling the old saying. A thin smile curved my lips, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. I didn’t want my parents—or my mate—to see the cracks.

Asfar was pacing in my mind, her energy a restless whirl of gold and fire. “We should be with him. Our mate. Now.”

“Not now,” I whispered. “I have a council meeting, remember?”

She huffed impatiently, like the thought of anything but Alexander was an offense to her very being. But my heart wasn’t as single-minded as hers. I wanted to see Caspian too—my anchor, my best friend. Yesterday had swept me away so fast I hadn’t even had a moment to talk to him, to tell him about… everything. About how thrilling and terrifying it felt to finally meet my mate.

A knock interrupted my thoughts. I expected Caspian, but when the door opened, it was my mother, Queen Veronica.

“Good morning, sweetie,” she said, her voice warm as she stepped inside. “Do you mind if I join you for breakfast?”

I smiled, softer this time. “I’m always happy to be in your company, Mother.”

We sat together, and after a moment of hesitation, I asked, “Can I… ask you something? How did you feel when you first met Father?”

Her lips curved, her eyes brightening with memory. “Oh, Mira. I felt butterflies dancing in my stomach, fireworks bursting behind my eyes. It was an indescribable joy—like I’d found the missing part of my soul. I felt blessed beyond words. Why do you ask? Is something wrong between you and Prince Alexander?”

I hesitated, then sighed. “Asfar is happy. And I… I feel happy too. He’s everything I could have dreamed—elegant, handsome, clever. But something feels… incomplete. I always heard that, before the bond is fully formed, your mate consumes every thought, every heartbeat. But I don’t feel that way. It’s like there’s a piece of the connection missing.”

Mother reached across the table, taking my hand. Her touch was warm, grounding.

“Well, darling,” she said gently, “it isn’t complete. You haven’t marked or mated yet. Every bond is different. You’re also under the weight of the crown, and you’ve only just met Alexander. And remember—he isn’t a dragon. That makes it more complicated. With your father and me, it was easier—we were of the same kind, raised with the same expectations. Our bond bloomed without barriers.”

She squeezed my hand.

“Take your time. Nothing is wrong. Alexander’s father is a good man—brave, loyal, and kind. I believe his son is no different. Give the bond space to grow. Love isn’t just fire at first sight; sometimes, it’s something you build. Trust the Goddess’s will. She always knows the path.”

She leaned over and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “And remember, I’m always here for you.”

“Thank you, Mother,” I whispered, my throat tight.

Breakfast finished too soon, and before I could breathe, it was time for the council meeting.

The council consisted of six high-ranking lords, plus my family. Predictably, Elena’s father was already stirring trouble. He argued—loudly and often—that I should leave Eryndrakor after my coronation, that I should rule from the North Kingdom alongside Alexander, leaving the dragon throne to Valen.

The debate dragged on, hours of back-and-forth. Voices rose, tempers flared, refreshments were brought in only to be forgotten as the arguing started all over again.

By the end of it—after four long hours—the decision was made:

I would be crowned Queen of both Dragons and Lycans & Werewolves.

I would travel between kingdoms, serving both, while the council handled minor matters in my absence. It took two more hours just to define minor versus major. By the time we were done, I wanted to scream.

As I stepped out of the council chambers, one of the palace maids hurried up to me with a folded note.

My gorgeous little mate,

Please make me the happiest man alive and join me for lunch in your private garden in one hour.

With love,

Your Alexander.

Despite my fatigue, I smiled. I nodded to the maid. Yes—I’d go.

On my way down the corridor, I nearly collided with Dorrin.

“Princess,” he said, bowing slightly, his tone calm but steady. “I wanted you to know… I have no hard feelings about how things turned out. Many men would be honored to stand at your side as consort, but I’m content where I am. Congratulations on finding your mate. And if you ever need a friend—as Mira—or an advisor—as Queen—I’ll always be here for you.”

A smile tugged at my lips. “Well, thank you. I suppose I don’t really have a choice—you are Royal Commander.”

“I suppose I am,” he said, grinning.

I tilted my head. “And I guess you’re happy now, too—free to chase after Marina?”

“Marina?” He laughed, a warm, rich sound I realized I hadn’t heard in a long time. It softened his features, made him look almost… boyish. “She’s a good friend. Nothing more. I’ll wait for my fated mate.”

His honesty caught me off guard, but I found myself smiling again.

“Then I wish you luck, Commander,” I said lightly.

He gave me a nod of respect and walked away.

I exhaled, tension easing from my shoulders. There was still so much to process, but for now, I needed to see Caspian. I needed his voice, his steady presence, before lunch with my mate.

I tried to reach Caspian through our mindlink as I walked back to my rooms, but there was nothing. Just a wall of silence.

Blocked? That wasn’t like him. Caspian never blocked me—not once in all the years we’d known each other.

A shiver crawled down my spine.

Asfar’s voice whispered uneasily, “Something feels wrong.”

“Something feels wrong,” Asfar whispered uneasily, her wings rustling in my mind.

I forced myself to breathe, but the feeling gnawed at me. My thoughts drifted to Alexander—his perfect smile, the smoothness of his words, the way his dark eyes lingered on me. There was charm, yes, but beneath it… something I couldn’t name. Something that felt almost too polished, too deliberate.

My fingers brushed the amber ring on my hand. Was this truly the bond I had prayed for?

The Goddess had finally given me my mate. And yet, as I stood there in the quiet hallway, my heart twisted with an unfamiliar, unsettling thought:

What if finding him wasn’t the beginning of my happiness—

but the beginning of my downfall?