LOGINFINNIANRowan’s eyes locked on me, sharp and cold, like he was trying to read the fire behind mine. He gently let go of Isolde’s hand, his voice slicing the air, “You’re not. She will choose herself.”I stared at him, disbelief and challenge mixing in my chest. His jaw was set, his eyes were burning, and I knew there wasn’t a word I could say to change his mind.“Rowan-” Isolde whispered, her hand clutching her dress, her voice trembling in the shadows of the courtroom.“Choose and stop wasting our time,” Velin snapped, her tone was impatient, sharp as broken glass. She didn’t even blink at the trap she was trying to force her into.“Don’t choose, your Highness… Please, have mercy on him,” a trembling voice pleaded from the other side. One of James’s elders, knees nearly bending under fear, spoke again.Rowan’s lips pressed into a hard line, and Arthur’s voice cut in, calm but deliberate, “ Queen Isolde, don’t let them force you. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”“Mind your bu
FINNIAN“How dare you ask for mercy for your King?” I growled, my hand tightening around his throat. His eyes widened, his veins flashing under the skin as he struggled. “Do you even know what he did?”A gasp rippled through the room. His fools, the ones who called themselves elders, began to stir. One jumped up, bowing low to Rowan. “Your Highness! Will you let Prince kill one of us again? Our King is not enough for you?”Another shouted in agreement, and suddenly their voices erupted into chaos, accusations flying like blades.“Enough!” Rowan’s roar cut through the court, making everyone freeze. But I didn’t release my hold. His chest heaved, his breath ragged, his eyes were wild.“Finnian, release him,” Rowan commanded.I tightened once more just long enough to let him feel the edge of my patience then let go. He gasped, coughing violently as air filled his lungs again.“Is this how you do it at the Red Moon Palace?” a stupid elder barked from the back. “Killing anyone who asks a q
FINNIANFelda’s eyes shot open again, wild and burning with something dark. The air around her grew thick with her power. When I touched her, her skin... It burned, hot like fire but Marlin could handle it. He always could.She dug her claws into Marlin’s chest. “Who are you?!” she screamed.Marlin groaned, grabbed her wrists, and yanked her hands away from my body. I didn’t waste another second. I lifted her into my arms and stormed out of the hall, her nails scraping down my shoulder as she fought me. She felt weightless and heavy at the same time, fragile, yet dangerous.I mind-linked one of my men. 'Get the healer. Now.'Her power pulsed against my chest. She thrashed and hissed like a wild witch. I kicked her door open and laid her on the bed. Before I could breathe, she was already on her feet again, trying to attack me.“Felda, stop!” I snapped, grabbing her wrists and pinning her down against the bed. Blood smeared over my hands. Her wrists were torn open from her own nails.H
FINNIAN“I know what he did was wrong… very bad,” Arthur muttered, his voice shaking a little, “but he shouldn’t have been thrown into the dungeon. He’s a King, like us.”My hand clenched into a fist. The urge to give him the same punch I gave that arrogant fool in the dungeon burned in my blood. He needed to know what wrath felt like.But Isolde’s calm voice sliced through the tension, steady yet sharp with anger. “So, you wouldn’t have done anything if he had touched your Luna?”Her words hit the table like a spark in dry wood. Arthur’s Luna turned sharply to glare at Isolde, her eyes were spitting warning.Before Arthur could open his mouth, his Luna snapped bitterly, “That can’t happen to me. I’m not the 'celebrity' queen.”The way she said it dripped with envy, and I could see it in every face around the table... jealousy. They hated her light because it burned brighter than theirs.Isolde’s eyes darkened. “So, I’m not allowed to walk freely in the palace because I’m beautiful?”
FINNIANEverything that happened yesterday still burned in my head like fire I couldn’t put out. I didn’t think. I didn’t breathe. I only ran straight into the dungeon like a mad wolf when I heard what James did.He tried to rape Isolde.The moment I saw him, I lost control. I didn’t think of his title or his crown. I beat the hell out of him until his blood touched the stone floor. One of his eyes had swollen so badly that he could barely open it. He fought back, of course, he was an Alpha King but that didn’t stop me. I wanted him to feel pain, the kind that made him wish he had never been born.His mistress wasn’t enough to keep him satisfied, and yet he dared to lay his filthy hands on her. On my Isolde.Mine.No one, no one would ever hurt her again. Not even Rowan.And now, another mess. The maid who served her was dead. Poison. No trace left behind. The question that clawed at my mind was, who was bold enough to do that at the feast? Who hated her enough to risk death just to
ISOLDEThe morning light crept into the room slowly, brushing across my skin like a soft hand that wasn’t ready to wake me yet. My body ached in every corner, sweet pain that reminded me of the night before. I turned to my side, reaching for him, but found nothing except the cool sheets.A quiet sound came from the bathroom door, then it opened. My breath caught. Rowan stepped out, water dripping down his chest, his hair wet and sticking to his forehead, his lips glistening. The steam behind him rolled out like mist following its master. His eyes found mine and softened in a way that didn’t belong to the man everyone feared.He walked over, slow and calm like a wolf circling its prey, and bent down beside me.“Morning, my queen.”The words brushed against my lips as he kissed me, gentle but firm enough to steal my breath. My cheeks burned. I almost laughed, it felt so strange seeing him act like a husband who actually cared.“Get up and take your bath,” he said, brushing a damp finger







