LOGINI really like this chapter for some reason, what are y'all's thoughts on it? ~Author Leela Wrights 💙
The afternoon sun warmed the wide stone balcony overlooking the training fields.Pilar and I sat at a small iron table the servants had carried out earlier. A large tray sat between us, carrying fresh bread still warm from the kitchens, soft cheese, olives in oil, sliced apples and pears, dried figs, and a pitcher of watered wine.The air carried the steady sounds from below: steel clashing against steel, instructors shouting commands, and the rhythmic thud of boots on packed earth.Pilar leaned forward on the railing, chewing a piece of bread as she watched the warriors train. "Look at that one," she said, pointing with her chin. "The tall one with the scar running down his left arm. He handles the sword so well. Strong stance, good balance. I bet he came from the border patrols."I smiled and tore off a piece of bread. "You sound like you're back on duty.""A little." Pilar grinned. "I spent four years as a guard. Old habits stay with you. See how he shifts his weight before each st
***THIRD POV***Kaelan stood in the doorway, shoulders squared, breathing hard from the semi-run here.He had not knocked, he had simply pushed and the door had given way.Maybe, he should not have done that as the bare body of a slender woman nestled under his brother came into view.She yelped and scrambled for the bedding, pulling it over herself.Lucian moved quickly, one hand reaching toward the dagger on the side table before he recognized his brother and let the motion die. "You could have knocked," he said."I could have," Kaelan agreed, stepping into the room. "I did not."The sound of ruffling sheets, drew Kaelan's attention to today's bedwarmer. One of his brother's many whores.Her eyes were wide with shock, her hair tangled across her shoulders."Get out."She did not need to be told twice, she snatched her robe from the floor, clutched it to her chest and hurried past him, bare feet cluttering on the stone.The door swung partially closed behind her, the latch broken.Whe
“You need to get up.”Gertha’s voice cut through the dark. The fire was dead, the room cold, and she was already pulling a lilac dress from the wardrobe, her movements brisk and efficient.“The Queen approved a visitor for you,” she said, not looking at me. “Someone from Ashen Ridge. You have one hour to get ready.”I sat up, my head thick from sleep, my limbs heavy from days of tension. “Who?”Gertha laid the dress on the bed and turned to face me. “You will see soon enough. Wash your face, fix your hair and do not keep them waiting.”She left before I could ask any more questions. I stared at the lilac fabric, my mind stumbling over possibilities.My mother would not leave the cottage – she had not left Ashen Ridge in years.Pilar would. Only Pilar would find a way to convince the Queen to let her visit.I pushed myself out of bed and washed quickly, the water cold against my skin. The dress fit well enough, though the sleeves were longer than what I was used to, and the fabric was s
Lucian pushed off the wall and stepped fully into the corridor, his posture still relaxed, almost casual.Riven had already disappeared down the hall.The firelight caught the sharp edges of his face as he looked at me, and there was something in the way he watched me, something soft.“You handled yourself quite well in there,” he said. His voice was soothing, making Swift purr somewhere deep in my chest.“You think so?” I asked, shocked.“I think it was pretty clear, wasn’t it? Even a blind man would have seen it.”I blinked, caught off guard by the near-kindness. “Thank you.”“You shouldn’t be out here,” he said, “not right after the hall emptied. It invites talk.”My hands folded in front of the pale blue dress, the fabric suddenly feeling stiff again. “I was heading back to my room when I overheard you talking, and I decided to come say thank you.”A hint of confusion crossed his face. “For what?”“Really?” I laughed lightly, the sound surprising even me. “For helping me out with t
The hall held its breath after Lucian’s interruption, but Darkholme recovered quickly and nodded to a new speaker.The woman returned to her seat and an older nobleman rose from the northern benches, his reputation for knowing ancient law well established.Lord Veylan sized me up before speaking.“Ophelia Tyme,” he began, his voice formal, “consider this scenario. A lord dies without a clear heir. Two distant cousins both claim the title, each producing ancient documents that support their case. One has the backing of the northern packs, who are powerful but easily offended. The other has served the crown loyally for decades but lacks strong allies. How would you advise the King to proceed without alienating either faction?”The question was not in the book. I had read about succession, about the weight of documents and the importance of loyalty, but this was layered with politics, perception, and the delicate balance of power.My mind raced through various possibilities: a public hear
The recess ended quicker than I had expected and I walked back to the center of the floor while the nobles had resumed their seats.Darkholme remained standing at the high table. “We proceed. Ophelia Tyme will now field questions from the assembly. You will address each with the decorum expected of your position.”I inclined my head slightly. “I am prepared, Councilor.”A stout man from the eastern delegation rose first. His robes carried subtle embroidery of interlocking rivers. “In the matter of receiving a delegation bearing formal gifts, how would one balance acknowledgment of the offering with the dignity of the crown?”I kept my hands relaxed at my sides. “One expresses measured appreciation for the gesture while affirming the longstanding ties between the packs. A brief acknowledgment of the gift’s symbolism, followed by assurance that such contributions strengthen the realm as a whole.”He tilted his head. “And if the delegation seeks greater recognition than protocol allows?”
Gertha, she had told me in a whisper as we left the library, was her name. She walked ahead, holding a small candle, her steps light as a feather, the steps of someone who had learned long ago how to move without being noticed.I followed her in silence.The corridors up here were quieter than the o
He did not smile nor speak, he simply held out a letter.The envelope was a thick cream-coloured paper, sealed with blood-red wax stamped with the Valerius crest.My name was written across the front in clean black ink.Ophelia.I stretched out my hands to take it."You are expected at the palace to
Pilar's shop came into view. I stepped inside.A beautiful blonde woman was trying on a blue dress that matched her eyes. Pilar adjusted the hem, her back to me. A few other customers browsed the racks. Two workers moved between them, helping.Before I could say anything, a short woman with a pinch
The healing center was busier than usual today, which meant I did not have time to think about the ball or the twins or the bond. That was fine with me.I spent the morning grinding herbs under the watchful eye of the senior healers, my fingers stained green and my back aching from bending over the







