MasukUnknowns POV"Don't get too cocky, You never know where your cocky ass will land you."A sad chuckle, "Very funny." I jested, "I don't care but it can't lead me farther than my grave.""Are you that eager for your grave?""Everyone of us will get there, including you." I shrugged.She folded her arms. “You’re playing a dangerous game, pushing her like this. Astra’s instincts are sharpening. What happens if she connects me to you?”I tilted my head, considering her carefully. "You give her more credit than she is worth."She looked at me for a second as if searching for something in my face, "You don't know what you are talking about."I hummed, "I've watched Astra from the moment Jerome took interest in her. I knew the day she'd take over the throne was coming and so I watched closely. Maybe if I'd cut off Jerome, we wouldn't be here.""I don't care when you knew Astra or started watching her but i will tell you for free. She's definitely not what you think or at least she has evolved
Unknown's POVI stood by the tall window, gloved hands behind my back, as I watched the rain.The rain had just begun-- light and sharp, the kind that stung the skin and cleansed nothing. My face was cloaked in darkness and shrouded with something darker.“She’s getting close.”The voice came from the center of the room, where a man knelt-- one of my own, soaked, panting, blood trailing from his left shoulder.He had run too hard and too fast. For his life.To live was already losing your life, it came with the job. Investigations were ongoing and this was one of the reports.I didn’t turn to the man, I kept my gaze steadily fixed on the window. “Astra always had bite. I expected as much.” I flexed my wrist, "She's never been known to bark and no bite."“But they… they’ve uncovered part of the message center in the armory. The bait she set worked. Some of our transmissions--” the spy swallowed, “--might’ve been traced.”“I think she has silent operatives. I can't find how she did this
Jace's POVShe inhaled sharply. "That would explain the bait incident. It was too obvious for me to look away. I have been thinking about what could have been wrong.""Are you suspecting that someone deliberately lured the decoy guards to take the bait?""I am suspecting that someone either knows that they are decoys or they set their own traps with the bait."I hummed, that made sense. A lot has been happening and it was beginning to click and sometimes it wasn't."There is still a body in the lair and he said I was too late. I don't know what that means." I reported."A body? Is he dead?""I don't think so, I only knocked him unconscious.""What do you think?""His people will find him.”"You said the place had a lot of dust.""Yes, but it didn't look abandoned." I paused, a lightbulb going off my head, "What if all of this is a decoy?"Queen Astra furrowed her brows, "How do you mean?""What if the whole dust, looking old, well kept yet looking like it hadn't been attended to in y
Jace's POVThis passageway had always seemed like a dead end-- unused and quiet for years. For some reason even palace guards avoided it and sources say they wrote it off as a remnant of old renovations. But I had been trained to notice the unnoticed even if it was always so lonely and dead quiet just like this passageway.I heard it used to be called the attic passageway because an attic used to be here just before the renovations, many many years ago.As I approached the dead end, I slowed down, walking slowly the soles of my boots brushing against ancient stone and granite.Something had drawn me back here... since Queen Astra had sent hell bent on discovering her nemesis and I swore to uncover everything possible, I wasn't messing around and this was one of those days where your promises came to life.Something felt off about the bait and armory incident. Maybe it was how they just knew where the armory was or the way they fell for it very smoothly. I wasn't sure what it was but i
Astra's POVAnother elder, a female older elder, spoke up.“Power struggles divide the kingdom, Your Majesty,” she said, her voice smooth. “Perhaps a temporary retreat might unify the council’s efforts without public anxiety.”The words were tactful… but lethal.It wasn't a concern.It was fear.I almost yawned, they didn't care so much, they were just afraid. Afraid of what I was uncovering. Afraid of what I'd find because if corruption spread to allies, elders, and advisors, then every hidden action taken against me could be traced back to them.This was political self‑preservation dressed as peacekeeping.Ooh and they took me for fools too.Such glorified concern.I leaned forward, uncrossed my hands, and spoke without hesitation, my voice was not loud but it was firm and direct.“Peace is not maintained by silence,” I said. “And unity isn’t built through avoidance.”An uproar of murmur... again. This time solely from the council seats. There was frustration and unease embedded und
Astra's POV I stood in front of my vanity mirror for a while, when I sat but continued staring into the mirror sighing multiple times than necessary. Yet again, the council of elders has summoned me. My eyes flitted towards the side table where the letter lay sprawled open. Where is it heard that the alpha of a pack is called before the council for more times than it takes for a baby to be born? But of course, it's the capital's council of elders and they would do anything to behave like scoundrels. I picked up my cloak, walking away from the vanity mirror. Well, I'd give those oldies whatever they wanted. I moved across the room, slid on the cloak, my boots, and my crescent ring-- the heirloom ring. I didn't wear it often but maybe it will scare these peasants for a while. The corridor was just buzzing to life when I began to walk down it, the guards bowed in greeting and the other servants and maid greeted loudly or as they could. I acknowledged all. Jace was already walk







