Micah opened the door to the room that smelled of lavender and potatoes, but nothing could mask the overwhelming scent that made his chest ache: warm vanilla and winter blossoms. Xenia. His mate.
The atmosphere had completely changed, softened. The girls had rearranged the space with blankets and cushions, forming a nest of makeshift beds. Most of them were already dozing or curled up in conversation. And in the center, Xenia lay atop the stripped mattress, one arm protectively draped across her belly. Even in sleep, tension clung to her. Her brow creased, her breathing shallow. She twitched now and again, caught in some restless dream.
Delilah, seated nearby with a damp cloth in hand, looked up as he knelt beside the bed. “Don’t worry,” she said gently, reading the concern in his eyes. “The doctor came. Said she’s just… spe
Everyone waited, breath held, as if Archie's next inhale might mend the rift threatening to split the room in two. But he didn’t stir. His chest remained still. His skin, though no longer blotched with poison, was still far too pale.Xenia knelt beside him, hands limp on her thighs. Even she looked unsure now.Duche’s nostrils flared. “This is an act of war!”Laurie stepped protectively in front of Archie, her magic trailed across her palms like fading embers. “We’re saving him from the likes of you,” she spat.“And look at him now. Is this what peace looks like?” He pointed at the werewolves gathered on the far side of the table. “They trespass in our halls, they bleed their cursed magic into our bloodlines, and now–now they play gods with our kin.”
King Renald and the Alpha King Gerald sat at the end of a long table inside the council chamber. Renald was flanked by stiff-backed soldiers and a few wary elders. Gerald sat with his warriors with a calm expression, which only seemed to make Renald even more nervous.Xenia entered, Micah on her right, Cristobal on her left. She moved to the center of the chamber while Micah and Cristobal greeted the kings. She knew she didn’t have much time so she got to work. She pulled out a dagger, causing the guards to go for their weapons.“It’s fine.”Both Cristobal and Micah assured them as Xenia drew blood and painted runes on the long table. With Nova’s guidance she closed her eyes, heart steadying, breath syncing to the subtle rhythm of the room. Nova drew forward, her eyes burning whit
Micah opened the door to the room that smelled of lavender and potatoes, but nothing could mask the overwhelming scent that made his chest ache: warm vanilla and winter blossoms. Xenia. His mate.The atmosphere had completely changed, softened. The girls had rearranged the space with blankets and cushions, forming a nest of makeshift beds. Most of them were already dozing or curled up in conversation. And in the center, Xenia lay atop the stripped mattress, one arm protectively draped across her belly. Even in sleep, tension clung to her. Her brow creased, her breathing shallow. She twitched now and again, caught in some restless dream.Delilah, seated nearby with a damp cloth in hand, looked up as he knelt beside the bed. “Don’t worry,” she said gently, reading the concern in his eyes. “The doctor came. Said she’s just… spe
Micah left to get a private session with the kings. Cristobal went to round up Serif and the girls, and any guards who were willing to stand by their side. Before she could move in to help her mother stopped her.“Plan or not, baby girl, you look about two seconds from toppling over again,” Delilah gestured for the girls to come over.“I’m fine,” Xenia insisted, but her voice was losing steam.“No, you ain’t,” Frieda replied flatly. “You’re holdin’ on by a thread, and even your sass can’t hide that.”“If this plan is going to work you need to be at your best,” Delilah added.“Your mother is right,” Nova agreed. “You have been pushing yourself way too much, Xenia. We need the rest.”
“Archie didn’t disappear, Your Majesty,” Xenia continued. “He was attacked by an assassin…” she paused for dramatic effect. “...hired by Commander Edmund Duche.”The grand hall erupted in chaos. Micah and the rest looked at Xenia with shocked expressions. No one would openly accuse someone in the royal family of something like this. So openly. Yet, Xenia was calm, watching King Regald’s expression.“She’s right,” Cristobal said flatly, stepping forward. “Aside from the assassination attempt, we were attacked on the seas by one of Duche’s warships. Even Archie couldn’t stop them with the secret signal.”Duche’s expression darkened. “This is treason–”“You’re one to talk about treason,” Micah snarled, his voice thick with restrained fury. “You’ve twisted the court with fea
Micah’s vision tunneled. All he could see was Duche’s smirking face. Roman roared beneath his skin, clawing to the surface. He lunged forward, teeth bared, the shift rolling over him so fast his bones cracked mid-stride. "Alpha Micah, stand down!"The Alpha King Gerald’’s voice boomed through the chamber, the command washing over Micah as he stopped just short of tearing Duche’s throat out. His dark eyes swept over Micah, then softened slightly as they fell on Xenia–on the bruises, the raw skin, and the trembling of her hands. His jaw tightened, and when he spoke again, it carried a weight of controlled fury. "There will be no more cruelty here. Not today. Not under this roof." Beside him, King Renald rose slowly from his throne, the lines of grief on his face deepening. His gaze locked onto Xenia with a fury barely restrained.“This woman,” he said coldly, “walks free while my daughter is in a coma, while yours is in a coma.” Renald descended the steps, each footfall echoing acros
The gates to the dungeons at the Alpha King kingdom slowly creaked open. Micah waited patiently, taking a deep breath before venturing forward with the escorted guards. Months had passed since the war, since Melania’s defeat. It should have been the dawn of peace. Instead, the condition of the princesses had shattered the fragile trust between the kingdoms. Their blood, though spilled by Melania’s cruelty, had left an ugly stain that no one seemed willing to wash clean. The humans and werewolves alike demanded justice. And Commander Duche–that rat bastard–had fanned the flames with lies.Micah stopped walking when he noticed a figure by the cell he was walking toward. He quickly bowed with the other guards as the Alpha King walked out from the shadows.“You know I’m only doing this because of the promise I gave your father,” the Alpha King spoke.Micah smiled and nodded. “I heard the Luna Queen might have also–“Don’t,” the Alpha King growled. “If it was up to me, I would've beheaded
Micah barely grunted as the witchfire singed his shoulder, his body shielding Xenia’s. Smoke curled off his skin, but he stayed upright, golden eyes blazing.“Remember! That’s not just Lillian,” he growled. “Melania’s in there.”Laurie’s eyes widened, magic crackling around her fingertips. “That explains the strength. Lillian wasn’t this powerful before.”Cristobal readied his sword, standing at Xenia’s side with a smirk aimed at Micah. “Then let’s put her down before she gets any stronger. You can keep up, wolf-boy?”Micah grinned. “Try not to fall behind, soldier.”Laurie stepped forward. “You two can measure egos later. She’s still attacking Xenia.”Xenia had just rolled behind a boulder, her face pale but determined. She picked up a fallen branch and brandished it like a spear.Laurie’s magic swirled around her like a storm. “We’re gonna need everyone. I’ll try to trap her between veils. If we can weaken Melania’s grip, we might be able to push her back.”The group fanned out, ins
Across the battlefield, Lacey caught sight of Celia blasting away two warriors before trying to join Lillian.“Celia!” Lacey shouted, grabbing her arm and yanking her back.Celia whirled on her. “What are you doing? Let go of me!”“I should be asking you the same damn thing,” Lacey snapped. “You’re still fighting for her? After everything she’s done?”Celia’s jaw clenched. “You wouldn’t understand.”“She tortured us. She tortured you. She helped turn Jed into a monster! And you still defend her?”“She loves me,” Celia hissed, voice trembling with fury. “You don’t know what it’s like–to be chosen. To be seen. You wouldn’t understand because you don’t have a mate. You’ve never had one.”Lacey flinched–but only for a moment. “You’re right,” she said coldly. “I don’t have a mate. But at least I’m not weak enough to sell my soul for one.”Celia’s magic surged at those words. “Say that again.”Lacey’s eyes gleamed gold. “You heard me.”With a furious scream, Celia raised her hands, greenish