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chapter 173

last update publish date: 2026-01-31 22:39:37

Edgar

By the time the third messenger hawk reached me, I already knew what the message would say.

Not the words.

The weight.

You don’t command long without learning the difference.

Paper can carry ink, but it also carries pressure — the kind that presses behind your eyes and makes your shoulders feel like they’re holding up the sky.

I took the cylinder from the bird’s leg and dismissed the handler. I didn’t open it right away. Instead, I stood there on the western battlement, looking out over
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  • Game of hearts: The Ruthless Alpha and his warrior bride    210

    CelesteNo one moved.No one breathed.The shadow grew larger with every heartbeat.It swallowed the sunlight pouring through the hole the first dragon had burned into the clouds.The valley darkened.A cold wind swept across the battlefield.It carried no scent of smoke.Only decay.The Imperial dragon lowered its body.Its golden scales bristled.A low growl vibrated through the earth beneath our feet.The woman never looked away from the approaching shadow."Cassian.""Yes, Your Majesty.""Evacuate everyone."His jaw tightened."The armies first?""Everyone."He didn't hesitate."Imperial Vanguard!"Thousands of soldiers answered as one.Their disciplined lines broke apart with astonishing speed.Not into chaos.Into purpose."Horn signals!""Retreat south!""No formations!""Leave the wounded to no one!"The sharp cry of bronze horns echoed through the valley.Even the enemy army understood.For the first time since this war had begun, neither side reached for their weapons.They

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    Celeste"Run!"The command ripped through the stunned silence.For a heartbeat, no one obeyed.Everyone stared at the dragon.The glow inside its throat brightened from gold to white.Heat rolled across the valley.The stones beneath my boots grew warm.Cassian didn't flinch.Neither did the woman.She stood with one hand resting lightly against the dragon's neck."Your Majesty," Cassian said calmly."Only enough," she replied.The dragon inhaled.Then exhaled.A pillar of white fire erupted into the sky.It didn't strike the retreating armies.It climbed higher.Higher.Straight into the clouds.The heavens split apart.The blast punched a circular hole through the gray sky.Clouds vanished.Blue sunlight poured through the opening.The roar echoed across the mountains for what felt like forever.Every person on the battlefield stood frozen.I had never seen power like it.No spell.No siege engine.No weapon forged by man.Only raw destruction.The dragon closed its jaws.The valley

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    CelesteThe silence lasted only a heartbeat.Then the Imperial Vanguard stopped.Thousands of soldiers froze as one.Their lines stretched from one end of the valley to the other. Shield walls stood six ranks deep. Long spears pointed toward the sky like a forest of steel.No one spoke.No one moved.A rider emerged from the center of their formation.His horse was black from mane to hoof.Its armor gleamed like polished obsidian.The rider wore no crest.No colors marked his allegiance beyond the black cloak flowing behind him.A silver wolf had been engraved across his breastplate.He rode forward alone.Neither army challenged him.Even the wounded seemed afraid to breathe.The horse halted halfway between the three forces.The rider removed his helmet.Dark hair.Sharp features.Cold gray eyes.He couldn't have been older than thirty.Yet the confidence in his posture belonged to someone who had never known defeat.The commander's face hardened."I know him.""Who is he?""Marshal

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    Celeste "No!" The command tore from both our throats at the same time. Neither army listened. The first soldiers reached the ridge. Steel crashed against steel. The silence shattered. The commander shoved me away. I stumbled back as one of his men lunged between us, shield raised. His sword came down toward my head. I sidestepped. My dagger slipped beneath his arm. He gasped. His weapon clattered onto the rocks as he collapsed. "Protect the commander!" The cry echoed across the ridge. Half a dozen enemy soldiers surged forward. Before they reached me, my own men crashed into them. Captain Rowan slammed his shield into the first attacker, sending him sprawling over the edge of the slope. Sergeant Elric buried his axe in another man's shoulder. The ridge dissolved into chaos. Blood sprayed across the stones. The commander looked as furious as I felt. "I gave the order!" he roared. "Stand down!" No one obeyed. Battle fever had taken them. Reason had vanished.

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    Celeste"No!"The command tore from both our throats at the same time.Neither army listened.The first soldiers reached the ridge.Steel crashed against steel.The silence shattered.The commander shoved me away.I stumbled back as one of his men lunged between us, shield raised.His sword came down toward my head.I sidestepped.My dagger slipped beneath his arm.He gasped.His weapon clattered onto the rocks as he collapsed."Protect the commander!"The cry echoed across the ridge.Half a dozen enemy soldiers surged forward.Before they reached me, my own men crashed into them.Captain Rowan slammed his shield into the first attacker, sending him sprawling over the edge of the slope.Sergeant Elric buried his axe in another man's shoulder.The ridge dissolved into chaos.Blood sprayed across the stones.The commander looked as furious as I felt."I gave the order!" he roared."Stand down!"No one obeyed.Battle fever had taken them.Reason had vanished.He cut down one of my soldie

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    CelesteThe castle felt unusually quiet that morning. The corridors, normally filled with servants and guards moving with purpose, seemed subdued, almost hesitant, as if even the walls were holding their breath. I walked slowly, my mind still caught between fragments of memory and the weight of tru

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    CelesteI did not go back to the east wing that day.As tempting as it was, I knew better. Discovering the truth was one thing. Acting without thought was another. Edgar was not careless, and neither could I afford to be.Instead, I stayed visible.That alone was a strategy.I attended breakfast in

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    Celeste The room was quiet, almost too quiet. The guard and the smaller figure sat against the wall, their faces pale, hands tense. Lyra had tied their hands securely, her movements careful, precise. She glanced at me, her eyes wide but steady. “They… they won’t try anything, right?” she asked n

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  • Game of hearts: The Ruthless Alpha and his warrior bride    chapter 110

    Celeste As I made my way through that beautiful garden to think and clear my head, I let the sun rays kiss my skin.It has been a while since I was outside alone, unsupervised.It was a feeling I never thought I'd miss, but here I was missing my old life…As tedious as it was, I enjoyed the freed

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