THE DREAM OF THE BURNING THRONE
Blythe's POV
The knock came again.
Harder this time.
My fingers tightened on the edge of the door as I whispered, "Aria…?"
Her voice coiled in my mind. "Be ready."
I cracked the door open—just a hair.
Captain Thorne stood there, his face carved from stone, cloak damp from the night.
"My Lady," he said quietly. "A word."
I stepped into the hall, pulling my robe tighter. "At this hour?"
Thorne's eyes flicked up and down the corridor. "Tracks, my lady. Near the Queen's retreat. Fresh. Not ours."
My stomach coiled.
"Did you tell Elder Moses?" I asked.
A flicker of hesitation. "Not yet."
I exhaled. "Thank you."
As I turned to retreat into my chambers, Thorne's voice stopped me.
"My Lady…"
I looked back.
His gaze softened just a fraction. "Be careful."
I closed the door slowly, the latch cl
THE POISONED CUPBlythe's POVThe moon hung heavy outside my window, painting long silver shadows across the cold stone floor. My fingers tremble slightly as I touch the glass, the memory of Elder Moses in the courtyard still burning behind my eyes.Aria's voice drifted through my mind like a cold wind."He holds the cloth you thought you recovered."
SHADOWS WITHIN SHADOWSBlythe’s POVThe corridors had changed.Where once I walked without escort, now every turn had eyes. Guards flanking the stairwells, soft voices falling silent as I passed. Even the walls seemed to whisper.I tightened the cloak around my shoulders as Helena hurried to catch up.“My Lady,” she murmured. “Beta Vegas has doubled the night patrols. Elder Moses requested a review of the servants’ quarters. They’re calling it… precautionary.”I laughed softly, bitterly. “Precautionary? Or invasive?”
THE DREAM OF THE BURNING THRONEBlythe's POVThe knock came again.Harder this time.My fingers tightened on the edge of the door as I whispered, "Aria…?"Her voice coiled in my mind. "Be ready."I cracked the door open—just a hair.Captain Thorne stood there, his face carved from stone, cloak damp from the night."My Lady," he said quietly. "A word."I stepped into the hall, pulling my robe tighter. "At this hour?"Thorne's eyes flicked up and down the corridor. "Tracks, my lady. Near the Queen's retreat. Fresh. Not ours."My stomach coiled."Did you tell Elder Moses?" I asked.A flicker of hesitation. "Not yet."I exhaled. "Thank you."As I turned to retreat into my chambers, Thorne's voice stopped me."My Lady…"I looked back.His gaze softened just a fraction. "Be careful."I closed the door slowly, the latch cl
A STEP TOO CLOSEBlythe's POVThe council chamber crackled with tension as I entered. Conversations died to murmurs, eyes cutting toward me like blades. The long oak table gleamed under the candlelight, but no warmth lingered—only calculation.Elder Moses rose smoothly, gray robes flowing, a soft smile curving his thin lips. "Your Grace," he greeted, bowing low. "Timely, as always.""Let's skip the pleasantries, Moses." I slid into the high-backed chair, fingers drumming once against the polished wood. "What's happened?"Helena's hurried steps whispered through the corridor, breaking the stillness. She leaned in close to m
WHISPERS AND TRAPSHelena's POVHelena's slippers barely touched the stone floor as she fled down the east wing corridor, heart slamming against her ribs.What did I see?Her fingers trembled around the tray as she burst into the servants' wing, darting into a storage room. The tray clattered to the floor, the silver goblet rolling under a shelf.She pressed her back against the cold wall, dragging in shaky breaths."Helena?"The whisper came from the doorway.Maris, another omega, peeked inside, eyes wide. "Are you—gods,
DESIRE LIKE FIREBlythe’s POV“Xavier…”My voice barely carried in the moonlight, but I knew he heard me.He turned from the silver trees, jaw clenched, arms crossed over his chest, the tension rolling off him in waves. His eyes glowed faint gold in the dark, his breath sharp and ragged.“Blythe, why did you come here?” His voice was low and frayed. “You shouldn’t—”“I had to.” My boots crunched softly on the frost-bitten grass as I approached. “I needed to tell you.”
COUNCIL OF SMOKEBlythe swept into the council chamber, her cloak trailing like midnight behind her.The room buzzed — nobles murmuring in tight clusters, guards lining the marble walls, and the smell of ink, wax, and old ambition curling in the air.“Your Grace,” Elder Moses rose smoothly as she approached the high-backed chair at the head of the table. “We feared you would not join us.”Blythe met his sharp gaze. “I would never miss a gathering this… spirited.”Elder Rowan smirked under his silver beard. “Your presence honors us, Luna. Though some wond
EYES IN THE WALLSThe long oak table gleamed beneath the soft glow of morning, silver dishes laid out with practiced precision. Blythe sat stiffly at one end, a small untouched plate before her. Vito, lounging at the other end, tapped his fingers thoughtfully against his goblet.Ceres, all restless energy and sparkling eyes, popped a grape into her mouth and stretched her legs under the table.“It’s time,” Vito said smoothly, his voice cutting through the quiet. “
AFTER THE FIREBlythe's POV"You're pacing again.""I'm not pacing.""Aria.""What? It's the third time you've circled the same rug. If you wear a hole in it, Vegas will demand an explanation."I stopped, exhaling hard, gripping the edge of the window sill. The morning sun was too bright, too sharp. Everything in me still hummed from the night before—Xavier's hands, voice, and body—but none felt real in the light."It shouldn't have happene