Chapter 1

Hayley's Pov

The room was weakly bright, the torches barely lighted the cold stone walls. I stood in the

middle of my room, and my hands were resting on my swollen belly.

My heart pounded as I watched Lucian move back and forth, his face set in stone.

“You can’t mean this,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “You can’t want me to kill our child.”

He stopped and turned to face me, his eyes sharp and cold. The man I had loved, the man I had

given everything for, was gone. I couldn't believe Lucian would hurt me with his words, hurt us

with his actions.

“This isn’t about what I want,” he said flatly. “The seer’s prophecy is clear. The child will destroy

everything we’ve built. How can you not see?”

“No!” I shook my head, my voice rising. “The prophecy is not a death sentence. It doesn’t mean

it will happen. Lucian, this is our child! How can you even consider this?”

His jaw tightened. “Because I have to. This kingdom comes first. Always. And you know that

better than anyone”

I stepped closer, my hand reaching out to him. “We built this kingdom together, Lucian, we did

and I know what it is. Don’t throw it away because of fear. Don’t throw me away.”

His expression didn’t change. “You have a choice, Hayley,” he said, his voice low and cutting.

“Go to the healer and remove this pregnancy, or leave the palace. You can’t stay here if you’re

going to defy me. You pick, me or your insensitive thinking”

My legs wobbled, and I sank to the floor, clutching my stomach. Tears blurred my vision as I

looked up at him. “How can you say that to me? How can you ask me to do this? I love this

child. I love you. Don’t make me choose.”

“You already made your choice,” he said coldly, turning his back on me. “You’ve chosen to put

your feelings above the kingdom.”

I knelt there on the cold floor, tears streaming down my face. “I can’t lose my baby,” I whispered,

more to myself than to him. “Not because of some god-damned prophecy.”

He didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at me

nstead, he walked toward the door and paused. “Don’t come back inside until you’ve thought

this through and come to your senses.”

The heavy doors shut behind him, leaving me alone in the empty hall. The sound echoed

through the silence, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

I stayed there for hours, the cold seeping into my skin. The torches burned low, and the

darkness crept in around me.

I couldn’t think, couldn’t move. My mind raced with thoughts of my baby, of the man I thought I

knew, of the kingdom I had fought so hard to help him build.

***

By morning, I still hadn’t slept. My eyes were swollen, my body stiff from sitting on the hard

ground all night. The early morning sun lit into the room and gave me a bit of energy even with

my swollen eyes.

I stood, smoothing my dress and lifting my chin. If Lucian thought he could scare me into

submission, he was wrong. I would face him, not as a frightened wife but as the queen I had

always been.

The throne room was already crowded when I arrived. Nobles lined the walls, whispering to one

another as they watched me enter. My steps echoed in the vast chamber as I made my way to

my throne beside Lucian’s.

I didn’t get far.

The great doors opened, and the guards marched in, dragging a man between them. My breath

caught in my throat when I saw who it was.

“Father?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

His face was bruised, his hands bound in chains, but his eyes were steady as they met mine.

Lucian rose from his throne, his voice booming across the hall. “Counsel Garian is a traitor to

the crown. He conspired against me, and for that, he must pay.”

“No,” I said, stepping forward. “No, that’s not true. My father would never betray you. He’s loyal

to the kingdom.”

ucian’s gaze turned to me, cold and unyielding. “He plotted against me, Hayley. The

punishment for treason is death.”

My heart stopped. I looked at him, trying to find some trace of the man I loved, but there was

nothing. Just the king.

“Lucian, please,” I begged. “This is my father. You don’t have to do this.”

He ignored me and nodded to the guards. They forced my father to his knees.

I rushed forward, tears streaming down my face. “Lucian, I’m begging you! Please, don’t do

this!”

Two guards stepped in my path, blocking me from reaching him.

My father turned his head slightly, giving me a small, sad smile.

The sword came down before I could scream.

His head rolled to the floor, and the room went silent.

I stared at my father's dead body, shaking and sobbing.

“How could you?” I cried, looking up at Lucian. “How could you kill him? He could take my father

away from me!”

He stepped down from the throne, his cold face still intact. “Your father is dead,” he said simply.

“Now you have no one left except me.”

I pushed myself up to my feet, my body trembling with rage and grief. “I have stood by you

through everything,” I said, my voice shaking. “I’ve been faithful to you, Lucian. I’ve fought for

you. I’ve loved you. And this is how you repay me? You’ve turned your back on me, on our

unborn child, and now you’ve killed my father.”

His eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer. “You’ve given me no choice, Hayley,” he said.

“You’ve defied me at every turn. You’re a threat to my rule. I warned you”

Before I could move, he pulled a dagger from his belt and thrust it into my stomach.

I gasped, clutching at the blade as blood spread across my dress. My knees buckled, and I fell

to the ground.

I looked up at him, my vision blurring. “Why?” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “Why

would you do this?”