Von"Tell me!" Anna said with an impatience tone. “I need answers.”I had no idea what she was inquiring my mind had drifted off the second she started speaking.These days, I was always disconnected from my body, lost in my mind, and reality always felt like it was slipping from my grasp.“Rae…” Anna dragged, her voice was loud and demanding.I blinked, taking in the garden that surrounded us. If it was any other day, I would have found this place serene but right now, nowhere felt serene.“Do you think it’s going to be a boy or a girl?” she repeated, leaning in as she sipped from her juice.I exhaled and leaned forward too, elbows resting on my thighs. “Von wants the baby to be a boy.”She grinned. “I figured he would. Men always want sons at first. But…” She paused dramatically, wagging a finger at me. “What you want matters too.”I shrugged slightly. “It’s not about what I want. It’s also not about what he wants too.”Anna rolled her eyes. “Oh please. My mom always says women have
Von’s pov“I want that street properly investigated!” I barked, my voice echoing off the stone walls of the palace. “If a murder has taken place there twice, then it’s a sign that something shady is going on. I don’t want any more lives lost because we were too blind to see the pattern.”The head guard nodded sharply, scribbling something in his ledger. The others around the table exchanged tense glances, and I could feel the an uneasy feeling growing in the room. The pack had become chaotic the second me and Rae left for our vacation. My guards had reported the death of two people along a familiar street, the minute Rae and I drove in. I couldn’t help but arrange a meeting quickly trying to get to the bottom of things.“Is that the only thing that has happened?” I asked, scanning each face, as I pulled myself out of my thoughts. My eyes landed on Aemond who quickly stood on his feet He hesitated before speaking. “I don’t want to alarm you, Your Majesty,” he said slowly. “Everyone
Rae’s povWhen the car pulled up to the graveyard, I was met with silence not that I was surprised the graveyard always felt like a peaceful sanctuary. “I will be back soon!” I told the guards as I climbed down slowly from the car.My shoes made a soft sound against the gravel as I walked, it grew louder when increased my steps. I stood close to Jace’s stone, idly staring at the withered flowers that clung to it. My eyes suddenly moved to the sky which had gotten darker. I watched as the once bright clouds turned grayish like it was harboring rain.I didn’t know if this was a sign that it was about to rain or a sign that Madame Rain was coming.I hoped it was the second. The last thing I wanted was to deal with rain, which would stop me from achieving my mission.I sighed, pulling my eyes from the sky, and back to my surroundings. My eyes scanned the field of tombstones, noticing how the ground looked forgotten, like death itself was tired of remembering who it took. ‘Where was
Von “Rae!” I shouted, panic thick in my voice. She didn’t respond. Her eyes were shut, and her body was limp, slumped on the ground as her soul had drifted somewhere I couldn’t reach.My heart pounded as I rushed to her, kneeling and scooping her into my arms. She felt so light, too still, like she wasn’t really there. “Please, stay with me,” I whispered as I held her tighter.I didn’t waste another second. I carried her straight back to the car, each step feeling heavier than the last. When I reached the vehicle, my eyes immediately landed on the driver who had brought her.“Jaro!” I called out sharply.He jumped from the driver’s seat, eyes wide with worry. “Yes, Alpha?”“Get the pack doctor to the palace. Now.”Jaro nodded quickly, not asking questions. He climbed into his car and drove off quickly.I walked hurriedly towards my car, positioning Rae in the passenger seat.I adjusted her head until it was resting against the seatbelt. The minute I got behind the heel, I pressed
VonI woke up with a stiff neck and sore back, from sitting in the chair beside Rae’s bed. Her hand was in mine, and the cold feeling reminded me that she was still here with me—even if she wasn’t awake.I stood up slowly, stretched a little, and walked to the door. When I opened it, Anna was standing right outside. She looked tired. Her arms were folded across her chest, and her eyes were red like she’d been crying.“How is she?” Anna asked softly.I looked down, then back at her. “Still the same.”She nodded and peeked past my shoulder, her eyes finding Rae on the bed. She didn’t say anything for a while. Just stared. And in that moment, I saw it. The pain. The helplessness. She loved Rae just as much as I did—maybe even more in her own way.“You can spend some time with her,” I said, stepping aside. “She needs all the love she can get.”Anna gave a small smile. “Thank you.”I left the room, closing the door gently behind me. I didn’t have a destination in mind. I just wanted to br
Von I stood still, staring at the bodies lined up in the streets. The smell of blood mixed with the scent of wet earth. It had rained earlier, and now the streets were soaked—with water, with sorrow, with death. People cried around me. Some screamed as they held their loved ones—mothers, children, fathers—all lifeless in their arms.My chest tightened. I didn’t know what to say or how to move. It had been three weeks since this nightmare began, and instead of getting better, it had turned into something worse. Something monstrous.I swallowed hard and turned slowly to Roy, who stood beside me. His face looked pale. “How did this happen?” I asked. “I told you all to be alert.”“We were,” Roy said quickly. “We kept watch. The guards didn’t see anyone leave their homes. Nothing strange happened during the night but why the time we stepped into the street. We couldn’t believe how it happened.”I shook my head, still trying to process the scene. “This is strange,” I muttered, more to myse
Von I put on my armor, ensuring that it was tightened around my body.Then I headed out with the rest of the guards. Before I left, I went to Rae’s room. She was still asleep, her face appeared peaceful as it always was.“Wish me luck,” I whispered, sitting beside her for a moment. “I’m really counting on tonight. I need to find out the truth before the people come for me.”I stood up, gave her one last look, and left the palace.The car ride was quiet. Roy sat beside me. The streets were darker than usual. Quiet. Too quiet. I guessed it was because everyone feared rumoring at night ever since the incident happened.When we arrived at the checkpoint, the guards split up, heading toward different parts of the area. I stayed near one of the buildings with Roy. We kept low, hiding in the shadows.Roy pointed toward a house at the end of the street. “This one hasn’t been hit. Every house on this street has seen death—except that one.”“Why?” I asked, frowning.“I don’t know. But it sits
Von I followed Roy down the hallway in silence, my boots echoing against the stone floor. My jaw clenched tighter with every step. I didn’t know what I’d do when I saw Landon—only that it wouldn’t be merciful.The throne room doors opened, and I stepped inside. My eyes locked onto him immediately.Landon looked almost the same, except for the patches of white in his beard. Time had aged him, but not enough to erase what he’d done.“Von!” he said the moment he saw me.I stopped in my tracks. My voice was cold as I spoke. “It’s Your Majesty to you. You’ve lost the right to call me by name.”His head dropped for a second. “It seems… you haven’t let go of the past.”“Betrayal like yours doesn’t get forgotten. Not in this lifetime.” I spat. I was trying to control myself I didn’t want to attack him. Not yet!Landon stepped forward slightly. “I know what I did was wrong. I have been living in guilt ever since. That’s why I’m here. I came to the palace because… I wanted to apologize. But th
Von The sound of the crowd's cheers echoed through the gate, as I raised the artifact in my hand. “I have found a way to end the curse,” I repeated.“To save us all!” I continued. “This would wipe off the pain and suffering we have endured.”“Our lives shall once again be filled with joy.” They continued to cheer me on but their joyous voices faded behind me as I turned my back on them, my heart hammering in my chest. I needed to see Rae. Now.“The Luna has given birth,” Roy said as I stepped through the entrance. His voice was calm, but the weight of his words brought me to a halt. I looked at him in disbelief. “What?” “It’s a girl,” he added, smiling. I didn’t waste a second. My feet carried me up the stairs like the wind was at my back. When I opened the door, I saw Rae—cradling the child in her arms, her face bathed in soft light. My breath caught in my throat.She looked up at me with tired eyes, and then down again at the tiny baby bundled against her chest. I moved c
RaeI stood in front of the mirror, my hand hovering gently over my stomach. My skin was stretched, round, and tight.I rubbed my hands round my stomach and I smiled, but the smile didn’t last. It had been four months since Von had left. Four months since I had last seen him. I never got to say goodbye. The thought still ached deep inside me. I wished I had listened to Anna, wished I had stopped him or at least spoken to him before he left, but I didn’t. I let my emotions take over and eat my mind.Behind me, a voice broke the silence. “Are you okay?” Anna’s voice was soft. I turned to face her and nodded slowly. “I’m fine… I was just thinking. The baby’s almost here.” She stepped closer, worry written all over her face. “Are you scared?” I hesitated before answering. “I’m worried. Not for myself… for the baby.” Anna furrowed her brow. “Why? The baby will be born into a better world—once Von returns with the artifact.” “That’s what scares me,” I whispered. “What if they
Von The distance between Rae and me grew day by day. And I didn’t try to close it. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I understood why it was happening. This was too much for her to process—there was too much pain involved. She needed space, and I wasn’t going to force my presence into a storm she hadn’t calmed yet.So I kept to myself, locking the emotions away and burying my mind in strategy. Every hour was spent thinking, reading old texts, flipping through scrolls.I was searching for any solid thread that could lead to the artifact the seer spoke of. I wanted to be sure that it was real and just something that was made up, when I finally found an old book that documented old artifact I was happy. So it exited. As I closed that book, I made my decision. I was going to find it. And I wasn’t going alone.Landon was coming with me.The idea settled like steel in my bones. I dragged myself out of bed, the morning chilly air biting at my skin as I stood before the mirror and
Von I was torn between two options—go after Rae or deal with the information that the guard just delivered to me.My feet itched to chase her down the servants’ quarters, and to make her feel better… but duty pulled me in the other direction.Roy was already a few steps ahead, and I followed him down the corridor, my gaze still locked on the hallway Rae had disappeared into.“He told you he found a witch?” I asked, my voice sharp.Roy nodded without looking back. “Yes, Your Majesty. Said he found her near the valley.”“And you believe that nonsense?” I pressed, picking up my pace.“What do you mean?” Roy glanced back at me.“Do you really think he found a real witch? Or is this just some random old woman he picked up to fool us again?” My tone was filled with suspicion.Roy hesitated. “I… I don’t know. He seemed sure of her. That’s all I can say.”I didn’t push him further. I clenched my jaw and kept walking, letting silence carry the weight of my thoughts. Landon was a snake—one wh
Rae I stared at Anna in disbelief, my lips parted but no words coming out. I couldn’t believe what I just heard. I felt like I was in a nightmare. I managed to pull myself out of the haze staring back at Anna. “You’re saying… I have to die to save the kingdom?” My voice cracked as I spoke, and my legs felt unsteady beneath me.Anna gave a slow nod, her eyes filled with sadness.“I don’t understand,” I said, forcing myself to stand. “Why me? How am I the reason for the curse?”“I don’t know, Rae,” she replied gently. “But Von might. He’s been keeping everything to himself. I think he knows more than he’s saying.”I shook my head. “This can’t be real. I refuse to believe it.”My heart pounded in my chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The walls were closing in. A thousand thoughts ran through my mind, crashing into each other. I didn’t want to cry, but tears burned behind my eyes anyway.Anna stepped closer. “Please calm down. Landon’s looking for a witch. He believes there might b
RaeThe dim light crept into view, it was blurry and soft at first, like a distant memory trying to settle into focus. My head felt heavy, and my body… foreign. I blinked a few times, trying to ground myself in the space around me. Everything was unfamiliar. I was disoriented. My arms ached, and when I looked down, I noticed wires—tubes—stripped across my body. I couldn’t tell if they were for healing or restraint.Then suddenly I heard soft sobs which broke through my haze.I turned my head, and my eyes landed on Anna. She was hunched over in a chair across the room, her shoulders trembling. Her voice cracked as she muttered to herself, “I think I’ve made a mistake… I shouldn’t have let him go…”What was she talking about? And why was she crying?“Anna…” My voice came out hoarse, it was low and if she wasn’t sitting close by. I was sure she wouldn’t have heard it.Anna’s head jerked up after those words left my lips. Her eyes widened like she’d seen a ghost. “Rae?” she gasped. T
VonThe moment, I saw Landon move I halted my steps, trying to figure out where he was heading. He directed his horse towards the side of the river while he rested on one of the stones. He was facing me now, but because of the trees I was well hidden and I couldn’t be easily detected. I kept watching, waiting for the opportunity when he would finally turn his back. Eventually, he did, and just as I was about to launch myself at him, my horse let out a sharp, loud snort.Landon jerked his head up and during that moment his eyes found mine. I wondered if he had seen me, but the moment I saw him reach for his horse I got the answer to my question.Landon pulled his horse out of the river in one fast move, climbed onto the saddle, and kicked hard. The animal responded instantly, racing through the shallow water, splashing and tearing through the trees.“Landon!” I growled, then yanked my reins.I mounted quickly and dug my heels in. My horse moved forward, its hooves digging into the t
VonI stared at Anna with a coldness that could freeze fire. My eyes locked onto hers, searching for answers, for some kind of remorse, but all I saw was silence. Her lips stayed pressed together, and it was clear she wasn’t planning on explaining anything anytime soon.My anger ignited. It roared up from my chest like a beast unchained. I hit her against the cage once again.“You dare remain silent?” I growled through clenched teeth. “You set him free and you stand here with your mouth shut like it means nothing?”Her gaze flicked to mine, and finally, she spoke in a soft tone. “Even if I explain things to you… you’ll never understand.”I scoffed, tightening my grip. “Did he promise you something? Huh? Is that it? Did Landon feed you some sweet little story?”“No,” she snapped back. “He didn’t promise me anything.”I let out a humorless laugh. “Then why? What in the hell made you think this was a good idea?”She yanked her arm out of my grasp. “Because he said he wants to help this c
Von The night had arrived.I sat in my chambers, wide awake. My sword rested beside me on the table, a sharp glint catching the flicker of torchlight from the wall. I hadn't slept, not even for a second. My instincts told me tonight would be the night they'd try it—the traitors among my guards. Anna’s warning had been clear, and my men were ready. My loyal guards were stationed throughout the palace, hiding in shadows, crouched in corners, armed to the teeth.I paced slowly across the room, boots echoing faintly against the stone floor. Then—just as I paused—came the sound. A low grunt. Then another. It started outside my door. The fight had begun.I moved quickly into the shadows, pressing my back against the cold wall. I could hear the scuffle grow louder. Then came footsteps rushing toward my chamber. Someone was coming for me.I didn’t move.I waited.The door creaked open. I saw the silhouette step in, sword drawn. He didn’t see me. He thought I’d be asleep.He took three step