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
VonThe dungeon was damp, filled with the stench of blood and stone. I walked in, and the guards immediately stiffened at my presence. I had decided to go see Landon, it was a crazy move but I just had to do it. I needed to save the people.I needed them to trust me again.One of the guards stepped forward and I stared at him. “Shall we get your kit ready, Your Majesty?” He asked.I paused. My eyes drifted to the cell, where Landon sat chained to the wall, his face bruised and shirt stained with blood. He was still unconscious, I hoped he would come wake up soon. I needed to speak to him. “No,” I said, a few seconds later.The guards exchanged looks of confusion.“I said no,” I repeated, firmer this time. “Free him.”Their eyes widened in disbelief. One of them hesitated. “Your Majesty?”“You heard me,” I said coldly.Roy, who had been standing silently by the wall, stepped closer. “Are you sure about this, Your Majesty?” His voice was low as he spoke.I turned to him. “Very sure.”
VonLandon hesitated as if he was thinking of what to say and I felt my patience wearing thin.“Now I need you to speak you go mute.” I shook my head. “How pathetic!”He didn’t say anything and another second grew by and I was about to snap when I noticed his mouth move.“We need to see the seer,” he finally answered. “The only thing I know—” he paused, correcting himself. “Your Majesty… is that this event is tied to the curse. I’m sure the seer will know more. She’s lived a thousand lives.”“The seer!” I scoffed shaking my head.“She knows things von…your majesty.” He corrected himself midway. I fell quiet, contemplating his words trying to figure out if this was a good idea or not. After much thought, I looked at Landon.If I don’t get the answers I want I would make I beat him till he takes his last breath.My eyes left Landon and then it landed Roy, who snapped his head in my direction.“Send someone to get the seer,” I said.Roy left right away. A few seconds later, he was bac
Von “What do you want to tell me?” I asked, my tone sharp as my eyes swept over the guard standing stiffly in front of me. “And where the fuck is the seer?”The lead guard shifted uncomfortably. “I couldn’t bring her, sir.”I stepped forward, narrowing my gaze. “What do you mean you couldn’t bring her?”He swallowed, glancing at the others. “Sorry, your majesty. Wrong words, I mean I didn’t see her at her home.”My jaw tensed. “Are you messing with me?”“No, Your Majesty,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “I would never do that. I swear it.”I folded my arms, narrowing my gaze. “I want a probable explanation. Where. Is. The. See?”“She… wasn’t in her home when we got there,” he said. “We searched endlessly, sir. But there was no sign of her.”I stared at him in silence, then asked, “By ‘everywhere,’ you mean where? A part of the pack? Or the entire pack?”The guard hesitated. “Just where she lives. Around her house. Nearby.”I stepped closer, making sure he heard every word. “You n
Von I looked at Roy with a firm gaze, trying to keep my expression calm even though what I just heard had messed with my mind.I wanted to speak, but all I could do was stare at this point I didn’t know how to act anymore.“What?” I finally voiced, my voice coming out thin as those words left my lips. “How’s that possible!?” I voiced out again the pain in my tone cannot be mistaken.“I don’t know the guard told me he found her dead close to the riverbank. “She’s outside now,” he continued. “Her body was brought to the palace.”I took a breath, trying to hold in the emotions rising within me. “I’ll be there. Wait for me.”Turning around, I walked quickly to my chambers and changed into my kingly robe. My hands shook slightly as I dressed. The seer was dead. She was supposed to guide me, to give me answers. How could this happen?When I arrived downstairs, I saw Roy waiting at the foot of the stairs. His face was grim.He led me to where the body was, Without exchanging any words,
Von After I left Rae’s chambers, I made my way down the quiet hallway. My footsteps were the only sound in the stillness of the morning. The weight of the decision I had made pressed heavily on my shoulders, but I knew I had no other choice. I had to leave the pack—at least for now. For her.I stopped in front of Anna’s door and knocked gently.It took only a few seconds before she opened it, dressed in a simple robe. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep.“Your Majesty?” she asked, surprised. “What are you doing here so early? Did something happen to Rae?”“No,” I said quickly, raising a hand to calm her nerves. “Rae is fine.”She stepped aside to let me in, and I walked into the familiar room. The soft scent of herbs and lavender clung to the air.“I wanted to speak with you before I left,” I said quietly.“Left?” she repeated. Her brows drew together. “What do you mean? You’re leaving the pack?”Then her mind seemed to booth and her eyes widened. “You have finally taken that decis
Von The night air was cool and still, as we set out on our journey to see the seer. The drive through the forest was smooth, quiet, almost too quiet. Trees blurred past us like silent watchers, and inside the car, my thoughts raced. I kept staring out the window, pretending to be calm, but my mind was anything but that. My stomach churned as I thought about the fact that I was closer to the truth.What if the seer tells me something I can’t handle? What if there’s no going back after tonight?For a second, I considered turning back. Doubt crept in, whispering its poison. But I clenched my fists and shook the thoughts away. This wasn’t the time for fear. I had made it this far. Rae—no, everything—depended on this.When we arrived at the seer’s place, the guards approached first. The hut was small, isolated deep within the woods, lit only by the dull glow of moonlight and a single flickering lantern hanging from a crooked pole.The lead guard stepped up and knocked twice on the wood
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