LOGINDahliaGradually, Celeste began withdrawing from everyone.It had been several days since Sebastian's death, yet she still seemed unable to come to terms with what had happened. Whenever I visited her, she barely spoke unless I asked her a question, and even then, her answers were usually brief. Most of the time, she sat quietly, staring into space as though her thoughts were somewhere far beyond her reach.I understood how difficult it was to lose her husband, especially considering everything that had happened between them. Their relationship had been complicated, and I knew there were things she was still struggling to process. However, I was beginning to worry that she was shutting herself away from everyone, and I didn't want her to go through everything alone.One afternoon, I found her sitting by the window in her sitting room. A magazine lay open on her lap, but judging by the way she kept staring outside, I doubted she had read a single page. She seemed completely absorbed in
ZevranI returned to the palace with more questions than answers, and the frustration was beginning to get the better of me.Sebastian was dead, the Moon Temple had burned to the ground, and whoever had been pulling the strings was still out there. I couldn't stop thinking about the possibility that someone had been working against me from within my own palace while I remained completely unaware of it.How had I missed something like this?“Lucien,” I called as I entered my study. “I want everyone who interacted with Sebastian in the last few weeks questioned. The guards, servants, messengers, everyone. I don't care how insignificant they think their information is. I want to hear it.”Lucien nodded. “I'll have them brought in.”“And check his movements. I want to know where he went, who he met, and what he was doing whenever he left the palace without explanation.”“Understood.”I took a seat behind my desk and rubbed my face. I had known Sebastian for years. He had been there throug
DahliaThe moment Zevran returned and told me what had happened to Sebastian, I insisted on going to his house. I couldn't imagine what Celeste was going through, and the thought of her being alone after everything that had happened made me uneasy.When we arrived, the atmosphere was tense. Several guards stood outside, and the moment I stepped into the house, I noticed the bloodstains on the floor. My stomach twisted.I found Celeste sitting on the couch, staring blankly at nothing. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and she looked so exhausted that I almost didn't recognise her.“Celeste?” I called softly as I approached her.She lifted her head, and the moment our eyes met, her face crumpled. “Dahlia…”I sat beside her and reached for her hand. “What happened? Please, talk to me.”She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I didn't want this to happen. I swear I didn't.”“Hey, it's okay.” I squeezed her hand gently. “Take your time. I'm here.”She took a shaky breath, try
ZevranI refused to believe Sebastian could be involved in any of this. Even after Adrian had left, I kept thinking for an explanation that would make sense of everything without implicating him.He had been my trusted friend for years, someone who had stood beside me through difficult situations and helped protect my kingdom. I had never had a reason to question his loyalty, which made the possibility of him working with the very people who had repeatedly endangered Dahlia almost impossible to accept.Still, I couldn't afford to ignore the evidence just because I didn't like what it suggested.“Prepare the cars,” I ordered, rising from my chair. “Lucien, you're coming with me. Bring a few guards as well.”Lucien glanced at the documents scattered across the table. “Do you think Sebastian knows we're investigating him?”“I don't know. But the fact that he left the palace in such a hurry doesn't sit well with me.”“Maybe there's a reasonable explanation for everything?”“There better b
ZevranWith the undead crisis finally contained, I knew it was time to deal with the Moon Temple once and for all.Even with Castle dead and Thomas now under my authority, I couldn't shake the feeling that we hadn't uncovered everything. There was still someone directing the Temple from behind the scenes, someone who had managed to remain hidden while manipulating events to their advantage.Lilith's death had made one thing clear—whoever was behind it all wouldn't hesitate to eliminate anyone who threatened to expose them. I wasn't going to sit back and wait for another disaster to unfold before finding out who that person was.Lucien arrived at my study that morning, and after exchanging a few words, we headed straight to the meeting room to discuss our next steps. The reports concerning the Moon Temple had already been gathered, and I wasted no time spreading them across the table as we settled into our seats.“We need to investigate everyone who had access to the Temple before Cast
DahliaI didn't know where I was until I noticed the silver light surrounding me.I stood in the middle of a palace that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. The walls shimmered with a strange glow, and the floor beneath my feet was so smooth that I could see my reflection in it. Beyond the enormous windows, the moon hung close enough to touch, its light spilling into the palace and illuminating everything around me.I looked down at myself and realised I was wearing a beautiful white dress. My hair fell loosely down my back, and the crescent mark on my wrist glowed faintly."Where am I?" I whispered.Several people approached and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty."I stared at them in confusion. "I'm sorry, what?""Welcome home, Your Majesty."I stepped back. "Please, get up. I think you've mistaken me for someone else."Before anyone could respond, a group of people approached, some barely able to stand. They fell to their knees before me."Please, Your Majesty. Help us.""What







