INICIAR SESIÓNDRUMS OF WARThe first grey light of dawn was breaking when I dressed and started down the stairs.Before I reached the entrance hall, a servant hurried toward me. "Your Majesty, your messenger has arrived."I found him kneeling near the entrance. He looked ready to collapse. Blood had soaked the rough bandage around his forearm. Outside, his horse was exhausted and covered in sweat. It was clear the animal had been ridden through the night without rest."Your Majesty." His voice was rough from hours of riding. "Thornewild forces crossed our northern border two nights ago. They burned Ashenfell and Millbrook Pack to the ground before our sentries could organize a proper defense."The words struck me hard. Two packs? When I took the crown, I had sworn to protect every family under my rule with everything I possessed."How many casualties?""Many, Your Majesty. I don't know the exact number. I left as soon as we spotted the first fires and haven't stopped since.""See that his wound is
THE ADVISOR'S DOUBTI had served the royal family of Silverfang since the day Kael's father died.For decades, I had stood by kings and attended war councils. I had advised rulers, watched over the kingdom, and helped keep things running smoothly without drawing much attention to myself. Through wars, coronations, betrayals, and every crisis a crown could face, I had never witnessed anything like what happened in that courtyard.I had been standing in the shadows of the archway, watching Aurelia's training session. I saw the guard's foot catch on a stone. I saw his practice blade swing toward her and saw the change in Aurelia's expression in that instant before her instinct took over.But I had not expected what happened next. The air around her shimmered. The light seemed to bend around her hands and a strange silver glow appeared. By the time the others could understand what they had witnessed, the guard was thrown across the courtyard.I knew. I recognized that power. It had been d
AN ANCIENT AWAKENING I woke up gasping and sat straight up in bed. My nightgown clung damply to my skin.In the dream, I was in a place that was not quite my chamber. Mist curled around my bare feet, while a strange feeling spread all over my body. It grew stronger and squeezed my chest until it no longer felt like warmth at all but a second heartbeat.The room was dark. The fire had burned down to a few dying embers and for a terrifying moment, I couldn't tell whether I was awake or still trapped in the dream. Then I looked down. My hands were resting open in my lap and they were glowing. A faint silver light pulsed under my skin, running along my fingers like veins made of moonlight. It was so bright that it cast shadows on the blankets.I stared at them, breathing fast and my heart hammering so hard I could feel it. The light pulsed once more, then it disappeared and sank into my skin, leaving my hands to become normal again.I remained in that position for a long time, listening
THE PRICE OF GREEDThe gold arrived on a grey morning.Three wagons rolled through the gates, guarded by royal guards. I almost leaped for joy because my heart's desire for many years had finally begun to fill.For the first week, I walked through all the rooms I could now afford to restore to life. The east parlor had a brown-stained ceiling from years of leaks. We had never had sufficient money to repair the roof. The curtains in the dining hall had also faded, their once-bright colors almost gone. I took mental note of everything carefully, imagining fresh silk curtains, new gold decorations, and a house brought back to life. For ten years, our home had gradually fallen apart while everyone pretended not to notice.Edric said nothing about what had happened. In fact, he had barely spoken about anything for years.Ever since the night his own daughter had looked at him with such betrayal in her eyes, he had become almost like a ghost in his own home. He was lost in his thoughts most
THE CRACK IN THE WALL AURELIA'S POV My hands would not stop trembling. A blanket had been draped over my shoulders hours ago, but I still held it tightly as I curled up on the window seat in my chamber. My eyes were fixed idly on the dark gardens below. It wasn't the fear of dying that made my fingers shake. I had come close to death before, more times than I cared to remember but this was different. The little trust I had started building in this place had suddenly shattered. Someone wanted me gone so badly that they had to poison my tea and they had gone even further by killing the girl who had carried out the plan, making sure she would never get the chance to reveal who had sent her. Kael had not left. He had guarded my door for some time. Later, after Roderic left, he entered my room. I had heard most of Roderic's news through the door. Now Kael sat in the chair beside my bed. It was close enough for me to reach him if I needed to, while also trying not to invade my pri
POISON IN THE TEACUPThe moment the smell of faint bitterness mixed with the warm jasmine scent rising from Aurelia's cup reached me, my brain became alerted of danger. My wolf sensed it first by half a breath, followed by me. A sharp instinct pulled taut inside my chest, and I moved with the speed of light before I could even think. I struck the cup from Aurelia's hands just as it neared her lips. The porcelain crashed onto the stone floor and tea splashed across the pale marble.Aurelia jerked back in her chair with a frightened gasp. "Kael." Her eyes widened as she stared at the broken cup, then at me. "What is wrong with you?""That tea was poisoned." Fear shook my voice. I had come dangerously close to losing her before I had even earned the right to call her mine. My hands trembled, but I forced them into fists. I refused to let her see how badly the thought had shaken me.Her eyes dropped to the shattered porcelain. The tea slowly spread across the floor. "Poisoned?" she whisp







