The warning

Mariana’s POV

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains and painted warm patches across the bed. I stirred beneath the covers, still half-asleep, before slowly opening my eyes.

The first thing I saw was Zayan sitting beside me, already dressed, his attention fixed on me.

The moment he noticed my eyes open, a smile appeared on his face. “Good morning, sleepy little wolf,” he murmured. “I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”

I blinked at him, still trying to gather my thoughts. “How long?”

He shrugged. “Long enough to consider sending Clara in here to wake you.” I groaned and pulled the blanket over my face. His quiet laughter followed. “Come on. We need to go get breakfast before I go to the council. I have a meeting this morning, but I wanted to eat with my wife first.” The word wife still made something warm bloom inside me. I finally pushed the blanket away and smiled at him.

The maids came in shortly afterward and helped me get ready. Once I was dressed, Zayan and I made our way to the dining hall. Breakfast was surprisingly peaceful. We spoke about small things, and I found myself enjoying the simple routine of having him beside me.

Unfortunately, we barely made a dent in our meal before one of the guards approached Zayan and leaned down to whisper something into his ear.

Zayan’s expression changed slightly. He looked toward the entrance before turning back to me. “The council members arrived earlier than expected.”

I frowned. “Already?”

He nodded, then leaned over and pressed a kiss against my cheek. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Zayan—” I began, but he was already standing.

“Don’t worry. Finish your breakfast, and I’ll come find you afterward.” He gave me one last reassuring look before leaving with the guard.

I finished my breakfast alone, though I quickly grew bored. After sitting around for several minutes, I called for Clara. She appeared almost immediately, and before long we were walking through the palace gardens.

She talked continuously, as usual, telling me about how she used to love a particular group of flowers when she was younger. “When I was little, I used to think these were the most beautiful flowers in the entire world,” she said, pointing toward a cluster of blooms.

I smiled. “Then why don’t you pick some?”

She gasped dramatically. “My Lady! You want me to destroy the flowers?”

I laughed. “You were just telling me how much you loved them.” “Admiring them and murdering them are two different things.” I shook my head, laughing at her ridiculousness, but before I could answer, something caught my attention in the distance.

A guard was running toward us.

I narrowed my eyes.

Something about him looked different. He wasn’t wearing the familiar armor of the Frostcrest guards. As he came closer, I recognized the colors of his clothing. My heart lifted immediately. “That’s one of Felix’s men,” I said, almost smiling. “Maybe Clarissa wrote back.”

The man finally reached us, slowing to a stop before removing his helmet. But there was no smile on his face. My smile disappeared. “What happened?” I asked quickly. “Is Clarissa all right?”

He immediately shook his head. “Yes, My Lady. Lady Clarissa is safe. She asked me to deliver this to you.” He pulled a sealed letter from inside his coat and held it out.

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Thank you.” I took the letter immediately. I barely waited for him to step back before breaking the seal.

The first line made my entire body go cold.

Mariana, you have to be careful.

My fingers tightened around the parchment as I continued reading.

I overheard Nicholas and your father speaking. They are planning an attack on Frostcrest.

My heart stopped.

I read the next lines faster.

They intend to ambush the palace and use you as bait. Their goal is to kill the warlord and take control of Frostcrest. They believe that if Zayan dies, they can claim the kingdom and end their debt to Frostcrest.

My hands began shaking.

Mariana, please warn him. Do not trust anyone. There are already two men from Graham’s household inside the palace. They have infiltrated the guards and are supposed to open the gates when the soldiers arrive. Please, whatever you do, stay safe.

The letter slipped slightly between my fingers.

“My lady?” Clara’s voice sounded distant.

I looked up at her, she was staring at me with growing concern.

“What is it? What does the letter say?”

Before I could answer, a distant sound reached us.

At first, it was faint, then It became louder.

unmistakable.

Horses.

Hundreds of pounding hooves thundered somewhere beyond the palace walls. Shouts followed. The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the grounds.

My blood ran cold.

“They’re here.”

Clara’s eyes widened. “Who?”

“The attackers.”

Almost immediately, guards began rushing through the palace grounds. Some were shouting orders. Others were running toward the gates. The peaceful garden had transformed into chaos within seconds.

I turned to the messenger.

“You need to leave.”

“My Lady?”

“Take him out of Frostcrest,” I told the nearest guard. “Get him somewhere safe and make sure he reaches Felix’s territory. He cannot stay here.”

The guard immediately nodded.

Clara grabbed my arm.

“My Lady, you need to come with us.”

“No.”

“Please. It’s not safe here.”

“I can’t leave.”

“You have to!”

I pulled my arm from her grasp.

“I can’t leave Zayan.”

Clara’s eyes filled with fear. “But you are his mate. If anything happens to you—”

“Then I need to make sure nothing happens to him.”

I turned and ran.

“My lady…”I heard Clara calling after me, but I didn’t stop.

I raced through the palace corridors, my heart pounding violently against my ribs. Guards rushed past me in the opposite direction, weapons drawn. Somewhere below, the sounds of fighting grew louder.

I had only one thought.

Zayan.

I ran toward the council chamber.

By the time I reached the stairs, I was struggling to breathe, but I forced myself upward. My legs burned as I climbed, and when I finally reached the corridor outside the council room, I could hear voices inside.

I pushed the doors open.

Every head turned.

Zayan was standing at the center of the room.

The moment he saw me, his expression changed.

“Mariana?”He immediately crossed the room.”What are you doing here?”

“I came to find you.”

“You need to leave.”

“No.”

“Mariana, this isn’t safe.”

“I know.”

His eyes hardened. “The Graham forces are attacking Frostcrest. I need you out of here.”

“They’re already inside.”

Silence.

Zayan stared at me.

“What?”

“Clarissa warned me. There are already two infiltrators inside the palace. They’re supposed to open the gates from within. You don’t understand. You could already have men fighting on multiple sides.”

He looked toward his council.

Then back at me.

“I know what I’m dealing with.”

“You can’t fight an entire army alone.”

“I won’t be alone.”

“But you don’t know how many men they’ve already taken down!”

He stepped closer.

“Mariana, listen to me. I’m the warlord of Frostcrest. I don’t abandon my kingdom because an enemy has arrived at my gates.”

“I don’t want you to abandon it. I want you to live.”

Something softened in his eyes. But before he could answer, another explosion shook the palace.

The council members looked toward the windows.

Zayan grabbed my hand.

“There is a hidden passage beneath the eastern wing. It leads to a secure chamber. You’re going there.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Zayan—”

“I’m not arguing with you.”He began pulling me toward the corridor.

I followed, though every instinct in me screamed that we should stay together.

We hurried through the palace, his guards surrounding us. I held his hand tightly as we moved through the corridors.

Then suddenly, his grip loosened.

I looked back.

“Zayan?”

He had stopped.

“What are you doing?”

He looked at me, his face strangely calm.

“Keep running.”

“What?”

“Go.” He pushed me forward.

I stumbled a few steps before turning around.

“Zayan, why aren’t you coming?”

He didn’t answer. Then I saw it.

Blood.

A dark stain was spreading across his chest.

My breath caught.

“Zayan!”

He staggered.

I ran back toward him.

“Zayan!”

He dropped to one knee.

I looked toward the direction the attack had come from, and there he was.

Nicholas.

Standing at the end of the corridor, an arrow lowered in his hand.

And he was smiling.