ROAD TO THE LOST KINGDOM

I had spent eighteen years believing I was alone.

Now I had a mother who might still be alive, a kingdom that apparently belonged to my bloodline, and a mate who had lied to my face.

None of it made sense.

Yet somehow, I knew one thing with absolute certainty.

I had to find her.

“Take me to her.”

My voice didn't shake this time.

Marcus stared at me across the moonlit forest.

“You don't know what you're asking.”

“I already told you. I want my mother.”

“You heard what the Bloodborn said.”

“Yes.”

“You don't know whether it was a lie.”

“Then help me find out.”

His jaw tightened.

“You're not ready.”

I almost laughed.

“Everyone keeps saying that.”

“Elena—”

“No.”

I stepped toward him.

“For eighteen years, people have decided what I can handle. They hid my identity. They erased my memories. They lied about my parents.”

My eyes burned.

“And you rejected me even though you knew I was your mate.”

Marcus looked away.

I could see the guilt in his eyes.

“Don't ask me to trust you.”

“I won't.”

His answer surprised me.

“I'll earn it.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Kael approached.

“We don't have much time.”

Marcus looked at him.

“How long?”

“Until dawn.”

“What happens at dawn?”

Kael's expression darkened.

“The Bloodborn army moves.”

My stomach tightened.

“Moves where?”

“Everywhere.”

He looked at me.

“Once the Moon Queen's heir awakens, the old treaty is broken.”

“What treaty?”

Marcus answered.

“The treaty that kept the seven territories from going to war.”

I frowned.

“What does my awakening have to do with a treaty?”

“Everything.”

Marcus sheathed his sword.

“Your mother's bloodline was the balance between the kingdoms. When she disappeared, the treaty was created to prevent another war.”

“And now?”

“Now everyone knows you're alive.”

My heart sank.

“So they're coming for me.”

“Yes.”

“How many?”

Marcus's expression was grim.

“Enough to destroy this kingdom.”

I looked around the forest.

The guards were already gathering.

The wounded were being carried toward the palace.

The Bloodborn warriors had disappeared.

Only Kael remained.

He looked toward Marcus.

“We should leave before sunrise.”

Marcus nodded.

“We'll take the mountain route.”

I frowned.

“Who's we?”

Marcus looked at me.

“You and me.”

“No.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“No?”

“I don't want to be alone with you.”

“You won't be.”

Kael stepped forward.

“I'll accompany you.”

Marcus looked annoyed.

Kael smiled.

“I don't trust you either.”

I almost smiled.

Almost.

Then my wolf stirred.

He is hiding something.

I glanced at Marcus.

What?

Fear.

I frowned.

He's afraid.

Of what?

My wolf didn't answer.

We left the forest before dawn.

The journey to the mountains took several hours.

I rode beside Marcus in silence.

The road was narrow, surrounded by thick trees.

Neither of us spoke.

Eventually, I couldn't stand it anymore.

“Why did you reject me?”

Marcus continued riding.

“I already told you.”

“No. You gave me an explanation.”

He glanced at me.

“What's the difference?”

“The explanation tells me what happened. The truth tells me why.”

His hands tightened around the reins.

“You weren't supposed to awaken.”

I frowned.

“What?”

“The bond wasn't supposed to activate.”

“But it did.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because the spell failed.”

I stared at him.

“What spell?”

“The spell that concealed you.”

“You said the red moon weakened it.”

“It did.”

“Then why didn't you know?”

“I did.”

I stopped riding.

Marcus stopped too.

“You knew the spell was failing?”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Three months.”

My mouth fell open.

“You've known for three months?”

“Yes.”

“And you never came to find me?”

“I did.”

I stared at him.

“When?”

“Several times.”

I shook my head.

“I never saw you.”

“I made sure you didn't.”

“Why?”

“Because someone was watching you.”

My heart began pounding.

“Who?”

“I don't know.”

That answer frightened me more than anything else.

Marcus continued.

“Every time I got close, someone else appeared.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you weren't the only person being protected.”

I frowned.

“Who else?”

“My people.”

I stared at him.

“Your people?”

“The royal guards who survived the palace attack.”

My breath caught.

“They've been alive all these years?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

Marcus didn't answer immediately.

“Hidden.”

My mind raced.

“How many?”

“Thirty-two.”

Thirty-two survivors.

After eighteen years.

And they had been hiding?

“Why didn't they come for me?”

“Because they were ordered not to.”

“By whom?”

Marcus looked directly at me.

“Your mother.”

I froze.

“My mother?”

“She gave the order before the palace fell.”

I swallowed.

“Why?”

“To protect you.”

A painful silence settled between us.

My mother had sacrificed everything to keep me hidden.

And somehow, that hurt more than knowing she might be alive.

We continued toward the mountains.

By afternoon, the forest became thicker.

The air grew colder.

Eventually, Marcus stopped.

“We're here.”

I looked ahead.

There was nothing.

Only mountains and trees.

“Where?”

He walked toward a large stone wall.

He placed his palm against it.

Nothing happened.

Then he whispered something in an ancient language.

The stone began to glow.

A doorway appeared.

My breath caught.

“What is this?”

“The entrance to the Lost Kingdom.”

I stepped forward.

The moment I crossed the doorway, my entire body froze.

A wave of energy moved through me.

The world blurred.

Then I saw it.

A castle.

Beautiful.

Silver towers.

White stone walls.

A massive throne room.

And a woman standing at the center.

She had my eyes.

My heart stopped.

“Mother.”

The vision disappeared.

I stumbled.

Marcus caught me.

His arms wrapped around my waist.

For a moment, I forgot everything.

His scent surrounded me.

His heartbeat was steady beneath my palm.

The mate bond stirred.

Warmth spread through my body.

Marcus stiffened.

I looked up at him.

Our eyes met.

Neither of us moved.

Then he whispered:

“I should have never let myself get this close to you.”

My heart skipped.

“Why?”

His eyes darkened.

“Because the moment I accepted that you were my mate…”

He paused.

“…I knew I would eventually have to choose between you and the throne.”

I stared at him.

“What does that mean?”

Before he could answer, a horn sounded in the distance.

Marcus immediately released me.

His expression changed.

“What happened?”

Kael appeared at the entrance.

“Someone found us.”

Marcus drew his sword.

“How many?”

Kael looked toward the forest.

“Enough.”

A dozen arrows suddenly flew through the trees.

Marcus grabbed me and pulled me behind him.

The arrows struck the stone walls.

Then the attackers emerged.

Wolves.

Hundreds of them.

But they weren't Bloodborn.

They wore the silver crest of the royal army.

My heart sank.

Marcus stared at them.

“Impossible.”

The army commander stepped forward.

“By order of the High Alpha, the heir of the Moon Queen is to be captured alive.”

I looked at Marcus.

He looked back at me.

Then the commander smiled.

“And the Alpha King…”

His eyes narrowed.

“…is to be executed.”

Marcus's hand tightened around his sword.

I stepped forward.

“No.”

The commander laughed.

“You're in no position to give orders, girl.”

Something inside me snapped.

The silver light returned.

The soldiers stepped backward.

My wolf growled.

They will not take him.

I stared at Marcus.

For the first time, I understood something terrifying.

I didn't only want answers anymore.

I wanted to protect him.

Even after everything he'd done.

Even after the rejection.

Even after the lies.

My heart had already chosen.

And that frightened me more than the army surrounding us.

The commander raised his sword.

“Take the Luna.”

Hundreds of wolves charged.

Marcus stepped in front of me.

But I moved beside him.

He looked at me.

“Elena, stay behind me.”

I shook my head.

“Not this time.”

The silver light erupted from my body.

Every wolf stopped.

The ground beneath us trembled.

And from somewhere deep within the Lost Kingdom, a voice echoed through the mountains.

“Protect the Queen.”

The ancient gates behind us opened.

And an army of silver-armored wolves emerged.

Marcus stared at them.

I stared too.

At their center stood a woman.

A silver crown rested on her head.

Her eyes met mine.

And she whispered one word.

“Daughter.”