ログインThomas’s POVI shoved the phone deeper into my pocket and zeroed in on her like a heat-seeking missile. Caroline. That smug little smile on her face, half-hidden in the stairwell shadows, looking like she’d just won the damn lottery. Why does she look so damn satisfied?My wolf perked up, hackles raised, but I kept my steps casual, hands loose at my sides. No need to spook her yet.She saw me coming and tried to spin around, all graceful like she was just “passing by.” Too late, kingdom wrecker. I’d already shot a quick mindlink to the three warriors stationed at the end of the hall… ‘Block her. Now. Don’t let her leave.’They moved like ghosts…big, silent, and pissed off on my behalf. Two stepped out from the side corridor, arms crossed, blocking her path back to the exit. The third slid in behind her, cutting off the stairs. She was boxed in tighter than a rat in a trap.I rounded the corner with a lazy grin, stopping just close enough that she had to tilt her head up to glare at
Thomas’s POVI pressed the phone to my ear, blood from the maid still tacky between my fingers. “Your Majesty.”Adrian’s voice came through sharp, like he was already halfway to ripping someone’s throat out. “Thomas. What the hell is going on over there?”I didn’t sugarcoat it. And I didn’t pause long enough for him to cut in.“Your Majesty, the princess’s personal maid, collapsed in your wing. We walked in and found her surrounded by what looked like some kind of ritual setup. Morgana was inside her…she’s the source of that rotten smell we’ve been tracking.”I kept talking.“She bailed the second we entered. Whatever she used to anchor herself is gone, and so is the scent. But the girl’s barely breathing. She won’t last without intervention.”A sharp inhale on my end. No time to be delicate.“Lady Margaret was looking for you earlier. Trying to stir chaos. I shut it down and as per your instruction before leaving, all their remaining items have been moved to their new quarters and I’
Thomas’s POVWe didn’t waste a second. I scooped the bleeding maid up myself…her body lighter than it should’ve been, like whatever had been inside her had sucked half the life out already…and we sprinted for the infirmary, boots pounding, blood dripping down my arms in hot streaks from her mouth. Warriors cleared the halls ahead of us, shouting for everyone to move. The girl’s head lolled against my shoulder, eyes half-open and glassy, still mumbling some things I couldn’t understand.We burst through the infirmary doors and I laid her on the nearest table. “Healer! Now!”The assistant…a nervous omega named Clara…froze, hands full of bandages. “Beta… the lead healer’s not here. He left at dawn for the outer pack in the east. He was summoned by their leader to help cure a mysterious disease that is attacking their pups. Said he’d be back as soon as he can.”I slammed my fist on the metal tray so hard the instruments jumped. “He just left the kingdom? Without a word to the king or me?
Thomas’s POVI marched down the main hallway like I owned the damn place…because today, I basically did. The king had handed me the keys to the kingdom and the palace while he and the queen ventured on their trip.I needed to make sure everything stayed locked down tight. My chest felt lighter than it had in weeks…well, since the princess woke up. No more Lady Margaret whispering into the king’s ears and around the corner, deciding who ate what, who slept where, who got punished for breathing too loud. The king had finally shut that door. It’s been days since he instructed her and Prince Levi to move out to the new quarters beyond the outer walls with zero palace access. Locked and guarded that they won’t be able to breathe without someone reporting back to me.But I wasn’t stupid. I’d caught her shadow slinking around her old quarters a few days ago. Still trying. Still thinking she ran things. Not on my watch. Today, I’m putting everything back where they belong.Warriors flank
Kira’s POVFrederick beamed, oblivious, maybe he’s already calculating how rubbing elbows with Adrian Draven would polish his reputation and that of the company. Evelyn nodded, still pale, her eyes darting to me like I was a bomb about to go off. She must be wondering who I am and how I got to know those things I said to her. She must be scheming inside, trying to decide if I’m an enemy they should eliminate.And Miranda…God, Miranda…stood behind them like the spoiled fake princess, arms crossed tight, glaring daggers at Antonio, who hadn’t moved from Victoria’s side.Adrian’s thumb brushed my hip again, slowly. And I know this might be crazy, but he always seemed to know. He always knows when I was one second from shattering…like we are magically connected in a way.Does that even make sense?Frederick clapped his hands together. “Wonderful! The service is in an hour at St. Augustine’s, then the burial at Rose Hill. We’ll see you there…and after, straight home. Our driver can lead t
Kira’s POVI felt the air charge, and my entire body come alive like someone plugged me into a socket.Adrian.He was coming towards us. I could sense it in my bones, even without looking.I had no idea how that was possible.The lobby had gone strangely quiet after Evelyn jerked away from my whisper, her face drained of color, like she’d seen a ghost. Which, in a way, she had.Then the crowd parted.Adrian Draven strode through like he owned the place…because he did. Every step was deliberate, his aura cutting through the chaos, his presence sucking the air out of the room. People stepped back without even realizing they were doing it. Phones lowered as whispers hushed.He didn’t look at anyone else. His eyes…those sharp, unreadable eyes…locked on me and stayed there as he came straight to my side, stopping so close I could feel the heat coming off him.“What’s going on here?” His voice was low and calm, but it carried like a gunshot.Frederick straightened up instantly, all fake hu







