Chapter 7

Victoria's POV

I flinched and quickly turned toward the stone pillar at the far end of the courtyard. My legs were already trembling, and with the black choker suppressing my wolf, I knew I couldn't run as fast as I normally would. Behind me, I could hear the archer adjusting his bow.

"You have until the count of three to start running," King Lennox announced coldly. "One."

My heart hammered against my chest as I took an unsteady step forward. The stone pillar seemed impossibly far away, and my injured knees were already threatening to give way beneath me.

"Two."

I immediately began running, ignoring the pain shooting through my legs with every step. My torn dress tangled around my knees, forcing me to gather the fabric in my hands to keep myself from tripping.

"Three!"

The sharp snap of a bowstring behind me made my entire body tense. Instinctively, I threw myself sideways, landing hard on the ground just as something whistled past my head. A silver-tipped arrow struck the dirt a short distance ahead of me, sending small stones flying.

A frightened cry escaped my lips as I scrambled away from the arrow. My palms and injured knees scraped against the rough ground, sending another wave of pain through my legs.

"Prepare the second arrow," King Lennox ordered.

I struggled to my feet and started running again, ignoring the tears streaming down my face. The pillar was still far away, and I could barely feel my legs beneath me. Behind me, the archer drew his bow again.

I tried to run faster, but my injured knees refused to cooperate. Before I could take another step, the second arrow flew toward me, its silver tip slicing deeply across my thigh.

"Ahhh!"

A scream tore from my throat as I stumbled forward and crashed onto my hands and knees. Blood immediately began soaking through my torn dress, and the pain was so terrible that I couldn't move for several seconds. I pressed a trembling hand against the wound, struggling to breathe, while my injured leg shook uncontrollably. When I tried to stand, it gave way beneath me.

I fell back onto the ground with another painful cry. The black choker remained tight around my neck, preventing my wolf from healing any of my injuries. I could barely lift my head, let alone run, and the stone pillar was still several feet away.

"Prepare the final arrow."

My eyes widened in terror at King Lennox's command. I looked over my shoulder and saw the archer removing another silver-tipped arrow from his quiver. Without hesitation, he fitted it against his bowstring, his expression completely blank.

Tears blurred my vision as I turned toward the pillar again. I couldn't do it. My leg was bleeding, my entire body ached, and I could barely move. Even if I managed to stand, there was no way I could outrun another arrow. For a moment, I remained on the ground, sobbing helplessly as I waited for what seemed like my inevitable death.

Then Vanessa's face suddenly flashed through my mind.

I remembered the satisfaction in her eyes as she watched me being accused of murdering Queen Evelyn. I remembered Adrian standing beside her, doing absolutely nothing to defend me. If I died here, Vanessa would get everything she wanted. She would continue living happily with Adrian while everyone remembered me as the woman who murdered the Queen and her unborn child.

No! I couldn't let that happen. I hadn't killed Queen Evelyn, and I refused to die for a crime I didn't commit. I had already suffered so much because of Vanessa and Adrian, and there was no way I was going to let them win by dying here. I had to survive and find a way to prove my innocence, even if it meant enduring whatever King Lennox had planned for me.

Gritting my teeth, I pressed both palms against the ground and dragged myself forward. My wounded thigh burned with every movement, but I continued crawling, leaving a trail of blood behind me. The pillar was getting closer, and I stretched out one trembling hand, desperately trying to reach it.

Behind me, the bowstring creaked, and my heart nearly stopped.

I pushed myself forward with the little strength I had left, ignoring the pain tearing through my body. My fingers finally brushed against the base of the pillar, but I still needed to get behind it.

Then the bowstring snapped.

I screamed and threw myself forward, wrapping both arms around the stone pillar just as the final arrow flew past me. A loud crack sounded beside my head as the arrow struck the wooden support attached to the pillar, so close that I felt the vibration against my cheek.

For several seconds, I remained completely still, my arms wrapped tightly around the cold stone. My entire body shook, and I could barely breathe. I had made it. A broken sob escaped my lips as I pressed my forehead against the pillar. I was alive. Somehow, despite everything, I had survived all three arrows.

But the relief lasted only a moment before the pain in my thigh became unbearable. My arms loosened, and I slowly slid down the pillar, collapsing onto the ground. I lay there gasping for air as blood continued soaking through my dress. My hands were covered in dirt, and my entire body ached so badly that I could barely move.

Then I heard footsteps approaching. I weakly lifted my head and saw King Lennox walking toward me, his white mourning clothes standing out against the darkness of the courtyard. He stopped directly in front of me and looked down at my bleeding body. His gaze shifted to the arrow embedded beside the pillar before returning to my face.

For several seconds, he said nothing. Then he crouched and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"You just made a big mistake by surviving," he said coldly. "Soon, you'll wish you had died here tonight."

My lips trembled, but I couldn't speak. He released my chin and rose to his feet before turning to walk away.

"Your Majesty!"

An elderly councilman hurried forward, accompanied by two other members of the royal council.

"Surely you cannot be serious about keeping this woman!" he protested. "She murdered our Queen and her unborn child. She is not worthy of carrying your blood!"

King Lennox stopped walking.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider," another council member added. "There are countless noblewomen in the kingdom who would be honored to bear your heir. Why choose the very woman responsible for Her Majesty's death?"

Lennox slowly turned around.

"Are you finished?"

The council members immediately fell silent.

"I gave my word," he said coldly. "She survived. That is the end of this discussion."

"But, Your Majesty—"

"One more word, and you will join her in the dungeon."

The elderly councilman immediately lowered his head, and King Lennox turned toward the guards standing nearby.

"Take her away. Make sure she doesn't die. I have no use for a dead breeder."

He then looked down at me one last time, his cold eyes meeting mine.

"Welcome to your living hell, breeder."