NOT TONIGHT

Elaris’s POV

The order is given before anyone has settled in.

Averic turns to the guards stationed at his private corridor.

“Seal this wing.”

The nearest captain immediately bows.

“No one enters or leaves without my permission.”

Sennik steps forward.

“The council cannot be excluded from an active investigation.”

“You aren’t being excluded.”

Averic’s answer is instant.

“You may observe. You may question witnesses. You may examine evidence.”

His gaze moves towards Maevra’s chamber.

You will not command her treatment.

Sennik’s brow tightens.

“This is no longer simply a family matter.”

“It ceased to be one when someone poisoned my mother.”

“And now the council has a responsibility to prevent further attacks.”

Averic offers no argument.

Instead he gives a second order.

“Every servant assigned to this wing reports to the captain before returning to their quarters. Every medicine container is sealed. Every entrance is guarded.”

Sennik regards him.

“You’re turning your residence into a fortress.”

“No.”

Averic looks towards Maevra’s closed door.

“I’m ensuring whoever did this does not secure another opportunity.”

The guards begin to move.

Doors are barred and corridors cleared.

The private wing becomes unnaturally still.

For the first time I understand that the palace itself has become the battlefield.

I am escorted back towards the inner chamber.

The number of warriors surrounding me has doubled.

Two walk ahead.

Two behind.

Another pair are stationed outside the room.

It is clear that I am being protected.

I am also being contained.

Inside one of the guards checks the windows.

Another inspects the adjoining corridor.

A third checks the door latch.

The fourth waits directly outside.

I sit on the edge of the bed.

My body feels heavier than it did earlier.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

There was a time when being surrounded by guards would feel like a guarantee of safety.

Tonight it reminds me of what they are guarding me from.

Or who they are protecting everyone else from.

A knock comes.

I look up.

Averic enters alone.

He closes the door behind him.

We do not speak for a few seconds before he says, “Maevra is holding.”

I release the breath I hadn’t realised I had been holding.

“Barely,” he adds.

I nod.

He does not soften the truth.

“The dose was calculated.”

I look at him.

“To keep her alive?”

“Long enough for the damage to matter.”

His words settle heavily.

He looks towards the door.

“The blood moon isn’t simply a test anymore.”

“What is it?”

“The deadline.”

I stand.

“Tell me everything.”

Averic crosses the room.

“The healer believes whoever prepared the dose understood Maevra’s condition.”

“Meaning they knew how much she could withstand.”

“Yes.

And how long she needed to survive.”

His mouth tightens.

“Yes.

I place a hand over my stomach.

“The examination.”

He nods.

“They need Maevra weakened before then.”

“Because she knows the truth.”

Averic does not answer.

He does not have to.

I think of Maevra’s words from earlier.

She knew.

She had known for weeks.

And now someone is trying to ensure she cannot stand in the council chamber when the examination happens.

Averic looks at me.

“They don’t necessarily need her dead tonight.”

I understand.

“They only need her unable to speak.”

“Yes.

The room becomes quiet.

I look towards the guarded door.

“Then the blood moon is the true target.”

Averic’s gaze rests on me.

“I believe so.

For the first time I realise how little time we actually have.

Not because the examination is approaching.

Because everyone who could influence it is being removed one by one.

I ask the question that has been sitting in my mind.

“Do you think it’s the same people behind the earlier attacks?”

Averic does not answer immediately.

“The substance matches.”

“So yes.

It suggests it.

“That’s not what I asked.”

He looks at me.

“It is the same pattern.

My stomach knots.

“The notes. The altered medicine. The wolfsbane. The attendant. Now Maevra.”

“Yes.

And the broken-chain clasps.”

“Yes.

“Then why isn’t that enough?”

Averic’s expression turns weary.

“Because the council doesn’t need to believe what we believe.”

I understand what he means.

Evidence can support a pattern.

A pattern can become obvious.

And yet a council can still demand one more piece.

“One direct confession,” I say quietly.

“Or something that cannot be explained away.”

“The blood moon examination.”

His gaze lowers briefly.

“Yes.

It is strange.

The examination was meant to settle the question of whose child I carried.

Now it may determine whether Maevra’s last chance to speak is even necessary.

If it happens.

If I survive until it.

If the council allows it.

Too many conditions.

Too many people waiting for one to fail.

Night deepens.

The palace grows quiet but the guards do not relax.

Then a messenger arrives.

He speaks to the captain outside before being permitted into the corridor.

Averic listens.

His expression gives away nothing.

When the messenger leaves, I ask, “What happened?”

“Virelle knows about Maevra.”

Of course she does.

Information can spread quickly when someone wants it to.

“What does she want?”

“An emergency audience with Sennik.”

“Why?”

Averic looks towards the door.

“She claims she fears she is next.”

My fingers curl around the fabric of my gown.

“And the child?”

“She says the same hand that attacked my mother could attack the child she carries.”

There it is.

The move.

I can almost see the pieces being arranged.

Maevra is critically ill.

The palace is locked down.

The council is alarmed.

And Virelle has just placed herself as another endangered woman.

I ask, “Did she mention me?”

Averic’s expression becomes unreadable.

“She said she believes anyone connected to the investigation could become a target.”

I do not need her to say my name.

I know it was implied.

Averic leaves to answer the request.

The door closes behind him.

I am alone with the guards.

I sit on the bed and place both hands over my stomach.

The child moves faintly.

I close my eyes.

Maevra’s voice returns to me.

Survive until the blood moon.

It sounds different now.

Before it had sounded like advice.

Now it feels like an order.

I think of everything that has happened since I entered this palace.

The first accusation.

The altered medicine.

The notes.

The hidden witness.

The staged fall.

The council.

The examination.

And now Maevra.

Every time I thought we had reached the end of the danger, another door opened.

Another hand appeared.

Another accusation followed.

But I cannot allow fear to dictate my decisions.

Not now.

I whisper to the child, “We’re going to make it.”

The words are barely audible.

Still, saying them helps.

I straighten.

If Virelle wants me frightened, she will not gain that satisfaction from me.

If the council wants me emotional, I will give them facts.

And if someone expects me to disappear before the blood moon—

Not tonight.

Neryss is allowed inside shortly before midnight.

Two guards remain with her.

She looks exhausted.

“What is happening outside?” I ask.

Her expression changes.

“People are frightened.”

“That isn’t new.”

“It’s different now.”

She sits across from me.

“Some servants believe Maevra was attacked because you brought trouble into the palace.”

I expected that.

“Others?”

“They won’t speak.”

“Why?”

Neryss looks towards the door.

“They think someone is listening.”

That makes me pause.

“Are they?”

“I don’t know.”

She lowers her voice.

“People are whispering about the second mate.”

I stare at her.

“What are they saying?”

“That every problem began when you arrived.”

The words hurt more than I want them to.

Neryss continues.

“But some of them don’t believe it.”

“Who?”

“People who remember how you cared for the Luna.”

She hesitates.

“They’re just afraid to say so.”

Silence settles between us.

Neryss reaches for my hand but stops herself.

“I don’t want you to think everyone has turned against you.”

“I don’t.”

“Really?”

“No.

I look towards the guarded door.

“I think people are trying to survive.”

Neryss nods.

“And sometimes surviving means pretending not to know what you know.”

Her words remain with me after she is escorted out.

Averic returns near midnight.

His face is composed again.

But I know him well enough now to see how much effort that took.

He closes the door.

“She got her audience.”

“Virelle?”

He nods.

“What did she ask for?”

“To be moved.”

“Where?”

“A more secure wing.”

I almost laugh.

Not because anything is funny.

Because the timing is too perfect.

“She wants protection.”

“She claims she needs it.”

“From us?”

“From whoever attacked my mother.”

I look at him.

“And the council agreed?”

“They’re considering it.”

Of course they are.

If Virelle can put herself under direct council protection, she becomes harder to question, harder to monitor, and harder to reach.

She also gains another reason to appear innocent.

A woman supposedly carrying the Alpha’s child, frightened for her life, asking the council to save her.

It is a powerful image.

Averic knows it.

I can see it in the way he rubs one hand across his face before lowering it.

“She is using Maevra’s condition.”

“Yes.

“And the council is letting her.”

“They’re afraid of another attack.”

I look towards the closed door.

“She’s making herself the second victim before anyone can call her the first suspect.”

Averic does not disagree.

I ask, “What happens if you refuse?”

Averic gives a humourless smile.

“They say I knowingly left a pregnant woman exposed after an attack.”

“And if you agree?”

“She gets moved somewhere the council controls.”

“Which means?”

“She becomes harder for me to question.”

I stare at him.

“Then either answer makes her stronger.”Yes.

I sit back.

“What do you think she wants?”

Averic answers without hesitation.

“Distance.”

“From you?”

“From the palace investigation.”

I think about it.

“She also wants to separate herself from Maevra.”

His attention sharpens.

“Why?”

“Because Maevra is the person who can recognise what she’s doing.”

Averic says nothing.

I continue.

“And if Virelle is placed under council protection, she no longer has to remain inside the same house as the woman who knows her.”

His expression becomes more severe.

“You may be right.”

I look at him.

“But you still can’t simply lock her away.”

“No.

Because of the council.

And because of the claim she is carrying.

There it is again.

The unresolved pregnancy.

The thing that has given Virelle protection every time suspicion reaches her.

Until the blood moon.

Until the examination.

Unless she finds a way to prevent it.

“What will you do?”

Averic remains standing.

“I won’t give her the separation she wants.”

My attention sharpens.

“But I also won’t leave her free to move through this household.”

“So?”

“She stays within the palace.”

“Under whose guard?”

“Mine.”

I look at him.

“The council won’t like that.”

“No.

“Virelle won’t either.”I know.

For the first time tonight, I see a decision taking shape in him.

Not a perfect one.

Not a safe one.

A compromise.

“She will remain in the west wing,” he says. “The guards there will be changed. No private servant will be assigned to her without approval.”

“And the council?”

“They can station observers outside.”

“That still gives her protection.”

“Yes.

But it doesn’t give her freedom.”

“No.

I study him.

“And what about me?”

His eyes settle on mine.

“You stay here.”

“Under guard.”

“Yes.

So she gets a guarded wing, and I get a guarded room.

He does not defend it.

“You’re carrying my child.”

The words are quiet.

But they land differently this time.

Not because he has never said them.

Because tonight he says them while the threat is standing directly between us.

“I won’t let either of you become another opening.”

I look away.

Protection is not the same as trust.

But tonight, I can feel the difference narrowing.

Averic tells me the council will reconvene at first light.

“The new attack changes the hearing.”

“How?”

“They will demand answers.”

“From both of us?”

“Yes.

I already know the answer before he says the rest.

“The blood-moon examination remains.”

I nod.

“And now?”

“Now it’s the only thing they cannot endlessly argue around.”

My hand settles over my stomach.

“If we reach it.”

Averic looks at me.

“We will.”

I want to believe him.

The words are comforting.

But I remember Maevra’s warning.

Survive.

Not because survival is easy.

Because there will be people trying to make it impossible.

Averic moves towards the door.

Then stops.

“I should tell you something.”

“What?”

“If Maevra wakes again before morning, I’ll bring you to her.”

My throat tightens.

“She asked for me before she lost consciousness.”

“I know.

You heard her?”

“No.

He looks at me.

“The healer told me.”

I nod.

Averic opens the door.

Before he can step through, I say his name.

He turns.

“If she wakes, don’t let them decide what she is allowed to say.”

His expression becomes still.

“I won’t.

Then he leaves.

The door closes.

I hear his footsteps disappear down the corridor.

For several minutes, nothing happens.

Then running footsteps return.

The door opens so quickly that the nearest guard reaches for his weapon.

A palace runner stands outside, breathing hard.

“Alpha.”

Averic appears behind him.

“What happened?”

The runner bows.

“The Luna.”

Every muscle in my body tightens.

Averic steps forward.

“Speak.”

“She regained consciousness.”

The corridor goes silent.

“How long?”

“Only moments ago.

Is she stable?”

The runner shakes his head.

“The healers don’t know.”

My heart sinks.

“What does she want?” I ask.

The runner looks at me.

“She asked for the Alpha.”

Averic’s expression changes.

Then the runner adds:

“And she asked for Elaris.”

I stop breathing for a second.

Averic turns towards me.

“Did she say anything else?”

The runner hesitates.

“She keeps trying to speak.”

“What is she saying?”

“We couldn’t understand everything.

He swallows.

“But she keeps repeating that there isn’t much time.”

Averic looks towards Maevra’s chamber.

The senior healer appears at the far end of the corridor.

“Alpha.

Averic turns.

The healer’s face is grave.

“She may only have a few minutes of clarity.”

Averic looks back at me.

Then he extends his hand.

“Come.”

I take it.

We leave the guarded room together.

The warriors fall into position around us.

As we approach Maevra’s chamber, I hear her faint voice through the partly opened door.

Weak.

Broken.

But unmistakably awake.

“Elaris…”

I quicken my steps.

Averic’s grip tightens around my hand.

Then Maevra says something else.

Only three words.

And every person outside the room stops.

“Not Virelle.”