‘You’re the greatest shame of my life…’‘We are strangers now. I never want to see you again.’Those words haunted her, even though she tried so hard not to think about them. They had branded into her soul the moment they left Selene’s lips.Yes, she was wrong for drugging Lylah—but they didn’t even care to listen to her. Especially the woman she looked up to the most.Those grey eyes had never stared at her with so much hate. And it...Hurt.“What are you thinking about?” Toran’s raspy voice drew her out of her thoughts. She looked up at him as he stroked her blonde hair.She was clad in nothing but a tiny piece of fabric, straddling his bare chest.“Why do you hate Arianna so much?” she asked, and he stopped stroking.“Is that even a question?” he raised a brow.“Yes, it is. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have asked,” she shot back.Without warning, he yanked her by the hair, tilting her head with force.Brigid yelped in pain as Toran hovered over her and began kissing her neck. The pain
Ever since the King returned, the palace had grown quiet again-though anyone who heard what happened at court knew it wasn't over.There were whispers, words spreading beneath the shadows, carried carefully by the breeze.Arianna could feel it in her bones.It. Wasn't. Over.She had the King's future growing in her belly. In less than three months, she would be crowned as the Grand Queen. Her training to fully connect with her dragon was progressing well. The King had been so sweet to her-everything with him felt blissful.However, there was this unsettled feeling that refused to go away.She recalled her conversation with Elder Varyn before he left the Citadel.The older male's eyes were filled with worry as he spoke:'My lady, I know your bond with the King is beyond our imagination, and that you are happy by his side, but... I honestly think you should consider leaving. At least for a while-until the storm clears.The look on their faces, my lady... those four Lords are ready to go
A week LaterLORD ATHEON'S DOMAINThe four Lords sat around a table, the air thick with tension as they discussed."I thought we all agreed to keep our emotions in check," Lord Merek said, his words directed at Valoreth."Is that why you kept cutting me off in court? You need to have seen it-when she used her power, the way she controlled fire," Valoreth countered."You sent your men dressed like assassins and threatened to kill her sister. What did you expect?"Valoreth raised a brow. "Are you drifting to her side now?"Merek sighed, shutting his eyes momentarily. "Honestly, in all my centuries, this is the first time I don't know what to do. She was brave-standing before us without trembling, despite the fear swirling in her eyes.""Bullshit. She called us cowards," Valoreth flared. "She dared to look us in the eyes and hurl insults to our faces.""We weren't listening to her," Atheon said calmly. "She was simply trying to survive. Bearing the bloodline of both realms isn't her faul
Lucas met Duncan in the observatory. The king wanted to hear every explanation from his Beta first, and after he did, Duncan fist clenched.“I knew her bloodline would be exposed, but not in this kind of way,” Duncan muttered. What was done was done. He just needed a way forward.“They're still in the Citadel. I don’t think they plan to leave soon.”“I don’t expect them to. They’ll pry on her for a while, but I’ll make sure they never get to even catch a glimpse of her again,” Duncan muttered. His dearest was pregnant. First rule: no stress.“I’m sorry. I tried to stop them, but they all unexpectedly supported Valoreth,” Lucas said apologetically.“I’m still surprised I didn’t get any message about this.”“You don’t joke with the Moon Goddess’ call. I didn’t want you to leave the ritual unfinished,” Lucas replied. “But I did send one immediately after the trial was decided. I sent a crow.”“You mean that crow?” Duncan pointed at the dead crow on the desk, an arrow stuck in it. “One
“D…did I just smell my pups on you?”Arianna stopped breathing, as though her lungs were just as shocked and refused to function. The heavy pounding in her chest doubled, and she was sure he could hear it.“Y…you can… smell it?” she asked, her voice thick with shock.Duncan’s eyes grew even wider, his shoulders tense, looking more shocked than her.“Are you—” he paused, seeming to struggle with his next word.Tears built in Arianna’s eyes as she nodded. “Yes.”His gaze flicked to her stomach, then to her face, and back again before he pushed himself to his feet. His fingers dug into his hair, sweeping the strands back.This was the first time she had seen him speechless. The Great King of the realm—sharp with words, brazen with deep authority—was speechless.He crouched… no, he knelt before her, cupping her face gently and stared deep into her silver eyes.“You're… pregnant.” His chest heaved, as if the news didn’t have enough space to settle in it. “You're carrying my child, Ari. My
Shocked Valoreth glanced at the King, who he had assumed had already executed Jarik."Tell them what you told me," Duncan said coldly. "State your crimes. Tell them why you did it."Jarik dropped to his knees, the chains clanking. He lifted his silver eyes toward the Lords-guilt heavy in them.The Ouroboros looked lean, his body marred with scars that told of his suffering in confinement. His eyes were lifeless as he bowed his head in shame."You can all hear his heartbeat," Duncan said to the Lords. "So listen to every word of his."Jarik began to confess.He explained how he used his abilities to deceive the rogues, making them believe he was their god. He led them into attacking small packs. As he spoke, Valoreth's jaw ticked with tension.Jarik went on to explain why he did it.Drakora's dying had frozen their lands, crops failed, animals grew rare, their people starved. They died every day, dwindling in number.By the time Jarik finished, his face was wet. Tears soaking his cheek