Se connecterSerenity Pov The mid-morning sun cast cold shadows across the royal study as Beta Marcus placed a fresh parchment scroll on my desk. The dark red wax seal caught my attention immediately. I knew that coiled-serpent crest.Redclaw."It arrived through the western gate an hour ago," Marcus said, watching me closely. "It was addressed directly to you."I broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. The handwriting was neat and deliberate, the kind of writing that made every word look polite even when the message behind it was anything but.[To Her Majesty, Queen Serenity of Frost Palace,It has come to our attention that recent unrest and unfortunate security lapses along your borders have placed undue strain on your administration. As a neighboring sovereign power deeply concerned with regional stability, Redclaw is prepared to offer military assistance. Our elite trackers can deploy immediately to patrol your vulnerable passes, secure your supply routes, and protect your civilians while
Serenity Pov By dawn, the cold autumn light had begun to creep through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the royal study. Administrative records covered the central table, and I'd spent most of the morning going through reports while trying to ignore the ache behind my temples.The missing clerk, Harvin, had worked in the logistics division for over twelve years. He'd vanished after the midnight security breach, leaving behind more questions than answers."We've checked his payroll records, duty rosters, family contacts, and leave requests," Beta Marcus said, placing a freshly compiled dossier on the table. "Harvin was quiet and dependable. No history of debt or gambling. He lived in the lower town with his sister and her two children."I set down my cup of warm herbal tea. "Have you sent guards to his home?""I went personally." Marcus's expression tightened. "His sister was terrified. She told me Harvin received a sealed letter two days ago. After reading it, he packed a small bag a
Serenity Pov The sharp, high-pitched wail of the palace security alarms tore through the quiet midnight air, shattering the silence of the residential corridors.I bolted upright from the velvet sofa in the private study, my hand instantly flying to protect the heavy, six-month swell of my lower belly. The twins stirred inside me, reacting to the sudden spike of adrenaline in my blood with a sharp, synchronized kick.Before I could cross the room to the door, Beta Marcus burst into the study, his sword half-drawn, his face tight with grim urgency."Intruders,!" Marcus reported rapidly, breathing heavily. "A security breach was triggered in the inner corridors. The automated stasis wards indicate an unauthorized access attempt near the western wing."My breath caught in my throat. The western wing.Valerius."The medical suite," I said, my voice dropping into a dangerous, icy register as I strode past him toward the hallway."We've already dispatched the inner guard blockade," Marcus
Serenity Pov The grand council chamber was filled with tense murmurs as reports of the recent border skirmishes were spread across the massive oval table. Representatives from the outer territories, High Court elders, and military commanders sat in their places, each with their own concerns about the growing threat to the region.I sat at the head of the table, my hands resting over my lower belly. The twins had been restless that morning, and I was already tired before the meeting had even begun. Still, I couldn't afford to let it show. With Valerius lying unconscious in the medical suite, everyone was looking to me for answers, even those who clearly didn't believe I was capable of giving them.Beta Marcus stood beside me with a summary of the treasury and security allocations.Before I could open the floor for discussion, Lord Haddon, a senior representative from the eastern mining provinces, slammed his hand against the table and rose to his feet."This is completely unaccept
Serenity Pov The sudden death of the captured rogue inside a sealed, heavily guarded holding block had created another security crisis across Frost Palace.Before the news could spread through the corridors, I ordered the entire holding area locked down. Not a single guard, healer, or administrative clerk was allowed to leave their post until every shift log, access card, and watch rotation had been checked.Beta Marcus met me in the narrow corridor outside the cell block, holding a thick ledger of internal security check-ins. His face showed just how frustrated he was with the situation."I checked the automated audit trail for the security checks, Majesty," Marcus reported, lowering his voice so it wouldn't echo off the high walls. "The midnight round was officially marked as complete. But when I questioned the assigned officer, he swore he never stepped foot in this sector at that hour. Someone used his credentials to override the system lock."I stared at the cold iron bars of th
Serenity Pov The royal study desk was covered with parchment rolls, deployment records, and border maps. Candlelight flickered across the room as I placed the official guard schedules beside the scouting reports Marcus had gathered from the western ridge."Look here," I said, sliding two documents across the polished desk toward Marcus. "This is the patrol roster for the third sector. According to the log, unit four was stationed fifty yards north of the ravine until midnight. But the rogue attack report says the ambush happened at eleven-forty, right in the exact spot they had just vacated."Marcus leaned over the desk, his brow furrowing as his dark eyes moved between the dates, times, and ink signatures. He shook his head slowly. "The timing is too precise. The rogues didn't just stumble upon an opening. They moved in the moment the replacement team was delayed.""And the replacement team was delayed because their dispatch orders were altered three hours earlier," I added, my voi







