LOGINDay 3VioletI walked beside Kylan through the halls early in the morning. It was the same route, same silence, but today felt different.I barely slept last night. The only thing I could do was toss, turn, and think about everything that could go wrong. Today was my turn. Today was everyone’s turn. Lian, Sora, Dylan, Trinity…and Nate.My stomach twisted just thinking about it.I glanced at Kylan. His pace was confident and steady. Thorne sat on his shoulder, his eyes darting around just as calmly.I almost felt bad for the raven. Having to sit through another day in that courtroom.A nervous breath escaped me. “It will all be okay,” I said to Kylan, though I was mostly trying to convince myself. “Kaelis has a plan.”Kylan gave me a chuckle. He had told me all about yesterday. About Kiora, the queen, and Kaelis, who had asked him to trust her. To not do anything reckless.Of course, I trusted her.I was going to be optimistic. I had to be.Before I knew it, we were standing in front o
KylanKiora led me to the queen’s chambers, and it wasn’t long before the two guards standing in front of the door shot her angry glances. They didn’t look too happy to see us coming.One stepped forward with his hand up.“The queen is not allowed any visitors—”“Open the door.”He hesitated, looking at the other guard, then back at me. “Your Highness…““My patience is wearing thin, and I feel like killing somebody,” I said without a blink. “Unless this door opens in five seconds, it might be either one of you. Maybe both.”The two bowed their heads.“Now open the door!”Kiora aggressively wiped her tears. “Yes, you heard my brother!” she said. “Open it!”I guess we were on the fourth count when the door finally opened. I placed my hand behind Kiora’s back, letting her enter first.The queen sat by the window with a book in her hands, looking way too calm and elegant for someone who had just been accused of adultery and witchcraft.But when she saw Kiora, something cracked.“Kiora…”“
KylanWith the lockdown, the East Wing was as dead as every other corner inside the palace. It was already a well-known fact that it wasn’t exactly the happiest wing in the palace, but today it was worse than any other day.Determined, I made my way over to the window where I knew I would find Kayden.He didn’t disappoint. I turned around the corner and stared straight at his back. He looked out of the window, his shoulders stiff and tense like he had been standing there for a long time, trying to figure out where it all went wrong.Good.If he had truly done what I had expected, this was exactly what he deserved.Kayden let out a scoff, but he didn’t turn. “What do you want, Kylan?” he asked, frustrated.I felt a twitch in my jaw. “Enjoying the view?”My footsteps were slow as I settled beside him, looking out of the window myself, straight at the garden. Below us were violets. The same violets he had supposedly requested in her honor, only to screw her over again and again.I exhale
VioletEveryone had left the courtroom. The council, the nobles, the guards.It was only us now. The king stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at us with a smirk plastered across his face. I was still hiding behind Kylan, my fingers practically buried in his arm at this point.The king cleared his throat. “You can leave, too, Kylan.”“I’m not going anywhere.”The king huffed through his nose. “Well,” he said, annoyed. “Then I’m afraid we have nothing to discuss.”Nothing to discuss?“Kylan?”I turned and looked up to meet his eyes, my hands flat on his chest. I didn’t want to be alone with that man, not even for a second, but I also wanted to hear whatever nonsense he was about to say.Kylan chuckled. “I’m not leaving, Violet.”“Go,” I whispered.Something changed in his eyes. “Violet…”“Go,” I repeated, smiling at him. “I’ll be quick.”He didn’t like me telling him to leave. I could tell. But I also knew he wouldn’t argue with me. He grabbed my face with both hands, his thumb
VioletThe crowd gasped as all attention shifted to him. Kayden took a step forward. Meanwhile, the king smirked, his hand lifting to stop the guards.“Ah,” he said, his eyes gleaming as they shifted between the two. “It almost reminds me of the battle for the throne!”A loud scoff came from Kayden, and this time he took more steps until he stood beside Varius, who still knelt on the ground. Kayden’s eyes softened as he looked down at him, but Varius didn’t return the look.His eyes were hard and cold…full of hatred.“What is he doing?” I whispered.A short chuckle came from Kylan. “Considering he’s the one who possibly gave them the order to cast the spell…” he said quietly, his voice low, controlled. “He might be trying to save them because he still needs them.”That must’ve been it.The more I watched everything go down, the more convinced I was that the king and Kayden must’ve been working together.Kayden was desperate.So desperate that he was done staying in the background, and
Day 2VioletKylan looked to the side, his eyes locking with Fergus, who had already taken a step back. Then they returned to the king.“If you believe Varius deserves punishment for taking responsibility.” Kylan’s voice carried through the entire room. “Then so do we.”Murmurs spread instantly. Everyone understood what he had just done.My breath caught as I got up and stood with him, not even knowing why. I knew he had probably thought this through, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to pull him back down so he wouldn’t speak any longer.He hadn’t just defended Varius, but had placed himself on the same level as the witches who were casting spells for Baelor. He made it impossible for the king to single them out, and that could be dangerous.The king was the king, but he was the crown prince. Yet he had always been so convinced that the king wouldn’t get rid of him.An exhausted breath escaped from the king’s lips, and he rubbed his temple. This most likely wasn’t part of his plan
VioletBetrayal…The way he said that word didn’t sound right to my ears at all. My stomach twisted with unease. Betrayal…from who? About what?I slowly looked at Kylan, who just stared at the King with a stoned expression, but even then, I could already read his mind.Was this about us?The throne
KylanI knew it.From the moment we walked into this throne room to listen to the king’s bullshit, I knew he would end it with this announcement.He had been waiting for this moment. I should’ve known the second I threw that necklace at his feet, it would be a bruise to his ego that he would answer
VioletI didn’t expect Kylan to tell him that, and did not really know why he did, but by the smile on Dad’s face, I could tell he appreciated those words. It meant a lot to him.“You seem like a good kid…a good man who takes care of his mate,” Dad spoke in response. He scratched his jaw like he wa
Violet“I got it under control,” Kylan released a quiet sigh, still pretending to be more interested in the book in front of him. “You don’t need to worry about that.”I squinted my eyes. “You’ve got it under control, how?”This time, he released a heavier sigh before finally looking up at me. His







