The Secrets in the Archives

The first letter is dated three years before my wedding.

I know because I have memorized every detail of that day. The white roses. The trembling in my hands. The way Rhydian looked at me like I was the answer to a prayer he never dared to speak.

But this letter was written long before any of that. Before the altar. Before the vows. Before I ever became his bride.

I unfold it carefully. The paper is thin, brittle, yellowed at the edges. The ink is faded but still legible. Rhydian's handwriting. I would recognize it anywhere.

Father,

I am writing because I have no one else to turn to. I cannot speak of this to Torren. I cannot speak of it to anyone. You are the only one who might understand.

Something is wrong with Virelle.

The words blur before my eyes. I blink, forcing myself to focus.

She says she is my fated mate. She says the Moon Goddess chose us for each other. But when I look at her, I do not feel the bond. I feel... nothing. And that terrifies me.

At first I thought it was my fault. That I was broken somehow. That I was incapable of love. But then I started noticing things. The way her eyes change when she thinks no one is watching. The way my thoughts seem to scatter whenever she touches me. The way I cannot remember entire conversations we have had, as if those hours were erased from my mind.

I think she is using dark magic.

I think she is controlling me.

The letter slips from my fingers. I press my hand to my mouth to keep from screaming.

He knew. He knew.

I pick up the next letter. It is dated two months later.

Father,

You were right. I found the proof I needed. A book of shadows hidden in Virelle's chambers. Spells designed to bind a man's will. To create a false bond. To make him believe he loves a woman he has never truly seen.

I confronted her. She did not deny it. She laughed at me. She said I was hers. That I would always be hers. That if I tried to leave her, she would destroy everything I loved.

I have decided to reject her publicly. I know the cost. I know the pack will question my judgment. I know there will be whispers. But I cannot live like this. I cannot pretend to love a woman who has stolen my will.

I need an alliance. A strong one. I have begun negotiations with Lord Vale of the Silvermoon Pack. His daughter, Vespera, has a reputation for intelligence and strength. I believe she could be a worthy partner.

She is not my fated mate. I know that. But perhaps fate is not all it is cracked up to be.

Perhaps I can build something real with her.

The tears come before I can stop them. I remember how cold he was at our first meeting. How distant. I thought he was a monster. I thought he was using me.

But he was desperate. He was terrified. And I was his escape.

I search through the letters, my hands shaking, until I find one in different handwriting. Smaller. Neater. My father's.

Rhydian,

I have received your request for an alliance. I will agree to the marriage, but I need you to understand something.

I know about Virelle. I know what she is.

I have been watching her for months. She is not just a woman using dark magic. She is dangerous. She has allies in places you cannot imagine. And she will not let you go easily.

If my daughter becomes your wife, she becomes a target. Virelle will see her as a threat. She will not rest until Vespera is dead.

Protect her. Whatever it takes. Whatever it costs.

If I die before this marriage takes place, know that I died protecting my family. Do not let my death be in vain.

Keep my daughter safe.

I press the letter to my chest. The world is spinning. I cannot breathe. I cannot think.

My father knew. He knew about Virelle. He knew about the danger. And three days after writing this letter, he was dead.

Murder. It had to be murder. My father did not simply fall ill. He was not killed by rogues. Someone murdered him. Someone who wanted to protect Virelle's secrets.

Someone who wanted to make sure I would never know the truth.

"You found the letters."

I spin around. Torren Hale is standing in the doorway of the archives, his face pale, his eyes wide with something that looks like fear.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough." He steps inside, his hands raised as if approaching a wounded animal. "Vespera. Please. Let me explain."

"Explain what?" My voice is shaking. "Explain how you introduced Rhydian to that monster? Explain how you stood by while she manipulated him? Explain how you kept her secrets while my father was murdered?"

"I did not know." His voice breaks. "I swear to you, I did not know what she was. I thought she was a good woman. I thought she and Rhydian would be happy together. I had no idea."

"But you know now." I take a step toward him, the letters crumpling in my fists. "You know what she did to him. You know what she is. And you said nothing."

"I could not." He sinks into a chair, his head in his hands. "I was ashamed. I was terrified. If Rhydian found out that I was the one who brought her into our lives, he would never forgive me."

"Your best friend was being controlled by a dark witch." My voice is ice. "And you were more worried about his forgiveness than his safety?"

"You do not understand." He looks up at me, and I see tears in his eyes. "Rhydian is not just my Alpha. He is my brother. My blood. I would die for him. But I failed him. I failed him, Vespera. And I have been living with that failure every day since."

I want to scream at him. I want to tell him that his failure cost me my life. That his silence led to my death. But I cannot. Because I see the truth in his eyes. He is broken too. He is a victim of Virelle's cruelty just as much as Rhydian and I are.

"Did you know about my father?"

"No." He shakes his head. "I did not know about the letter. I did not know that Virelle was watching him. I swear to you, Vespera. I did not know."

I want to believe him. I want to believe that someone in this nightmare is telling the truth.

But I do not know anymore.

I leave him there, in the darkness of the archives. I do not know where I am going. I just need to be alone. I need to think.

Maris finds me an hour later. I am sitting by the river, my feet in the water, the letters scattered around me.

"Vespera." She sits down beside me. "What happened? You look like you have seen a ghost."

"Worse." I hold up the letter. "I have seen the truth."

"What do you mean?"

I cannot tell her. Not yet. Not all of it. But I can tell her something. She deserves to know.

"My father was murdered."

She goes pale. "What? Vespera, that is..."

"I cannot explain everything. But I found letters. Evidence. Virelle is more dangerous than any of us knew. And my father died because he tried to protect me."

Maris is silent for a long moment. Then she takes my hand. "Whatever you need. Whatever you want to do. I am here."

I squeeze her hand. "Thank you."

But even as I say the words, I know that I cannot let her get too close. I cannot let anyone get too close. Virelle is out there. She is watching. She is waiting.

And I will not lose anyone else I love.

I return to my room hours later. The moon is high in the sky, casting silver light through the windows. I am exhausted. My eyes are raw from crying. My heart is heavy with secrets.

Rhydian is sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Where were you?"

I freeze. "I could not sleep. I went for a walk."

"A walk." His voice is flat. "For five hours."

I do not answer. I cannot answer. I cannot tell him the truth. I cannot tell him that I know about Virelle. I cannot tell him that I know about the letters. I cannot tell him that I know he is not the monster I believed him to be.

"Vespera." He stands and crosses to me. His eyes search my face. "You have been crying."

"I am fine."

"You are not fine." He reaches for me, but I flinch away. Hurt flashes across his face. "Please. Talk to me. Tell me what is wrong."

For a moment, I almost do. I almost tell him everything. The letter. The murder. The fact that I have lived this life before.

But then I remember the blade. The blood. The laughter.

And I remember that even though he is a victim, even though he was manipulated, he still failed to protect me. He still let me die.

"I cannot," I whisper. "I am sorry. I cannot."

He stares at me, and I see something break behind his eyes. Something that looks like hope dying.

"All right," he says quietly. "I will not push."

I nod. I turn away. I walk to the window and look out at the moon.

I wonder if I will ever be able to trust anyone again.