LOGINKYLIANI stared at the door for another moment.Something inside me refused to relax.Bella gently touched my arm.“Kylian?”I looked at her.“I need you to go inside.”Her brows furrowed.“What about you?”“I need to speak with the king.”“Now?”“Immediately.”Her eyes locked on mine.“Is everything all right?”I nodded.“Yes,” I muttered.But the word felt heavier than it should have.Bella clearly didn't believe me.Still, she nodded.“All right.”She opened the door and stepped into Alicia's chambers.Before closing it behind her, she looked back at me.“Be careful.”“I will.”The door closed.I turned around and moved at once.If someone was watching us, I needed to know why.And if someone inside the palace had planned Alicia's attack, then waiting was no longer an option.I walked quickly through the corridors until I reached the King's study.Two guards stood outside.They recognized me immediately.“The King is inside,” one said.“I need to see him.”The guard opened the door
Kylian's POVThe dungeon beneath the palace was never a place I enjoyed visiting.The air was cold.Damp stone walls surrounded the narrow corridor, and the smell of iron lingered in the air.But today, I had a reason to be there.Rima.I stopped before her cell.She sat against the wall with her knees pulled toward her chest.The moment she saw me, she stood.“Beta Kylian.”I unlocked the cell and stepped inside.“Rima.”She lowered her head.“I didn't hurt Luna.”“I know.”Her eyes lifted. “You believe me?”“I believe that something is not adding up.”Hope flickered across her face.“Thank you.”I closed the cell door behind me.“Tell me exactly what happened this morning.”Rima took a breath.“I prepared nothing dangerous.”“I know.”“I only carried the tray.”“Then start there.”She nodded.“I went into the kitchen early. The cooks were preparing breakfast. Everything seemed normal.”“And then?”“I arranged the Luna's tray.”“Who was around?”“Several servants.”“Anyone unusual?”
Alicia’s POVThe healing center had finally become quiet.After the uncanny incident, that morning. I had been moved back to my chambers to rest.The room felt peaceful, but I could not relax.I sat against the headboard with a blanket around my shoulders, staring through the tall windows.The palace gardens looked beautiful beneath the afternoon sunlight.Everything outside appeared normal.But inside my mind, nothing felt normal anymore.Lyra had been unusually quiet.Until now.Something is wrong.I sighed.“I know.”No, Alicia. You don't understand.I closed my eyes.“What don't I understand?”Lyra's voice became sharper.Someone wanted to hurt you.My stomach tightened.“You think it was intentional?”Yes.I stared at the ceiling.“The healer said it was probably food poisoning.”And you believe that?I hesitated.“I do not know.”Lyra growled softly inside me.I do not believe it was Rima.I frowned.“Why?”Because she loves you.I smiled faintly.“I know.”She would never hurt
Cassius’s POVThe abandoned moon chapel had been forgotten by the kingdom for years.Its stained-glass windows were cracked, the stone walls covered in dust, and the old altar had long since been used for its purpose.But tonight, it served mine.I stood beneath the broken archway, waiting.A nervous set of footsteps approached.The middle aged chief healer entered through the wooden doors and immediately looked around.“You came alone?”He nodded.“Yes, my Lord.”“Good.”I turned toward him.For a moment, I simply observed his face.He looked terrified.That pleased me.“You did well today, Emyrius.”The healer lowered his head.“I only followed your instructions.”“And because you followed them, the King believes Luna Alicia suffered from food poisoning.”“Yes.”“You could have told him the truth.”The healer's face tightened.“I could not.”“You could have told him what you discovered when you examined the remnants from her teacup.”The young healer swallowed.“I said nothing.”“An
Nadia’s POVThe palace had never felt so quiet.Everyone knew what had happened to Luna Alicia.The King was furious. And everyone was afraid.I stood at the entrance of the royal interrogation chamber with my arms folded across my chest, watching the kitchen staff being brought in one after another.King Vyan sat behind the large oak table.His expression was cold.His golden eyes revealed nothing.I knew that look.He was not questioning them as a King.Rather as a man who was desperate to find whoever had hurt the woman he loved.That made him so dangerous, and sexy.The first cook stepped forward.“Your Majesty.”“What did you prepare for Luna this morning?”The cook immediately lowered his head.“Breakfast, my King. Fruit, bread, pastries, eggs, and tea.”“Who prepared the tea?”The cook swallowed.“Rima, my King.”My eyes moved toward the doorway.Interesting.Vyan leaned forward.“Did anyone else touch the tea?”“No, my King. Rima carried it to the dining hall.”The cook was di
VYANI had never been so afraid in my life.The moment Alicia stopped responding, I lifted her into my arms and carried her straight out of the dining hall.“Open the doors!”The guards moved instantly.“Clear the way!”Servants and palace guards hurried aside as I carried my Luna through the palace corridors toward the royal healing center.Her head rested against my chest.Her eyes remained closed.I kept looking down at her face.“Alicia.”Nothing.I tightened my hold around her.“Stay with me.”The royal healer and his assistants rushed behind me.“King Vyan, place her on the bed.”I lowered Alicia carefully onto the healing bed.The healers immediately surrounded her.One checked her pulse while another examined her eyes.“Give us space,” the head healer ordered.I stepped back.But only a few feet.“I am not leaving.”The healer looked at me.“My King, we need to work.”“Then work.”My voice came out colder than I intended.He nodded and turned back to Alicia.For several minute
Alicia POVThe first thing I felt was pain as my father’s stick hit my back again and again. I bit my lip until it bled, trying not to cry but the tears still ran down my face.“You useless girl!” Beta Damien shouted, his voice loud and angry. “You can’t do anything right!”The broken cup lay on th
KING VYAN’S POVI sat at the head of the long obsidian table, Kylian at my right, the six Elders of the Lycan Court seated in a half-circle before me.I could smell their unease. They hated meetings like this because they knew my patience for politics was thin.Elder Theros, the oldest of them all,
Alicia's POVI hesitated for only a moment before following him out into the palace gardens.The garden was nothing like I expected.It had marble walkways and flowerbeds perfectly with a fountain standing at the center, its water as clear as crystal. The air smelled of roses and daisies, fresh and
Alicia POVThe bright rays from the sun slipped through the tall curtains, casting a soft glow across the strange room. I blinked against it as memories of last night rushed back, Derrick’s rejection, Clara’s vicious smile, the stones and insults, and the Lycan King’s golden eyes when he claimed me







