LOGINKael’s POV“The King who carries my blood must sacrifice the Moonborn Queen.”I read the words again, they did not change and my hands tightened around the ancient scroll.No.I looked at Ariana, she stood across from me, and one hand resting over her stomach.Her eyes were fixed on mine.“Kael,” she whispered.I could not answer and the royal council entered the chamber.Seven elders and behind them stood dozens of royal warriors and the oldest elder stepped forward.“You have received the command.”I stared at him.“You knew about this?”“We have known for generations.”“You knew it existed?”“Yes.”“And you waited until now to show me?”“The time has come.”I crushed the scroll in my hand.“The time has come for what?”The elder looked at Ariana.“For the Queen to die.”Ariana’s face changed.Kael’s blood rushed through my body.“No.”The elder remained calm.“If the Moonborn Queen dies, the ancient hunters will lose their reason to continue this war.”“You expect me to kill my Que
Ariana’s POVThe man’s words followed me long after he disappeared.“He hid it from the man standing beside you.”I stood in the hallway, staring at Kael’s back and my heart wanted to run to him.My mind told me to be careful but then Kael turned.“Why are you looking at me like that?”I said nothing and his eyes searched my face.“Ariana.”“Did you know?”His expression changed.“Know what?”“Whatever my father hid.”“No.”“You’re sure?”Kael stepped closer.“I swear.”I looked away and the hunter leader’s words returned to my mind.“The man standing beside you.”There was only one man beside me.Kael.“Ariana,” he said quietly. “You think it is me.”I could not answer and his face fell.“You actually think I could have something to do with your father’s death?”“I don’t know.”The words left my mouth before I could stop them and Kael stepped back.“You don’t know?”“I am trying to understand everything.”“So am I.”“I have been lied to by everyone around me.”“I know.”“My father di
Ariana’s POVThe silver light disappeared but the words remained in my head.The first King who ever betrayed the Moonborn.I looked at the hunter leader and he was still standing at the other side of the courtyard.His mask covered most of his face and it was only his eyes that showed.I had seen those eyes before, not in battle, not in a nightmare but somewhere else ans I stared at him.“Wait.”Kael turned toward me.“What is it?”I then took one step forward.“I know him.”The man went still and my heart began beating faster.“I have seen that face before.”He gave a low laugh.“Have you?”“Not your face.”I looked at his clothes, and then at the old royal mark on his chest.“That symbol.”Kael looked at it.“It belongs to the old royal council.”The man removed his mask and my breath caught.I knew him, not personally but I had seen his face in the royal portraits beneath the palace.He had stood beside kings, he had advised queens and he had appeared in records that were hundreds
Ariana’s POVThe Moon Goddess’s voice was still inside my head.“You have gathered the four bloodlines. Now prepare to face the first King who ever betrayed the Moonborn.”I looked at my mother.“Who was the first King?”She did not answer immediately.Her eyes moved toward the hunter leader.Then she looked back at me.“He lived centuries ago.”Kael stepped closer.“What did he do?”My mother took a deep breath.“The first Moonborn Queen did not rule alone. She chose a King because she loved him.”I frowned.“Then what happened?”“The King became jealous of her power.”My heart tightened.“He wanted what she had.”My mother nodded.“He wanted the Moonborn power for himself.”“What did he do?”“He betrayed her.”Silence filled the room.“He pretended to love her while secretly planning to take her power.”Lyra’s face hardened.“How?”“He discovered that the Queen’s blood could be controlled if her King carried a certain ancient Alpha blood.”Damien looked down at his hands.His wolf g
Ariana’s POVThe palace gates exploded open.I felt the sound in my chest before I heard the screams.Kael grabbed my hand.“They found us.”Damien stood near the chamber entrance, his eyes fixed on the smoke rising from the palace grounds.“They are here,” he said.My mother’s face tightened.“The hunters.”Another explosion shook the palace.Warriors rushed through the corridors, shouting.“Protect the Queen!”“Close the inner gates!”“They are already inside!”Kael pulled me behind him.“Stay with your mother.”“No.”He looked at me.“Ariana.”“I am not hiding while they attack my people.”“You are pregnant.”“And I am still their Queen.”Kael stared at me for a moment.Then he nodded.“Then stay beside me.”We stepped into the main hall.The sight outside made my stomach turn.Hundreds of warriors stood beyond the broken gates.They wore dark armour marked with the ancient Moonborn symbol.Behind them stood another group of warriors with pale masks covering their faces.The hunter
Ariana’s POV“The baby just awakened.”Damien’s words sent fear through me.“What does that mean?”Before he could answer, another wave of power burst from my body.The floor shook.Kael caught me around the waist.“Ariana!”“I can’t control it!”Moonborn light flashed around my hands. I tried to pull it back, but it moved through me like a storm.“We need to get her somewhere safe,” my mother said.“Where?” Kael asked.“The old Moonborn chamber.”Lyra pointed toward the hallway.“It is beneath the palace.”Kael lifted me into his arms.“I can walk,” I protested.“You can barely stand.”“Kael…”“I’m not arguing with you.”He carried me through the shaking palace.Warriors rushed past us.Some fell to their knees as another wave of Moonborn energy moved through the building.“What is happening?” someone shouted.“I don’t know!”“Get away from her!”Kael stopped.“Anyone who comes near her without permission will answer to me.”Nobody moved.I buried my face against his chest.“Kael, I’







