Semua Bab The Mate Games: Bab 81 - Bab 90

ALTHEAThe dawn seeps through the tangled branches like pale fingers, brushing my closed eyelids. I wake suddenly, a sharp sting crawling up my arm. Cold sweat slicks my skin as I pull back my sleeve and freeze.A deep, jagged wound cuts across my forearm—red and raw, fresh and bleeding. But I don’t remember falling, or being attacked. The forest must have done this while I slept. It feeds on weakness, on fear. I swallow hard, tasting copper in my mouth, and bite back the rising panic.I force myself to breathe slow and steady. I can’t afford to lose control.I press my hand against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding, then look around. The trees stand tall and silent, shadows curling at their feet. The forest watches, waiting for me to falter.I have to move.My stomach growls. I haven’t eaten since before I entered the woods.Finding food and water feels urgent now—more than just survival. It’s a lifeline.I remind myself of the goals I set before: find water, find food, keep mov

ALTHEAThe path the raven showed me twists and narrows, winding deeper than I ever imagined the Mirror Woods could go. The trees grow older here. Their bark is gnarled and silver, their roots thick as wolves’ backs. The forest hums with power, old and pulsing beneath my feet. Every step feels like a choice. Every breath like a question.Then I see it.The clearing opens suddenly, like a breath held too long finally released. And in the center stands the Weeping Tree.It’s massive, taller than any tree I’ve seen, its black bark cracked and weeping silver sap. The branches stretch high and wide, tangled like veins across the sky. Beneath it, the ground glows faintly, marked with ancient runes too old to read. The air is colder here. Heavy. Sacred.My heart stumbles.Because I’m not alone.Caroline stands at the base of the tree, arms crossed, her posture calm. But her eyes, sharp, calculating, give her away.“Well, isn’t this a surprise,” she says smoothly, brushing a leaf from her coat

ALTHEAIt’s been a week since the last trial. Things have been quiet, at least as quiet as things can get here. The bruises have faded, the wounds are healing, and now we’re all getting ready for the next big thing: our philanthropy presentations.Lady Ivanna asked what I needed for mine, and I kept it simple. “A small desk for my books,” I told her. “And an easel for the poster I’m working on.” She looked excited when I said that. I think it’s because no one else is doing anything artsy. I’m the only girl here with any real experience making art.I spent hours on this project. I wrote my speech out on note cards, made sure I flagged important parts in books so I could show them during my talk, and even practiced in the mirror. Some parts of the speech made my hands shake just thinking about them, but I kept going. I didn’t let myself give in to the fear.When I asked Mira to make me a dress for the Report, I told her I wanted to look innocent. Her eyebrows jumped up.“You make it sou

ALTHEAI smooth down the front of my dress with shaky hands. My fingers are cold, and I try not to show how nervous I am. The room is quiet, too quiet, and I can feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on me. The lights are bright. I blink a few times, willing myself to be brave. Just like Mum would’ve wanted. Just like I practiced.I take a small breath and step up to the podium. My cards tremble in my hand, but I grip them tighter.“Good evening, everyone,” I begin, trying to keep my voice steady. “Tonight I come to you not as one of the selected, not as an omega, but as a citizen. An equal.”I glance around the room. People are watching, some with blank faces, some curious, a few already frowning. I press on.“Based on your ranking, your experience of our kingdom is shaded a very specific way. I can say that for certain myself. But it wasn’t until recently that I understood how deep my love for this kingdom went.”My throat feels tight. I swallow it down.“Despite growing up sometimes w

ALTHEAI haven’t been able to stop thinking about what King Valebrook said.“There’s a traitor amongst us.”His words keep ringing in my ears like a warning bell that won’t stop. I know he hates me, he has made that abundantly clear, but the way he looked at me yesterday, like he knew something… it’s eating me up inside. What does he know? Could he have known all this time? It doesn’t seem possible, but something about the way he said it… calm, cold, sharp, it felt like more than just anger.In his own twisted way, maybe this is all a game to him. A slow, painful one. Maybe he’s just trying to scare me until he finally drops the truth like a hammer. Or maybe… maybe he’s not bluffing at all.Either way, I can’t risk it. I have to act now. I need to see Aaron.But after the last attack by the revolutionaries, they rotated the guards again. He’s not in charge of watching over the prisoners anymore. I don’t even know where he’s stationed. I feel like I’m walking blind in the dark.I pace