Semua Bab CROWNED BY BLOOD: Bab 21 - Bab 30

The first contraction hit like a bolt of lightning splitting through my spine, stealing my breath and doubling me over with its savage intensity. Outside, the battle had begun. The sound was unmistakable, a symphony of violence that I had orchestrated but could no longer conduct. Drums pounded across the valley like thunder made manifest, their rhythm matching the hammering of my heart. The clash of metal on metal rang out as my allies surged forward, a tide of supernatural fury crashing against our enemies' defenses. Screams and roars filled the air, echoing like ghosts from wars long past, carrying with them the scent of blood and desperation. The moment we had spent months preparing for was here the final battle that would determine the fate of kingdoms. And I was in labor. "We have to get her inside! Now!" a healer shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos with practiced urgency. Hands steadied me as I stumbled, my vision blurring at the edges as another wave of pain c

It was not light or darkness that greeted me. It was silent. Weightless. Boundless. A world between life and death, suspended in pale gold mist that shimmered with memories and unspoken promises. The ethereal realm stretched endlessly in all directions, neither warm nor cold, but existing in perfect equilibrium, a place where souls pause before making their final journey. I floated, or maybe I drifted, my consciousness scattered like starlight across the cosmic void. There was no pain here, no aching wounds or burning exhaustion. No heartbeat thundered in my chest, no breath filled my lungs. Only the fading memory of Kai's final touch lingered, ghostly fingers trailing across my skin, the metallic scent of blood and hard-won victory, and the last desperate surge of power I had released to destroy Aldric. That final moment felt both eternal and fleeting, the explosive light that had torn through dimensions, the satisfying crack as his ancient evil finall

The coronation day dawned bright and still, as if even nature itself paused to witness this pivotal moment in history. My reflection in the ornate mirror shimmered with threads of gold and crimson, the ceremonial robes of the Lycan Queen wrapping around me like destiny itself made manifest. The silver circlet gleamed atop my brow not ostentatious, but elegant in its simplicity, a subtle reminder that though I wore the crown with pride, it had been forged in blood, loss, and the kind of sacrifice that leaves permanent marks on the soul. The Great Hall of Unity, once nothing more than shattered ruins of a forgotten fortress, now stood magnificently reborn. Towering marble pillars infused with elemental sigils rose toward a vaulted ceiling painted with constellations that seemed to move in the morning light. Banners from every supernatural species lined the walls: the silver wolf of the lycanthropes, the twisted staff of the witches, the flowering branch of the fae, the crimson rose of t

The Hollowshade Archives had not been opened in years, their ancient seals untouched even during my most extensive palace renovations. When I had first ordered the restoration of the castle, the court mages had given me explicit instructions: the Archives were to remain undisturbed, their secrets left to slumber until the time was right. The massive doors were carved from a single piece of rare moonstone, their surface etched with protective glyphs that seemed to shift and breathe in the flickering torchlight. The chamber beyond exhaled dormant knowledge like a sleeping dragon, its very air thick with the weight of accumulated wisdom.Endless shelves stretched into shadow, filled with dusty tomes bound in leather from creatures that no longer existed, glowing crystals that pulsed with stored memories, and artifacts whose purposes had been forgotten by all but the most ancient scholars. I stood in the circular chamber with Celeste, both of us dwarfed by the magnitude of knowledge surrou

Weeks after my children departed, I woke to a disquiet in my bones, a pull that seemed to emanate from somewhere deeper than flesh, deeper than blood. A rhythm not my own, yet intimately connected to every breath I drew. At first, I thought it was a remnant of the dreams where Kai's voice still reached me, his presence lingering like a kiss on my skin that refused to fade with morning light. But as days passed, I realized this wasn't just memory clinging to grief-addled senses. It was real. It was alive. It was growing within me.I am still trying to process what Celeste revealed to me about being pregnant, her words echoing through my mind like a mantra I couldn't escape: "You're with child." The phrase haunted my waking hours and followed me into restless sleep, impossible yet undeniable. That didn't stop my body from reacting to the subtle changes at first, then increasingly obvious to anyone who knew me well.The morning sickness came in waves, not just physical nausea but a spirit