All Chapters of THE RAVEN KING’S BRIDE : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

CHAPTER FORTY ONEGENERAL POVThree hours had passed, yet no clues has been found.Every corridor had been walked. Every hidden corner open. Every servant, guard, and official questioned . Still, nothing. Not a single trace of the stolen money. It was as though the palace itself had swallowed them whole and chosen silence.Torches flickered against stone walls as the last group of guards returned to the grand hall, their faces tight with dread. The air was heavy with fear.The guards responsible for the treasury stood chained at the center, heads bowed in defeat. According to the laws of the Earldom, their fate was sealed. Execution awaited them. Yet even in their despair, one truth burned brighter than their fear. They were asleep all the time. At least some of the coins should have been found by now.Mason stood before the throne, exhaustion written into his face. He straightened his back and spoke carefully.“We have searched everywhere, Your Majesty. Every chamber, every wing of

CHAPTER FORTY THREEALARIC’S POVAfter hours of meetings that drained the marrow from my bones, and voices clashing over the kingdom’s welfare, all I wanted was her. The council chamber had emptied, torches dimmed, and the palace was now quiet except for the guards moving to and fro to keep it safeBut Elara was not here.I looked out of my chambers, it was dark already. Dinner had long gone cold. I had sent the servants away, insisting I would eat later, insisting I would wait. I wanted to start waiting for her. Tonight was meant to be ours. The first night she would truly stay with me, without fear, without distance knowing we both loved each otherShe had smiled earlier, soft and promising, and told me she needed to give instructions to her maids. Her bags would be brought over. She would come straight after. That was hours ago.Where was Elara?I stood from the edge of the bed, pacing slowly, my thoughts circling the same question like a wounded bird. I tried to be patient. A quee

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVEValerie stood frozen in the doorway of the bathing chamber, a linen towel clutched to her chest like a shield. The copper tub behind her was already half-filled, steam curling lazily into the air, carrying the faint scent of lavender and crushed rose petals, the exact blend the gentle queen had asked for only yesterday.But the woman now pacing the outer chamber was not that queen.She walked to the room to meet her“You told me to gather your things, my queen,” Valerie said, voice barely above a whisper. “You said… you wanted to start staying with the king tonight. In his chambers. Our chambers, you called them.”Elara stopped mid-step. For one heartbeat her face fractured, eyes widening, mouth parting in raw confusion, as though someone had just told her the sky had turned green while she slept.“I remember nothing, to be honest,” she said flatly. Her fingers flexed at her sides, testing the weight of her own body as though it felt borrowed. “It was more like I w

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVENThe corridor outside Rowland’s private wing was silent to give the impression that he wasn't there. She moved like a shadow, hood drawn low, heart hammering with a hunger she hadn’t felt in what felt like lifetimesShe slipped through the outer door without knocking. Her fingers found the hidden seam behind the heavy tapestry above the bed. One firm push and the panel gave way with a soft click. It was the inner room Rowland built for her. Where they pleasured themselves She stepped through And there, in the center of the wide bed, lay Rowland.He looked like death wearing his face.Pale skin stretched tight over sharp bones. Eyes sunken, glassy, half-lidded. His chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven jerks. A thin sheet clung to his sweat-damp body. Beside him a young maid knelt on the floor, spooning thin broth between his cracked lips.At the sight of her, her hands started shakingElara’s breath caught.Rowland’s gaze lifted slowly. Recognition flared in th

CHAPTER FORTY-NINESAMANTHA’S POV Servants and guards flinched as I passed. Some pressed themselves flat against the walls, eyes fixed on the floor. Others actually turned and started running, just at the sight of me. I didn’t blame them. I could still feel the ghost of Elara’s cruelty clinging to me like smoke—her slap across Valerie’s face, the vase crashing down, the lifeless maid on the rug. They weren’t looking at me. They were looking at her.And right now, I wore her face.I wiped furiously at the tears streaming down my cheeks. My throat ached from holding back sobs. I kept my head high, chin lifted, because the second I let it drop they would smell weakness. But inside I was shattering.I was supposed to be in Alaric’s bed right now.I was supposed to be curled against his chest, listening to his heartbeat slow as he finally let himself sleep without fear. I was supposed to wake up tomorrow morning with his arm slung over my waist, his breath warm against my neck, safe.Inst