All Chapters of His Regret, The Crown's Claim : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The heavy oak door of my bedroom clicked shut, locking out the world, but it couldn't lock out the echoes of Cade’s voice from my mind. “You owe your life to me.” The words felt like a physical weight, pressing the air from my lungs.I hobbled toward the vanity mirror in the room, my silver cane feeling heavier than usual. I sank into the velvet-cushioned stool and stared at my reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back was a stranger. Her eyes were sunken, her skin sallow, and a dark bruise bloomed across her cheek like a rotten flower.I reached out, tracing the glass, and for a moment, the image blurred, replaced by the ghost of the girl I used to be.I remembered the night of the first attack of those rogues years ago. I remembered the smell of rain-soaked earth and the terrifying glint of a blade in the moonlight. I remembered the moment my knees hit the dirt, with the certainty that I was about to die. My eyes had closed in fear and I expected to be welcomed into the hands

The air in my private parlor was thick with Axel’s warning, a heavy residue that clung to the velvet curtains and the scent of my cooling tea. Axel leaned toward me, his eyes sharp with an intensity that made me realize he wasn’t just being protective, he was genuinely worried."Risa, look at me," he said, his voice an urgent rasp. "Kael is a king who rules through shadows and silence. Yes, he pulled you from that ditch. Yes, he stood between you and a silver bullet. But a man like that doesn't do anything without a price and I've been telling you this since I first found out you want to ask him for help. His motives are as murky as the Dead Zone. He might be the only lever you have to pry yourself away from Cade, but don't forget, he's still a wolf. And a King is just an Alpha with a larger appetite."I gripped the silver handle of my cane, the cool metal biting into my palms. "I know he isn't a saint, Axel. But right now, he's the only person who hasn't blamed me for my own assassin

I turned back into the cool, dim shadows of the mansion, my breath hitching in my chest. The heavy doors groaned shut behind me, sealing out the sunlight and the sight of Axel’s departure. I just wanted to reach my room. I wanted to crawl under the covers and disappear until the world stopped spinning.But the air in the corridor leading to my room was already heavy, charged with a familiar, suffocating pressure."You brought him here to challenge me in my own house, didn't you?" Cade’s voice came from the top of the grand staircase, low and dangerous. He descended the steps slowly, his movements fluid and predatory. "You let a subordinate spit on my face while you stood there and watched?"I didn't stop. I kept my gaze fixed on the hallway leading to the West Wing, the click-thump of my cane the only sound in the large space. "I don't have time for this, Cade. I’m tired, I’m in pain, and I’ve had enough of your nagging for one lifetime."I attempted to limp past him, but he moved wit

The walk-in closet of the master suite looked more like a high-end logistics center than a dressing room. Rows of structured silk gowns and tailored blazers were meticulously hung, their colors ranging from deep emerald to pitch black, while a sleek glass-topped island was covered in tablets and encrypted dossiers. In this part of the world, a Peace Summit wasn't just a gathering of alphas who come to talk about peace over dessert, it was a high-stakes diplomatic chess match that required a wardrobe as sharp as a tactical blade.I stood before a full-length mirror, adjusting the collar of a slate-grey power suit. My legs felt strong again, thankfully, but my mind was elsewhere, calculating the risks of the King’s summons. I knew Cade was right to worry, but I tried to push the thought down to the back of my mind.My smartphone buzzed on the island, the vibration rattling a crystal tray of jewelry. The caller ID displayed a name that made my jaw tighten, it was Luna Elena of Silver Rid

The digital clock on my vanity ticked silently, a red neon pulse in the tension of the room. I had just finished folding a silk gown when the lock on my door slammed open. “Tch!” I said, irritated already. It was just as expected. Cade burst in, his presence like a thunderstorm breaking in a confined space. Behind him, clutching the sleeve of his tailored suit jacket, was Zara. She was hunched over, her hand pressed against the cheek I had struck. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and even from across the room, I could see the angry, purplish swelling beginning to distort her delicate features."Risa!" Cade’s roar vibrated in my very marrow. "What the hell is wrong with you?"I didn't turn around to look at them, I simply didn't see the need to give them that luxury. I picked up a pair of diamond earrings and placed them into a velvet-lined travel case. "I’m busy. Unless you’re here to help me cross-reference the security protocols for the Citadel, please leave and don't disturb my peace an