All Chapters of BOUGHT BY THE BEAST: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The main square was packed.Thousands of people. Lycans and werewolves both. Common folk who'd come to see their queen face down a Council member in public.A platform had been erected in the center. Two podiums facing each other. Aldric stood at one, looking confident.I stood at the other, trying not to show my nerves."Nervous?" Caspian asked quietly. He stood just off the platform with Ezra."Terrified.""Don't be. You've faced worse.""Have I? Because right now this feels worse than the Shade."Through the bond, I felt his amusement. "You'll be fine. Just remember what we practiced."What we'd practiced was staying calm, not letting Aldric bait me into emotional responses and sticking to facts.Easier said than done.A herald stepped forward. "Citizens of Thorncross! You are gathered to witness a formal debate between Councilor Aldric of House Stormwind and Queen Rielle. The topic: fitness to rule. Each speaker will present their case. The people will judge."The crowd erupted in

"Everyone dies?" I repeated. "What the hell does that mean?"Seraphine didn't answer immediately. She crossed to the window, staring out at Thorncross like she was memorizing it."The Shadow Court isn't coming for you specifically," she said finally. "They're coming for the bloodline. For what you represent.""My First Moon heritage?""More than that." She turned back to me. "Do you know why your mother ran? Why your kind was hunted for decades? Why they're all so desperate to control you?""Because First Moon bloodlines produce powerful offspring.""That's what they tell people. But it's not the whole truth." Seraphine's ice-blue eyes were sharp. "First Moon descendants aren't just valuable for breeding. You're keys.""Keys to what?""To the old magic. The primal power that existed before kingdoms, before Courts, before any of the structures we have now. First Moon blood can unlock things that have been sealed for millennia, things the Shadow Court wants very badly."My stomach dropp

My wolf hit the first shadow beast before anyone else could react.Claws tearing through void-flesh. Teeth sinking into something that shouldn't exist. The creature dissolved with a shriek.Around me, chaos erupted.Warriors dropped their disguises. Ezra threw disruption runes at the portal. Caspian shifted mid-leap, his massive lycan form crashing into three creatures at once.The civilians screamed. Some ran. Some stayed frozen."Get them out!" I shouted through the bond to Caspian.His response came as emotion. Already happening. Guards evacuating.Nyx stood at the portal's edge, watching me with those dark eyes. "You've changed. Interesting. The Awakening, I assume?"I shifted back to human long enough to answer. "You assume correctly.""It won't be enough."More creatures poured through the portal. Dozens of them. Too many for the warriors to handle.Ezra's disruption rune hit the portal. It flickered but didn't close."It's reinforced!" he shouted. "Someone's maintaining it from

"You're not getting released," I said flatly."I know that, I'm not an idiot." She leaned forward. "But my execution is scheduled for three days from now. Public. Humiliating. Designed to send a message.""You committed treason, what did you expect?""I expected exactly that. But I want it changed. Private execution. Quick. Clean. No spectacle.""Why?""Because I have some dignity left and I don't want my last moments to be entertainment for people who hate me. And because I'm asking." Her green eyes met mine. "Grant me that, and I'll tell you everything I know about Shadow Court safe houses and hostage protocols."I looked at Caspian. Through the bond, I felt his reluctance mixing with pragmatism. We needed the information. And honestly, a private execution was not an unreasonable request."Fine," I said. "Private execution. Quick and clean. You have my word.""Your word is worth something now," Morgessa mused. "Interesting how that changes. Very well. The Shadow Court has three safe

The word landed like a blade between my ribs.Sister.I stared at her. At those eyes that were too much like mine. At the jaw, the cheekbones, the particular way her chin lifted when she felt cornered. A gesture I recognized because I did it too."That's not possible," I said."I know." Her voice was steady but her hands weren't. They pressed flat against her thighs like she was physically holding herself together. "I've had over twenty years to get used to the idea. I understand if you need a moment.""A moment." I laughed. It came out wrong. Too sharp. "You show up at midnight, looking like my reflection, tell me you're my sister, and you want me to take a moment.""Rielle." Caspian's hand found the small of my back.Through the bond, I felt his caution. His certainty that this was either real or the most dangerous trap the Shadow Court had ever set."Who sent you?" I demanded."Nobody sent me. I came because I had to." She swallowed. "Because Stephen is dead and you don't know the r