Semua Bab Demoted to the Throne : Bab 21 - Bab 30

Selene had been staring at her computer screen for minutes now.The quarterly report displaying on the monitor in front of her. She'd read the same sentence five times. She still had no idea what it said.She pinched the bridge between her eyes, trying to focus. It wasn't working. Her mind kept drifting back to the same places—Hattie's cough echoing through the house, the dream she couldn't shake, the way Alaric's voice had been replaying in her head for days, longer than it should have.This is pathetic, Nyx muttered. You're supposed to be working."I know," Selene sighed aloud. "I just can't focus."You're thinking about him again."I'm thinking about everything. Grandma's not getting better. Every time I go to sleep, I see weird things. And him—I don't know what's happening to me when he's near."You're not the only one, Nyx said quietly.Selene blinked. What do you mean?I don’t know. I feel… strange lately. Like there’s something awake in me.Selene’s hand drifted to her necklace,

He was reviewing the documents that had stayed days on his table when Flynn burst through the door.Alaric did not look up, he didn’t have to. Only one person was bold enough to enter his office without knocking.“She left,” Flynn said.“Who?” Alaric asked, unbothered."Selene. She grabbed her bag and ran out of the building." Flynn's voice was tight, stripped of its usual humor. "Looked like she was panicking. Wouldn't answer her phone."Alaric's pen stopped mid-stroke.His head snapped up. "What do you mean she left?"“The receptionist said she looked terrified." Flynn was already dialing her number again. "I tried calling. Straight to voicemail."Something cold settled in Alaric’s chest. His wolf stirred—agitated, restless—clawing beneath his skin. Where is she? Is she hurt?He forced his wolf to stay still. His voice to remain calm. “Find out where she went.”“I don’t—”“Find out, Flynn.”There was something in his voice that made Flynn’s protest die in his throat. He nodded once.

The hospital was quiet when Selene arrived.Visiting hours had technically ended, but the workers knew her by now. They waved her through with tired smiles. She carried a small overnight bag—a change of clothes, her toothbrush, the book she'd been trying to read for weeks.Hattie's room was dimly lit. The TV’s volume was low, playing some old black-and-white movie. Her grandmother was propped up against pillows, looking better than she had in days.Selene set her bag down on the floor. "You're awake."Hattie turned, her face breaking into a smile. "I didn’t think you’d still come tonight.”"Sorry, I’m late. I had to meet up with Chloe." Selene sat in the chair beside the bed. "How do you feel?""Better." Hattie waved a dismissive hand. "The food is terrible, but the nurses are nice. One of them keeps sneaking me pudding."Selene laughed. "Of course she does."“What can I say? I’m quite charming”They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. The machine beside Hattie beeped softly. The

Selene arrived at the private terminal with her travelling bag right by her side, heart hammering.She'd never flown private before. She'd barely flown at all—a few budget trips with Hattie years ago, cramped seats and cranky adults and overpriced airport food.The private terminal was nothing like the chaos of the main airport. Glass walls stretched from floor to ceiling, revealing the tarmac beyond. A few people in suits moved with quiet efficiency. Everything was polished. Everything was calm. Selene felt like an imposter stepping into a world she didn’t belong to.Alaric was already there when she arrived, standing near the entrance with his phone pressed to his ear. He looked up when she approached, gave a curt nod, and continued his conversation.She stood a few feet away, trying not to stare at him. His tie was loosened. His sleeves were rolled up. He looked tired—really tired.He ended the call and pocketed his phone."You're early.""So are you.""As usual." He turned toward t

She had seen it too many times to know it wasn’t real. Not the forest, not the cold, wet slap of branches against her arms, mud sucking at feet that didn’t quite feel like her own, smoke thick enough to taste at the back of her throat.None of it was real, she knew that. But still, her screams tore through the air with a force, not in the dream and not in reality but she heard it, loud and clear.A figure called out ahead of her, ragged with running, a name recurrent on parched, trembling lips. Not her name. But very close, the way a word is said when it has been overused and familiarized.Her pace increased to catch up, but the voice went farther.Something howled behind her. Not an animal sound. Worse — deliberate, a note held too long to be anything but a warning. The clouds darkened like it knew of the tragedy occurring, gunshots fired behind her tired body.The woman ahead of her turned, chest heaving, eyes wide with a fear that had nothing to do with the running and everything to