Todos os capítulos de Traded to the tyrant : Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

DRAVEN'S POVThe war room felt suffocating.I stood at the head of the long table while my most trusted commanders gathered around, their faces grave in the flickering torchlight.Maps of both territories spread across the dark wood, Silvercrest marked in silver, Bloodreaver in black."Three days," Rho repeated for what felt like the hundredth time. "We have three days to prepare for your brother's arrival."Brother. The word tasted like ash in my mouth."He's not coming for diplomacy," one of my commanders muttered. "The timing is too convenient.""Agreed," another added. "He rejected the girl publicly, then immediately sent her here. Now he wants an audience?""He suspects something," a third voice concluded.I stayed silent, letting them speculate. Because they were right, of course. Kaelen suspected something.The question was what.Did he know about the fractured bond and how it still connected him to Elara? Did he feel the strange pull whenever someone else got too close to her?

DRAVEN'S POVTraining Elara was a mistake.I realized this somewhere around the second day, when I watched her sit perfectly still while memories of Kaelen's cruelty washed over her delicate features.Every flinch. Every tremor. Every tear she stubbornly refused to let fall.All of it carved something painful into my chest that I couldn't afford to feel."Again," I commanded, keeping my voice deliberately neutral.She nodded and closed her eyes, her breathing already falling into the steady rhythm I'd taught her.We sat across from each other in her chambers, close enough that I could see the rapid flutter of her pulse in her throat.Close enough that her scent, wildflowers and something uniquely her, wrapped around me constantly."Picture the throne room," I said quietly. "Kaelen standing before you. What does he say?"Her jaw tightened. "That I'm worthless.""And your response?""I..." She hesitated. "I don't know.""Yes, you do." I leaned forward slightly. "What do you want to say

DRAVEN'S POVWatching Kaelen look at Elara made me want to commit violence.The possessiveness in his eyes, the way his gaze tracked her every movement—it took every ounce of control not to bare my teeth and snarl at him to look away.Mine, something primal growled inside me. She's mine now.Dangerous thoughts. Foolish thoughts.But I couldn't stop them any more than I could stop my heart from beating."General Varak," Kaelen said smoothly, finally dragging his attention back to me. "I appreciate your hospitality in receiving me on such short notice."Lies wrapped in diplomatic courtesy. We both knew this visit had been planned carefully."Of course, Prince Kaelen." I gestured toward the platform. "Please, be seated. We have much to discuss."We moved through the formal rituals with practiced ease. Taking our designated seats, servants offering wine, scribes preparing to record the official negotiations.All theater. Meaningless performance while the real game played out beneath the s

DRAVEN'S POV I watched Elara disappear from the great hall with her head held high, and something fierce and proud swelled in my chest. She'd walked away from Kaelen. Refused him directly without hesitation. Gods, she was magnificent. "She's changed," Kaelen said quietly beside me. I forced myself to look at my brother. "People often change when treated with respect." His jaw tightened. "I did what was necessary. The pack would never have accepted—" "An omega as Luna?" I finished coldly. "How convenient that your political ambitions aligned with cruelty." Kaelen's eyes flashed dangerously. "You don't know what you're talking about." "Don't I?" I stepped closer, using Varak's height advantage. "I know you rejected your fated mate publicly. Humiliated her. Then sent her away like garbage."&n

ELARA'S POV Time seemed to slow as Varak's fingers touched the edge of the mask. My heart hammered so violently I thought it might burst from my chest. Every instinct screamed that whatever lay beneath would change everything between us. But I needed to know. Needed to understand what Kaelen had been implying. "Wait," I whispered suddenly. Varak's hand stilled. "You're afraid." "Yes." Honesty felt important in this moment. "But not of what you look like. I'm afraid of what it means." Something in his expression softened. "Smart girl." "Just tell me first," I said. "Before you show me. Tell me who you really are." He lowered his hand from the mask and moved to the window instead, staring out at the fortress grounds. "Seven years ago," he began quietly, "two princes were born to