Todos os capítulos de SOLD TO THE LYCAN KING AFTER MY MATE REJECTED ME : Capítulo 31 - Capítulo 40

BLOOD ON THE BORDERMALRIK'S POVThe rival kingdom had done exactly what I asked, and they had done it faster than I expected.Dessin brought me the news at the hunting lodge the night after the scout reached Silverfang. I was sitting near the fireplace with a map spread across my knees. Lord Fenwick had lit the fire and left the room. He knew better than to stay."Your Highness." Dessin bowed and closed the door behind him. "I came as soon as I could.""Sit. Tell me everything."He took the chair across from me. His boots were covered in road dust, and he had not taken off his cloak."The scout reached the fortress yesterday morning. He carried the bundle straight into the hidden courtyard where the King was training with the girl.""He found them there?" I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on my knees."The guards told him where to look. He unwrapped the bundle in front of both of them.""And?""The King read the tag. He said nothing for a long time. Then he ordered the hea

TRAINING AND TEMPTATIONAURELIA'S POVI had not planned to be in the courtyard every night, but by the second week it had become a habit.Kael and I met there after the council meetings ended. The hidden yard was quiet, and no guards were allowed inside. Only Della knew where I went. She left a lamp burning by the door and did not ask questions."Again," Kael said."I have done it six times already.""Then do it a seventh.""You are very strict.""You asked me to be.""I did." I took a breath. "But I did not know you would keep count."He smiled. It was small, but I saw it. "Again, Aurelia."I raised my hands and let the silver light rise along my arms. It came quickly now. I could hold it at my wrists, then my elbows, then bring it back to my chest. Twelve nights ago I could not do any of that."Good," he said. "Now hold it and step to the left."I stepped. The light stayed."To the right."I did that too. The light flickered, but it did not spread."That is enough for tonight," he s

SPIES IN SILKKAEL'S POVI did not sleep again that morning, and I did not waste the day either.Roderic's words had stayed with me since dawn. Someone inside the fortress had access to Aurelia's mother's true handwriting, recently enough to copy the ink while it was still fresh in their mind. That meant someone close. A servant. A clerk. Someone who moved through these halls without drawing attention.I called the captain of the guard to my study before the sun was fully up."I want a list," I said. "Every servant who has joined the household staff in the last year. Every clerk who has handled correspondence from Mooncrest or the Ashthorne estate.""That could be a long list, Your Majesty.""Then we will make it shorter. Cross off anyone who was born within these walls or has served twenty years or more. I want the names of anyone new.""Yes, Your Majesty.""And I want it done quietly. No one is to know why we are asking."By midday, the list sat on my desk. Fourteen names. I read th

THE RIVAL'S BANNERMALRIK'S POVThe messenger reached the hunting lodge just after midnight, and the news he carried was exactly what I had been waiting for."They have raised their banners, Your Highness," he said, still catching his breath from the ride. "The rival king's army crossed into the western pass at dusk. They march under their own colors now. No more secrecy.""How many?""My source counted close to three thousand, with more said to be following."I set down the cup I had been holding. "That is sooner than I expected.""Should I send word to His Majesty?""No. I will handle that myself." I stood and walked to the window. Through the trees, the sky was beginning to lighten at the edges. "This news must reach him in the right shape, not the raw shape you have given me.""I do not understand, Your Highness.""You do not need to." I turned back to him. "Go and rest. I will need you again before the day is out."He bowed and left. I remained by the window a while longer, think

AURELIA'S POVI did not ask Kael for permission to ride with the elite unit, and he did not offer it. We simply understood each other by the time we reached the stables."You are certain about this," he said, tightening the strap on his saddle."I have never been more certain of anything.""The council agreed you would ride with the vanguard for a battle, not a scouting skirmish.""Enemy scouts at the outer farms could mean the main force is close behind. If I wait here, I will only worry myself sick." I swung up onto my horse. "I would rather be useful."He looked at me for a long moment, then nodded once. "Stay close to me. No further than an arm's length, if you can manage it.""I will try.""Try harder than that."The elite unit rode out within the hour, twenty of Kael's most trusted soldiers moving fast through the dark toward the western farms. The captain, a broad-shouldered man named Garrick, rode just ahead of us."Scouts were spotted near the Hollis farmstead, Your Majesty,"