Ella POVI woke up with my head pressed against Alexander’s chest, his arms wrapped securely around me. The warmth of his embrace should have been comforting, but it did nothing to calm the chaos of my waking.Both our phones were ringing, and someone was pounding on the apartment door.Alexander pr
“Talk to your father,” I pleaded. “Ask him. Ask the servants if anyone new has been frequenting the house, if he’s been meeting with anyone. Someone is swaying his decisions.”Elizabeth hesitated before responding. “Okay. I’ll do what I can.”“Thank you,” I said, hoping she could hear the sincerity
Ella POVIn all the chaos and confusion of the last few days, I had completely forgotten that Alexander and I were supposed to be hosting a party to celebrate the beginning of construction on the solar farm.It was an unnecessary PR move—an opportunity for people to speak with Alexander and be remin
“Can I ask why not?” I asked, causing Alexander to glance at me in surprise.“It’s just that we don’t know who else may run,” the Luna of Pine Forest replied. “At this point, Alexander is unopposed, and while he is, of course, a fantastic option, I’m not willing to make a decision until I know all o
Alexander POVI reached the lobby and was nearly out the door when a familiar voice called my name.I froze, turning in confusion to find Michael rushing toward me.“What are you doing here?” I asked as my younger brother practically barreled into me.I grabbed him by the elbows, scanning his face.
And if she was careless enough to speak openly about it—where a servant could overhear—My head spun, nausea creeping up my throat.Michael stepped toward me, concern etched into his features, but before he could say anything, a knock sounded at the door.It opened without waiting for a response.Au
Alexander POVThe headlines the next morning were dominated by Archer’s announcement. Any attention or goodwill we had hoped to gain from the party was completely overshadowed—exactly as he had intended.It was a calculated move, and I couldn’t deny its brilliance.Ella was shaken. Of course, she wa
He had to know that if he exposed my ties to the Roguelands I would do the same to him. Was that the plan? If he was going down anyway, did he intend to take me with him?But he had been released from custody. The king didn’t have anything on him that could stick. It would be self destructive of him
Ella POVThe night we had been working towards for so long was finally here. It didn’t seem real, but it was finally happening.It was election night.All day Alexander and I had been answering questions from reporters and making phonecalls to voters, hoping to get as many people as possible to show
He glanced at me, a knowing look passing between us. We would face whatever came next together.After dinner, Sabrina and Alexander took Lexie up to get ready for bed. She wanted a bedtime story from Alexander and he seemed happy to do it.Once we were alone in the living room, my mother pulled me t
Ella POVAlexander and I spent the day in my family’s packlands with Lexie, a rare moment of peace before the election.The official statement revealing Lexie’s identity had been carefully crafted—Alexander had asked for privacy for her sake.The response had been mixed, but most people saw it as a
“It does,” Elizabeth said. “But people also fear what they don’t understand. Alexander has spent years in the shadows. Half of what he’s done is still a secret. People don’t know that he’s…” she hesitated, looking away for a moment. “Now, they’re being asked to trust him with the kingdom.” She sighe
Ella POVI sat across from Elizabeth at a quiet restaurant, a half-empty glass of wine in front of me. The air between us was lighter than it had been in months, but there was still an unspoken tension—a lingering wound that was still healing.Elizabeth had taken the revelations about Alexander, Dav
Ella POVThe news of Ironfang’s arrest tore through the kingdom like wildfire. Fear gripped the people as they learned the horrifying truth—powerful figures within their own government had been working with the North.For years, the enemy had been closer than anyone had realized, pulling strings in
Alexander POVI stood before the King, my body still weak from the poison, but my mind sharp and steady. Ella stood at my side, her presence grounding me, a silent promise that we would face whatever came next together.I could feel the weight of her gaze on me, the quiet strength she offered just b
Ella POVIt took several days before Alexander could stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time.Those days felt like an eternity to me, sitting at his bedside, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest, hoping for any sign of improvement. The doctors assured me that the worst had passed, b
The King’s orders were not something you ignored. And though I had no desire to leave Alexander’s side, I couldn’t risk further angering the King—especially when I had no idea what he would do with the information I had.Still, my resolve weakened as she glanced at Alexander one last time. “He’ll be