Alexander POVElla’s handling of Amanda completely caught me off guard, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. How could she have any pity for the woman who had put her through so much? It eluded me.At the same time, it showed a level of control and cleverness that was undeniable. A true Luna—not o
Ella POVBy the time we got to the apartment, I was conflicted. I felt like I had made some kind of mistake in the way I handled Amanda, but it was too late to take it back.Whatever happened next was out of my hands.It wasn’t as though Alexander and I had a chance to plan how to handle it. The kin
Yet, he didn’t seem to feel that way. Instead of anger, he pitied her.There had to be something I didn’t understand, but it was too sensitive a topic to push with him right now.Sinking onto the couch, I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to Elizabeth to check in.A second later, she called.
Alexander POVGuilt gnawed at me all morning as I waited for Sabrina to arrive. It settled in my stomach like a weight, a constant reminder that I was keeping something from Ella.I’d tried—tried to find the right moment, tried to work up the nerve to tell her—but every time I opened my mouth, the w
Sabrina nodded, looking away. "She made me believe that if I told you, you’d turn on me. That you’d try to take Lexie away or—" She shook her head. "I was young, scared, and I had no one. She was the only person who offered to help me."I exhaled sharply, trying to keep my emotions in check. "And no
Ella POVThe rooftop was bathed in the soft glow of city lights, the distant hum of activity below drowned out by music playing softly from unseen speakers. The air was cool, but the view more than made up for it.As I sat at the table in the center of the roof, the patio heaters created a warm bubl
Something in his tone made my heart skip. He was serious, but there was something else beneath it—hesitation.I sat up straighter, nerves tightening in my chest. "What is it?"Alexander hesitated, then met my gaze. "I had a meeting with Sabrina."I blinked, surprised. "You did?"He had seemed so dev
Ella POVThe atmosphere in the king’s home was tense. Servants and guards moved briskly through the halls, their expressions unreadable but their urgency undeniable.The entire building was bracing itself for what was about to unfold—the king’s official statement on the arrests, the fallout of the i
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