Raven POV My fingers tightened around the wood. I took a breath.And then… I remembered.Rowan’s voice was low and steady in my ear weeks ago. “Keep your stance, I'll be grounded. Don’t try to overpower it—feel it. Let your movement follow the breath, not the fear.”Back then, I didn’t understand why he insisted on teaching me basic defence. Said it was “for confidence.” Now I knew it had been more than that.I slid my foot back, angled my weight, and let my knees bend slightly. I exhaled and let the staff move—just once.Kael raised a brow.Then he came at me.Not fast. Testing me. Poking at my defenses like a curious wolf sniffing the air. His staff clacked against mine with a sharp snap. I absorbed it. Twisted.It was not perfect but not bad either.“Again,” he said.I moved with him, muscles warming to the rhythm. The other guards had gone back to training—half distracted, half watching me out of the corner of their eyes.The staff sang in the air, wood meeting wood, feet scrapi
Loira POV Kael stood near the edge of the training circle, with his sword strapped to his back, sunlight catching the edge of his jawline as he gave out instructions. His voice was commanding but calm, and the surrounding warriors listened intently.I tried to look away, tried to pretend I hadn’t been staring—but my treacherous heart was pounding fast in my chest, and I knew I wasn’t hiding it well. The worst part? Gwen noticed.She leaned in slightly with a knowing smirk. “You’re staring,” she whispered.“I’m not,” I lied.Raven didn’t seem to notice—thank the goddess—she was too busy watching the soldiers spar, her eyes lighting up with every clash of blades. She looked different now… more sure of herself. Maybe it was the coronation or the marking, or maybe something deeper had been unlocked in her.“Loira,” Gwen said again, nudging me softly. “You’ve got it bad.”I rolled my eyes, my cheeks flaming. “It’s just… he’s very good at what he does.”“He’s also very good-looking,” Gwe
Loira POV I didn’t hear what Kael and Raven were talking about—my mind had wandered again, lost somewhere between the rhythm of the training ground and the persistent flutter in my chest.But then I heard my name.“Loira?”I jerked back to awareness, blinking quickly as my eyes locked with his. “Yes—yes?” I said, a little too fast.Kael took a step closer, the sunlight catching the edge of his armor. “Can I talk to you for a moment?” he asked, his voice quiet but steady.“Me?” I repeated dumbly, awkwardly pointing at my chest like there was another Loira nearby.He almost smiled, but held it back. “Yes. You.”I turned instinctively to Raven, seeking her reaction. "She wasn’t trying to hide the soft amusement in her eyes. "She gave me a tiny, encouraging smile. “Go on. "We’ll be here waiting,” she said gently.I hesitated only for a second longer before nodding.“Okay,” I murmured, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear and following him as he led me a little further off the t
Raven POV Loira had been gone for quite a while now, but I didn’t go after them. She deserved her moment—whatever was happening, she’d come back when she was ready.I was exhausted. Every muscle in my body ached, the kind of satisfying soreness that came from pushing limits. But despite the fatigue settling deep in my bones, I felt more alive than I had in days.Training with the guards, sparring, laughing, being seen… not just as a queen, but as one of them—it meant something. It made me feel grounded. Stronger than I was yesterday. And with the blade now strapped to my side, I felt almost invincible… even if I still didn’t fully know how to use it.I ran a gentle hand over the hilt of the sword, fingers tracing its worn handle. There was something comforting about it. As if it truly did choose me.“Raven!!”The sudden shout made me flinch. My head snapped up, and I saw Ansel striding across the field, his jaw clenched and his golden eyes blazing with fury.Oh! No.“Where have you
Raven POV I stepped into the war room, my stomach still twisting from the encounter with Ansel. The atmosphere was already tense—Rowan and Asher sat quietly at the far end of the long table, both their expressions unreadable.I took a seat beside Rowan, offering a soft glance his way, but he didn’t return it. He hadn’t looked me in the eyes since the mating ritual.Moments later, the doors opened again and Ansel walked in with Gwen by his side, both followed by two guards escorting someone between them.My heart nearly stopped.It was the priestess.The one who first told me of the prophecy. The one whose voice still haunted my dreams with those cryptic words. She limped forward awkwardly as if one of her legs was barely holding weight. Her robes were tattered and stained with dried blood and soot. Her face was pale, but her eyes locked on mine with startling urgency.I stood immediately, nearly knocking over the chair behind me. “Priestess—”I rushed forward, catching her as she s
Rowan’s POVAfter the meeting, I walked back to my chambers in silence.The corridors of the palace were dimly lit, everywhere was quiet except for the soft echoes of my footsteps. But my thoughts—they were anything but quiet.I kept seeing her face.The way Raven looked at me.Like she was breaking… every time I turned away.Every time I swallowed the truth instead of speaking it.And still, there was nothing I could do.Because I’m dying.Slowly. Quietly. Without dignity.I stepped inside my room and shut the door behind me, resting my forehead against the cool wood for a second longer than necessary. Then I turned and made my way to the mirror.My hands moved to my shirt almost mechanically, peeling the fabric away from my skin.The mark had spread further.The cursed veins, once subtle shadows under my skin, now crawled across my chest like thorns etched in ink—ugly, angry, pulsing. I clenched my jaw, steadying myself against the wave of pain that shot through my side. It wasn’t
Rowan POVWe rode toward Refune, the wind biting at our faces, the forest growing darker with every mile we left behind the palace walls. The trees here stood taller, denser, the silence between their trunks thicker—like the land itself was holding its breath.The further we got from the safety of home, the more my chest ached.Not from physical pain—but from something deeper. A sense of dread curled tight around my heart.I glanced to my side and saw Gwen still leaping gracefully between tree roots and low branches like a creature born of wind and shadow. Behind her, our soldiers followed. And Ansel… he moved with that same storm in his eyes, always watching, always calculating.But none of them knew the ache crawling through my bones.This—this mission, this trap we were riding into—it was necessary. If we could lure the Queen out, if we could defeat her once and for all… maybe the bloodshed would stop. Maybe Raven will finally be free.She was the reason I was even still alive. T
Raven POV I watched them go but couldn’t bring myself to say goodbye.The words stayed locked in my throat, heavy with frustration and helplessness.I hated the way they treated me—as if I couldn’t make decisions for myself. Like I was fragile. Like I’d shatter.People were out there dying, sacrificing their lives for me, and I was just… here. Sitting inside like some fucking damsel in distress.A chill drifted through the hallway, brushing against my skin. I lifted my head and noticed it was snow.The first snow of the year.A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.Snow always reminded me of fresh beginnings. Of the quiet before everything changes.I stepped further inside, warmth slowly replacing the cold that clung to my clothes. Then I saw Loira.She sat alone, her posture tense and her eyes distant.She hadn’t been herself since that day on the training grounds.“Loira,” I called gently.Her head turned; she seemed so slow and unsure, as if pulled from somewhere far a
Raven POV Morgan didn’t look back at me. “What do I want? Oh, Raven, that’s the wrong question. What do you want?”The silence stretched out between us, the air thick with tension. My mind raced, trying to make sense of everything I was seeing.Morgan’s cruelty was evident in the creatures that slithered and prowled around us, their eyes cold and lifeless, their movements like puppets on strings. My anger surged, burning through my veins.“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice tight with fury. “Why are you enslaving innocent creatures, using them like this?”Morgan’s smile stretched into something far colder, more calculating. She tilted her head slightly, finally turning to look at me, studying me as though I were an insect in need of examination. “Innocent?” she repeated, almost amused. “You call them innocent? These creatures are nothing but tools—tools that help me achieve what is rightfully mine. They’re weak, living in fear. And I’m giving them purpose.”I shook my hea
Raven POV I stood there, with my hand pressed to my chest, heart racing, feeling the weight of the queen’s cold gaze upon me.“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice shaking despite my attempt to remain calm.She chuckled softly, the sound low and almost mocking. “Oh, so you know who I am,” she said, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “That’s very interesting, don’t you think?”“Very interesting indeed,” I muttered under my breath, not able to stop the bitterness that seeped into my words.She stepped closer, her presence suffocating. “Well, it seems like you haven’t been getting my messages,” she said casually, “So I came to pick you up myself.”“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I snapped, clenching my fists, unwilling to show the fear that threatened to rise in my throat. “You monster.”She raised a single eyebrow, her lips curling into a slow, sinister smile. “Who told you that you had a choice, my sweet girl?” Her words were laced with such venom that it sent a chill dow
Rowan POV The battle raged on with death on both sides, but something felt wrong. I couldn’t see Morgan anywhere. She kept sending mindless creatures at us, but there was no sign of her.Was it a distraction? Was there something else at play?“Behind you!” I heard one of my comrades scream. I spun around just in time to block a strike that would’ve taken my head off. Beside me, one of my comrades fell, lifeless.I turned and squinted into the far corner. From the shadows, Kelvin emerged, with a smirk on his face.Damn, bastard.I charged towards him with everything I had, shifting midair. My claws slashed through the air, aimed directly at him.We collided in a brutal clash, a flurry of strikes. I clawed; he ducked and retaliated with punches, sending invisible strikes that rattled my bones. We were locked in an all-out battle—neither of us giving an inch.“Where is your queen?” I demanded, trying to catch my breath between strikes.Kelvin’s smirk deepened. “Oh, she’s exactly where
Raven POV I watched them go but couldn’t bring myself to say goodbye.The words stayed locked in my throat, heavy with frustration and helplessness.I hated the way they treated me—as if I couldn’t make decisions for myself. Like I was fragile. Like I’d shatter.People were out there dying, sacrificing their lives for me, and I was just… here. Sitting inside like some fucking damsel in distress.A chill drifted through the hallway, brushing against my skin. I lifted my head and noticed it was snow.The first snow of the year.A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.Snow always reminded me of fresh beginnings. Of the quiet before everything changes.I stepped further inside, warmth slowly replacing the cold that clung to my clothes. Then I saw Loira.She sat alone, her posture tense and her eyes distant.She hadn’t been herself since that day on the training grounds.“Loira,” I called gently.Her head turned; she seemed so slow and unsure, as if pulled from somewhere far a
Rowan POVWe rode toward Refune, the wind biting at our faces, the forest growing darker with every mile we left behind the palace walls. The trees here stood taller, denser, the silence between their trunks thicker—like the land itself was holding its breath.The further we got from the safety of home, the more my chest ached.Not from physical pain—but from something deeper. A sense of dread curled tight around my heart.I glanced to my side and saw Gwen still leaping gracefully between tree roots and low branches like a creature born of wind and shadow. Behind her, our soldiers followed. And Ansel… he moved with that same storm in his eyes, always watching, always calculating.But none of them knew the ache crawling through my bones.This—this mission, this trap we were riding into—it was necessary. If we could lure the Queen out, if we could defeat her once and for all… maybe the bloodshed would stop. Maybe Raven will finally be free.She was the reason I was even still alive. T
Rowan’s POVAfter the meeting, I walked back to my chambers in silence.The corridors of the palace were dimly lit, everywhere was quiet except for the soft echoes of my footsteps. But my thoughts—they were anything but quiet.I kept seeing her face.The way Raven looked at me.Like she was breaking… every time I turned away.Every time I swallowed the truth instead of speaking it.And still, there was nothing I could do.Because I’m dying.Slowly. Quietly. Without dignity.I stepped inside my room and shut the door behind me, resting my forehead against the cool wood for a second longer than necessary. Then I turned and made my way to the mirror.My hands moved to my shirt almost mechanically, peeling the fabric away from my skin.The mark had spread further.The cursed veins, once subtle shadows under my skin, now crawled across my chest like thorns etched in ink—ugly, angry, pulsing. I clenched my jaw, steadying myself against the wave of pain that shot through my side. It wasn’t
Raven POV I stepped into the war room, my stomach still twisting from the encounter with Ansel. The atmosphere was already tense—Rowan and Asher sat quietly at the far end of the long table, both their expressions unreadable.I took a seat beside Rowan, offering a soft glance his way, but he didn’t return it. He hadn’t looked me in the eyes since the mating ritual.Moments later, the doors opened again and Ansel walked in with Gwen by his side, both followed by two guards escorting someone between them.My heart nearly stopped.It was the priestess.The one who first told me of the prophecy. The one whose voice still haunted my dreams with those cryptic words. She limped forward awkwardly as if one of her legs was barely holding weight. Her robes were tattered and stained with dried blood and soot. Her face was pale, but her eyes locked on mine with startling urgency.I stood immediately, nearly knocking over the chair behind me. “Priestess—”I rushed forward, catching her as she s
Raven POV Loira had been gone for quite a while now, but I didn’t go after them. She deserved her moment—whatever was happening, she’d come back when she was ready.I was exhausted. Every muscle in my body ached, the kind of satisfying soreness that came from pushing limits. But despite the fatigue settling deep in my bones, I felt more alive than I had in days.Training with the guards, sparring, laughing, being seen… not just as a queen, but as one of them—it meant something. It made me feel grounded. Stronger than I was yesterday. And with the blade now strapped to my side, I felt almost invincible… even if I still didn’t fully know how to use it.I ran a gentle hand over the hilt of the sword, fingers tracing its worn handle. There was something comforting about it. As if it truly did choose me.“Raven!!”The sudden shout made me flinch. My head snapped up, and I saw Ansel striding across the field, his jaw clenched and his golden eyes blazing with fury.Oh! No.“Where have you
Loira POV I didn’t hear what Kael and Raven were talking about—my mind had wandered again, lost somewhere between the rhythm of the training ground and the persistent flutter in my chest.But then I heard my name.“Loira?”I jerked back to awareness, blinking quickly as my eyes locked with his. “Yes—yes?” I said, a little too fast.Kael took a step closer, the sunlight catching the edge of his armor. “Can I talk to you for a moment?” he asked, his voice quiet but steady.“Me?” I repeated dumbly, awkwardly pointing at my chest like there was another Loira nearby.He almost smiled, but held it back. “Yes. You.”I turned instinctively to Raven, seeking her reaction. "She wasn’t trying to hide the soft amusement in her eyes. "She gave me a tiny, encouraging smile. “Go on. "We’ll be here waiting,” she said gently.I hesitated only for a second longer before nodding.“Okay,” I murmured, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear and following him as he led me a little further off the t