MelodyThe soft, rhythmic sound of Zoraya’s breathing was the only thing that filled the room as I sat by her bedside, my hands gently smoothing the blanket over her frail form. The morning light spilled through the high windows, casting a golden hue across her face, but it did little to lift the worry that had taken root in my heart.She was so still, her delicate features pale against the pillow, as though she carried the weight of an entire world on her shoulders. And in a way, she did.The physician’s words echoed in my mind, a revelation that had both surprised and devastated me.“She’s with child, Your Majesty.”I had kept my composure in front of the physician, nodding curtly as though it were simply another matter of state to handle. But inside, my emotions had been a whirlwind.Zoraya...pregnant?I didn’t need to ask to know the truth of it. Zoraya’s silence, her trembling fear, the haunted look in her eyes whenever a shadow moved too quickly... all of it painted a grim pict
ElenaThe corridors of Mallory Palace stretched before me like a gilded labyrinth, bathed in sunlight streaming through high windows. Intricate tapestries adorned the walls, each one telling stories of the kingdom’s history, its triumphs and tragedies. Ornate chandeliers hung overhead, their crystals catching the light and scattering rainbows across the polished marble floors.It was a palace that spoke of power, history, and wealth... it was a far cry from the modest life I grew up in.I walked slowly, taking in every detail, my steps measured and deliberate. I couldn’t afford to appear awed or out of place, even though my heart raced with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. I had heard stories of this place from my mother, Estrella, but standing here in the flesh was something else entirely.My mother had spoken of Mallory Palace with a mixture of longing and bitterness, her words often laced with secrets she refused to share fully. She would tell me about its grandeur, its po
Elena The flickering candlelight cast long shadows against the walls of my chamber, the golden glow dancing across the polished surfaces. I sat by the vanity, running a comb through my dark hair, deep in thought. Tonight had been… enlightening.Zoraya was weaker than I remembered, more fragile, yet still frustratingly resilient in her silence. She should have been broken by now. But no—she lingered, surviving against all odds under the Queen’s protection.And Giovanni… He was beginning to question things, just as I wanted. But something still felt off.I had sensed it earlier—the weight of unseen eyes, the shift in the air when I spoke to him. I had been so focused on planting seeds of doubt in his mind that I had failed to look over my shoulder.A mistake I wouldn’t make again.I placed the comb down, staring at my reflection. My expression was unreadable, as it should be. A woman in control, poised, untouchable. That was the role I had perfected.But something gnawed at me.Aaron.
AaronThe night air was crisp as I stepped onto the balcony of my chambers in Mallory Palace. The city stretched before me, bathed in the silver glow of the moon, its streets alive with the flickering light of torches. From up here, everything seemed peaceful—calm, even. But I knew better.Beneath the polished marble floors of this palace, beneath the regal smiles and flowing gowns, lay a battlefield of schemes and hidden daggers. And right now, at the center of it all, was Elena.I took a slow sip of my wine, my keen eyes scanning the courtyard below. The guards moved about in their usual routine, oblivious to the storm brewing within these walls. My brother, Giovanni, had told me everything—every whispered word Elena had fed him, every attempt she had made to turn him against our mother.I smirked, swirling the liquid in my glass. Foolish girl.She thought she was clever, that she had him wrapped around her little finger, but she underestimated us. Giovanni and I were not just brot
GiovanniI sat in my chambers, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows against the walls. The maps and documents before me blurred as my mind drifted back to my conversation with Aaron.Elena was getting bolder.My fingers tapped against the wooden desk as I recalled every word my twin had shared with me. She had attempted, yet again, to plant seeds of doubt in my mind—this time, through a nobleman. It was almost impressive how persistent she was.Almost.I leaned back in my chair, my gaze shifting to the moonlit window. From the very beginning, I had known Elena was dangerous. She was cunning, intelligent, and highly ambitious. But the problem was… she thought she was smarter than she actually was.She underestimated me.She thought I was blindly following her lead, that I was intrigued by her charm, swayed by her words. And for a time, I let her believe it. Let her think she was winning.The truth? I had been watching her just as closely as she had been watching me.A knock
ElenaI remained seated at the breakfast table long after Giovanni left, my grip tightening around the goblet in my hand.Something had shifted.I had felt it the moment I entered the hall—the subtle change in the air, the way Giovanni’s eyes lingered on me just a second too long, the deliberate weight of his words.I had the most interesting conversation with my brother last night.It was a warning. A calculated move to make me uneasy.And damn it, it was working.I forced my expression to remain neutral as I took another slow sip of wine. Around me, nobles continued their conversations, oblivious to the silent war brewing beneath the surface.Had I miscalculated?No. That wasn’t possible.Everything I had done so far had been meticulous—carefully placed words, strategic alliances, quiet whispers in the right ears. Giovanni had been playing along, hadn’t he? He had shown no signs of resistance, no indication that he was anything other than receptive to my ideas.Unless…I set the gob
ZorayaThe palace was quiet tonight.I curled up on the plush rug beside my bed, knees drawn to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around myself. Ronnie was nestled against my side, his small body warm and comforting. His breathing was steady, rhythmic, and for a moment, I focused on it, matching my own breaths to his.But no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t shake off the weight pressing down on my chest. The memories clawed at the edges of my mind, restless, demanding to be acknowledged.Elena was here.She had been here for days, watching, scheming, and worst of all, smiling. A smile that hid sharp edges, a smile I had learned to fear. No one else saw what lay beneath it. No one else knew.Except for Queen Melody.My fingers dug into my arms as I thought of her. The Queen had been… kind. Far kinder than anyone had ever been to me. She gave me food, soft clothes, warmth. She spoke to me in a way that made me feel seen. Heard. Even though I could not speak like the others, she understo
MelodyZoraya’s hands trembled in mine, her dark eyes wide with unshed tears. I could feel the fear radiating from her, pressing against my senses like a whisper of the past she was too afraid to recall.But I needed her to.Her breathing was uneven, her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t. And, of course, she couldn’t—not in the way most people did. The only sound that left her was a broken, strangled whimper, a noise so haunting it sent fury rippling through me.I already knew what she was trying to tell me.Elena.The name alone was enough to make my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin. She had been watching, waiting, ever since the first moment I saw how Zoraya had reacted to her presence. The sheer terror in her body language had told me enough.I should have known sooner.The pieces had been right there before me—the way Zoraya recoiled, the way her entire body went rigid at the mere sight of Elena. It was more than fear. It was deep, ingrained t
MelodyMinutes stretched into hours, yet Zoraya remained asleep. I stayed by her side, unwilling to leave her even for a moment. Her breathing was steady, her face peaceful, but I knew the storm of emotions that would rage within her when she awoke.I gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, my heart swelling with both love and sorrow. This child—my child—had suffered far too much. Even in sleep, her delicate features held the remnants of past pain, the shadows of a life filled with cruelty.But she was safe now.I wouldn’t let Elena steal her away, not like Estrella had stolen her from me all those years ago. The past would not repeat itself, not if I had anything to do with it.I had already failed once.I had lost my daughter to lies, deception, and the bitter hands of fate.Never again.The thought of Elena roaming the palace sent a fresh wave of unease through me. She was cunning, just like her mother. Estrella had spent her life trying to take everything that belonged to m
MelodyThe air in the chamber was heavy with silence. Derek sat across from me, his fingers laced together, his sharp eyes scrutinizing every word I had just spoken. The weight of my revelation hung between us like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury. I could see the thoughts racing through his mind, the pieces of the puzzle shifting into place.Zoraya was my daughter.Elena was Estrella’s.And Mallory stood on the brink of war.Derek leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. “This changes everything.”“I know,” I said quietly.His jaw clenched as he processed the information, his grip tightening on the arms of his chair. “If Zoraya is your daughter, she is the rightful princess of both Mallory and Dark Flame.” His gaze met mine, unreadable yet heavy with unspoken thoughts. “Does she know?”I shook my head. “No. She doesn’t even know who she is. She was raised in captivity, Derek. She cannot speak, cannot write. The torment she endured…” My voice faltered, and I had to take a ste
MelodyThe tension in the royal chambers was thick enough to cut with a blade. Derek sat across from me, his hands folded on the table, his gaze sharp and calculating. He had just finished explaining his plan to dismantle Worden’s influence and drive the rogues into chaos. It was a good plan—bold, strategic, and exactly what we needed.I smiled slightly, leaning back in my chair. “It will work.”Derek raised an eyebrow. “You sound so sure.”I nodded. “Because I am. Aaron and Giovanni are known as Mallory's back bone and they're worth the hype," I smiled proudly. "They are the best warriors I’ve ever known." Derek nodded in agreement. Worden may have played his game well, but he underestimated who he was up against. He thinks he’s dealing with the same Mallory from years ago, but he has no idea the strength we’ve built.”Derek exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. “Even with that, war is never predictable. The moment we go after his spies and disrupt his plans, he’ll retaliate. We need
DerekThe council chamber emptied slowly, the weight of my words still lingering in the air like a heavy storm cloud. My mind raced as I paced the room, Giovanni standing beside me, his presence a silent pillar of support.King Worden had betrayed us. Not only had he conspired with rogues, but he had also directly ordered the execution of my nephew.A man I once called an ally.A man who knew the inner workings of Mallory’s defenses.I clenched my fists, barely restraining the anger simmering beneath my skin.“Giovanni,” I said, my voice low but filled with authority. “We cannot delay. If Worden has already made his move, we must act before he does.”Giovanni nodded. “Agreed. The rogues will be emboldened by his support. If we wait too long, they’ll strike when we least expect it.”I exhaled sharply, my mind sorting through all the possible avenues. There was no room for mistakes.“We need to root out every single one of his spies within our borders,” I said, turning toward him. “He’s
DerekThe council chamber was silent, the air thick with tension. I sat at the head of the long, ornate table, my fingers curled tightly against the armrests of my throne. Across from me, Giovanni stood with his shoulders squared, his expression grim and unwavering.I had always known Giovanni to be sharp, a warrior in his own right, but today, there was something else in his eyes—something darker. A weight that came from witnessing something truly vile.He had returned only days ago, yet I had summoned him to court so that he could address the court about his findings along with Aaron. Too many questions swirled in my mind, and I wouldn’t rest until I had answers.“Speak, Giovanni,” I commanded, my voice calm but firm. “Tell me everything.”Giovanni took a slow breath, then met my gaze. “I saw the rogue’s den with my own eyes, Your Majesty. I saw their numbers, their strategies. But worst of all, I saw the truth behind King Worden’s betrayal.”A murmur ran through the few nobles pre
ElenaThe palace had grown quieter tonight, the usual distant chatter of servants and the rhythmic steps of patrolling guards seeming more muted than usual. The air carried a weight, an unspoken tension that sent a prickle of unease down my spine.Something had shifted.I walked with my usual measured steps, careful not to let my thoughts show on my face. I had spent too many years perfecting my composure to let suspicion slip through now. And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched more closely than before.Had the Queen figured something out?That thought alone made my stomach tighten.She had been different at dinner tonight. I had caught her watching me more than once, her gaze sharp, assessing. There had been no outright hostility, but her presence had carried a weight that hadn’t been there before.Queen Melody was a woman of power—one did not rule a kingdom like Mallory without possessing an acute sense of awareness. If she had begun to suspect me, I needed t
MelodyThe night air was crisp as I stepped onto the balcony of my chambers, the scent of jasmine and damp earth filling my lungs. The world outside was calm, bathed in the soft glow of the moon, but inside me, a storm raged.I had been restless ever since Zoraya arrived. Something about her had called to me in a way I couldn’t explain—an ache deep in my soul, a pull stronger than logic. And tonight, that truth had finally been laid bare.She is ours.The voice of my wolf echoed in my mind, unwavering.I stilled, my fingers gripping the cold stone railing.Zoraya is My daughter.My lost child. My Darya.I squeezed my eyes shut, my breath coming in sharp, uneven pulls. A wave of emotions crashed into me all at once—relief, sorrow, fury. How had I not seen it sooner?Her scent, her presence, the way my heart clenched every time I looked at her—it had always been there. My wolf had suspected it from the very beginning, but I had been afraid to hope, afraid to be wrong.But I wasn’t wron
MelodyZoraya’s hands trembled in mine, her dark eyes wide with unshed tears. I could feel the fear radiating from her, pressing against my senses like a whisper of the past she was too afraid to recall.But I needed her to.Her breathing was uneven, her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t. And, of course, she couldn’t—not in the way most people did. The only sound that left her was a broken, strangled whimper, a noise so haunting it sent fury rippling through me.I already knew what she was trying to tell me.Elena.The name alone was enough to make my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin. She had been watching, waiting, ever since the first moment I saw how Zoraya had reacted to her presence. The sheer terror in her body language had told me enough.I should have known sooner.The pieces had been right there before me—the way Zoraya recoiled, the way her entire body went rigid at the mere sight of Elena. It was more than fear. It was deep, ingrained t
ZorayaThe palace was quiet tonight.I curled up on the plush rug beside my bed, knees drawn to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around myself. Ronnie was nestled against my side, his small body warm and comforting. His breathing was steady, rhythmic, and for a moment, I focused on it, matching my own breaths to his.But no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t shake off the weight pressing down on my chest. The memories clawed at the edges of my mind, restless, demanding to be acknowledged.Elena was here.She had been here for days, watching, scheming, and worst of all, smiling. A smile that hid sharp edges, a smile I had learned to fear. No one else saw what lay beneath it. No one else knew.Except for Queen Melody.My fingers dug into my arms as I thought of her. The Queen had been… kind. Far kinder than anyone had ever been to me. She gave me food, soft clothes, warmth. She spoke to me in a way that made me feel seen. Heard. Even though I could not speak like the others, she understo