Shock rippled across his face, freezing him in place. His lips parted, but no words came, only a breathless pause as he tried to comprehend what I’d just said. Slowly, the shock faded, replaced by an expression that seemed heavier than understanding—it was something closer to resignation. He exhaled deeply, sinking into the chair across from me.Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed his gaze flicker toward me, lingering with unspoken thoughts. My heart clenched, but I forced myself to stare at the floor, unwilling to meet his eyes. I needed clarity—space to hear him out without the pull of his emotions clouding my own judgment.“I don’t even know where to begin,” he started, his voice low and strained. “I don’t know how this... this mess even started. I don’t know what you think you saw or heard. But, Camilla, one thing I’m certain of is that I would never—could never—do anything to hurt you. You mean everything to me. Camilla, I lo—”“Don’t,” I interrupted sharply, my voice tremblin
The first thing I became aware of as I woke was the heavy weight of his arm draped over my waist. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I thought I was dreaming. Warmth radiated from his body, his chest rising and falling steadily against my back. The memories of the night before drifted through my mind, and I let out a soft breath, wishing I could hold onto this quiet moment forever.It was so different from just two mornings ago. Back then, I’d been quick to shove him out of my room, eager to create distance and maintain boundaries. Now, I found myself reluctant to move, as though any shift might break the spell. His presence, once overwhelming, had become a strange kind of comfort.His hand was firm against my stomach, pinning me in place as if he knew I might try to slip away. Our legs were tangled, his heat seeping into my skin. I couldn’t help but smile faintly at the intimacy of it, even as the practical part of me knew this couldn’t last. Life was waiting for both of us, f
The scream tore from my throat, raw and piercing, but I didn’t even recognize it as my own until Ryker’s strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into his chest. His steady presence should have grounded me, but the chaos inside my mind was deafening. I couldn’t focus, couldn’t think. A single thought ricocheted through my head, relentless and suffocating: I need to find Audrey.The room spun as guards burst in, their hurried movements adding to the frenzy. They looked to me for instructions, but my mouth refused to form words. It was Ryker who took charge, his voice a steady anchor amidst the storm. He barked orders to search the castle, pointing to the open window as their first lead. Yet, I barely registered his words. My mind kept looping one question: How could this happen? How could someone take my daughter while we were right here?My hands trembled as I dragged them through my hair, pacing in jagged, restless steps. Normally, my first suspicion would have been Tyson after the
Mother’s decree was final—she demanded I stay and refused to let me leave the palace. Even if she hadn’t intervened, I would have taken the risk anyway, but she’d made it impossible by ordering guards to shadow me relentlessly. Everywhere I turned, they were there, silent but ever-watchful. She also doubled the palace’s security, positioning sentinels at every conceivable entrance and exit. Whoever this enemy was, they wouldn’t have the chance to take anyone else.Despite her efforts, an unshakable unease lingered in the pit of my stomach. Something about this entire situation didn’t feel right, as if no amount of precautions could stop what was coming. I couldn’t voice my fears to anyone. Speaking them aloud would only serve to spread the dread that already clawed at my chest, and I refused to be the one who drained the last dregs of hope from the palace.The city had descended into chaos. Word of Audrey’s disappearance had spread like wildfire—likely leaked by a loose-lipped guard.
The faint flicker of movement caught my attention as I turned sharply, my heart sinking at the sight of Tyson standing in the doorway, his dark eyes gleaming with malice. A smirk twisted his lips, chilling me to the core. Instinctively, I stepped between him and my daughter, my body acting as her shield. His gaze slid over me, unbothered, and a cruel laugh escaped his throat.“Protecting her, are you?” Tyson’s voice was smooth, mocking. “How noble. But let’s not forget—I’ve had plenty of time with her already. Perhaps I’ve seen more than you’d ever wish for me to see.”My fists clenched at his insinuation, rage bubbling under my skin. “If you’ve harmed her—”“Relax,” he interrupted, raising a hand lazily. “She’s untouched. For now.” His smirk deepened. “She’s beautiful, though. A shame she isn’t ours. If she were mine, she might’ve been spared all this unpleasantness.”“Say one more word about my child,” Ryker growled, his voice venomous, “and I’ll make sure you regret ever breathing.
Chapter 68I sat in the dressing room, my fingers fidgeting with the soft fabric of the robe draped over me. The silence in the room was unnerving, broken only by the faint sounds of hurried footsteps outside. The coronation was today—a day I’d been dreading for months. Avoiding the sight of my dress until now had been my way of pretending this moment might somehow never arrive. But no amount of denial could change the fact: today, I would step into a role I wasn’t sure I wanted.The door swung open, and the stylists entered, carrying what could only be described as a masterpiece. My breath caught in my throat as they laid the dress out before me. It shimmered like molten gold, catching the faint sunlight streaming through the windows and scattering it in every direction. The intricate embroidery glinted with subtle hints of peach, creating a warm, ethereal glow. I was too stunned to speak.Christine walked in behind them, her expression nervous but hopeful. Her gaze flitted between m
The crowd erupted into applause as I ascended the throne. The weight of their gazes was palpable, but as I sat, a sense of calm washed over me. My eyes sought out Audrey, who clapped harder than anyone else, her joy lighting up the room.Then my gaze shifted to Ryker. He stood tall beside his family, his expression unreadable at first, but when our eyes met, a small, knowing smile tugged at his lips. The memories of that fire, the chaos and fear, and the relief of finding him alive flooded back. That night, amidst the ashes, we had made a promise—to be a family again, to leave the pain behind and move forward together.As I tipped my head in acknowledgment, Ryker returned the gesture, his pride evident. It wasn’t the most traditional love story, but it was ours, forged in fire and tempered by our determination to protect what mattered most.SEVEN MONTHS LATER“Where the hell is he?” My voice was sharp, cutting through the tension in the room as Christine hovered close, her fussing gra
Navigating life with a newborn had been an unpredictable journey. Between sleepless nights and the endless responsibilities of the crown, it often felt like I was being pulled in every direction. Yet, Ryker remained a constant, unwavering presence by my side. He seemed to anticipate my needs before I even voiced them, stepping in without hesitation. Whether it was soothing Aurora in the middle of the night, cradling her through her bouts of fussiness, or taking her off my hands entirely so I could focus on palace matters, he made the chaos feel manageable.I’d foolishly hoped that motherhood would ease my workload, granting me some reprieve from the ceaseless demands of ruling a kingdom. But reality had proven otherwise. If anything, my schedule had become more relentless, especially with the looming preparations for Aurora’s naming ceremony.Her name was already known—Aurora Leanor Caine. But tradition demanded an elaborate ceremony to present her formally to the kingdom and bless he
CAMILLA’S POVI barely remembered the walk to the council chamber. My mind was a storm, chaotic and relentless, drowning out everything around me. The hushed whispers in the corridors, the wary glances from passing servants—they all faded into nothing as I focused on the weight of what was ahead.As I approached the large double doors, I spotted Ryker pacing outside. His normally strong, confident stance was absent. Instead, he looked restless, like a man trying to piece together fragments of a nightmare he couldn’t remember.The moment his eyes met mine, I saw a flicker of relief. Without hesitation, he reached for my hand, gripping it tightly as if I were the only thing keeping him grounded."We can handle them," I murmured, squeezing back.Ryker had always been my rock, the unshakable presence in my life. But right now, standing in front of me was a different version of him—one filled with uncertainty, frustration, and exhaustion. It unsettled me in ways I couldn’t explain.He exha
CAMILLA’S P.O.VThe first thing I noticed when I woke up was the emptiness beside me. The warmth that usually lingered on Ryker’s side of the bed had faded, leaving only cool sheets in its place. My fingers instinctively reached out, searching for him, but there was nothing. Just silence.I sighed, rolling onto my back and staring at the ceiling. He must have gone to see Riley. I had seen the way she looked at him last night—like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for him to pull her back. Whatever she was going through, I knew he wouldn’t leave her to face it alone.So I didn’t question it. I didn’t worry.Not until the sun dipped below the horizon and he still hadn’t come back.At first, I told myself he was just caught up in something. He was the prince now, after all, and responsibility had a way of consuming him. But as the hours passed, unease crept into my bones, making it impossible to sit still. I had spent years learning to trust him, and I did—but something ab
RYKER’S POVThere was something about Camilla that never failed to captivate me. Maybe it was the way she carried herself with quiet strength, or maybe it was because I was utterly, irrevocably in love with her. She was my greatest weakness, my greatest solace. Lying here with her curled against me, her soft breaths warming my chest, I felt something I rarely allowed myself to indulge in—peace.My fingers traced slow, idle patterns along her bare shoulder, and she stirred slightly, mumbling something incoherent before settling back into sleep. I should have been sleeping, too—goddess knew I needed the rest—but I couldn’t bring myself to close my eyes. Not yet. Not when I had this moment.My father used to say that a man was defined by what he did in times of war. But I had learned otherwise. A man was defined by how he lived in the quiet moments, by the way he loved, the way he protected what was his. I wasn’t naive enough to believe I was a good man, but I knew that I loved fiercely,
CAMILLA’S POVDamien left without much ceremony. No grand farewells, no gathering of well-wishers. Just Ryker and me standing at the gates, watching as he disappeared into the forest beyond. For a brief moment, I thought I saw something flicker across his face—disappointment, maybe. But really, what did he expect? After everything that had happened, people weren’t exactly lining up to send him off with warm embraces. He made his choice, and now he had to live with it.Once he was gone, I did my best to find some normalcy, though it was a futile effort. I tried coaxing Riley and Christine into joining me for a quiet afternoon in the private library, a simple escape from the weight of reality. Just a few hours with the girls, some tea, maybe a book or two. Something to ease the tension that had taken root in this palace like an invasive weed. But both of them declined, choosing instead to lock themselves away.I understood.I wanted to help them, to say something—anything—that would mak
RYKER’S P.O.VDamien had always been a part of my life. From childhood to now, his presence was as constant as the air I breathed. We were opposites in nearly every way—his reckless impulsivity clashing with my calculated caution. And while his actions had irritated me before, nothing compared to the sheer rage burning inside me now.I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay seated. If I let my anger take control, I’d drag him out of this room by his collar and beat some sense into him.The private living room was suffocating with tension. No one dared to speak. Riley sat stiffly on one side, as far away from Damien as possible—a stark contrast to her usual behavior. She had spent years orbiting him, desperate for his attention. But today, there was no lingering glance, no attempt to close the space between them. Instead, her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her knuckles white from the pressure. Christine, on the opposite end of the room, sat perfectly still, her expression un
No force on earth could have pulled Damien away from Christine—not even us. And trust me, we tried. His grip on her was unrelenting, his focus unwavering, as if letting go would make her disappear. Even when we attempted to check on her, to make sure she was truly unharmed, he wouldn't budge. Christine kept insisting she was fine, brushing off our concerns, but I knew better. I wanted a professional to look her over just to be sure, but Damien wasn’t letting anyone near her.She rode back to the palace with him, their connection unbreakable, while Ryker and I handled the girls. They were wide awake but eerily quiet, their silence heavier than any words they could have spoken. I could only imagine what was running through their little minds.By the time we arrived at the palace, the first light of dawn stretched across the sky, painting everything in soft hues of pink and gold. But nothing about this moment felt beautiful. My heart clenched the second I saw who was waiting for us.Rile
**CAMILLA'S POV**The enemy had finally realized this wouldn’t be as easy as they thought. But recognition didn’t equate to retreat. Instead, they charged again—this time, directly at Ryker. We had anticipated that. The moment they lunged, our guards burst from the shadows of the forest, massive wolves in their battle forms. Snarls and the sound of snapping jaws filled the air.That distraction was all we needed. Without hesitation, we darted between the chaos, diving straight into the river. The cold water swallowed us, and I could hear Damien’s strokes close behind as we swam for the hidden cave entrance beneath the falls.Breaking through the other side, I hauled myself onto the rocky edge and gasped for air, scanning the cavern. It was eerily empty. I had expected a swarm of vampires, a whole army waiting in ambush. Instead, only three figures stood in the dim light—two nameless guards flanking Christine and Audrey, while Alastair loomed a few steps away.My breath caught at the s
CAMILLA’S P.O.VFor a moment, the words didn’t make sense. My mind rejected them, my body frozen in place. I blinked rapidly, struggling to catch up. Had I really just heard that?Ryker, always quicker to react, snapped into action. His voice rose above the chaos, sharp and commanding, but I couldn’t make out his words. All I heard was the ringing in my ears—loud, deafening. I wanted to claw at my head, anything to make it stop."Camilla," Ryker’s voice cut through the noise, rough but insistent. He was right in front of me, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes burned with urgency, but underneath, I saw something else—something wild, barely restrained. He was teetering on the edge of losing control."I need you to go inside. Stay with your guards. Can you do that?"I barely processed what he was saying. "He has the girls… and Christine." The words felt foreign on my tongue, like they didn’t belong in my reality. But they did.Ryker nodded once, his jaw tight, his muscles flexing unde
**CAMILLA'S POV**The silence in the castle was deafening. It wasn’t just an absence of noise—it was the absence of them. My daughters. Christine. The people who made this place feel like more than just walls and stone. Without them, it felt... empty. I had known this would happen. I had agreed to it. And yet, the weight of their absence pressed against my chest, making every breath feel heavier than the last.I ran my fingers along the smooth wood of my desk, the grain a small grounding force in the midst of my turmoil. I wanted to believe that they were safe, that they had made it to their destination without issue. But the truth was, we wouldn’t know until word came. And until then, all we could do was wait.Waiting, however, wasn’t something I did well.Ryker and I had thrown ourselves into work the moment they left, trying to devise a plan to finally end this nightmare. The vampires had to be removed from the equation. Alastair had to be drawn out and neutralized. We had the tool