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I met her gaze. “You can believe whatever you want to believe. Your opinion about me doesn’t affect me in the slightest. However, I do know one thing for sure.“And what is that?”“You are afraid.”The laughter dies, and Althea’s eyes harden. “What do you mean? I afraid? Of what exactly? Please do tell me.”“Me. It seems, for some reason, you are intimidated by me.”She let out a short chuckle, “Hehe. Unbelievable. What makes you think that I, Althea Dragomir, am scared of you? Let me tell you something just to be clear. You are the one who should be afraid here. Not just of me, but of everyone. This palace devours those who are unwelcome and without protection.” She looked away from me and nodded toward Lee. “If you think that he will be able to protect you, then you are too naive. Even my father, the king, will have a hard time protecting you, much less him. That you were even able to come out of the queen’s bedchamber without a scratch, you should count yourself lucky.”I paused br
“My lady, are you alright?” Lee rushed up to me as soon as I stepped out. I nodded my head in confirmation and stepped forward. “Yeah, I’m alright, Lee. Let’s get going.”I was already feeling exhausted from the emotional turmoil I had with the queen, and all I just wanted at the moment was to rest my head.I turned to the maids, believing they knew the way to my room. “Please show me to my assigned room.”“Yes, your highness.” They bowed and turned to lead the way.However, an arrogant voice stopped that from happening.“Wow, I didn’t know that privileges and titles meant for the royal family could be easily given to just anybody.”I stopped in place and looked up to see who it was that just spoke.Just ahead, closing in the distance between us, was a lady, rather young, probably younger than I was, and dressed in a luxurious outfit with an air of arrogance. Her gown was adorned with gold and rubies. A step behind her were two other young ladies with the same air of arrogance.They
The room fell into silence as I opened page after page of the file before me. “So you are telling me that this was not the first time these creatures made their first appearance on our territory.”“Yes, brother. From my investigation, one of them appeared in our territory twenty years ago on the night of the red blood moon.”A chair scraped sharply across the floor. Rowan muttered a curse under his breath. “I remember that night, Your Highness. The sudden explosion that took place at the border that night had thrown everyone into a state of despair because no one knew what had triggered it. The borders were in chaos. We suspected rogues, witches, and even traveling fae caravans. We even suspected neighboring packs. But not once did anyone speak of a different race.”“Well, that was because they never gave us reason to, Captain. The legends said changelings kept to themselves—secluded valleys, drowned cities, caves that mirrored faces in the walls. They hid from not just the wolves bu
A cold silence fell.I straightened, barely able to contain the storm that was brewing within me.“You’re telling me a creature that shouldn’t exist walked into my territory and stole my mate.”“Well, we didn’t even know they still existed, Alpha.” Rowan tried explaining, but I cut him off.“Still?” My eyes snapped to Rowan. “What aren’t you saying?”Rowan hesitated, then bowed his head.“There are old legends—stories the elders whispered when we were young. Tales of changelings… beings who lived hidden from the world. Creatures that took the forms of others with frightening accuracy. But they were myths. Rumors. Nothing more.”“And yet one walked through my home.”“Changelings were said to be isolationists, sire. Reclusive. A species that despised contact with the outside world. They kept to themselves so fiercely that most believed they vanished centuries ago. They never interfered, never revealed themselves… until now.” Elric spoke up.My hands curled into fists as I battled with m
Her mocking words send my mind into turmoil, but I must stay composed. I must stay composed. I must not let her words get to me, no matter how much she enjoys it.The way she laughs and taunts me is unbearable, but what I could not take was the way she spoke of my werewolf heritage, mocking and belittling it as if it were a joke.“I find the barbarians, as you've called them, teach better than tutors, Your Majesty,” I said, smiling faintly. “With their sharp senses and attentiveness, one learns to see what others overlook.”A long silence. Then the queen rose, gliding toward me. Her perfume was intoxicating with scents of roses, steel, and something darker.She stopped beside my chair, her voice soft enough that only I heard:“Be careful what you see, child. The last who stared too closely at the sun was burned blind.”I met her gaze, not defiantly, but steadily, despite how I was feeling inside. “And yet, Your Majesty, the sun still rose the next day.” I know challenging her at this
Divya's POVI had expected to be treated with malice and disrespect upon entering the queen's chambers, but this, this treatment, I had not expected.It's been about twenty minutes since I stepped into her chambers, and the queen has not even acknowledged my presence. In fact, as soon as I walked in, she turned her back and continued talking to the three ladies that were also in the chambers with her. They were deeply involved in the topic of their discussion, totally ignoring my presence as though I were invisible.The queen reclined on her lounge chair, while the ladies gathered around her in graceful positions, with embroidery hoops and jeweled fans in hand. From their conversation between themselves, I was able to gather the name and status of each of them.In fact, they were all noble women that held enough power in their hands to do as they pleased due to their families' standing and connections. They were also the queen's ladies-in-waiting, trusted advisors, and confidantes.Wh







