Author: admin

The bonding hall shimmered with moonlight spilling through stained-glass panels. At its center stood the ritual circle, lined with ancient runes and ceremonial stones, once used by queens who’d come before me. Now it was my turn. Lucien and I walked in together, hands joined, steps in sync. The crowd silenced immediately. The King stood…

“That you’re not just my mate. You’re going to be their Queen. And if they can’t respect that, they can find another coven to call home.” I nodded slowly, letting that settle in my chest. “And they agreed?” “They don’t have a choice,” he said firmly. “I’m done letting them hurt you, Vera. I’m done…

“No,” Father agreed, lowering himself into his chair. “But we can use this opportunity to accelerate our plans.” I frowned. “What plans?” “Your ascension.” Two words, and suddenly I couldn’t breathe. The room seemed to tilt around me, the floor unsteady beneath my feet. “My what?” I managed, my voice barely a whisper. “It’s time,…

“Celene reported back to me regularly,” the King continued. “She told me how distracted you were. How you lost focus after Vera left. How… obsessed you seemed.” He tilted his head at Lucien. “She also told me something else. That you never touched her.” Lucien’s jaw twitched, but he said nothing. The King went on….

“It was a joke, Caelen.” I sighed. “A poor one, perhaps, but still a joke.” We stood in silence for a moment, the weight of revelations settling around us like dust after a storm. “What will you do now?” I finally asked. “I don’t know. Away from court, certainly. The King isn’t known for his…

He tilted his head. “Why?” “She left.” He raised an eyebrow. I explained, “She saw what I didn’t. That I never truly let go of Vera. She said it the night we returned from the conclave, that I didn’t look at her the way a man should look at his mate, and she was right.”…

Confusion flashed across Caelen’s face. “What? No, that’s not-” He broke off, coughing. The doctor hurried forward with blood wine, helping him drink. When he could speak again, his eyes were clearer, his voice stronger. “I was assigned to you, Vera. As an advisor.” “Assigned?” I repeated, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. “By…

“Which is?” “Accept that she’s gone. Accept that she’s not coming back. Accept that you need to focus on what’s important.” “She is important.” “More important than the coven? More important than your duties? More important than your future?” I looked away. “It’s not that simple.” “It is exactly that simple,” she said. “You have…