VALERIA"It's not necessary; I can clean myself," I said, grabbing her hand tightly when she tried to touch me."I insist, Your Majesty. I believe it’s best if you let me help you," she said through clenched teeth, pulling her hand away sharply."Is something wrong?" Celine approached us, probably sensing the tension."No, don’t worry. I’ll just go wash off this stain. I’ll be right back," I replied, trying to force a smile."Valeria, don’t wander off or go anywhere without us," Quinn warned, and I assured them I was only heading to the bathroom.I followed Anaís’s back. I wasn’t sure what she was planning, but I was certain she wouldn’t just stand idly by.The bathroom was close, and there was no danger in a house surrounded by guards."Go in," she said brusquely, opening the door to the small bathroom and motioning me inside."This doesn’t seem right, Anaís. We’re alone here. Just tell me what you want; I’m not going into a bathroom with you," I said, standing in the hallway with th

VALERIAIn the midst of my tears, I suddenly felt disoriented.Something dense filled my nostrils, a sharp pain pierced my head, and dizziness overtook me.I stood up, wiping my tears, and looked around. I couldn’t see anything—an opaque, white fog surrounded me, obscuring even the light of the moon.What was I doing here?I felt a bit confused, but my body tensed when I saw a woman emerge from the fog."Sophia." I instinctively went on guard.She had been my best friend, but she betrayed me with my Alpha, Dorian. I saw them together—yes, but when?"Did you come to celebrate your victory? To laugh at having deceived me while sleeping with Dorian?""No, I actually came to return this deformed thing that came out of your womb," she said, and I noticed the bundle in her hands.The white cloths were soaked with blood.My heart raced with panic. I didn’t want her to unwrap what she was holding—I had a terrible feeling that knowing the truth would break me beyond repair."Take it. This thin

VALERIAIt was another massive brown Lycan—Quinn—dripping blood from multiple wounds, who began battling Aldric, assailing him alongside Celine in her vampire form.I knew they were defending me, rebelling against the King for my sake. I appreciated their loyalty, but this was not how I wanted things to end. Everything was the result of my fears and indecision.The forest was filled with roars and the stench of thick blood. I began absorbing all the fog brimming with dark energy around me. My wings beat fiercely, creating gusts of air that swept away the illusions and deceptions.My feet lifted a few inches off the ground, and the moonlight started piercing the darkness. But there was too much dark energy, and I was just a novice at controlling my power.I opened my eyes just as something flew toward me, landing at my feet with a dull thud."Quinn!" I cried, utterly exhausted, on the verge of collapsing. I felt like the dark energy coursing through my veins would explode at any moment

ALDRIC"Your Highness, this woman is dealing with the Dark Realm! Look at my brother—he doesn’t even remember us. She’s convinced him he’s her grandson and does everything she commands!"The woman threw herself at my feet, sobbing."She’s blackmailing me with my brother’s life and my parents, who are prisoners in that hut, just like she tried to blackmail Valeria. Look—look at what she’s wearing around her neck!"She lunged forward, ripping a locket from the other woman’s neck amidst screams and resistance. The woman froze when I stepped closer."Activate it. Only for me," I commanded, taking the pendant from the girl and grabbing the other woman’s hair tightly. "Try any trick, and you’ll last less than you think."Trembling, she muttered a few words, activating that cursed magic, which revealed the truth through a memory.I stepped forward, facing the strange creature I had never seen before.It wasn’t a vampire, nor a witch, nor a specter—nothing familiar.But when she raised her ga

VALERIAI thought about the possibility of him removing the heavy chain from my ankle. It seemed enchanted, and I was certain it was draining all my energy.I wasn’t so lucky—he didn’t release me. Instead, our steps led us to the double glass doors that opened onto a small balcony.My eyes widened in awe as I looked out into the night. We were high up, in an ancient castle perched on a mountain surrounded by snow and a frozen lake.In the distance, dark walls stretched out, shrouded in cold air and a dense, dark fog that blanketed the sky."Since you’re taking it all in, why not have a look at our guests in the plaza?" he murmured in my ear, his hand controlling my head.My black hair blew in the strong winds from the heights, along with the thin nightgown that offered no protection against the freezing temperatures."No, no..." was all I could manage when I saw, far below in a wide stone plaza surrounded by walls, Celine—gagged and tied, her hands bound above her head and nearly hang