Lycannar


    My horse galloped into my Kingdom and stopped at the Royal stable under the night sky.


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    Finished


    I dismounted and entered the hall at once as the stableman came to hold the horse. I headed straight toward my tower when a shift behind me caught my attention.


    I slowed and turned. The movement flickered in my vision before vanishing. It looked more like… my father disappearing into another hallway.


    I frowned and continued walking, but then I paused and let out a shaky sigh.


    “Chantel, inform the guards to go to White Pack and escort my sisters home when they are done.”


    He said no word, only bowed and moved swiftly to carry out my orders while I mounted the stairs and pushed open the door to my bedchamber.


    I rushed to the table to pour a goblet of calming potion but it slipped from my hand when dizziness hit me suddenly.


    I stumbled to the bed and copsed onto it, breathing hard. I shouldn’t have informed Moon he would die. If I hadn’t… I wouldn’t feel this weak, this sick. I bowed my head, trying to fight the fatigue, when soft footsteps drifted in from the hallway.<fnb2f9> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find{n}ovel</fnb2f9>


    I looked up, expecting Chantel, but the door was ajar and no one was there. I stared into the nk space, goosebumps rising across my skin.


    Someone is here. Someone.


    “She will never love you. She will hate you soon. She will leave you for her fated mate and you will rot here. Alone.”


    The whisper froze me. It was my father’s voice. I had left the Empire Grove unharmed, thought I was safe…


    but now….


    I walked to the door and slowly closed it. Then I moved to the corridor of my tower, where I often watched the sun set. Below, I could see my kingdom’s people going about their nightly tasks. It gave me a small peace to seeughter among them, but then a movement caught my eyes.


    Someone walking there didn’t belong. He paused and looked up at me. My blood ran cold. Father.


    The sound of a door opening pulled me from my gaze, and I slowly turned to see Chantel standing quietly at the doorway, at attention as always.


    I turned back to where I had glimpsed my father on the lower floor but he was gone. Only the cool night breeze swirled around now.


    I pulled away from the corridor and decided to prepare for bed. I made my way to the bath chamber, therge space lit with ancient candles that burned forever.


    Memories of Zephyrine in the water came flooding back. Her body, her gaze, her lips, those long, beautiful


    fingers…


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    Finished


    “He held them, didn’t he?” My father’s voice cut through my thoughts. I swallowed hard. “She feels nothing for you, son. No one will love you. She will get better and return to her mate. No one will love a creature with no ce here or in the other world.”


    I swallowed his bitter words and undressed, stepping into the pool. The water was soothing, and I closed my eyes to savor it but visions of Zephyrine in the arms of her mate shed before me. They kissed, and she stared at him the way she used to look at me.


    I jerked my eyes open and breathed shakily. It’s not real, I tried to tell myself.


    Just hallucinations, remnants of the Grove visit. I steadied my breath and looked ahead to see Chantel silently observing. I turned away, finished bathing, and stepped out of the running pool.


    I picked up my robe and dressed. As I walked through the hall, I felt another presence below. My uncle, Dareth.


    Quietly, I descended the stairs to the dining room where he stood with two elders from the council.


    The same elders who never appeared unless absolutely necessary.


    Why are they here tonight?


    “Your Majesty,” my uncle bowed. I paused at the foot of the stairs, waiting.


    His eyes ran over my wet hair, my bare feet, the golden anklets around my ankles.


    “Uh… Your Majesty, we havee to remind you, because it seems you have forgotten. This is the Lycan Kingdom, and we have no business with the Werewolf Empire.”


    I said nothing, staring at him. He continued, fidgeting slightly.


    “You have barely attended council meetings since ascending the throne, so we havee to remind you about the Beta post. You didn’t address it.”


    Still, I remained silent, studying him. Atst, I nodded.


    “Let’s discuss it tomorrow at the meeting. I will be there.”


    Ignoring his bow and the elders‘ presence, I returned to my tower. I pulled off the Royal robe and dressed for bed. Just as I finished, Chantel appeared at my doorstep, refreshed and ready to guard as he always did.


    I walked to the bed and sat, doing nothing for a moment. I reached for a book but couldn’t concentrate. My thoughts weighed heavily.


    What if Zephyrine is in another man’s arms? And… why does the nket on her bed cling to her body like that? It should be me holding her so tight?


    I groaned in frustration and closed the book. Gently, I looked at Chantel and sighed.


    “Come in,” I ordered.


    He obeyed quietly, lowering himself into the chair by the table. He must be tired too; he shouldn’t have to


    22.25 Fri, Sep


    stand all night.


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    Finished


    I draped the nket over myself with a heavy sigh and closed my eyes, trying to sleep but my heart was restless, my thoughts tangled with betrayal. I opened my eyes to see Chantel watching me. Silence fell until he spoke.


    “Should I go kill him?”


    The question lingered in my mind. I could wipe out that useless mate of hers and prepare for her wrath.ter but no.


    “She said she won’t see me again if I harm him,” I muttered. “For now… let him live.”


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