Zephyrine


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    Isolde served the dinner before me and Blue stepped forward to pour my goblet of water. Gently, they moved aside to let me eat, but I couldn’t. All I saw as I stared down at the te was nothing, because I wasn’t paying attention.


    I had arrived from White Pack this afternoon after leaving at dawn. There, I spoke with Dessyn, and Alpha Auedric had been one of those who stood by me, something I will forever appreciate and never forget.


    He even promised to give me an army. After salvaging everything, all he could provide was thirty men. Thirty soldiers added to the ones already down from Moonveil Fortress made the avable number only one hundred and fifty and it sounded almost like a joke.


    One hundred and fifty men going against one thousand and five was nowhere near enough. I am the goddess of war, but even I cannot win such a battle. And if I bled and somehow won, I might still lose the life of my brother.


    I was lost in thought, bothered by the ticking days and the rumors spreading fast.


    ‘Mydy, please, your dinner,” Blue’s voice came softly, and I lifted my gaze to her.


    Yes. A Lycan.


    She must have been wise and old enough to remember when the demons came seeking refuge in the Lycan Kingdom after the war five years ago.


    Staring at her now only dragged my mind to him and though I never wanted to think of him again if I could help it, his memory kept folding into me the more I tried to push it away.


    I swallowed.


    “You know about Xyrrha?” I asked, my voice cold and firm, unlike how I usually spoke to her. To this, she looked at me briefly before stepping back and shaking her head.


    “Mydy…”


    Her eyes betrayed her. She knew something.


    “You know her rtionship with Lycannar?” I pressed again. In response, she only stood there in silence and that confirmed it.


    I lowered my gaze and sighed. I was foolish to think she would ever fully side with me. No matter how close we were, her true loyalty would always belong to Lycannar.


    I should have known it already when she told me her story and still loved him, still understood him even after he killed her mother.


    “I want to be alone,” I said softly, picking up my cutlery. Isolde and the rest of the maids withdrew quietly, Normally, Blue stayed behind since she was my personal maid, but this time I added. “You too, Blue. Out.”


    She lingered, and my gaze met hers, wondering why she was still there. Then I saw it to my greatest awe.


    Her tears. She wiped them away.


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    “Mydy, His Majesty will never cheat on you. Please go back to him. You are the only woman who has made him feel alive. I don’t… I don’t want both of you to be sad anymore. You two clearly need eachother.”


    A lump rose in my throat. My gaze dropped. Those tears of hers suddenly made me feel guilty. Her words triggered something in me and I instantly felt like a viin.


    Emotion gripped me, and I tightened my hold on the cutlery as she finally slipped away, leaving me to myself and my sorrow.


    The sound of footsteps came gently, and the door opened softly. Isolde walked in and bowed.


    “Mydy, Beta Jurrek seeks an audience.”


    I turned away from the window where I had been standing. Surprised at why he would want to see me at such a dark hour, I walked out of my bedchamber and through the hall to meet him standing at the threshold.


    “Alpha Zephyrine,” he greeted, but I said nothing, only stared.


    “Do you have time? I’ve got something to tell you. How about we share it over a drink?”


    Atst, I nodded with a smile, letting him lead me into the bar chamber, where he pulled out a chair for me. I sat, watching him pour two ales before bringing them over.


    “Not too sharp,” he said knowingly, smiling. “Varyn wouldn’t let you drink this if he were here.”


    I smiled at that, memories flooding, and took a sip, weing the burn on my tongue and down my throat.


    He watched me for a moment before his smile faded.


    “We are losing,” he murmured. “Word is, Ka Yadev will take over your throne once seven days pass.”


    To that, I drank again, letting the burn settle in my chest, though it couldn’t wash away the bitterness.


    “What do you want to say?” I asked softly.


    He swallowed hard, pinning me with his steady gaze.


    “I asked Princess Mearez to be my woman.”


    Those words stilled my heart. I stared at him without blinking. For what felt like years, I said nothing. Atst, I nodded slowly.


    “Bold move.”


    “I know.” He exhaled. “She told me there’s nothing she can do, no way she could say yes, unless her brothers agreed to it. I thought Apex was her only brother.”


    I nodded.


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    “They have another. The oldest. I met him once. Strange like Lycannar, but kind. Good. They respect and love one another. His name is Hades.”


    Jurrek studied me, then nodded.


    “What do you think of Princess Mearez? What do you think of the Blood family? What do you know of them?”


    I fell silent at his question. Blood. I thought I knew enough, but it turned out I didn’t know even a fraction. They are the mostplicated family I have ever seen. Half siblings, half blooded, yet no love stronger than the bond they share. <fn4532> Follow current nov?ls on find{n}ovel</fn4532>


    “Princess Mearez is the kindest woman I have ever known,” I answered softly. “If you marry her and bring forth pups, I will be their godmother.”


    That made him smile, and I followed. I reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze.


    “I’m happy you chose well, Jurrek. I hope her brothers agree. Your union will be blessed by the Moon Goddess, and no third party will evere between you.”


    A sigh escaped him at my words, but then he looked at me again.


    “Speaking of a woman whose marriage was ruined by a third party… Luna Tahlia. She seeks an audience with you, Zephyr.”