<i>Nyroth </i>
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“So now, Nyroth. You’re telling me you’ll give up your fight for the woman the Moon Goddess fated for you to a man the same goddess abandoned and condemned?”
The question hung heavy between us. I could only stare at her, helpless. She had a point. A piercing one. Zeph belonged to me. She always had.
All the years I knew her, she was never daring, quiet, never one to cause havoc. But these past months, as Apex’s woman… he had whispered death into her veins. And wait… Ka.
“Mother… Zeph won’t yield. After I went to her yesterday, thank the Moon Goddess she granted me audience, but she won’t kneel. She won’t yield. I… I don’t know what to do, Mother. And I don’t want her to perish. I want her… here.”
Thatst word slipped out,ced with goosebumps. If only she coulde back. If only she could be mine again. I’d guard her, protect her, quietly, the way I should have.
My mothery there in bed, still recovering from whatever sickness the gods hadid upon her. She coughed softly, and I reached for her hand.
“If only Ka hadn’te into your life and lied to you, we wouldn’t have gone so astray. Ka is the viin.”
Her voice was weak, her eyelids already falling. She drifted into sleep again.
I sat there, her words echoing in my chest. Ka.
And it struck me like lightning. The day Zeph appeared at the Wolf Fortress, Ka stood with the Imperium Council. The moment they dered Zeph impeached, Ka was named the next ascendant. Why?
Dark blood ran between them. Something I didn’t yet know.
Anger flooded me. I rose, storming from my mother’s chambers, and rode without pause toward ckbridge. It took time, but when I arrived, I dismounted in silence, chest heaving.
She would hear me today. All of it.
I followed her scent through the hall, ignoring the stares of maids, guards, and pack members. They wondered why I was here, why I still came, when Ka nowy with another man. I ignored them all.
<b>15:58 </b>Thu<b>, </b>Sep <b>11 </b>
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I was about to turn toward her bedchamber when a voice from the meeting chamber made me
stop.
“Listen, I didn’t know the letters I was delivering were meant to instigate war. All I did was follow orders from the council. They said the letters were to the Demon King and I obeyed. That’s all. I swear it. I never knew they would ughter Ashmere warriors and Blood armies.”
I froze. My blood ran cold.
What… did I just hear?
“We need to move quickly, Everyone,” an elderly woman’s voice answered. “Zephyr is a clever woman. With Apex at her side, she’s more dangerous than anything. Days ago, she requested an army. And no Ashmere requests an army unless it’s for war.”
I crept closer, peering through the slit of the door.
It was her. The woman I had seen at Ash Pack’s party. Zeph’s aunt.
My heart sank. My eyes moved to the man speaking now. Yadev. He sat in the Alpha’s seat as though it belonged to him.
“Why would she want an army?”
“I heard she intends to strike ckwater. But why…?” the aunt pressed, until Ka suddenly stilled. All eyes turned to her.
“What do you mean, ckwater? Why would she…” Ka cut herself short. Her face shifted as realization dawned.
“If that war back then was to wipe out the Ashmeres… then thest order I received was to kill thest surviving Ashmere warrior.” She murmured, pale.
Zeph’s aunt frowned deeply.
“What do
you mean?<b>” </b>
“From that war, Every warriors died. All of them died except one survivor. He was saved by a beast. A demon, they said. Ran was sent to finish the job. To wipe every Ashmere from the field.” Ka lifted her eyes. “Among the warriors, whose body was never found?”
The woman didn’t take long. She froze, her breath stalling.
“Varyn Ashmere. My cousin. Zephyr’s elder brother.”
<b>15:58 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>11 </b>
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Ka went ghostly pale. She shot up from her chair, nearly frantic, turning toward her father whose face twisted with unease.
“After I finalized the envoy mission between Wolf Fortress and the Demon Realm, after the battle, I was given onest order. To disappear for five years. To make my mission believable.<b>” </b>
“We know that part,” Yadev murmured.
“Yes, Father, but after that, I was given nothing. No resources. Nothing to live on. And the Council wouldn’t help. I was leaving, hopeless, when another order came.”
“What order?” Zeph’s aunt demanded.
“That a warrior would ride home wounded. I was to make sure he never made it back alive. I had my bow ready. And he came. Riding a white horse, regal despite his wounds. I drew my arrow to end him… but I didn’t.” She swallowed hard. “A thought struck me. If I had to vanish for five years, the only ce to truly hide was ckwater. And to live there, I needed to pay Stone, their leader. So I… traded.”
Zeph’s aunt nched, copsing into her chair.
“Tell me you killed Varyn, that it isn’t him Zephyr seeks to rescue in ckwater. Because if she finds him… if she dares we’re all finished!” she screamed.
But Ka said nothing. And that silence confirmed it all.
“He was half–dead when I found him. I tricked him, pretended to help. But when we reached ckwater… he was tortured. Stripped. Broken. His mind shattered. He’s a madman now. A ve<i>. </i>Nothing more.”
“But still an Ashmere,” Yadev said gravely.
The room fell into silence.
“We cannot let Zeph find him first.”
“I doubt we’ll stop her. She is gathering an army.” <fn4375> Newest update provided by find?novel</fn4375>
“Then before she gathers anything, we must…”
<b>“</b><b>” </b>
I couldn’t bear it anymore. I shoved open the door, stepping inside, my face carved with horror.
“How much more will you do to destroy the Ashmeres, Ka? Haven’t you shattered Zeph enough?” My voice trembled with fury.
…
Ka only clenched her jaw and looked away.
:
“Not until I take her pack. And hand it to the rightful ruler here, Aunt Kostyra.”
My gaze snapped to the woman. Rage boiled, but I swallowed it down.
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“Ka will betray you. She cannot be trusted. She’s poison.” My voice shook. “I’m telling Zeph everything I’ve heard. I swear it.”
I turned to leave.
But her voice stopped me, cold and taunting.
“The Lycan King slept at Ash Packst night.” Kostyra’s lips curved cruelly. “You should have heard Zephyr’s moans. You’ve lost her, Nyroth. He’s won. That’s reality. She doesn’t love you anymore. So why waste yourself trying to save a woman who made a fool of you by giving herself to a cursed, condemned monster?”
<b>15:58 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>11 </b>