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00:00For 300 years, Valon had been ruled by the wolf clans.
00:04My father was the reigning wolf king, and I was his only daughter Lux.
00:09When I was 14, I awakened my wolf spirit under the full moon.
00:13In front of every clan, my father announced,
00:16When comes of age, she will become the youngest queen Valon has ever seen.
00:21To bind the major clans to their future queen, my father chose three future concords for me.
00:28Cyrus of the Eagle Clan was cold and sharp.
00:32But whenever I lost my temper, he was always the first to lower his head.
00:36Princess, you may ask anything of me.
00:38Casper of the White Tiger Clan was beautiful, gentle, and far too good at making me smile.
00:47Princess, I cannot imagine my life without you.
00:50And then there was Vidicor of the Wolf Clan.
00:54My own kind, my childhood companion, the boy who had knelt before me in the Wolf King's Hall when I
01:01was 14 and sworn he would never betray me.
01:04Princess, I will always stand behind you, no matter what happens.
01:10I will never betray you.
01:11Only the man I favored most would wear the king consort's crown and stand beside me.
01:17Everyone believed my consort would be chosen from those three.
01:23So did they.
01:26So when a human healer named Lillia appeared, they dared to cross my limits again and again.
01:37Cyrus used his consort candidate's access pass to shield Lila's infirmary.
01:42Casper broke the White Tiger Clan's most private rule for her.
01:47Vedicor brought Lillia into the Wolf Bloodline's sacred healing pool.
01:51That water belonged only to the Wolf King's family.
01:55Worse.
01:57When she walked out, she was wearing the plain grey dress he had given me on my 16th birthday.
02:03A gift I had kept for years.
02:06I went to confront them.
02:08They thought I was spoiled.
02:10Possessive.
02:11Not understanding.
02:13They thought that no matter how angry I became, I would still choose one of them in the end.
02:20But to me, a queen's throne had no room for disloyal men.
02:24Three days before my coronation, I burned the portraits of my three consort candidates,
02:30turned to my father and said,
02:31I choose Prince Atreus of the Snake Clan.
02:36My father's hand froze around the royal seal.
02:40The Snake Prince.
02:43Lux, do you understand what you are saying?
02:47I know.
02:48Atticus comes from the Black Marsh.
02:50The Snake Clan has been shunned by every clan for over a century.
02:55They are called dark, greedy, seductive.
02:59When they love,
03:01they wrap around you and swallow you whole.
03:07Your coronation is days away,
03:10and you want to put a man of the Snake Clan in the King Kong's place?
03:13Father, you taught me a crown should never be worn by someone who lets others choose for her.
03:19I lifted my eyes to his.
03:22They believe I cannot live without them.
03:25Then I will show them that their future queen can choose someone else.
03:30My father was silent for a long time.
03:34After a long silence,
03:36he slowly set down the seal.
03:40I can summon Atticus to the royal city for you.
03:45But think carefully.
03:47Once he steps onto the coronation platform,
03:49this decision will shake all of Valon.
03:52I am not doing this out of spite.
03:55I want loyalty.
03:59When I left the royal study,
04:01night had already fallen.
04:04At the far end of the palace corridor,
04:07the path leading to Lillia's infirmary was still lit.
04:11I should have gone straight back to my chambers.
04:16But that light at the end of the corridor was too bright.
04:19It stabbed at my eyes.
04:21So I turned and walked toward it.
04:23The infirmary was crowded.
04:25A wolf pup had been burning with fever
04:27until his throat was hoar from crying.
04:32Lillia knelt on the floor with her sleeves rolled to her elbows,
04:35a small knife in her hand,
04:37about to cut open the infected wound on the pup's back.
04:40The pup's mother shook all over.
04:42You're human.
04:44Can you really save my child?
04:47If I don't drain the infection now,
04:49he won't survive the night.
04:50He had come to the royal city three months ago.
04:53She was a human healer.
04:56No wolf spirit.
04:58No animal form.
05:00Not a drop of noble blood.
05:04Yet she dared to walk into the territory of the beast clans
05:08as if fear had no hold over her.
05:12Everyone said she was gentle and brave.
05:15Everything my spoiled arrogance was not.
05:21I knew better than to trust that innocent face.
05:25Lillia knew very well that Cyrus, Casper, and Vedicore
05:29were supposed to become my concert candidates.
05:33Yet she still kept accidentally drawing close to them.
05:37Men of the Eagle Clan hated crowds.
05:40Cyrus especially.
05:42But now, not only was he personally handing Lillia medicine,
05:46he had also hung his candidate's access pass outside her infirmary door,
05:50using his own name to protect the place.
05:53My voice turned cold.
05:57Cyrus.
05:59Come here.
06:00The infirmary went silent.
06:06Cyrus lifted his eyes to me.
06:08He did not move.
06:10He had never defied me before.
06:15When I was fourteen,
06:17my father brought him before me.
06:20His black wings were folded behind his back,
06:23his expression distant.
06:27Yet he was the first to bow his head.
06:31Once,
06:32I had deliberately tossed a palace pass
06:34to the edge of the highest tower
06:36and asked if he dared retrieve it for me.
06:41If it is what your highness wants,
06:43I will bring it back with my own hands.
06:46Later, he injured his shoulder in the storm,
06:49but still placed that pass back into my palm.
06:51But now,
06:52he stood beside Lillia
06:54and disobeyed me for the first time.
06:56I repeated myself.
06:59Cyrus,
07:00I told you to come here.
07:03Lillia's hand tightened around the knife.
07:06Cyrus finally walked toward me,
07:08but stopped halfway.
07:11Lux,
07:12don't make a scene here.
07:14A child is dying.
07:16Don't make everyone watch you throw a tantrum
07:18just because I helped Lillia.
07:20I stared at him.
07:22You hung a consort Candida's access pass
07:25outside Lillia's infirmary.
07:30She needed someone powerful enough
07:32to keep the clans from interfering.
07:34So you used the authority of my future consort
07:38to protect her.
07:40Cyrus,
07:42my father gave you that pass
07:43so you could enter the royal hall
07:45and support me,
07:46not so you could become her shield.
07:49Cyrus' face darkened.
07:51You think the whole continent
07:53should revolve around you.
07:54Lux,
07:56a crown is not a leash you use
07:58to keep everyone at your side.
08:02Lillia murmured softly,
08:07Cyrus,
08:07don't.
08:08The softer she sounded,
08:09the more unreasonable I looked.
08:13Like a mad,
08:14jealous princess
08:15throwing a tantrum
08:16in front of a dying child.
08:19I looked at,
08:21are you sure you want to stay
08:23by Lillia's side?
08:25The pup may relapse.
08:27Lillia cannot handle
08:28everything alone.
08:32After Esai Mare
08:34threw on the return
08:34to the palace,
08:36I did not throw a fence.
08:38I did not smash anything.
08:41I simply summoned the steward
08:43and gave a calm order.
08:45Clear out the rooms
08:46Cyrus,
08:47Casper
08:47and Vidvidetabok
08:49kept in the palace.
08:51The steward went pale.
08:53Your highness,
08:54those are the rooms
08:55of the three consort candidates.
08:57They won't need them
08:58for much longer.
09:01Less than half an hour later,
09:03Casper arrived.
09:05He wore a loose,
09:07white robe
09:07and his silver-white hair
09:09was still damp
09:10as though he had rushed back
09:11from outside.
09:13Before,
09:14if my tone went
09:15even slightly cold,
09:17he would immediately
09:18soften his voice
09:19and coax me.
09:20Sometimes he would shift
09:22into his white tiger form
09:24and lower himself
09:25before my throne,
09:27letting me touch
09:28the mark
09:28between his brows.
09:30But this time,
09:31he stood at the door
09:32with red-rimmed eyes.
09:34Your highness,
09:35why are you clearing out
09:36my room?
09:36I sat at my desk,
09:38writing a letter
09:39to the snake clan.
09:41There was only one sentence
09:42on the paper.
09:43On the night of my coronation,
09:45Prince Atirius of the snake clan
09:47is invited to the royal city.
09:49I did not look up.
09:51Don't you prefer
09:52staying with Lillia?
09:54Casper stiffened.
09:56I was only helping her.
09:58I set down my pen
09:59and lifted my eyes.
10:01Helping her so thoroughly
10:02that you let her
10:03ride your animal form?
10:05His face changed.
10:09I took out a memory stone
10:11and pressed it lightly
10:13against the desk.
10:16Light unfolded in the air.
10:18In the clearing
10:19behind the herb garden,
10:20Lillia stood in her
10:21pale healer's dress,
10:22holding onto a massive
10:24white tiger
10:25as she climbed
10:26onto his back.
10:27He lowered his spine
10:28and even curled his tail
10:31around her calf
10:31to keep her from falling.
10:33The white tiger
10:34lowered his head
10:35and let her hand
10:37rest on the mark
10:38between his brows.
10:39In that image,
10:42he was strong
10:43and beautiful,
10:44but he had given
10:45an outsider
10:46the one posture
10:47of surrender
10:48he should hone
10:49to me.
10:50You once told me
10:52the white tiger clan
10:54does not allow outsiders
10:56to ride their animal form.
10:57When we were fourteen,
10:59he shifted into his
11:01adult white tiger form
11:02in front of me
11:03for the first time.
11:05I wanted to sit
11:06on his back.
11:09He went silent
11:10for a long moment,
11:12then finally lowered
11:13his spine.
11:17Your Highness May.
11:19No one else.
11:21Now someone else could.
11:24Casper's face
11:25went from white to red.
11:29Leah was exhausted
11:30that day.
11:31I was just taking her
11:32back to the infirmary.
11:33She's human.
11:34She can't walk that far.
11:37I was only being helpful.
11:39You needed your animal form
11:41to be helpful?
11:42He frowned,
11:44irritation finally rising
11:46in his eyes.
11:49Lux,
11:50do you have to twist
11:51everything into something dirty?
11:52She is human.
11:55She doesn't have an animal form.
11:57She doesn't understand
11:58these rules.
12:00She doesn't understand.
12:02Do you?
12:04Casper had no answer.
12:07And before tonight,
12:10remove everything
12:11that belongs to you
12:12from the palace.
12:14Tears spilled
12:15from Casper's eyes.
12:17Are you really going
12:19to be this heartless?
12:21Yes.
12:22I handed the sealed letter
12:24to a guard.
12:25Send it to the Black Marsh.
12:27Place it in a Tricus's hands.
12:30Casper's head snapped up.
12:32Atacus,
12:33why are you writing
12:34to the Snake Clan?
12:38The Snake Clan's reply
12:40arrived the next morning.
12:43The black envelope
12:44was sealed with wax
12:46in the shape
12:47of a serpent.
12:49It contained
12:50only four words.
12:53Atticus's reply,
12:54as you wish.
12:58I placed the letter
12:59in a drawer
12:59and was about
13:00to go see my father
13:01when a maid rushed in,
13:02pale and breathless.
13:07Your Highness,
13:09Lord Vedicore
13:10brought Lila
13:10to your healing pool.
13:12My fingers stilled.
13:16The healing pool
13:18lay in Aneth,
13:19in the deepest part
13:21of the palace.
13:23Its water came
13:25from the Wolf Clan's
13:26sacred spring
13:27and was reserved
13:28for the Wolf King's
13:29bloodline alone.
13:30Every time I was injured
13:32during training,
13:34Vedicore would personally
13:35guard the entrance.
13:36No one else
13:37was allowed near it.
13:39He once said,
13:40This is your place.
13:43No one else
13:45belongs here.
13:46Now he had brought
13:47Lilia inside.
13:49When I arrived,
13:50Lilia had just
13:51stepped out of the pool.
13:52She wore a pale,
13:54grey dress.
13:55I recognized it
13:57at once.
13:57It was the dress
13:59Vedicore had given me
14:00on my 16th birthday.
14:02An ordinary,
14:04pale, grey dress.
14:06The fabric
14:07was not expensive.
14:08But Vedicore had bought it
14:10with the reward
14:11from his first patrol hunt.
14:13I still remembered
14:15how shy he looked
14:16when he handed it to me.
14:18Your Highness,
14:19I hope you like it.
14:20Lilia was wearing it now.
14:23The hem was damp
14:25from the healing pool
14:26and clung to her legs.
14:29Vedicore stood beside her,
14:31checking the wound
14:32on her arm.
14:35When he saw me,
14:37he frowned.
14:39Lux,
14:40why are you here?
14:43Is there any place
14:45in Valon
14:46I am not allowed
14:47to enter?
14:50Vedicore,
14:51who gave you permission
14:53to touch my clothes?
14:55Lilia hurried
14:56to her feet,
14:57her face pale.
15:00Your Highness,
15:02I'm sorry.
15:04I didn't know
15:05this dress was yours.
15:07Vericore said
15:08it was just
15:08the plainest dress
15:09in an old wardrobe.
15:10I looked at Vedicore.
15:13He truly had not
15:14recognized it.
15:16Or perhaps
15:17he had simply
15:18never cared enough
15:19to remember.
15:20After a pause,
15:22he said,
15:23She was cut
15:24by poisonous grass.
15:26Ordinary medicine
15:27would not work.
15:28I only borrowed
15:29your healing pool.
15:32Borrowed.
15:33You have so many
15:34fine dresses.
15:36He lowered his voice.
15:38Why are you losing
15:39your temper
15:39over the plainest
15:40old dress
15:40in the wardrobe?
15:42Something slammed
15:43hard into my chest.
15:45He had forgotten.
15:48He had forgotten
15:49that he had given me
15:50that dress.
15:52He had forgotten
15:53how he once promised
15:54it would keep me
15:55company in his place.
15:56He had also forgotten
15:57that the Wolf Clan's
15:59sacred spring
15:59was not meant
16:00for outsiders.
16:02I walked over
16:03to Lillia,
16:04grabbed the healer's
16:05coat from the back
16:06of a chair,
16:07and tossed it
16:08into her arms.
16:11Lillia stumbled
16:12back in fright.
16:14Vedicore immediately
16:15stepped in front
16:17and looked at the
16:22old dress,
16:23wet and clinging
16:24to her body.
16:25Do you remember
16:26the oath you swore
16:27to me when we were
16:28fourteen?
16:30Vedicore's expression
16:31shifted.
16:33Of course he remembered.
16:35That year,
16:37under the full moon,
16:38I awakened
16:39my wolf spirit.
16:40A silver-white wolf shadow
16:42rose behind me.
16:45And the entire
16:46royal city
16:47cheered.
16:49Vedicore had
16:50knelt before me
16:51and pressed his
16:52forehead to the
16:53back of my hand.
16:55I swear by the
16:57moon goddess,
16:58I will be loyal
17:00to you forever.
17:01Now he stood
17:02in front of Lyia,
17:03blocking me from her.
17:05Do not shame
17:07the moon goddess
17:07by making her
17:08witness what you
17:09have become.
17:11Lillia bit her lip.
17:13Your highness,
17:14I can leave.
17:15Please don't blame him.
17:17Shut up.
17:18Vedicore's face
17:19instantly turned cold.
17:21Lux,
17:22that is enough.
17:25You're raising
17:26your voice at me
17:26for her?
17:28I am warning you.
17:30Your coronation
17:31is tomorrow night.
17:33You cannot keep
17:35acting like a
17:35spoiled child
17:37who tears
17:38everything apart
17:39the moment someone
17:39stops pleasing her.
17:41I stared at him.
17:45Spoiled?
17:47Yes.
17:49If you continue
17:50like this,
17:51you do not
17:53deserve to wear
17:53your father's crown.
17:55I turned
17:56to the guards.
17:58From this day
17:59forward,
18:00without my
18:01permission,
18:02Vadicore and
18:03Lillia are forbidden
18:04from entering
18:05the inner palace.
18:09I walked away
18:11without looking
18:11back.
18:15Soon,
18:16it was the night
18:17before my
18:17coronation.
18:19In the mirror,
18:20I wore a black
18:21and gold gown
18:22with the heir's
18:23cloak of the
18:23wolf king
18:24draped over
18:25my shoulders.
18:26Every year
18:27before this,
18:29those three
18:29would compete
18:30to be the first
18:31to see me
18:31on my birthday.
18:36Cirrus would
18:36wait outside
18:37the highest
18:38tower the
18:39night before
18:39and escort
18:41me back to
18:41my room.
18:42Caspar would
18:43prepare an
18:44entire table
18:44of sweets
18:45himself,
18:46then carry me
18:48across the
18:48snowy plains
18:49around the
18:50royal city
18:50in his
18:51white tiger
18:52form.
18:53Vadicore would
18:53take me to
18:54the tower
18:54and stay
18:55with me
18:55until the
18:55first touch
18:56of moonlight
18:56fell over
18:57my hand.
18:58I thought
18:59there would
18:59be none
18:59of that
19:00this year.
19:01But they
19:02still came.
19:04Cirrus
19:05entered first,
19:07holding an
19:08auxinian
19:08hairpin.
19:09Happy birthday,
19:10Lux.
19:11The hairpin
19:12was beautiful,
19:14but I
19:15remembered
19:15seeing an
19:16almost identical
19:16one outside
19:17Leela's
19:18infirmary
19:18three days
19:19ago.
19:20That one
19:20had been
19:21lighter,
19:22better suited
19:22to a human
19:23woman.
19:24I accepted
19:25it.
19:26I was harsh
19:27that day,
19:28but Leela
19:29was only
19:30trying to
19:30save a
19:30life.
19:32She did
19:32not deserve
19:33to be
19:33targeted
19:34by you.
19:36Casper
19:37brought a
19:37white tiger
19:38carving.
19:40The carving
19:41was rough.
19:42I didn't
19:43do a very
19:43good job,
19:44but you
19:45once said
19:46I liked
19:46things I
19:47made by
19:47hand.
19:48Vadicore
19:49was the
19:49last to
19:49arrive.
19:50He held
19:51a newly
19:52forged
19:52silver ring.
19:53Lux,
19:55I will
19:55not let
19:56you lose
19:56face at
19:57the
19:57coronation
19:57tomorrow.
19:58No matter
19:59whom you
20:00choose,
20:00I will
20:01stand on
20:02your
20:02side.
20:04But you
20:05should also
20:05ease up
20:06on Lillia.
20:07She is
20:08human.
20:08She cannot
20:09withstand the
20:10hatred of
20:10the royal
20:10court.
20:11Only then
20:12did the
20:12truth of
20:13their apology
20:13show itself.
20:16They wanted
20:17to confirm
20:17whether they
20:18still had a
20:18chance to
20:19become my
20:19concert.
20:22And they
20:22also wanted
20:23a safe
20:23road for
20:24Lillia.
20:25I
20:26placed all
20:26three gifts
20:27in a
20:27box.
20:28I
20:29understand.
20:31They all
20:32looked at
20:32me at
20:32once.
20:34Perhaps
20:35they had
20:35not expected
20:36me to
20:37be so
20:37calm.
20:39Casper
20:40asked
20:40carefully,
20:41You're not
20:42angry anymore.
20:43Tomorrow is
20:44my coronation.
20:45I will not
20:46argue with
20:47you tonight.
20:50After they
20:51left, I
20:52handed the
20:52box to a
20:53maid.
20:53Bring this
20:54to the
20:54coronation
20:55platform
20:55tomorrow.
20:57The maid
20:58frowls.
20:59Your
20:59highness,
21:00why?
21:00I looked
21:01at the
21:01full moon
21:02outside my
21:02window.
21:03As
21:03evidence.
21:06When the
21:07moon rose
21:07to its
21:08highest point,
21:09the
21:10coronation
21:10bells rang
21:11through the
21:11royal city.
21:12My father
21:13stood at
21:14the top of
21:14the highest
21:15steps in
21:15the black
21:16cloaking of
21:16the wolf
21:17king.
21:17His voice
21:18carried across
21:19the square.
21:20For 300
21:21years,
21:22Valon has
21:22been guarded
21:23by the
21:23wolf clans.
21:24Today, I
21:26hand the
21:27crown to
21:27my daughter,
21:28Lux.
21:29She awakened
21:30her wolf
21:30spirit at
21:3114 and
21:32will be
21:33crowned at
21:3318.
21:34She will
21:35be the
21:35youngest
21:35queen this
21:36continent has
21:37ever seen.
21:39I climbed
21:40the steps
21:40one by
21:41one.
21:43Cyrus,
21:44Caspar,
21:44and Vadicor
21:45stood below
21:46in the
21:46ceremonial
21:47attire of
21:47consort
21:48candidates.
21:49They
21:50watched me
21:51with
21:51nervousness
21:52in their
21:52eyes.
21:54My
21:55father
21:55placed the
21:56crown on
21:56my head.
21:58The
21:59entire
21:59square
22:00knelled.
22:05Your
22:06majesty!
22:07Your
22:08majesty!
22:11The
22:12priest
22:12brought
22:13forward the
22:13king
22:14consort's
22:14crown.
22:15According to
22:16tradition,
22:17I was
22:17supposed to
22:17walk towards
22:18one of the
22:18three
22:19candidates.
22:20Cyrus took
22:21half a step
22:21forward.
22:23Caspar held
22:24his breath.
22:25A faint
22:26light of
22:26hope rosens
22:27in Vadicor's
22:28wolf eyes.
22:30I took
22:30the consort
22:31crown and
22:32faced the
22:32crowd.
22:34The
22:35man I
22:35choose as
22:36king consort
22:37is
22:39Prince
22:40Atilius of
22:41the
22:41snake
22:41clane!
22:44The
22:45snake
22:45clan?
22:46Has
22:47the
22:47queen
22:47lost
22:48her
22:48mind?
22:49How
22:50can a
22:51snake
22:51become
22:52king
22:52consort?
22:53Cyrus'
22:54expression
22:55changed
22:55instantly.
22:57Caspar
22:58nearly lost
22:58his
22:59balance.
23:00Vadicor
23:00stared at
23:01me as
23:01though he
23:02had not
23:02understood
23:03the
23:03words.
23:04From
23:04the
23:04shadows
23:05at the
23:05side
23:05of the
23:06platform,
23:06a man
23:07slowly
23:08stepped
23:08forward.
23:10Atatia
23:10stopped
23:11in front
23:11of me
23:12and
23:12asked
23:12softly,
23:13You
23:13can
23:14still
23:14regret
23:14this,
23:15your
23:15majesty.
23:17I
23:17held
23:17out
23:18the
23:18king
23:18consort's
23:19crown.
23:20Cneal,
23:21Atticus
23:22smiled.
23:27Under
23:27the eyes
23:28of the
23:28entire
23:28continent,
23:29he
23:30dropped
23:30to one
23:31knee
23:31and
23:31kissed
23:31my
23:32fingertips.
23:34My
23:34queen.
23:35I
23:36was
23:36about
23:36to
23:37place
23:37the
23:37crown
23:37on
23:38his
23:38head
23:38when
23:38Vadicor
23:39finally
23:39rushed
23:39up
23:40the
23:40steps.
23:44Lux!
23:45You
23:45cannot
23:46choose
23:46him!
23:47Cyrus
23:48also
23:48stepped
23:49forward.
23:50Are
23:51you
23:51still
23:51angry?
23:52If
23:53this
23:53is
23:53meant
23:54to
23:54punish
23:54us,
23:55you
23:55do
23:55not
23:56have
23:56to
23:56go
23:56this
23:56far.
23:58Casper's
23:59eyes
23:59were
23:59red.
24:00Your
24:01highness,
24:02you
24:02accepted
24:03our
24:03gifts
24:03last
24:03night.
24:04I
24:05looked
24:05at
24:05him.
24:07Accepting
24:08them
24:08did
24:08not
24:08mean
24:08forgiving
24:09you.
24:12Vedicor
24:13gritted
24:13his
24:14teeth.
24:15I
24:15am
24:15Vedicor.
24:16I
24:17grew
24:17up
24:18with
24:18you.
24:19There
24:20is
24:20no
24:20way
24:21you
24:21would
24:21truly
24:21choose
24:22a
24:22snake.
24:23Atticus
24:24bared
24:24his
24:24fangs.
24:26I
24:26placed
24:27a
24:27light
24:27hand
24:27on
24:27his
24:28shoulder,
24:28telling
24:29him
24:29not
24:29to
24:29move.
24:30Guards!
24:31Sue!
24:37The
24:37wolf
24:38guards
24:38immediately
24:39stepped
24:39forward
24:40and
24:40blocked
24:40the
24:40three
24:40men
24:41below
24:41the
24:41steps.
24:42Cyrus
24:43looked
24:43at
24:44me
24:44in
24:44disbelief.
24:45You
24:45are
24:45restraining
24:46us
24:46in
24:46public!
24:48I
24:49turned
24:50to
24:50face
24:50my
24:50people.
24:54At
24:54my
24:54signal,
24:55a
24:56maid
24:56carried
24:56forward
24:57three
24:57memory
24:57stones.
24:58These
24:59were
24:59the
24:59pieces
25:00of
25:00evidence
25:00I
25:01had
25:01gathered
25:01over
25:01the
25:02past
25:02three
25:02days.
25:05You
25:05called
25:06me
25:06spoiled,
25:08petty,
25:09unworthy
25:10of the
25:10crown.
25:11Then
25:11let
25:12all
25:12of
25:12Valon
25:12see
25:13who
25:14is
25:14truly
25:14unworthy
25:15of
25:15standing
25:16beside
25:16the
25:16queen.
25:18The
25:19first
25:19memory
25:20stone
25:20lit
25:20up.
25:21The
25:21first
25:22memory
25:22showed
25:22the
25:23infirmary.
25:24Cyrus
25:24stood
25:24behind
25:25her,
25:25blocking
25:26away
25:26every
25:27clan
25:27member
25:27who
25:28questioned
25:28her.
25:32Don't
25:33be
25:33afraid.
25:35I'll
25:36always
25:36protect
25:36you.
25:39As
25:40soon
25:40as
25:40those
25:40words
25:41rang
25:41out,
25:41many
25:42eyes
25:42in
25:42the
25:42square
25:43turned
25:43towards
25:44me.
25:44Because
25:45when I
25:45was
25:46fourteen,
25:47after
25:47Cyrus
25:47carried
25:48me
25:48down
25:48from
25:48the
25:49Storm
25:49Lath
25:49Tower,
25:51he
25:51had
25:51said
25:51the
25:51exact
25:52same
25:52words
25:53to
25:53me.
25:54I
25:55looked
25:55at
25:55him.
25:56You
25:57said
25:57she
25:57deserved
25:58respect.
25:58I
25:59do
25:59not
26:00disagree.
26:01But
26:02when
26:02you
26:02used
26:02a
26:02promise
26:03meant
26:03for
26:03your
26:03future
26:04queen
26:04to
26:05comfort
26:05another
26:05woman,
26:07did
26:08you
26:08remember
26:08who
26:09you
26:09were?
26:10Cyrus'
26:11face
26:11turned
26:11white,
26:12but
26:13no
26:13words
26:14came
26:14out.
26:15The
26:16second
26:16memory
26:16stone
26:17lit
26:17up.
26:18In
26:18the
26:18herb
26:19garden,
26:19Caspar
26:20shifted
26:20into
26:21his
26:21adult
26:21white
26:21tiger
26:22form
26:22and
26:23lowered
26:23his
26:23proud
26:23back.
26:25Lelia
26:26climbed
26:26onto
26:26him
26:27and
26:27placed
26:28her
26:28hand
26:28against
26:28the
26:28mark
26:29between
26:29his
26:29brows.
26:30Then
26:31the
26:31image
26:31changed
26:32again.
26:33At
26:33night
26:34in the
26:34infirmary,
26:35Caspar
26:36had
26:36shifted
26:36halfway
26:37back
26:37to
26:37human
26:38form.
26:39His
26:39silver
26:40white
26:40hair
26:40spilled
26:41over
26:41over
26:41over
26:41shoulders.
26:43Lelia
26:43banded
26:44the
26:44wound
26:45he
26:45had
26:45suffered
26:45while
26:46testing
26:46medicine.
26:47He
26:48lowered
26:48his
26:48head
26:49and
26:49kissed
26:49her
26:50fingertip.
26:51Lelia
26:52did not
26:52pull
26:53away.
26:53The
26:54square
26:54erupted.
26:56The
26:56elder
26:57of the
26:57white
26:57tiger
26:57clan
26:58turned
26:58iron-faced.
26:59Tears
27:00fell
27:00from
27:00At
27:01Caspar's
27:01eyes.
27:04I
27:04was
27:05feverish
27:05from
27:06the
27:06medicine.
27:08Lux,
27:08I
27:09never
27:09meant
27:10to
27:10betray
27:10you.
27:12What
27:12you
27:12meant
27:14does
27:14not
27:15change
27:15what
27:15you
27:16did.
27:16You
27:17told
27:17me
27:17yourself
27:18that
27:18only
27:19a
27:19chosen
27:19mate
27:20may
27:20ride
27:20the
27:20white
27:21tiger
27:21clan's
27:21animal
27:22form.
27:23You
27:23crossed
27:24the
27:24line.
27:26The
27:27third
27:27memory
27:28stone
27:28lit
27:29up
27:30beside
27:31the
27:31healing
27:31pool.
27:33Limlia
27:33stood
27:34in
27:34my
27:34old
27:34dress.
27:35Vadikor
27:36stood
27:36in
27:36front
27:36of
27:37her
27:37and
27:37said
27:37to
27:37me,
27:38If
27:39you
27:39continue
27:39like
27:40this,
27:40you
27:41do
27:41not
27:41deserve
27:41to
27:42wear
27:42your
27:42father's
27:43crown.
27:43The
27:43memory
27:44stone
27:44carried
27:45his
27:45words
27:45clearly
27:46across
27:46the
27:47entire
27:47square.
27:48Every
27:49wolf
27:49in
27:49the
27:49crowd
27:50lifted
27:50their
27:50head.
27:51The
27:52wolf
27:52clans
27:53valued
27:53loyalty
27:54above
27:54all
27:55else.
27:57And
27:58Vitikor
27:58had
27:59once
27:59sworn
28:00that
28:00his
28:00wolf
28:00soul
28:01bowed
28:01only
28:02to
28:02me.
28:03My
28:03father
28:04stood
28:04on
28:04the
28:04high
28:04platform,
28:06his
28:06face
28:06colder
28:07than
28:07stone.
28:08Vadikor
28:08sank
28:09to
28:09his
28:09knees.
28:13Lux,
28:14I
28:15was
28:15wrong.
28:17I
28:18looked
28:18at
28:18him.
28:19You
28:19wanted
28:20the
28:20king
28:20consort's
28:21crown.
28:22You
28:23wanted
28:24glory
28:24for
28:24your
28:24clans.
28:25You
28:26wanted
28:26to
28:26stand
28:27beside
28:27the
28:28future
28:28queen.
28:29But
28:30again
28:30and
28:31again,
28:32you
28:32pushed
28:33me in
28:33front
28:33of
28:34another
28:34woman
28:34and
28:34humiliated
28:35me.
28:37I
28:38turned
28:38to the
28:38crowd.
28:39The
28:39wolf
28:40throne
28:40has
28:40no
28:41place
28:41for
28:41disloyal
28:42men.
28:43From
28:44this
28:44day
28:44forward,
28:45Cyrus,
28:46Caspar,
28:47and
28:47Vadetikor
28:48are
28:48stripped
28:48of
28:49all
28:49rights
28:49as
28:50consort
28:50candidates.
28:51All
28:52three
28:52men
28:53lifted
28:53their
28:54heads
28:54at
28:54once.
28:57Lux,
28:58your
28:58highness,
28:59please,
28:59do not
29:00do
29:00this.
29:01I
29:02did
29:02not
29:02look
29:02at
29:02them
29:03again.
29:07Instead,
29:09I
29:09placed
29:09the
29:10king
29:10concord's
29:11crown
29:11on
29:11Atratius's
29:12head.
29:16He
29:16knelt
29:16at my
29:17feet
29:17and
29:17kissed
29:18my
29:18royal
29:18ring.
29:22I
29:22swear
29:22to
29:23you,
29:23Lux,
29:25I
29:26am
29:26greedy.
29:27I
29:27am
29:28dark.
29:30I
29:31am
29:31never
29:31satisfied.
29:33So
29:33I
29:33will
29:34be
29:34greedy
29:34in
29:34my
29:35loyalty,
29:36dark
29:36in
29:36my
29:36protection,
29:38and
29:38never
29:38satisfied
29:39in
29:39loving
29:40you.
29:41The
29:41square
29:42fell
29:42into
29:42complete
29:43silence.
29:44I
29:44reached
29:44down
29:45and
29:45lifted
29:45his
29:45chin.
29:47Rise,
29:49my
29:49king
29:50consort.
29:52Lillia
29:52knelt
29:53in the
29:53center
29:53of the
29:53square.
29:56You
29:56may
29:56punish
29:57me,
29:57but
29:58you
29:58cannot
29:58do
29:58this
29:59to
29:59them!
30:01You
30:02want
30:02to
30:02plead
30:02for
30:02them.
30:04I
30:04want
30:04to
30:05speak
30:05up
30:05for
30:05them.
30:05Lillia
30:07bit
30:07her
30:07lip,
30:08her
30:08voice
30:09trembling.
30:11I
30:12am
30:12human!
30:13I
30:14do
30:14not
30:14understand
30:15the
30:15rules
30:16of
30:16your
30:16clans
30:17and
30:17consorts.
30:19But
30:20where
30:20I
30:21come
30:21from,
30:22helping
30:23someone,
30:23someone
30:23weaker
30:24than
30:24you,
30:24is
30:25not
30:25betrayal!
30:26She
30:27raised
30:27her
30:27head
30:28to
30:28meet
30:28my
30:28eyes.
30:29They
30:29were
30:30only
30:30being
30:30kind.
30:31They
30:32saw
30:32a
30:32human
30:33woman
30:33struggling
30:34alone
30:34in the
30:34royal
30:34city,
30:35and
30:36they
30:36helped
30:36me.
30:37You
30:37have
30:38the
30:38crown,
30:38noble
30:39blood,
30:40your
30:40father,
30:41and the
30:41entire
30:42continent
30:42of
30:43Valen.
30:44Why
30:45would
30:45you
30:45destroy
30:46their
30:46lives
30:46over
30:47a
30:47little
30:47jealousy?
30:48Low
30:49whispers
30:50moved
30:50through
30:50the
30:51crowd.
30:52With
30:52human
30:53morality
30:53as
30:54her
30:54weapon,
30:55Lillia
30:55placed
30:55herself
30:56in the
30:56role
30:56of
30:57the
30:57helpless
30:57and
30:58painted
30:58me
30:58as
30:59the
30:59ugly
30:59face
30:59of
31:00power.
31:01Before
31:02I
31:02could
31:02speak,
31:03my
31:03father
31:03had
31:04already
31:04stepped
31:04down
31:05platformed.
31:07Human
31:07healer.
31:08You
31:09stand at
31:10the
31:10coronation
31:10of a
31:11wolf
31:11queen
31:12and
31:12judge
31:13her
31:13by
31:13human
31:13rules?
31:17They
31:17were
31:18not
31:18ordinary
31:18men
31:19helping
31:19a
31:19stranger
31:19by
31:20the
31:20roadside.
31:21They
31:22were
31:22consort
31:22candidates.
31:24They
31:24carried
31:25the
31:25oaths
31:25of
31:25their
31:26clans
31:26and
31:27the
31:27loyalty
31:27owed
31:28to
31:28the
31:28future
31:29queen.
31:32If
31:33you
31:33were
31:33truly
31:33kind,
31:34you
31:35should
31:35have
31:35stepped
31:36away
31:36when
31:36they
31:36crossed
31:37the
31:37line.
31:38Instead,
31:39you
31:40accepted
31:40again
31:41and
31:41again
31:42the
31:42closeness
31:42that
31:43belonged
31:43to
31:43the
31:44queen.
31:45Tears
31:46fell
31:46from
31:46Lillia's
31:47eyes.
31:54I
31:54never
31:55meant
31:55to
31:55take
31:56anyone
31:56from
31:57her.
31:58What
31:58you
31:59meant
31:59no
32:00longer
32:00matters.
32:02Wolf
32:03King
32:04lift
32:04his
32:04hand.
32:06Escort
32:07her
32:07out
32:07of
32:07the
32:07royal
32:07city.
32:09From
32:09this
32:09day
32:10forward,
32:11Lillia
32:12is
32:13forbidden
32:13from
32:13entering
32:14the
32:14wolf
32:14court.
32:16Send
32:17her
32:17back
32:17to
32:17human
32:17territory.
32:18Lillia
32:19stared
32:19in
32:20disbelief
32:20at
32:20Cyrus,
32:21Casper
32:22and
32:23Vedeticor.
32:25None
32:25of
32:26them
32:26spoke
32:26right
32:26away
32:27because
32:28every
32:28word
32:28my
32:29father
32:29had
32:29spoken
32:30was
32:30true
32:30and
32:31they
32:31knew
32:32it
32:32now.
32:34Lillia
32:35was still
32:35crying
32:35when
32:36the
32:36guards
32:37dragged
32:37her
32:37away.
32:40Cyrus!
32:41Casper
32:42Vedeticor!
32:44Say
32:45something!
32:46Cyrus
32:47lowered
32:47his
32:48eyes.
32:49Casper's
32:49lips
32:50trembled.
32:52Vedicor's
32:52jaw
32:53tightened,
32:54but he
32:54still did
32:55not
32:55move.
32:58That
32:59night,
33:00the
33:00coronation
33:01banquet
33:01was held
33:02in the
33:02royal
33:02city.
33:04The
33:05nobles
33:05hid
33:05their
33:05displeasure,
33:06but their
33:07eyes kept
33:08sliding
33:08toward
33:08Tricus,
33:09who sat
33:10beside
33:10me.
33:12He
33:12was
33:12almost
33:13unnervely
33:14well-behaved.
33:16Only
33:17when I
33:17reached
33:17for my
33:18wine
33:18did he
33:19replace
33:19it with
33:20a cup
33:20of
33:20warm
33:21honey
33:21water.
33:24Afraid
33:25I'll
33:25be
33:25poisoned?
33:30Afraid
33:31you'll
33:31get
33:31drunk?
33:32Tonight
33:33is our
33:34wedding
33:34night.
33:36I
33:37want
33:37you to
33:37remember
33:38it.
33:38heat
33:39rose
33:40to
33:40my
33:40ears.
33:42Atticus.
33:44He
33:45laughed
33:46under
33:46his
33:46breath.
33:47Am I
33:48wrong,
33:48your
33:48majesty?
33:49Late
33:50that
33:50night,
33:51moonlight
33:51fell
33:52over
33:52the
33:52silver
33:52curtains
33:53of
33:53my
33:53bed
33:53chamber.
33:55Atticus
33:56removed
33:56the
33:57heavy
33:57crown
33:57from
33:57my
33:58head.
33:58His
33:59cool
33:59fingers
34:00brushed
34:00through
34:00my
34:00hair.
34:02Do
34:03you
34:03regret
34:03it?
34:05Regret
34:06choosing
34:06you?
34:07Yes.
34:09I
34:10looked
34:10into
34:11his
34:11golden
34:12eyes.
34:13Not
34:14yet.
34:15Atticus
34:16smiled.
34:18His
34:18snake
34:19tail
34:19slid
34:19slowly
34:20from
34:20beneath
34:20his
34:20robe
34:21and
34:21wooled
34:22curled
34:22you
34:22loudly
34:22lightly
34:22round
34:23by
34:23my
34:23ankle,
34:24careful
34:24not
34:24to
34:24tighten.
34:25Then
34:26I
34:26will
34:26do
34:26my
34:26best
34:27to
34:27make
34:27sure
34:28you
34:28never
34:28do.
34:29When
34:30the
34:30curtains
34:30fell,
34:31he
34:31lowered
34:31his
34:32head
34:32and
34:32kissed
34:33my
34:33fingertips
34:35then
34:35my
34:35wrist,
34:37my
34:38shoulder,
34:40the
34:41center
34:41of my
34:42forehead.
34:44Like a
34:45snake
34:45finally
34:45permitted
34:46to
34:46coil
34:46around
34:46me,
34:47yet still
34:48holding
34:48back at
34:48the
34:49last
34:49moment.
34:51He
34:51remembered
34:52I was
34:52his
34:52queen.
34:54Before
34:55dawn the
34:55next
34:56morning,
34:56urgent
34:57knocking
34:57broke
34:58through the
34:58chamber
34:58doors.
35:00Your
35:01Majesty!
35:04Pups
35:05all over
35:05the
35:05royal
35:05city
35:06have
35:06suddenly
35:06developed
35:06high
35:07fevers.
35:07The
35:08healers
35:08can't
35:08bring
35:09them
35:09down.
35:11That
35:12night,
35:13the
35:13coronation
35:14banquet
35:14was held
35:15in the
35:15royal
35:15city.
35:17The
35:18nobles
35:18hid
35:18their
35:19displeasure,
35:19but their
35:20eyes kept
35:21sliding
35:21toward
35:22Tricus,
35:22who sat
35:23beside
35:23me.
35:25He
35:25was
35:25almost
35:26unnervely
35:27well-behaved.
35:29Only
35:30when I
35:30reached
35:30for
35:31my
35:31wine
35:31did
35:32he
35:32replace
35:32it
35:33with
35:33a
35:33cup
35:33of
35:33warm
35:34honey
35:34water.
35:37Afraid
35:38I'll
35:38be
35:38poisoned?
35:43Afraid
35:44you'll
35:44get
35:44drunk?
35:46Tonight
35:46is our
35:47wedding
35:47night.
35:49I
35:50want
35:50you to
35:50remember
35:51it.
35:52Heat
35:53rose
35:53to
35:53my
35:53ears.
35:55Atticus.
35:58He
35:58laughed
35:59under
35:59his
35:59breath.
36:00Am I
36:01wrong,
36:01your
36:01majesty?
36:02Late
36:03that
36:03night,
36:04moonlight
36:04fell
36:05over
36:05the
36:05silver
36:05curtains
36:06of
36:06my
36:06bed
36:07chamber.
36:08Atticus
36:09removed
36:09the
36:10heavy
36:10crown
36:10from
36:10my
36:11head.
36:12His
36:12cool
36:12fingers
36:13brushed
36:13through
36:13my
36:13hair.
36:15Do you
36:16regret
36:16it?
36:18Regret
36:19choosing
36:19you?
36:21Yes.
36:22I
36:23looked
36:24into
36:24his
36:24golden
36:25eyes.
36:26Not
36:26yet.
36:28Atticus
36:29smiled.
36:31His
36:31snake
36:32tail
36:32slid
36:32slowly
36:33from
36:33beneath
36:33his
36:33robe
36:34and
36:34wooled
36:34curled
36:35you
36:35loudly
36:35lightly
36:35round
36:36by
36:36my
36:36ankle,
36:37careful
36:37not
36:37to
36:37tighten.
36:38Then
36:39I
36:39will
36:39do
36:39my
36:39best
36:40to
36:40make
36:40sure
36:41you
36:41never
36:41do.
36:42When
36:43the
36:43curtains
36:43fell,
36:44he
36:44lowered
36:44his
36:45head
36:45and
36:45kissed
36:46my
36:46fingertips.
36:48Then
36:48my
36:48wrist,
36:50my
36:51shoulder,
36:53the
36:54center
36:54of
36:54my
36:55forehead.
36:57like a
36:58snake
36:58finally
36:58permitted
36:59to
36:59coil
36:59around
36:59me,
37:00yet
37:00still
37:01holding
37:01back
37:01at
37:01the
37:02last
37:02moment.
37:04He
37:04remembered
37:05I was
37:05his
37:05queen.
37:07Before
37:08dawn the
37:08next
37:09morning,
37:09urgent
37:10knocking
37:10broke
37:10through
37:11the
37:11chamber
37:11doors.
37:13Your
37:14Majesty!
37:17Pups all
37:18over the
37:18royal city
37:18have suddenly
37:19developed
37:19high fevers.
37:20The
37:21healers
37:21can't
37:21bring
37:21them
37:22down.
37:26Atrobicus
37:27raised
37:27his
37:28hand
37:28and
37:29the
37:29snake
37:29guards
37:29dragged
37:30in
37:30a
37:30pharmacy
37:31assistant.
37:32The
37:32moment
37:33the
37:33assistant
37:33saw
37:34me,
37:34he
37:35dropped
37:35to
37:35his
37:35knees,
37:36shaking
37:37too
37:37hard
37:37to
37:37speak.
37:40Before
37:41Lilillia
37:41was escorted
37:42out last
37:42night,
37:43she
37:44gave
37:44this
37:45man
37:45a
37:46packet
37:46of
37:46powder.
37:47The
37:47assistant
37:48slammed
37:48his
37:49forehead
37:49to
37:49the
37:49floor
37:50and
37:50sobbed.
37:56mercy
37:57your
37:58majesty
37:58healer
38:00Lilla
38:01said it
38:01was
38:01medicine
38:02to
38:02prevent
38:02the
38:03pups
38:03fevers
38:03from
38:04returning
38:04in
38:04the
38:04night.
38:08I
38:08didn't
38:09know
38:09it
38:09would
38:09do
38:09this.
38:11The
38:12infirmary
38:12fell
38:13completely
38:14silent.
38:15Cyrus's
38:16face
38:17slowly
38:17lost
38:18all
38:18colour.
38:21Casper
38:21shook
38:21his
38:22head.
38:27No.
38:29Lillia
38:30would
38:30never
38:31hurt
38:31children.
38:33Of course
38:34she didn't
38:34intend
38:35for them
38:35to die.
38:41I
38:42walked
38:42to the
38:43pot
38:43of
38:43medicine
38:43and
38:44caught
38:44the
38:44faint
38:45bitter
38:45stent
38:46rising
38:46from
38:46it.
38:47She
38:48only
38:48wanted
38:48everyone
38:49to
38:49learn
38:49that
38:49without
38:50her
38:50the
38:51royal
38:51city
38:52cannot
38:52even
38:52bring
38:53down
38:53a
38:53pup's
38:53fever.
38:56Vatacor
38:56closed
38:57his
38:57eyes.
38:59Lillia
39:00at
39:00Tup
39:002's
39:01scheme
39:01was
39:01finally
39:02laid
39:02bare
39:02in
39:03front
39:03of
39:03them.
39:04She
39:05had
39:05always
39:05stood
39:06in
39:06the
39:06place
39:06of
39:07the
39:07weak
39:07waiting
39:08for
39:08others
39:09to
39:09defend
39:09her.
39:11I
39:12turned
39:12to
39:12Atticus.
39:13Can
39:14it be
39:14cured?
39:16He
39:17nodded.
39:19Yes.
39:20But it
39:21requires
39:21cold
39:22scale
39:22grass
39:22from
39:23the
39:23snake
39:23clan.
39:24Use
39:25it.
39:26I
39:27will
39:27bring
39:27the
39:27guilty
39:28back
39:28to
39:28the
39:28capital
39:29to
39:30face
39:30justice.
39:34By
39:35dusk
39:37Lillia
39:37was
39:38brought
39:38back
39:39to
39:39the
39:39royal
39:39city.
39:40When
39:41she
39:41was
39:41dragged
39:42into
39:42the
39:42infirmary
39:43and
39:43saw
39:43the
39:43pups
39:44sleeping
39:44weakly
39:45after
39:45their
39:45fevers
39:46had
39:46broke
39:46her
39:47face
39:47finally
39:48changed.
39:49I
39:50didn't
39:50mean
39:50to
39:50kill
39:50them.
39:52She
39:53sobbed.
39:54I
39:55only
39:55wanted
39:56you
39:56to
39:56know
39:56that
39:56you
39:57need
39:57me.
39:58Casper
39:59looked
39:59at
39:59her
39:59as
40:00if
40:00he
40:00were
40:00seeing
40:00her
40:01for
40:01the
40:01first
40:01time.
40:02Lillia
40:03grabbed
40:04his
40:04sleeve.
40:05Casper
40:06believe
40:07me
40:07I
40:08was
40:09just
40:09scared.
40:10She
40:11drove
40:11me
40:11away
40:12and
40:12I
40:12had
40:12nothing
40:13left.
40:13Casper
40:14slowly
40:15pulled
40:15his
40:15hand
40:15free.
40:18They
40:18were
40:19children.
40:20Lillia
40:21went
40:21still.
40:23Cyrus
40:23closed
40:23his
40:24eyes.
40:26Vadicor
40:27turned
40:27away
40:28and
40:28would
40:28not
40:28look
40:29at
40:29her.
40:30They
40:30finally
40:31saw
40:31her
40:31for
40:31who
40:32she
40:32really
40:32was.
40:34But
40:35it
40:35was
40:35too
40:35late.
40:37A
40:38mother
40:38slapped
40:38Lillia
40:39across
40:39the
40:39face.
40:42My
40:43child
40:44screamed
40:45all
40:45night
40:46because
40:46of
40:46you!
40:48Lillia
40:48covered
40:49her
40:49cheek
40:49and
40:50looked
40:50toward
40:50the
40:50three
40:50men
40:51again
40:51waiting
40:52for
40:52someone
40:52to
40:53protect
40:53her.
40:58No
40:58one
40:59moved.
41:00your
41:01majesty
41:01the
41:02pups
41:03are
41:03safe
41:03for
41:03now.
41:04The
41:05trial
41:06can
41:06begin
41:06whenever
41:07you
41:07command.
41:09I
41:09looked
41:10at
41:10Lillia's
41:10pale
41:11shaking
41:12face.
41:14Then
41:14let
41:15all of
41:15Valon
41:16hear
41:16what
41:17she
41:17has
41:17done.
41:19When
41:20Lillia
41:20was
41:20brought
41:21to
41:21the
41:21judgment
41:21platform
41:22the
41:23royal
41:23square
41:24was
41:24packed.
41:25The
41:26parents
41:26of
41:27the
41:27pup
41:27she
41:27had
41:27nearly
41:28harmed
41:28knelt
41:29below
41:29the
41:29platform
41:30their
41:30eyes
41:31swollen
41:31from
41:32tears.
41:33My
41:33father
41:34sat
41:34beside
41:34the
41:35throne.
41:36I
41:37sat
41:37in
41:37the
41:37queen's
41:38seat.
41:39A
41:39trickist
41:39stood
41:40half a
41:40step
41:40behind
41:41me.
41:42Lillia
41:43still
41:43wore
41:43her
41:43faded
41:44healer's
41:44dress.
41:46She
41:47lifted
41:47her
41:47head
41:48and
41:49looked
41:49at
41:50me.
41:54Your
41:54Majesty,
41:55I
41:56saved
41:56many
41:57lives.
41:57You
41:58can't
41:58accuse
41:59me
41:59based
41:59solely
41:59on
41:59someone's
42:00word.
42:01I
42:01ordered
42:01the
42:02evidence
42:02to be
42:02presented.
42:03Black
42:04Marsh
42:04Heat
42:04Wean,
42:07the
42:07pharmacy
42:08assistant's
42:08confession,
42:10the
42:11spare
42:11powder
42:11hidden
42:12in her
42:12luggage,
42:14and the
42:14letter she
42:15had
42:15written to
42:16a
42:16human
42:16border
42:17apothetory.
42:18The
42:18letter
42:19was
42:19clear.
42:20If
42:21the
42:21wolf
42:22royal
42:22city
42:22so
42:23suffered
42:23another
42:24outbreak
42:24of
42:24pup
42:25fever,
42:25she
42:26would
42:26return
42:26as
42:26the
42:27only
42:27healer
42:27capable
42:28of
42:28saving
42:29them.
42:30By
42:30then,
42:31everyone
42:32would
42:32beg
42:32her,
42:34including
42:35me.
42:37Casper
42:38finally
42:38could not
42:39hold
42:39back.
42:43Why?
42:45Lila
42:46looked at
42:46him,
42:47and tears
42:48spilled
42:48down her
42:48face.
42:52because I
42:53was angry.
42:58I saved
42:59so many
42:59people,
43:00yet one
43:01word from
43:02her could
43:02drive me
43:03out.
43:04Why?
43:05Just because
43:06she is
43:07queen!
43:09Because I
43:10am queen,
43:11I am
43:11responsible for
43:12the pups
43:12of this
43:13city.
43:14You were
43:14allowed to
43:15be angry.
43:16you were
43:17allowed to
43:17hate me.
43:19You were
43:20allowed to
43:20return to
43:21human
43:21territory and
43:22begin again.
43:23But you
43:24chose to
43:25endanger
43:25children.
43:27The square
43:29fell into
43:29dead silence.
43:33I lifted
43:34my hand.
43:36Liliya,
43:37your healer's
43:37status is
43:38revoked.
43:43Your right to
43:44enter clan
43:45territory is
43:46stripped.
43:47In three
43:47days, you
43:48will be
43:49escorted to
43:49the human
43:50border and
43:50handed over
43:51to the
43:51border court
43:52for
43:52judgment.
43:57Cyrus
43:58suddenly
43:58knelt.
44:00Your
44:01majesty,
44:01I request
44:02punishment.
44:03Casper
44:04nailed as
44:05well.
44:06Vedicore
44:06knelt last
44:07and his
44:08knees hit
44:08the ground
44:08the hardest.
44:11The
44:12main
44:12wolf
44:13bloodline
44:13accepts
44:14responsibility
44:14for
44:15negligence.
44:16I
44:16looked at
44:17them.
44:18Once,
44:19seeing them
44:20kneel before
44:20me would
44:21have made
44:21me happy.
44:23Now,
44:23I felt
44:24only calm.
44:26Of course
44:27you will be
44:27punished.
44:29Cyrus,
44:30the Eagle
44:31clan is
44:31responsible for
44:32aerial patrols
44:33over the
44:33royal city.
44:35Liliya left
44:36and re-entered
44:37the city
44:38without your
44:38men detecting
44:39her in
44:39time.
44:41From this
44:42day forward,
44:44the Eagle
44:45clan's right
44:46to patrol
44:47royal airspace
44:48is suspended
44:49for three
44:49years and
44:51placed under
44:51direct crown
44:52control.
44:54Cyrus lowered
44:55his head.
44:57Yes,
44:57your majesty.
44:59Casper,
45:01the White
45:02Tiger clan
45:02provided Lila
45:04with medicinal
45:04herbs and
45:05allowed her to
45:06test medicines,
45:07yet never
45:08inspected the
45:09powders she
45:09kept hidden.
45:10The White
45:11Tiger clan's
45:12medicinal fusion
45:13will be doubled.
45:14All clan
45:15herb gardens
45:16will be managed
45:17by the royal
45:17medical office
45:18for one
45:19year.
45:19And you,
45:20Casper,
45:21will serve at
45:22the northern
45:22border medical
45:23camp for
45:23three years.
45:25No palace
45:26room.
45:27No White
45:27Tiger privilege.
45:29You will
45:30treat the
45:30soldiers and
45:31pups your
45:31negligence
45:32endangered.
45:33Yes,
45:33your majesty.
45:35Last,
45:35I looked at
45:36Vedicore.
45:37Vedicore,
45:38you brought
45:39Liliya into
45:40the inner
45:40palace,
45:42used my
45:42healing pool
45:43without
45:43permission,
45:44and opened
45:45the door
45:46that never
45:46should have
45:46been opened.
45:47From this
45:48day forward,
45:49you are
45:50removed as
45:50commander of
45:51the royal
45:51guard.
45:52Your wolf
45:53crest will
45:53be stripped
45:54from the
45:54royal guard
45:55rolls.
45:56Until the
45:56wolf council
45:57decides otherwise,
45:58you will live
45:59outside the
46:00pack as a
46:00lone wolf.
46:01For a wolf
46:02born inside
46:03the main
46:03bloodline,
46:04there was no
46:05harsher exile
46:07than being cut
46:08off from the
46:08pack's name.
46:10Vedicore's
46:11throat moved.
46:12In the end,
46:13he lowered
46:14his head.
46:17Yes,
46:18your majesty.
46:20Three days
46:21later,
46:22Liliya was
46:23escorted out
46:24of the
46:24royal city.
46:26Lila thought
46:27human territory
46:28would welcome
46:29her.
46:30The moment
46:31the Valon
46:32guards handed
46:33her to the
46:33border court,
46:34she lifted
46:35her chin
46:36and forced
46:36tears into
46:37her eyes.
46:39I was only
46:40a human woman
46:41trapped in a
46:42beast city.
46:44they hated
46:45me because
46:46I saved
46:46lives.
46:49No one
46:50answered.
46:52The human
46:53magistrate
46:54opened the
46:55sealed Valon
46:55report and
46:56read the
46:57charges aloud.
46:59You added
47:01Black Marsh
47:01heatweed to
47:02medicine meant
47:03for wolf
47:04pups.
47:05You caused
47:06a citywide
47:07fever outbreak
47:08to prove
47:09they needed
47:09you.
47:10The crowd
47:10outside the
47:11court exploded.
47:12She poisoned
47:13children!
47:15And she
47:16calls herself
47:17a healer?
47:18Liliya's face
47:19went white.
47:21They were
47:22beasts!
47:22Their queen
47:25twisted
47:26everything!
47:30A human
47:31healer
47:31stepped forward
47:32and tore
47:33the healer's
47:33ribbon from
47:34Liliya's
47:34sleeve.
47:36A child
47:38in pain
47:38is still
47:39a child!
47:41You do
47:42not get
47:42to wear
47:43our mark.
47:44Liliya
47:45reached for
47:45the ribbon
47:46but the
47:47guard shoved
47:48her back.
47:52Stand
47:53down.
47:53Until
47:55the final
47:55trial
47:55you will
47:56serve
47:57in the
47:57quarantine
47:57tents
47:58under
47:58guard.
47:59Liliya
48:00stared at
48:00him.
48:01You
48:02want
48:02me
48:03to
48:03treat
48:03fever
48:04patients?
48:05No.
48:07You
48:08will
48:08scrub
48:08the
48:09floors
48:09beneath
48:09them.
48:14When
48:15Cyrus
48:16returned
48:16to the
48:16Eagle
48:17Tower
48:17no one
48:18came
48:18to
48:19welcome
48:19him.
48:20The
48:20black
48:21winged
48:21guards
48:22stood
48:22in
48:22two
48:23silent
48:23lines.
48:24At
48:25the
48:25center
48:25of
48:25the
48:25hall
48:26the
48:27Eagle
48:27Eagle
48:27Elder
48:28placed
48:28the
48:28royal
48:29order
48:29on
48:29the
48:29table.
48:33Three
48:34years.
48:36For
48:36three
48:37years
48:37the
48:38Eagle
48:38clan
48:39cannot
48:39patrol
48:40the
48:40royal
48:40sky.
48:42A
48:42young
48:43Eagle
48:43noble
48:43could
48:44not
48:44hold
48:44back.
48:46Because
48:47you
48:47hung
48:47a
48:47consort
48:48candidate's
48:48pass
48:49outside
48:49a
48:50human
48:50healer's
48:50door.
48:51Cyrus
48:52did
48:52not
48:52argue.
48:53Our
48:54clan
48:54kept
48:54the
48:54royal
48:55airspace
48:55for
48:56generations.
48:57Your
48:57father
48:58earned
48:58that
48:58route
48:59with
48:59blood.
48:59You
49:00lost
49:00it
49:00for
49:01a
49:01woman
49:01who
49:01poisoned
49:02pups.
49:04Cyrus
49:04lowered his
49:05head.
49:05I will
49:06accept
49:06whatever
49:07punishment
49:07the
49:08clan
49:08gives
49:08me.
49:11The
49:11elder
49:12took
49:12the
49:12sky
49:13blagger
49:13from
49:13Cyrus'
49:14chest.
49:16You
49:17will
49:17not
49:17command
49:17a
49:18patrol.
49:18You
49:19will
49:20not
49:20enter
49:21the
49:21royal
49:21city
49:22without
49:23written
49:23permission.
49:25And
49:25when
49:26the
49:26young
49:26ones
49:26ask
49:27why
49:27our
49:28banners
49:28no
49:28longer
49:29fly
49:29over
49:30Valon,
49:30they
49:31will
49:31hear
49:31your
49:32name.
49:33Cyrus'
49:34black
49:34wings
49:34trembled
49:35once.
49:36Outside
49:36the
49:37window,
49:37royal
49:37guards
49:38crossed
49:38the
49:39sky
49:39roots
49:39that
49:39had
49:40once
49:40belonged
49:40to
49:41him.
49:42For
49:42the
49:42first
49:42time,
49:43Cyrus
49:44understood
49:44what
49:45Lux
49:45had
49:46meant.
49:47He
49:48had
49:48not
49:48protected
49:49the
49:49weak.
49:50He
49:51had
49:51handed
49:51the
49:52queen's
49:52authority
49:52to
49:53a
49:53liar.
49:54And
49:55now
49:55his
49:55whole
49:56clan
49:56had
49:56to
49:56bow
49:57beneath
49:57that
49:57shame.
50:01The
50:02northern
50:02border
50:03did
50:03not
50:03care
50:03that
50:04Caspar
50:04had
50:04once
50:05been
50:05beautiful.
50:06The
50:06wind
50:06cut
50:07through
50:07his
50:07white
50:07cloak
50:08within
50:08the
50:08first
50:08hour.
50:10By
50:10nightfall,
50:11his
50:11hands
50:12were
50:12cracked
50:12from
50:12carrying
50:13water
50:13and
50:14washing
50:14blood
50:15from
50:15bandages.
50:21An
50:21injured
50:22pup
50:22was
50:22carried
50:23into
50:23the
50:23tent,
50:24shaking
50:24with
50:25fever
50:25from
50:25a
50:25border
50:26wound.
50:27Caspar
50:27stepped
50:28forward
50:28at
50:28once.
50:33Let
50:34me
50:34help.
50:39The
50:40pup's
50:40mother
50:40pulled
50:41the
50:41child
50:41back.
50:44You
50:45are
50:45the
50:45white
50:46tiger
50:46who
50:46protected
50:47Lillia.
50:48My
50:49sister's
50:49son
50:50almost
50:51died
50:51in the
50:52royal
50:52city.
50:53It's
50:53all
50:54your
50:54fault
50:55and
50:56that
50:56human
50:57vipers.
50:58I'm
50:59sorry.
51:06The
51:07northern
51:07captain
51:07entered
51:08with
51:08snow
51:08on his
51:09armor.
51:10If you
51:11want them
51:11to trust
51:12your
51:12hands,
51:13work
51:14until your
51:15hands are
51:15worth
51:16trusting.
51:17For the
51:18rest of
51:18the night,
51:19Caspar
51:20cleaned
51:20wounds,
51:21boiled
51:22medicine,
51:22and carried
51:23fever water
51:24from tent
51:25to tent.
51:27On the
51:28first full
51:29moon after
51:30the trial,
51:31Vededicors
51:32stood outside
51:33the wolf
51:33clan gates.
51:34Inside the
51:35walls,
51:36the pack
51:37gathered for
51:37the moon
51:38run.
51:40Once,
51:41young wolves
51:41had stepped
51:42aside when
51:43he passed.
51:44Tonight,
51:46the gate
51:46stayed
51:47closed.
51:51The wolf
51:52elder walked
51:52out with
51:53two guards.
51:55In his
51:55hand was
51:56Vedicor's
51:57broken
51:57guard
51:58crest.
51:59The queen
52:00has removed
52:01you from
52:01the royal
52:02guard.
52:03The wolf
52:04council
52:07has accepted
52:08her sentence.
52:10Am I
52:10forbidden
52:11from the
52:12pack run?
52:13The elder
52:14looked at
52:14him without
52:15pity.
52:17You have
52:18been banished
52:19from the
52:19pack.
52:20Behind the
52:21gate,
52:21the wolves
52:22howled.
52:23Vededicor's
52:24inner wolf
52:25answered by
52:26instinct,
52:26but the
52:27sound broke
52:28in his
52:28throat.
52:29He shifted
52:30into wolf
52:31form and
52:31stood alone
52:32in the
52:32snow,
52:33never be
52:34accepted by
52:34the pack
52:35again.
52:39The bells
52:40of the royal
52:41city rang
52:42again.
52:44I stood
52:45on the
52:45city wall
52:45and watched
52:46Valen's
52:47banners
52:47unfold in
52:48the wind.
52:49Once,
52:50I thought
52:51love meant
52:52possession.
52:54If I
52:54ordered
52:55someone to
52:55stay,
52:56they could
52:56not leave.
52:58Then they
52:59told me I
53:00was spoiled,
53:01arrogant,
53:02too blind to
53:03cherish what
53:04I had.
53:04Now I had
53:05learnt better.
53:07Love could
53:08not be
53:08commanded by a
53:09crown.
53:10Loyalty should
53:11never have to
53:12be begged for
53:13on my knees.
53:14I could lose
53:15Cyrus.
53:16I could lose
53:17Caspar.
53:20I could lose
53:21Vedic or
53:23the crown
53:24would not
53:24fall.
53:26My wolf
53:26spirit would
53:27not go out.
53:29Atticus stood
53:30half a step
53:31behind me.
53:32That was
53:33where a king
53:34consort
53:34belonged.
53:36When I
53:37needed him,
53:37he was
53:38there.
53:40When I
53:41did not,
53:42he waited.
53:44I asked
53:45him,
53:47Atticus,
53:48do you know
53:48what needs
53:49to be king
53:49consort?
53:50It means
53:51I will
53:52always stand
53:52behind my
53:54queen.
53:55He paused,
53:57then bent
53:58close to my
53:58ear.
53:59And it also
54:00means I get
54:01to sleep
54:01beside her
54:02at night.
54:05Atticus
54:06lowered his
54:06head,
54:07golden snake
54:08eyes reflecting
54:09my crown.
54:13Lux,
54:15I will
54:16not teach
54:16you to
54:16bow your
54:17head.
54:18I will
54:19never say
54:19you ask
54:20for too
54:21much.
54:22If you
54:23want loyalty,
54:24I will
54:25give you
54:25loyalty.
54:25If you
54:26want all
54:27of Valon
54:27to watch
54:28the snake
54:28clan kneel
54:29at your
54:29feet,
54:31then I
54:32will kneel.
54:36When he
54:37finished,
54:38he truly
54:39dropped to
54:39one knee
54:40on the
54:40city wall.
54:41This
54:42time,
54:43he was
54:43not
54:43kneeling
54:44for
54:44ceremony.
54:45Not
54:46for the
54:46nobles
54:47watching.
54:48It was
54:49only for
54:49me.
54:52I
54:53reached out
54:54and lifted
54:54his
54:54chain.
54:58Rise,
55:02my
55:02king
55:03consort.
55:04Far
55:04off,
55:05at the
55:06edge of
55:06the
55:06snowstorm,
55:08all of
55:09my former
55:09candidates got
55:10what they
55:11deserved.
55:11I did
55:13not look
55:13again.
55:15My story
55:16with them
55:17was over,
55:18and my
55:19throne,
55:20my wolf
55:20spirit,
55:22my new
55:23king
55:23consort,
55:24and all
55:25of Valon,
55:26were waiting
55:27for me to
55:28move forward.
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