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The Revenge of the Siren Twin Queens Exclusive
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00:02That pearl is inside her!
00:04Split her open and take it!
00:09Here, deliver this to the queen and be done with it.
00:12Look! There's still one that got away!
00:15I watched my own sister be killed, right before my eyes.
00:19Since you can't bear to leave, then stay forever!
00:24Arrows, shoot her down! Wipe out every last trace!
00:27A sky-blotting volley of arrows tore through the air.
00:31I plunged into the water, swimming for my life.
00:34I hid beneath a dark reef.
00:36Blood stung my eyes as my tears hardened into Siren's grief pearls,
00:41each one deep red with blood.
00:44Nerissa's last words echoed in my head.
00:47Live, Serena. Whatever it takes, live.
00:52Legend has it that deep in the abyss of light live the Sirens,
00:56and within their queen resides a flawless Tide Pearl.
01:01Whoever possessed it would gain eternal beauty and youth.
01:05Isolde grew obsessed.
01:07To please him, King Aldrich sent his men and wizards
01:11to cut open Nerissa's body and take her Tidal Pearl.
01:14That day, the sea ran red.
01:18My people floated everywhere, their bellies split open.
01:22They knew the Siren Queen carried a legendary Tide Pearl.
01:26They had no idea there were two of us.
01:29Twin-born queens.
01:30The other queen was born with the Siren's allure.
01:33Her blood could sustain a thousand shadow familiars.
01:37That queen was me.
01:39I dragged myself onto the shore.
01:42The pain ate at my bones.
01:44I gritted my teeth and sang the old Siren curse.
01:48My tail turned into two human legs with a sickening crunch.
01:52I sliced my wrists open.
01:54Let the writhing shadows drink.
02:02I mastered blood sorcery in three months.
02:05A magic most humans never master in a lifetime.
02:09I clawed my way to the capital, Aurelia.
02:12I slipped into the ivory palace disguised as a court dancer.
02:16I handed a greedy servant a bag of my Siren's grief pearls.
02:21Soon, I had eyes on King Aldrich's every move.
02:31At night, the moonlight spread across the shore
02:34as I danced over the waters of Mirror Lake.
02:38You dance like no one I've ever seen.
02:41Who are you?
02:43It's a dance from my homeland.
02:46Few ever get to see it.
02:56The queen loves to dance, too.
02:58The Midsummer Court is coming up.
03:00Perhaps you shall dance for her at the feast.
03:03Your majesty, I didn't realize who you were.
03:06Please forgive me.
03:09No need to apologize, my lady.
03:11Just don't disappoint me.
03:12Or the queen.
03:14I accepted.
03:15As Aldrich turned his back,
03:17I stirred my fingers.
03:19A tiny shadow familiar
03:21burrowed silently into his skin.
03:24By noon the next day,
03:26all of Ivory Palace was talking about the king
03:29meeting a beautiful dancer by the lake.
03:31By sunset,
03:33even the stable boys
03:35had their own version of the story.
03:37A sharp knock came at my door.
03:39It was Queen Isolde's mistress of the household.
03:42They marched me right to Queen Isolde.
03:45That was her.
03:47The woman who slaughtered my people
03:49and killed Nerissa,
03:50all for a single tide pearl.
03:52This is what my husband sends me?
03:55A scarred little creature from the gutter?
03:57Before stepping inside,
03:59I used a glamour weaver to hide my face
04:02under a grotesque mask
04:03of fake whip scars and pockmarks.
04:07Isolde was deadly jealous.
04:09If she saw my real face,
04:11I'd never survive the night.
04:17Rest assured, your grace.
04:19I shall wear a veil.
04:21You won't have to endure my face for long.
04:23Very well.
04:24Looking like that,
04:25you couldn't cause a ripple in a bathtub.
04:27I'll accept Aldrich's gift.
04:30Isolde waved her hand.
04:31The mistress of the household dragged me out.
04:34Right outside the doors,
04:35I ran straight into Aldrich.
04:37He took one look at me.
04:39This scarred, ruined face
04:41looked nothing like the girl from the lake.
04:44But my scent gave me away.
04:46He instantly knew I was fighting for my life.
04:49If Isolde had seen the real me,
04:51there'd be a corpse on the floor right now.
04:54What did it matter
04:55if she held all the king's favor now?
04:58The higher they rise,
05:00the harder they fall.
05:02Back in my room,
05:03I shed the glamour weaver.
05:05The face in the mirror was flawless,
05:08luminous as moonlight.
05:11Isolde,
05:12didn't you want the siren's allure?
05:14Didn't you crave eternal youth?
05:18I was going to make sure
05:19everything you ever wanted
05:21slipped through your fingers.
05:31Soon, Narita, soon.
05:33She will be the first
05:34I send screaming into the dark
05:36to answer for what she's done to you.
05:39The Midsummer Court.
05:41Three days of feasts,
05:43fights and dancing.
05:44And no sleep.
05:46White water lilies
05:46covered Mirror Lake overnight.
05:48The lords whispered.
05:50Some called it a blessing
05:51from the stars.
05:53Others,
05:54a dark omen.
05:56Where is the gift
05:57you promised,
05:57your majesty?
06:18A dance for her grace's honour.
06:20May the king and his queen
06:22know joy unending.
06:23May the kingdom of Balton
06:24prosper in glory.
06:25Rise.
06:26You were
06:28extraordinary.
06:30How
06:31delightful.
06:33You like it?
06:34Good.
06:35The whispering hex
06:36was working.
06:37The shadow familiar
06:38was already inside his mind,
06:40tugging at his thoughts.
06:41I didn't want to push it too far.
06:44I flicked a finger,
06:45ready to call the shadow back.
06:47Give her to me,
06:48King Eldriff.
06:49In return,
06:49my father's armies
06:50will never cross your borders.
06:52Who speaks?
06:55Sire,
06:56this Norberg's crown.
07:01King Eldriff.
07:03I'm Norame's crown prince Kasbar.
07:06A hundred years of peace
07:07for one woman.
07:09I'd say you're getting
07:10the better deal.
07:11A century of peace?
07:14Trading a mere dancer
07:15to stop a war?
07:17Not a single lord here
07:18would say no to that deal.
07:20A crown prince
07:21offers a crown
07:22for a dancer.
07:23Any woman in this kingdom
07:25would weep with gratitude.
07:27The council of lords
07:28traded looks.
07:29Politically,
07:30it was the perfect bargain.
07:33Aldric went dead silent.
07:35He knew exactly
07:36what he should say.
07:38So why did his chest
07:39suddenly tighten?
07:41I looked up.
07:42I stared right at him.
07:49You've come too late,
07:50Prince Kasbar.
07:51She belongs to the crown.
07:54Your majesty?
07:56Kasbar stared Aldric down.
07:58A slow smirk
07:59spread across his face.
08:01Then he turned
08:02and vanished
08:02into the crown.
08:04Cold sweat
08:05drenched my back.
08:07Thankfully,
08:08I hadn't called
08:08the whispering hex back yet.
08:10Without that shadow
08:12in his mind,
08:13Aldric would never
08:14have claimed me aloud.
08:16A century of peace
08:18without drawing
08:18a single sword?
08:20No king
08:21turns that down.
08:23Aldric claimed me
08:24in broad daylight.
08:26By nightfall,
08:28a royal decree
08:29awaited me.
08:31a sealed writ.
08:32I was officially
08:33named the crown's grace,
08:35moved to
08:36Dawnlight Hall
08:37and placed under
08:38the king's
08:39personal protection.
08:40As I left
08:41the dancers' quarters,
08:43I stopped
08:43at the end of the hall
08:44and stared out
08:45into the dark.
08:46Nerissa,
08:47are you watching?
08:51I was going to make them
08:52pay a thousandfold
08:54for what they did to you.
08:56When I got to
08:57Moonveil Tower,
08:58Isolde was already waiting.
09:00She stared at my bare face
09:02in the moonlight.
09:04The veil was gone.
09:05You lied to me.
09:10Had I shown you
09:10this face that day,
09:11I wouldn't have lived
09:12long enough
09:12to bore you with it.
09:15You read me well,
09:16but guess what?
09:17Parade around
09:18as the king's new favorite
09:19all you want.
09:20Crown's grace or not,
09:21I will kill you
09:22just the same.
09:23So you've already
09:24decided how I die.
09:25Is that so?
09:25A tragic palace fire.
09:27The lovely crown's grace,
09:29Soraya,
09:29reduced to ash.
09:31Aldric and I
09:32were wed before
09:33he wore the crown.
09:34My father and brother
09:36bleed for his kingdom.
09:37Do you truly think
09:39you'll mourn a dancer?
09:42Her guards grabbed me.
09:44They bound my hands
09:45and feet
09:46and threw me
09:47to the stone floor.
09:50They doused the room
09:51in whale oil.
09:52A spark dropped.
09:54Flames erupted.
09:57Aldric is insensible
09:58with drink tonight.
10:00No one is coming
10:00to save me.
10:03I watched her disappear
10:05through the tower door.
10:06I didn't even flinch.
10:08As the fire roared,
10:10the guards at the door
10:11suddenly grabbed
10:12their floats.
10:13Blood poured out
10:14of their eyes and mouths.
10:16They dropped dead.
10:18One by one.
10:20I walked through
10:21the flames with Nyx.
10:23A shadow spinner spider
10:25scuttled across the floor,
10:27leading the way.
10:28I sprinted after it.
10:29Suddenly,
10:30I slammed into
10:31a solid chest.
10:33I jerked my head up,
10:35wide-eyed.
10:36Tears pooled in my eyes,
10:38but I bit my lip hard
10:39to hold them back.
10:41Who dared set fire
10:42inside my palace?
10:44Find them.
10:45Now!
10:46I pressed my face
10:47into his chest.
10:48I didn't say a word.
10:49He knew exactly
10:50who did it.
10:51That was pure theater
10:52for the court.
10:53He and Isolde
10:54had a history
10:54that went back
10:55to their childhood.
10:56Those roots ran deep.
10:58Moreover,
10:59she had House Ashford
11:00and half the Council
11:01of Lords backing her.
11:02He wasn't going
11:03to lay a finger
11:03on his queen
11:04for a dancer
11:05he barely knew.
11:06Aldric,
11:08I'm frightened.
11:09He was definitely drunk.
11:11His face was flushed
11:13and his breath
11:13reeked of heavy wine.
11:15The sweet scent
11:16of my allure
11:17coiled around him.
11:18Deep inside him,
11:19my shadow-familiar tongue
11:20was darkest desires.
11:22His eyes quickly
11:23clouded over.
11:24They burned
11:24dangerously hot.
11:26He scooped me up
11:27in his arms
11:27and carried me
11:29straight to the
11:29king's chamber.
11:31Word would reach
11:32Isolde fast.
11:33She wasn't going
11:34to take this lying down.
11:37Sure enough,
11:38I hadn't been
11:39in the chamber long
11:39before a guard
11:40called out from the door.
11:42Your Majesty,
11:43the queen is unwell.
11:44She requests
11:45your presence at once.
11:48Shall I release you
11:49to your queen?
11:51I would hate
11:51to keep you
11:52from your duties.
11:54When you're beside me,
11:55I forget there is
11:56anyone else
11:57in this castle.
11:58I let out
11:58a soft laugh.
11:59We were the only
12:00two left in the chamber.
12:02He leaned in close,
12:03his hot breath
12:04brushing away
12:05my neck.
12:06Then he went limp.
12:07A fleshy pink
12:08dream spinner
12:09burrowed slowly
12:11into his forehead.
12:12I shoved him back
12:13onto the four-poster bed
12:14and pulled the covers up.
12:18I wove you
12:19a beautiful dream.
12:21Enjoy it.
12:22I bit my lip
12:23until blood welled up,
12:25then leaned over
12:26as if to kiss him.
12:27Instead,
12:28I let exactly
12:29three drops
12:30of cursed blood
12:31fall past
12:32his parted lips.
12:33He swallowed it
12:35in his sleep.
12:36Three drops
12:37tonight,
12:38three tomorrow,
12:40three the night after.
12:42Soon,
12:43the poison would
12:43seep into his bones
12:45so deeply
12:46that no healer
12:47could purge it.
12:48No one
12:49except me.
12:51I wiped the blood
12:52off my mouth
12:53with the back
12:53of my hand.
12:54I stared
12:55at the dark
12:56red smear
12:56on my skin.
12:58This is what
12:59your mercy
13:00left you with,
13:01King Aldric.
13:02A monster
13:03in your bed.
13:05A tiny scratching
13:06sound came
13:07from the windowsill.
13:08A shadow spinner
13:09spider,
13:10no bigger
13:10than a fingernail.
13:11One of my many
13:12eyes inside
13:13the palace.
13:15Isolde
13:16was coming.
13:17Isolde
13:18was standing
13:19right outside
13:20the chamber doors.
13:21She was backed
13:22by her ladies-in-waiting,
13:24two sworn guards,
13:25and her
13:26personal healer.
13:27This wasn't
13:28just a jealous
13:29wife complaining.
13:30It was a siege.
13:32I stood
13:33at the top
13:33of the stairs.
13:34I purposely
13:35swept my hair
13:36to the side.
13:37I let the moonlight
13:38hit the fresh
13:39red mark
13:40on my neck.
13:41The king
13:42is asleep,
13:43your grace.
13:44Perhaps come
13:45back tomorrow.
13:46You gutter-born
13:47nobody,
13:47I will kill you!
13:49Careful,
13:50your grace.
13:51All that fury,
13:52it'll age you
13:53faster than time.
13:55And from what
13:56I hear,
13:57time has not
13:57been kind
13:58to your
13:58efforts.
14:00That one
14:01sentence
14:01froze her
14:02in her tracks.
14:04Five years
14:04of marriage,
14:05still no heir.
14:07The council
14:08of lords
14:09was whispering.
14:10Her father's
14:10letters were
14:11getting shorter.
14:12Even the servants
14:13looked at her
14:14differently now.
14:15She had begged
14:16every street healer
14:17in the kingdom.
14:18Still no heir.
14:21Rumor had it,
14:22she was cursed.
14:25Guards,
14:26seize her!
14:26I want her flogged
14:28until there's nothing
14:29left to flog!
14:30I had just
14:31struck at the
14:32rawest wound
14:33she had,
14:34right in front
14:35of her entire
14:36retinue.
14:36I calmly shook
14:38off the guards
14:38reaching hands.
14:40Then I spoke
14:41the words that
14:42shocked the hallway
14:42into dead silence.
14:45If I'm harmed,
14:47your grace,
14:48say goodbye
14:48to the child
14:49growing in your belly.
14:52Well,
14:53am I with child
14:54or not?
14:55Your grace,
14:56there is a life force.
14:58You are undoubtedly
14:58carrying a child.
15:02Truly?
15:05Even someone
15:06that arrogant
15:07could break down
15:07like this.
15:08Then she looked
15:09at me.
15:10Remembering my threat,
15:12she snapped
15:12at the healers.
15:13The child,
15:14is it stable?
15:15Your grace,
15:16the life force
15:16is strong and steady.
15:17Everything is perfect.
15:18Isolde smiled.
15:20When she turned
15:21back to me,
15:22the pure,
15:23murderous hate
15:24returned to her eyes.
15:27I finally have an heir.
15:29We should be celebrating.
15:31But you are a stain
15:33on this room.
15:36The very sight
15:37of you makes me sick.
15:39Isolde gave a flick
15:40of her eyes.
15:41Her guards
15:41lunged forward,
15:43digging their fingers
15:43into my arms
15:44to drag me out.
15:46I just twitched
15:47my finger.
15:48A split second later,
15:50Isolde grabbed her belly
15:51and let out
15:52a blood-curdling scream.
15:54The healers rushed
15:55into the diagnostic scan.
15:59Forgive us,
16:00your grace.
16:01The child's strength
16:02is failing.
16:04The pregnancy
16:05cannot be saved.
16:07Panic swallowed
16:08Isolde a hole.
16:09She had waited
16:10five years
16:11for a child,
16:12only to lose it
16:14seconds after
16:15finding out.
16:16Pale as a corpse,
16:17she locked eyes
16:18with me.
16:19She hissed
16:20through her teeth.
16:21You,
16:23fix it.
16:27If I lose
16:28this child,
16:29I will burn
16:30everything you love
16:31to ash.
16:32Every person,
16:33every place,
16:34every single memory.
16:36I looked down
16:37at her vicious,
16:38desperate face.
16:39Burn everything
16:40I loved
16:41to ash?
16:42She had no idea.
16:43My people
16:44were already
16:44wiped out.
16:45I was the only
16:46one left.
16:47I crawled
16:48out of the deep-sea
16:49hell for one
16:50reason only,
16:52to collect
16:52what she owed.
16:54I stepped forward
16:55and pulled out
16:55a silver ritual blade.
16:57I sliced shallow
16:58cuts into
16:59Isolde's wrists
17:00and her belly.
17:01Then,
17:01I let my own
17:02blood drip right
17:03into the open wounds.
17:05As the cuts healed,
17:06one by one,
17:07color slowly returned
17:08to Isolde's face.
17:10The healers rushed
17:10back for a scan.
17:12The gold light
17:12was steady again.
17:14The truth was,
17:15I knew nothing
17:16of healing magic.
17:17And there was
17:18no child
17:18in Isolde's womb.
17:20The night she tried
17:21to burn me alive
17:22in Moonvale Tower,
17:23I quietly planted
17:25a phantom womb hex
17:26inside her.
17:27The shadow
17:28perfectly mimicked
17:29every sign
17:30of being with child.
17:31The morning nausea,
17:33the swelling womb,
17:34and later,
17:35even the illusion
17:36of a child
17:36stirring within.
17:38But day and night,
17:39it would be eating
17:40the mother
17:41from the inside out,
17:43draining her life force
17:44to feed itself.
17:45The shadow
17:46obeyed my will.
17:47If I wished it,
17:49she'd be dead
17:49in an instant.
17:51But taking Isolde's life
17:52wasn't going
17:53to satisfy me.
17:55The men who butchered
17:56my entire people
17:57were Isolde's father
17:59and brother.
18:00I still remember
18:01her brother,
18:02Sir Victor Ashford,
18:03his thick,
18:05greasy hands
18:06tearing the scales
18:07from Nerissa's tail fin.
18:08Nerissa had been
18:10drenched in cold sweat
18:11from the agony,
18:12but she clenched her jaw
18:14and never made a sound.
18:16She died
18:16in unimaginable pain.
18:19I looked at Isolde's
18:20relieved, joyful face.
18:22A dark smile
18:23crept onto my lips.
18:25Are you watching,
18:26Nerissa?
18:27For every ounce of pain
18:29they put you through,
18:30I'll make them pay
18:31a thousandfold.
18:33When I slipped back
18:34into the king's chamber,
18:35Aldric was still
18:36fast asleep.
18:37I dropped my robe
18:38and slid into bed
18:39beside him.
18:40I couldn't wait
18:41to see the look
18:41on his face
18:42when he woke up
18:43and heard the news.
18:44His wife
18:45was pregnant.
18:46After all,
18:47he was the one
18:48paying the crown alchemist
18:49to slip a barrenness draft
18:50into her daily tea.
18:52She was never
18:53going to have a child.
18:54House Ashford
18:55already held
18:56half the seats
18:56in the Council of Lords.
18:58They commanded
18:58the entire
18:59Southern March army.
19:01If Isolde
19:02actually bore an heir,
19:03her family would use
19:04the child
19:05to turn Aldric
19:06into a puppet king.
19:07Sure,
19:08Aldric might have
19:08loved her once,
19:09but love is a cheap joke
19:11next to a crown.
19:13Aldric woke up
19:14and stared at me.
19:15The days of the dream spinner
19:17still lingered
19:18in his eyes.
19:19It looked like
19:19he enjoyed
19:20the fantasy
19:20I spun for him.
19:23Your Majesty,
19:25word has just arrived
19:26from the Queen's attendance.
19:28Her grace
19:28is with child.
19:30Did the news get out?
19:32Sire
19:32has already sent a rider
19:34to Lord General Ashfield.
19:35The air in the room
19:37snapped tight.
19:39I knew
19:39when to take my leave.
19:41You had a shock
19:42last night.
19:43Stay here and rest.
19:45I'll find you
19:46a better place to stay.
19:47Queen Isolde
19:48was pregnant.
19:50House Ashford
19:51was smelling blood
19:52in the water.
19:53Aldric was fighting
19:54a war on two fronts.
19:55He had to crush
19:56the plotting
19:57in the Council of Lords
19:58and he had to find
20:00a way to kill
20:00the thing growing
20:01inside his wife.
20:03Right now,
20:04no one was looking
20:05twice at a nameless
20:06crown's grace.
20:07It was the perfect
20:08blind spot
20:09for my revenge.
20:11Kasvar,
20:12Crown Prince of Norheim,
20:14from the Midsummer Court,
20:15would be my blade.
20:16I didn't just want
20:17a few dead royals.
20:19They butchered
20:20my people.
20:21I was going to burn
20:22their kingdom
20:23to the ground.
20:25I rolled up
20:26a coded note
20:27and shoved it
20:28into Nyx's mouth.
20:29The little snake
20:30tracked Kasvar down,
20:32following the invisible
20:33scent of our soul tether.
20:35I settled into
20:36Dawnlight Hall
20:37and waited.
20:39A few days later,
20:41someone pounded
20:42on my door.
20:44My lady!
20:45The queen is in agony.
20:46Please,
20:47you have to come.
20:49Aldric had made
20:50his move.
20:51He must have ordered
20:52the crown alchemist
20:53to strengthen the dose.
20:54Too bad there was
20:55no child to lose.
20:57The deadly potion
20:58was just eating
20:59Isolde alive
20:59for nothing.
21:01No one had leaked
21:01a word about me
21:02saving her pregnancy
21:03the other night.
21:04Aldric was completely
21:05in the dark.
21:06I stood over
21:07Isolde's bed,
21:08watching her face
21:09twist in pure,
21:10miserable agony.
21:12Slowly,
21:12I drew my
21:13silver ritual blade.
21:15The shadow
21:16from the phantom
21:16womb hex
21:17remained untouched,
21:18thriving,
21:19and multiplying
21:20inside Isolde.
21:21My child!
21:22Can you save it?
21:24I can,
21:25but it's going to hurt.
21:27Soraya,
21:27if you dare deceive me,
21:29my father and brother
21:31will not let you
21:32walk away alive!
21:33I took out my
21:34silver ritual blade
21:35and cut fresh slashes
21:36into her wrists
21:37and belly.
21:38Then,
21:38I let my own blood
21:40drip in.
21:41One cut,
21:41then another,
21:43until there were ten.
21:44She just lay there,
21:45shooting pure venom
21:47at me through
21:47bloodshot eyes.
21:49I actually wondered
21:50how exactly
21:51her father and brother
21:52were planning
21:52to deal with me.
21:53I had handed Kasvar
21:55a few of my
21:55shadow familiars.
21:56I told him to slip them
21:57right into the
21:58Ashford's food.
21:59The father and son
22:00commanded the entire
22:01Southern March army.
22:03Without them,
22:04the moment a general
22:04falls,
22:05the army breaks.
22:07House Ashford's
22:07massive militant threat
22:09would vanish
22:10overnight.
22:11Once the tenth cut
22:12sealed,
22:13I drew back.
22:14Isolde was
22:14completely drained.
22:16I waved a hand
22:16toward the heavy
22:17chamber doors.
22:18Send for the healers.
22:19Let them check.
22:20But the healers
22:21didn't arrive alone.
22:23Aldrich entered
22:23right behind them.
22:26I didn't know
22:27you had this
22:28particular talent.
22:30Just an old
22:31remedy from the
22:32deep waters,
22:33older than
22:34your kingdom.
22:35I had just
22:36ruined his
22:37perfect assassination
22:38plot.
22:39He wasn't
22:40going to let
22:40this go.
22:42The queen's
22:42child is safe,
22:43sire.
22:49Miss Alade,
22:51you've suffered.
22:52For you and
22:53our child,
22:54it was no
22:54suffering at all.
22:55I stood in the
22:56corner,
22:57biting the
22:57inside of my
22:58cheek to keep
22:59from laughing out
23:00loud.
23:00Did the king
23:01look remotely
23:02happy to her?
23:03He looked like
23:04he couldn't even
23:05stomach the sight
23:06of her.
23:08We owe Lady
23:09Soraya our
23:09thanks.
23:15Do you know
23:16what you've done?
23:18I understand
23:19my error.
23:20I acted
23:20recklessly.
23:21I am no
23:22trained healer.
23:23If anything had
23:24happened to the
23:24queen, the
23:25consequences would
23:26have been
23:26unthinkable.
23:28Reckless is an
23:29understatement.
23:30You are confined
23:30to your quarters
23:31for three months.
23:32You do not set
23:33one foot outside
23:34Dawn White Hall.
23:35Aldric, please!
23:36I begged her to
23:37do it.
23:38Don't punish her!
23:39She wasn't
23:40trying to help me.
23:41She was just
23:41terrified.
23:42Your Grace,
23:43I overstepped.
23:45I accept my
23:46punishment.
23:47This is our
23:47first child,
23:48Isolide.
23:49We cannot be
23:49too careful.
23:50Do not plead for
23:51her.
23:52Isolide opened
23:53her mouth,
23:53then swallowed
23:54her words.
23:55Deep down,
23:56she was thrilled
23:57I was getting
23:57locked away.
23:58I was escorted
23:59back to
23:59Dawn Light Hall.
24:00That very night,
24:02Aldric showed
24:02up at my door.
24:03He sat by
24:04candlelight,
24:04his thumb
24:05tracing soft
24:06circles over
24:07my hand.
24:07The flame
24:08danced in
24:09his pupils.
24:10There was
24:10something buried
24:11in his eyes
24:12I couldn't
24:12quite read.
24:13I hadn't fed
24:13him a shadow
24:14familiar tonight.
24:15Soraya,
24:16give me a
24:17child.
24:18I almost
24:18laughed in
24:19his face.
24:21We had
24:22shared a
24:22bed before.
24:23A shadow
24:24could mimic
24:24touch for a
24:25while,
24:26but not
24:26forever.
24:27Keep it up
24:28long enough
24:29and he
24:29would notice.
24:31Besides,
24:32sirens are
24:32creatures built
24:33for addiction.
24:35Aldric
24:35couldn't get
24:36enough.
24:36He spent
24:37night after
24:38night in
24:39my chambers.
24:40Isolide really
24:41thought Aldric
24:41put me under
24:42house arrest
24:43because he
24:43was sick of
24:44me.
24:44She figured
24:45she could deal
24:46with me the
24:46second she
24:47popped out
24:47her air.
24:48Instead of
24:48watching me
24:49rot in
24:50exile,
24:50she was
24:51met with
24:51very different
24:52news.
24:53I was
24:54pregnant too.
24:55When Aldric
24:56heard Isolide
24:56was pregnant,
24:57he panicked.
24:59But when he
24:59heard the news
25:00about me,
25:01the joy on
25:02his face
25:02was real.
25:04He had
25:04sat on the
25:05throne for
25:05years without
25:06a single
25:07heir.
25:08Since Isolide
25:09couldn't bear
25:09one, she
25:10quietly paid
25:11off the
25:11alchemists to
25:12spike the
25:13tea of
25:14every other
25:14mistress in
25:15the castle.
25:16I stared
25:17into his
25:18eyes.
25:18They were
25:18soft with
25:19tenderness.
25:20Did he
25:20actually love
25:21me?
25:22A siren's
25:23body is
25:23built for
25:24survival.
25:25Bearing young
25:25is practically
25:26effortless compared
25:27to humans.
25:28If I wanted a
25:29child, it was
25:30easy.
25:31The tragedy
25:31was, this
25:32child was
25:33never meant
25:34to be born.
25:35Every drop
25:36of blood in
25:36my body fed
25:37my shadow
25:38familiars.
25:39Siren magic
25:40is born of
25:41the living sea.
25:42Blood
25:42sorcery feeds
25:43on death.
25:44Those two
25:45forces ripped
25:46at each
25:46other inside
25:47my veins,
25:48leaving too
25:48little life
25:49in me to
25:50carry a
25:50child.
25:51I swear I
25:52felt it
25:52move.
25:52You're
25:53imagining
25:53things.
25:54It's barely
25:54two months.
25:55How could
25:55it move?
25:56I felt it.
25:56I'm sure
25:57of it.
25:58I'm probably
25:59just hungry.
26:01We both
26:02burst into
26:02laughter, tangled
26:04up together
26:04in bed.
26:05That was the
26:06exact scene
26:07Isolide walked
26:08in on.
26:08Isolide was
26:09finally
26:10showing, but
26:11the rest of
26:12her body
26:12was wasting
26:13away.
26:14Hollow cheeks,
26:15dark bruised
26:16circles under
26:17her eyes.
26:18Her skin
26:18looked as
26:19thin as
26:20stretched
26:20parchment.
26:22Not even
26:22three layers
26:23of heavy
26:23powder could
26:24hide the
26:25decay.
26:26The shadow
26:26from the
26:27phantom womb
26:27hex was
26:28relentlessly
26:29feeding on
26:30her vitality.
26:32The second
26:33I saw
26:33Isolide, I
26:35went to
26:35pull away, but
26:36Aldrich just
26:37wrapped his
26:38arms around
26:38me tighter.
26:40Why are you
26:41here?
26:43I heard the
26:44wonderful news
26:45about Surya.
26:47I came to
26:47offer my
26:48congratulations.
26:49I just
26:50didn't expect
26:51to find you
26:52here.
26:53Aldrich hadn't
26:54stepped foot
26:54inside Golden
26:55Rose Hall in
26:56weeks.
26:57He made
26:57every excuse
26:58in the book.
26:59He just
27:00refused to
27:01see her.
27:02Desperate, she
27:03had written to
27:03her father and
27:04brother.
27:05Still no
27:05reply.
27:06Today, upon
27:07hearing that
27:08Donlight Hall
27:08was expecting
27:09a child, she
27:10could endure
27:11it no longer.
27:16How have you
27:17been feeling,
27:18Your Grace?
27:18Isolda didn't
27:19even look at
27:20me.
27:20Her eyes were
27:21fixed on
27:22Aldrich.
27:23Have you
27:23grown tired of
27:24me, Aldrich?
27:25They shared a
27:27bond forged
27:27since childhood.
27:29For a fleeting
27:30moment, Aldrich's
27:31grip on me
27:32loosened.
27:33Honestly, if
27:35Isold's pregnancy
27:35wasn't stressing
27:36him out of
27:37his mind, I
27:38probably wouldn't
27:39have kept him
27:40in my bed this
27:41easily.
27:41Don't overthink
27:42it.
27:42I'll come see
27:43you later
27:43tonight.
27:46Your Majesty,
27:47urgent dispatch
27:48from the
27:48Southern March.
27:49The Council
27:49of Lords is
27:50already waiting
27:50in the
27:50Council
27:50Chamber.
27:58Was there
27:58anything else,
27:59my Queen?
28:00I wish to
28:01rest.
28:01I underestimated
28:03you, but in
28:04this palace,
28:05carrying the
28:05King's heir
28:05means absolute
28:06nothing if you
28:07don't survive
28:07the birth.
28:08I could say
28:09the same, though
28:10I suspect you
28:10already know.
28:11You conizing
28:12little wretch!
28:13Don't push
28:13your luck!
28:14I still have
28:15my bloodline!
28:16I have my
28:16father and
28:17my brother!
28:17You're just a
28:18dancer!
28:19You are nothing
28:20beside me!
28:20Is that so?
28:21If I had to
28:22guess, that
28:23urgent dispatch was
28:24all about the
28:25Ashford men.
28:26I had learned
28:27of it days ago.
28:28My splinter
28:29familiar was
28:30shadowing
28:30Kasvar.
28:31The tiny
28:32shadow carried
28:33the news
28:33straight into
28:34my mind
28:35through our
28:35soul tether.
28:36It reached
28:37me a full
28:37month before
28:38the King's
28:39fastest riders
28:40could.
28:40House Ashford
28:41had always
28:42hungered for
28:43war.
28:43They had
28:44long been
28:44eager to
28:45march on
28:45Norheim.
28:46But the
28:47royal vault
28:47was bleeding
28:48dry, and
28:49Aldric had
28:50zero interest
28:51in starting
28:51a war.
28:52So the
28:53eldest son,
28:54Sir Victor,
28:55crossed the
28:55border and
28:56provoked them
28:57again and
28:58again.
28:59I had
28:59thought he
29:00could fight,
29:01but it
29:01only took a
29:02few clashes
29:03for Kasvar
29:03to knock
29:04him off
29:04his horse
29:05and shatter
29:06his leg.
29:08Kasvar
29:09didn't want
29:09a full-blown
29:10war, so
29:11he let the
29:12fool live.
29:13But the
29:13very next
29:14day, Lord
29:15General Ashford
29:16marched his
29:17army south.
29:19He swore to
29:20wash away the
29:21insult and
29:22avenge the
29:22humiliation of
29:23his son.
29:24The southern
29:25march was
29:26miles away.
29:27Even the
29:28fastest horse
29:28took a month
29:29to reach the
29:30capital.
29:32Halterich had
29:32no idea
29:33the old
29:34general had
29:35already been
29:36crushed and
29:36captured.
29:40My lady,
29:41his majesty
29:41is in the
29:41middle of a
29:42council.
29:42Let her
29:42in.
29:44I've had
29:44these
29:45headaches
29:45for days
29:45now,
29:47but when
29:47you're near
29:47me,
29:48they ease.
29:49I don't
29:49know why.
29:50I don't
29:50I don't
29:51know why.
29:51I don't
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