The grand palace, usually alive with the constant hum of activity, felt strangely subdued in the dim light of dawn. King Ryu Pinion paced the length of his private council chamber, the opulent surroundings failing to soothe the turmoil brewing within him.Tapestries depicting long-dead kings and their triumphs hung from the walls, but today they seemed more like ghostly reminders of past glories—glories that felt increasingly out of his grasp.Kerrigan Lokir. Her name was on everyone’s lips. Ever since the banquet, whispers of her rise had grown louder. In the eyes of the people, she was no longer just a force of change; she was becoming a symbol of what the kingdom could be.To some, she represented a new era, a future where the crown and the people stood united. But to King Ryu, she was a threat—a dangerous, uncontrollable force that he had failed to tame.He stopped by the window, looking out over the sprawling capital. The city was waking up, bathed in the pale light of morning, bu
The moon hung low over the capital, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. The palace, illuminated by the glow of countless lanterns, seemed almost serene from the outside—a far cry from the turmoil brewing within. Kerrigan’s private chambers were quiet, save for the distant hum of activity from the banquet that had finally ended. She had managed to keep her composure through the long evening, but now, as she paced the length of the room, her thoughts were in chaos.She had been holding her emotions in check since the King’s proposal, but the weight of his words was crushing her. Marry him? Become his queen? The thought had chilled her to the bone. The King’s offer was not just a marriage proposal; it was a bid to control her, to bind her influence to his throne, and to use her as a tool to solidify his power. But more than that, it was a direct threat—to her independence, her ambitions, and to the love she shared with Conor.Kerrigan’s heart clenched as she glanced towa
Kerrigan looked up at him, sensing the shift in his tone. “What is it?”Conor hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Our bond—it’s more than just a connection between Celia and Abraxas. It’s binding us, deeper than I think either of us realized. Celia’s been warning me… if we don’t take action soon, someone else will. The King isn’t the only one who sees your power, who wants to use it. Khalid, the court, they’ll all try to claim you if I don’t—”Kerrigan interrupted, her voice gentle but firm. “Conor, no one is claiming me. Not the King, not Khalid. And not even you. This is my choice.”Conor nodded, but the fear was still there, gnawing at him. “I know, but… the Valtas is something we can’t ignore. If we don’t decide what we are, others will make that decision for us. And they won’t be kind.”Kerrigan’s breath hitched, the truth of his words sinking in. They were on a precipice, and every day they waited was another day the world tried to pull them apart. She loved Conor fiercely,
The morning sun had barely risen over the capital when the whispers began anew. The king had made his move, and every hour and day Kerrigan didn’t respond sparked new rumors.Kerrigan stood at the window of her chambers, her gaze fixed on the city below, bathed in the early light. Today was the day she would publicly reject the King’s proposal—a choice that carried more weight than any she had made before.The night before had been filled with deep, earnest conversations with Conor, where they laid their fears and hopes bare. In the quiet moments between them, Conor had proposed, and she had said yes.It was a promise made in the privacy of their hearts, still hidden from the world, but it strengthened her resolve for what she had to do next.The King’s offer had been nothing more than a gilded trap, one that threatened to strip away her independence and bind her to a man she could never love.But rejecting him publicly was a dangerous game. She knew it would unleash his wrath and ign
Conor stood by the window, his gaze cast over the city below, but his thoughts were miles away. Kerrigan was in the next room, discussing the latest developments in the trial with her inner circle. The tension in the air was palpable, and even though Kerrigan had done her best to keep him close, he felt the distance between them growing—not from each other, but from the storm they could both sense approaching.Kerrigan had rejected the King’s proposal of marriage in front of the entire court. It had been bold, even dangerous. But she had done it with grace and poise, refusing to be bound to a man who saw her as little more than a political pawn. Conor had admired her for it, had felt his own heart swell with pride and love as she stood her ground. But it came at a cost. The King’s support, thin as it had been, was now crumbling, and Conor knew that King Ryu Pinion wasn’t a man who accepted defiance lightly.The door behind him creaked open, and Faolan, Kerrigan’s wolf, padded silently
Conor sat in the crowded courtroom, the tension so thick it felt like the air had turned solid. He scanned the room, eyes moving from the panel of stern-faced judges to the crowd packed into the wooden benches.The trial had reached a pivotal moment, and the air was buzzing with anticipation. Kelan Benedict sat at the defense table, his expression more smug than it had any right to be, given the new evidence that had just been introduced. But that smugness was starting to crack, and Conor could see it.Across the room, Kerrigan sat next to Reilynn and Sorcha, her presence calm but commanding. She had been the spearhead of the investigation, relentless in her pursuit of justice for the victims Kelan had left in his wake. This trial had become more than just a fight against the Benedict family—it had become a test of everything Kerrigan stood for. And so far, the tides were shifting in her favor.The room hushed as the next witness was called. A woman, pale and visibly shaken, stepped f
Conor watched Kerrigan closely as they made their way back to their quarters, her steps slower than usual, her shoulders tight with tension.The day’s testimonies had been brutal—Kelan's victims had come forward, one after the other, recounting their pain, their loss, the horror of what Kelan had done to their loved ones.Each word, each tear-streaked face had cut deeper into Kerrigan, and Conor could feel the weight of it pressing down on her.They walked in silence for a while, the echo of their footsteps filling the empty corridor. Kerrigan hadn’t spoken much since the trial had ended for the day, her mind distant, her emotions tightly coiled beneath the surface.Conor could feel her exhaustion, her growing struggle to contain the warlike energy of Abraxas that stirred within her, reacting to the heightened emotions of the trial.As they entered their quarters, Faolan padded in after them, ever watchful. Kerrigan sank into a chair by the hearth, her gaze fixed on the dancing flames
Conor watched from the shadows of the council chamber as the discussions droned on. He could feel Kerrigan’s growing unease beside him, the subtle shifts in the room not lost on either of them.The High Council, which had once been a place where Kerrigan’s voice held weight, was beginning to turn.Conversations were becoming more fragmented, and the same member who had supported her so staunchly a few weeks ago, Councilor Merric, now seemed intent on subtly steering discussions away from her cause.Conor could see it in the way Merric phrased his questions, how he cast doubt on her evidence without outright discrediting it.Kerrigan’s knuckles tightened against the armrest of her chair, her frustration masked by a calm expression. She noticed the shift too. Conor had learned to read her well, even in these formal settings where every word, every glance, could tip the balance of power.The tension in the room was palpable, and Conor could feel the weight of Abraxas thrumming through Ke