Chapter 19
A pause. Then—
“I know that this palace is full of secrets,” she murmured. “And you’re not ready for most of them.”
Then she walked away, her posture perfectly straight, her steps controlled.
I stood there, my pulse racing.
That wasn’t just a warning.
That was a threat.
I barely made it through the rest of the day.
Elise’s words clung to me like a shadow, following me through every hall Every meal, every interaction.
The
The last nine women thought they were untouchable.”
Time has a way of sorting things out”
“You don’t belong here.”
I tried to shake it off, tried to tell myself that she was just like the others—another person in the palace who wanted me gone.
But the note.
The note.
“Traitor among the trusted.”
I didn’t know why, but I had a feeling Elise knew exactly what it meant.
By the time I made it back to my chambers, exhaustion weighed heavy in my bones.
I just needed sleep.
Just a few hours of peace.
I crawled into bed, pulling the blankets up to my chin, Jetting out a slot, shaky breath.
Maybe sleep would help. Maybe, in the morning, I’d wake up and all of this would make more sense.
Maybe.
I was in the palace, but it wasn’t right.
The halls stretched too long, the ceilings too high. Everything was distorted, shifting, like the castle itself was breathing.
The torches flickered, casting eerie shadows against the stone walls.
I walked forward, my bare feet soundless against the cold floor.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard it
A whisper
At first, I couldn’t make out the words. But the closer I got, the clearer they became.
“She doesn’t belong here?
“She’ll end up like the others.”
“You should have stayed hidden, little wolf”
9:21 AM
Chapter 19
My heart pounded. I turned a corner, and suddenly, the walls bied.
Thick, dark liquid seeped from the stone, dripping onto the floor, staining my dress.
I stumbled back, my breath catching.
A door stood at the end of the hall. The only one not dripping in blood.
It was slightly open.
I knew I shouldn’t go inside.
But something pulled me forward:
I pushed the door open slowly, my fingers trembling.
The room was dark–pitch black except for a single lantern flickering in the center.
And there, standing beside it, was a figure.
Tall.
Watching me.
“Who are you?” I whispered.
The figure took a step forward, and as the light hit their face, my blood ran cold.
It was me.
But not me.
Her eyes were wrong.
They were s
Like his.
silver.
Like Alaric’s when he changed.
She tilted her head, her lips curling into a chilling smile.
-You should have never come here.”
The lantern flickered-
And then everything went dark
I woke up screaming.
My hands clawed at the sheets, my chest rising and falling rapidly. My skin was damp with sweat, my throat raw.
The room was dark, the only light coming from the dying embers in the fireplace.
I sat up, gasping for air, my heart slamming against my ribs.
Just a dream.
Just a dream
But it didn’t feel like one.
1 shivered, hugging myself, the words still echoing in my head.
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9:21 AM c
Chapter 19
“You should have never come here.”
I swallowed hard, glancing toward the bedside table.
The note was still there.
Its message unchanged.
Traitor among the trusted”
I wasn’t sure anymore which terrified me more.
The warning.
Or the fact that deep down,
I was starting to believe it
I sat in bed, trying to steady my breathing.
}
The nightmare still clung to me, wrapping around my skin like a cold fog. My own voice echoed in my head–whispering, warning. taunting.
“You should have never o
come here.”
1 ran a hand through my damp hair, swallowing down the nausea rising in my throat.
The room was too quiet. Too still
I needed to move.
Throwing the blankets off, I stood, grabbing my robe from the chair and wrapping it tightly around myself. I walked to the fireplace, poking at the embers with the iron rod, watching them flicker back to life.
It didn’t help.
Nothing did.
I turned my gaze to the nbte still sitting on my bedside table.
“Traitor among the trusted.”
My fingers itched to tear it apart, to burn it, to do something–but I didn’t
Instead, I grabbed it, shoved it inside my dresser, and closed the drawer.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Or so I told myself.
y the time the sun b
By
sun had risen fully, I had forced myself in
into some semblance of normalcy.
I dressed quickly, pulling on a dark green gown that clung to my waist before flowing down in soft waves. It wasn’t fancy, but it made me feel put together, and after last night, I needed that.
Stepping into the hallway, I made my way toward the dining hall, hoping that breakfast would distract me from my thoughts.
I was halfway there when a voice called out
“Well, you look like hell”
I sighed, already knowing who it was before I turned. “Good morning. Knox.”
He fell into step beside me, hands shoved into his pockets, smirking as he studied me. “Bad night?”
9:21 AM
Chapter 19:
I glanced at him. That obvious?”
He snorted. “You look like you haven’t slept in weeks”
els like it,” 1 muttered.
“Feels
Knox hummed, tilting his head. “Something keeping you up! Or someone?
I shot him a glare. “Not funny.”
He smirked. “I think it’s hilarious”
I groaned, rubbing my temples. “I had a nightmare”
His smirk faded slightly. “A bad one?”
1 hesitated before nodding. “Yeah.”
He studied me, then gestured toward the hall ahead. “Come on. You need food.”
I didn’t argue.
We walked in silence for a while, the sound of our steps echoing through the marble halls.
Finally, Knox sighed. “Alright. Spill it.”
1 frowned. “Spill what”
“Whatever’s eating at you.”
I hesitated, then shook my head. “It’s nothing”
Knox stopped walking, turning to face me. “Liana.”
I exhaled, crossing my arms. “It’s just the palace. The people. The secrets”
Knox raised an eyebrow. “And that surprises you?”
“No,” I admitted. “But it feels different now. I feel different now.
Knox studied me for a long moment. “Because of the note?”
My breath hitched.
He knew.
I swallowed. “How do you-”
“You’re not that subtle, little wolf.”
I sighed, rubbing my forehead “Yeah. The note.”
Knox nodded, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. “What did it say?”
I hesitated before muttering, “Traitor among the trusted.”
His face didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes.
I crossed my arms. “You’ve heard something, haven’t you?”
Knox exhaled sharply. “Rumors. Whispers.”
“About?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Nothing good.
My stomach tightened “Knox.”
0:21 AM
Chapter 19
He looked at me, serious now. “There’s unrest. Liana. In the palace. In the city. People aren’t happy with how things are”
1 frowned. “What do you mean?”
Knox glanced down the hallway, then stepped closer. His voice lowered. “There are people who want change. Who think Alaric’s rule is
unnatural.”
My pulse quickened. “Because of his curse?”
Knox didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Lexhaled, shaking my head. “But what does that have to do with me?”
Knox gave me a look
Right.
Because I was the Luna. Or, at the very least, his Luna
Whether
Whether I wanted to be or not,
Knox sighed, running a hand down his face. “Look, just be careful, alright? The palace isn’t safe for everyone. Even those wearing
Crowns
I swallowed hard.
He wasn’t just talking about Alaric.
He was talking about me,
I nodded slowly “Alright”
Knox studied me for a moment longer, then smirked, stepping back. “Good girl”
able.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re insufferable.”
“I know.”
We continued walking, the weight of our conversation lingering between us.
By the time we reached the dining hall, most of the palace’s inner circle was already there.
Alaric sat at the head of the table, his posture perfect, his expression unreadable.
Elise stood beside him, speaking in hushed tones. She glanced at me once, her lips curling into something unreadable before turning back to whatever conversation she was having
Knox nudged me forward, and I forced myself to move.
Alaric’s gaze flickered to me briefly.
Then he looked away.
I clenched my jaw, ignoring the small sting of annoyance in my chest as I took a seat.
Breakfast passed in relative silence. Plates clinked, servants moved in and out, and no one paid much attention to me
Until Knox–of course–decided to o
open his mouth.
“So, little wolf,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Why do you keep all your relationships a secret?”
The entire table went silent.
My lork paused halfway to my mouth
I blinked. “Excuse me
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Chapter 19
Knox smirked. “You heard me.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What relationships!”
Knox hummed, tilting his head. “Well, for starters-
-Knox
He grinned.
I mean. I just think it’s interesting”
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “You’re infuriating
“I try my best.”
I scowled, but there was no real heat behind it.
Still, his words lingered in my mind.
Why did I keep so many of my relationships hidden?
AD
