LILLIAN
My face burns as I mutter, “I…
was ordered to strip.
I didn’t think—I just drank straight from the bottle to get some courage.
Didn’t even check it first.
And the poison had no taste, so—”
Melva’s breath catches.
“Oh.” A wicked grin spreads across her face.
“So you got distracted…
because the Alpha King was about to devour you.”
“Stop.” I press my lips together, cheeks still hot.
She laughs, clearly delighted.
“All right, all right.” The smile doesn’t leave her face.
“How about I go scout around?
Maybe there’s a river nearby, or a little waterfall.
Some fresh air and natural water might help settle whatever this is.”
I look at her, grateful, and nod.
“Yes.
Thank you, Melva.”
“Rest a little—I’ll be back before the stars come out.” She steps out, and the carriage door swings shut behind her.
I lean back and let out a slow breath.
The embarrassment is still there, sitting warm in my chest—but so is something else, quieter, that I don’t have a name for yet.
I wonder what any of this is.
I straighten and let the strange sensations move through me instead of fighting them—the sudden cold, the moments when my lungs feel too full, the heat that pulses just beneath my skin like something pressing outward from the inside.
It started when I turned eighteen.
I still don’t know what it is.
But somewhere deep and wordless, I know there’s something inside me—something powerful, held back by something I can’t name.
I’ve started to wonder if my mother was ever truly just human.
Everything I know about her comes from what other people told me: that she was human, that my father thought himself too good for her, and that she died giving birth to me.
I have no memories of my own to test any of it against.
My father never gave me anything more than that, and neither did anyone else.
For most of my life, I accepted the story because I had nothing else.
Now, for the first time, I wonder whether there was more to her than anyone wanted me to know.
I close my eyes and press my shoulder against the carriage wall.
The ache in my chest goes deeper now, past the strange cold that haunts my body, into something I’m not sure I’m ready to name.
The fear that my blood already knows a truth I’m only beginning to suspect.
MELVA
None of them are approachable—that much is clear the moment I step out and scan the convoy.
I spot a servant nearby and make my way over.
“Excuse me—is there a waterfall or river somewhere close?” I ask.
She recoils like I’ve struck her.
“Don’t speak to me!
You serve the traitor’s daughter—the daughter of the man who defiled our Princess!”
“That’s enough.”
She scurries off before I can even process what she said.
Gamma Simon steps into the space she left behind, and my heart kicks so hard I feel it in my throat.
This man is my mate.
I have never said it aloud, never dared confirm whether he feels the pull too.
He can be frightening in much the same way his Alpha King is, and I have no intention of making myself a target.
“What do you want?” he says.
“I only wanted to ask,” I start, steadying my voice, “whether there’s a river, a waterfall, a natural pool nearby—somewhere my lady can immerse herself.
She’s been feeling unwell, and she thinks natural water might help.”
He raises an eyebrow.
“Then fill a tub.”
“She specifically asked for natural water.” I hold my ground this time.
“Earth, trees, open air.
I don’t know if it will help, but I’d like to try.”
“You think you’re entitled to demands?” His voice drops low.
I flinch—then shrug off the sting of it.
“We haven’t done anything wrong,” I say, chin lifting slightly.
“Neither of us.
My lady had no part in whatever Beta Frederick did.
Neither did I.”
“Say one more word and I’ll take your tongue.
Know your place, woman.”
I gulp.
I turn to leave—then, just before I go: “My name is Melva.
Melva Ward.
Not woman.”
I nearly trip over my own feet hurrying back.
Leo laughs behind me as he approaches Simon.
“That woman is funny.”
“She’s a fool,” Simon mutters.
“Maybe,” Leo says.
“But she was only asking for water.
I’ll bring it to the Alpha.
His mate might genuinely need it.” He raises a hand and walks off.
LILLIAN
I sit up straighter when Melva slips back through the door, slightly breathless.
“What happened?”
“Nothing—they’re still wary of us.
I’m sorry, my lady.
I didn’t find anything.” She presses a hand to her chest as her breathing slows.
“Oh—wait.” Her expression shifts.
“That servant said something.
About Beta Frederick defiling the Alpha King’s sister.”
I go still.
My fingers curl into the fabric of my skirt.
So Frederick did something to Azriel’s sister.
I don’t know exactly what happened, but the servant’s wording makes one thing clear: whatever he did, the royal household still remembers it as a betrayal.
No wonder Azriel’s anger runs as deep as it does.
This isn’t only about my father reaching for power he had no right to.
It’s personal.
It cuts straight through to something the Alpha King carries privately, something we may not know the full shape of yet.
But I intend to find out.
“I’ll start listening whenever I can,” I say quietly.
“I’ll piece together what really happened.”
“I’ll try too, My La—”
The carriage door swings open.
Beta Leo stands in the frame, a rare warmth in his expression.
“My lady—the Alpha King has asked me to escort you to the nearest hot spring in the area.”