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On My Coronation Day, I Rejected Three Mates | New Movie 2026
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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.
00:22To 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.
00:51And then there was Vidicor of the Wolf Clan.
00:54My own kind.
00:56My childhood companion.
00:58The boy who had knelt before me in the Wolf King's Hall when I was 14 and sworn he would
01:03never betray me.
01:05Princess, 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.
03:08Your 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.
03:35After a long silence,
03:37he 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.
05:01Not 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 14,
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 to 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,
06:48but 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 candidate's access pass
07:25outside Lillia's infirmary.
07:30She needed someone powerful enough
07:32to keep the clans from interfering.
07:35So 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 and support me,
07:47not so you could become her shield.
07:49Cyrus's face darkened.
07:51You think the whole continent
07:53should revolve around you.
07:55Lux,
07:56a crown is not a leash you use
07:58to keep everyone at your side.
08:02Lillia murmured softly,
08:06Cyrus,
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 by Lillia's side?
08:25The pup may relapse.
08:27Lillia cannot handle everything alone.
08:32After a sigh of Mare throwing the return to 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,
08:46Kasper
08:47and Vidver Dedebock
08:49kept in the palace.
08:51The steward went pale.
08:53Your highness,
08:54those are the rooms
08:56of the three consort candidates.
08:57They won't need them
08:58for much longer.
09:01Less than half an hour later,
09:03Kasper 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,
09:16he 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 the mark
09:28between his brows.
09:29But this time,
09:31he stood at the door
09:32with red-rimmed eyes.
09:34Your highness,
09:35why are you clearing out my 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,
09:46Prince Atirius of the Snake Clan
09:47is invited to the royal city.
09:50I 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
10:04ride 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.
10:40In 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.
10:58When we were 14,
10:59he shifted into his adult
11:01white 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
11:11then 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
11:25to 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.
11:40You needed your animal form
11:41to be helpful?
11:42He frowned,
11:44irritation
11:45finally rising
11:46in his eyes.
11:49Lux,
11:50do you have to twist
11:51everything into something dirty?
11:53She is human.
11:55She doesn't have
11:56an animal form.
11:57She doesn't understand
11:58these rules.
12:00She doesn't understand.
12:02Do you?
12:04Casper had no answer.
12:08And 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?
12:20Yes.
12:22I handed the sealed letter
12:24to a guard.
12:25Send it to the Black Marsh.
12:27Place it in a Tricus' hands.
12:30Casper's head snapped up.
12:32Attackus?
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 of a serpent.
12:49It contained only four words.
12:53Atticus' reply,
12:54as you wish.
12:58I placed the letter in a drawer
12:59and was about to go see my father
13:01when a maid rushed in,
13:02pale and breathless.
13:11My fingers stilled.
13:16My fingers stilled.
13:29I was not alone.
13:30I was injured during training.
13:31Every time I was injured
13:32during training,
13:34Vedicor would personally
13:35guard the entrance.
13:36No one else was allowed near it.
13:39He once said,
13:41This is your place.
13:44No one else belongs here.
13:46Now he had brought Lillia inside.
13:48When I arrived,
13:50Lillia had just stepped out of the pool.
13:52She wore a pale, gray dress.
13:55I recognized it at once.
13:57It was the dress Vedicor had given me
14:00on my 16th birthday.
14:02An ordinary, pale, gray dress.
14:06The fabric was not expensive.
14:08But Vedicor 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.
14:20Lillia was wearing it now.
14:23The hem was damp
14:25from the healing pool
14:26and clung to her legs.
14:29Vedicor stood beside her,
14:31checking the wound on her arm.
14:35When he saw me,
14:37he frowned.
14:39Lux, why are you here?
14:43Is there any place in Valon
14:46I am not allowed to enter?
14:50Vedicor,
14:51who gave you permission
14:53to touch my clothes?
14:55Lillia hurried to her feet,
14:57her face pale.
15:00Your Highness,
15:02I am sorry.
15:04I did not know
15:05this dress was yours.
15:07Vedicor said it was just
15:08the plainest dress
15:09in an old wardrobe.
15:10I looked at Vedicor.
15:13He truly had not recognized it.
15:16Or perhaps he 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 old 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
15:58that 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.
16:10Lillia stumbled
16:12back in fright.
16:14Vedicore immediately
16:15stepped in front
16:16of her.
16:17Lux!
16:20I looked at
16:22the old dress,
16:23wet and clinging
16:24to her body.
16:25Do you remember
16:26the oath you swore
16:27to me when we
16:28were fourteen?
16:30Vedicore's expression
16:31shifted.
16:33Of course he
16:34remembered.
16:35That year,
16:37under the full moon,
16:38I awakened
16:39my wolf spirit.
16:40A silver-white
16:41wolf shadow
16:42rose behind me.
16:45And the entire
16:46royal city
16:47cheered.
16:49Vedicore had
16:50knelt before me
16:51and pressed
16:52his forehead
16:53to the back
16:53of my hand.
16:55I swear
16:56by the moon goddess,
16:58I will be loyal
17:00to you forever.
17:01Now he stood
17:02in front of Lillia,
17:03blocking me
17:04from her.
17:05Do not shame
17:07the moon goddess
17:07by making her
17:08witness what
17:09you have become.
17:11Lillia bit
17:12her lip.
17:13Your highness,
17:15I can leave.
17:15Please don't blame him.
17:17Shut up.
17:18Vedicore's face
17:19instantly turned
17:20cold.
17:22Lux,
17:22that is enough.
17:25You're raising
17:26your voice
17:26at me for her?
17:27I 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
17:39someone stops
17:40pleasing her.
17:41I stared at him.
17:45Spoiled?
17:47Yes.
17:49If you continue
17:50like this,
17:52you 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,
18:02Vedicore and
18:03Lillia are
18:03forbidden from
18:04entering the
18:05inner palace.
18:09I walked away
18:11without looking
18:11back.
18:15Soon it was
18:16the night
18:17before my
18:17coronation.
18:19In the mirror,
18:20I wore a
18:21black and gold
18:22gown with the
18:23heir's cloak
18:23of the wolf
18:24king draped
18:25over my
18:25shoulders.
18:26Every year
18:27before this,
18:29those three
18:29would compete
18:30to be the
18:31first to see
18:31me on my
18:32birthday.
18:35Cyrus would
18:37wait 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
18:45of sweets
18:45himself,
18:46then carry
18:47me across
18:48the snowy
18:49plains around
18:50the royal city
18:50in his white
18:51tiger form.
18:53Vedicore would
18:53take me to
18:54the tower and
18:55stay with me
18:55until the first
18:56touch of
18:56moonlight fell
18:57over my
18:57hand.
18:58I thought there
18:59would be none
18:59of that this
19:00year, but they
19:02still came.
19:04Cyrus entered
19:05first, holding
19:07an auxinian
19:08hairpin.
19:09Happy birthday,
19:10Lux.
19:11The hairpin was
19:13beautiful, but I
19:15remembered seeing
19:15an almost identical
19:16one outside Lila's
19:18infirmary three
19:19days ago.
19:20That one had
19:21been lighter,
19:22better suited to
19:23a human woman.
19:24I accepted it.
19:26I was harsh
19:27that day, but Lila
19:29was only trying to
19:30save a life.
19:32She did not
19:33deserve to be
19:33targeted by you.
19:36Caspar brought a
19:37white tiger
19:38carving.
19:40The carving was
19:41rough.
19:42I didn't do a
19:43very good job,
19:44but you once
19:45said I liked
19:46things I made
19:47by hand.
19:48Vedicor was
19:49the last to
19:50arrive.
19:50He held a
19:51newly forged
19:52silver ring.
19:54Lux, I will
19:55not let you
19:56lose face at
19:57the coronation
19:57tomorrow.
19:58No matter
19:59whom you
20:00choose, I
20:01will stand
20:01on your
20:02side.
20:04But you
20:05should also
20:05ease up on
20:06Lila.
20:07She is human.
20:08She cannot
20:09withstand the
20:10hatred of the
20:10royal court.
20:11Only then did
20:12the truth 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 a
20:23safe road for
20:24Lilia.
20:25I placed all
20:26three gifts in
20:27a box.
20:29I understand.
20:31They all
20:32looked at me at
20:32once.
20:34Perhaps they
20:35had not expected
20:36me to be so
20:37calm.
20:39Casper asked
20:40carefully,
20:41You're not
20:42angry anymore.
20:43Tomorrow is
20:44my coronation.
20:45I will not
20:46argue with you
20:47tonight.
20:50After they
20:51left, I
20:52handed the
20:52box to a
20:53maid.
20:54Bring this
20:54to the
20:54coronation
20:55platform
20:56tomorrow.
20:57The maid
20:58frowls.
20:58Your
20:59highness, why?
21:00I looked at
21:01the full moon
21:02outside my
21:02window.
21:03As evidence.
21:06When the
21:07moon rose to
21:08its highest
21:08point, the
21:10coronation
21:10bells rang
21:11through the
21:11royal city.
21:12My father
21:13stood at the
21:14top of the
21:14highest steps
21:15in the black
21:16cloaking of
21:16the wolf
21:17king.
21:17His voice
21:18carried across
21:19the square.
21:20For 300
21:21years, Valon
21:22has been
21:23guarded by
21:23the wolf
21:24clans.
21:25Today, I
21:26hand the
21:27crown to
21:27my daughter,
21:29Lux.
21:29She awakened
21:30her wolf
21:30spirit at
21:3114 and
21:33will 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.
21:42Cyrus,
21:43Casper and
21:44Vadikor stood
21:45below in the
21:46ceremonial attire
21:47of consort
21:48candidates.
21:50They watched
21:51me with
21:51nervousness in
21:52their eyes.
21:54My father
21:55placed the
21:56crown on my
21:56head.
21:58The entire
21:59square knelled.
22:11The priest
22:12brought forward
22:13the king
22:14consort's
22:14crown.
22:15According to
22:16tradition, I
22:17was supposed to
22:17walk towards
22:18one of the
22:18three candidates.
22:20Cyrus took
22:21half a step
22:21forward.
22:23Casper held
22:24his breath.
22:25A faint
22:26light of
22:26hope rose
22:27in Vidanicor's
22:28wolf eyes.
22:29I took
22:31the consort
22:31crown and
22:32faced the
22:32crowd.
22:34The man
22:35I choose
22:36as king
22:37consort
22:37is
22:38Prince
22:40Atilius
22:40of the
22:41snake
22:41clan.
22:44The
22:45snake
22:45clan?
22:46Has
22:47the queen
22:47lost her
22:48mind?
22:49How can
22:50a snake
22:51become
22:52king
22:52consort?
22:54Cyrus'
22:54expression
22:55changed
22:55instantly.
22:57Casper
22:58nearly lost
22:58his balance.
23:00Vatacor
23:00stared at
23:01me as
23:01though he
23:02had not
23:02understood
23:03the words.
23:04From the
23:04shadows at
23:05the side
23:05of the
23:06platform,
23:07a man
23:07slowly
23:08stepped
23:08forward.
23:10Atatius
23:10stopped in
23:11front of
23:11me and
23:12asked
23:12softly,
23:13You can
23:14still
23:14regret
23:14this,
23:15your
23:15majesty.
23:17I held
23:17out the
23:18king
23:18consort's
23:19crown.
23:20Cneal.
23:21Atticus
23:22smiled.
23:27Under the
23:27eyes of
23:28the
23:28entire
23:29continent,
23:30he dropped
23:30to one
23:31knee and
23:31kissed my
23:32fingertips.
23:34My
23:35queen.
23:36I was
23:36about to
23:37place the
23:37crown on
23:38his head
23:38when
23:38Vadidkor
23:39finally rushed
23:40up the
23:40steps.
23:44Lux!
23:45You cannot
23:46choose him!
23:47Cyrus also
23:48stepped
23:49forward.
23:50Are you
23:51still angry?
23:53If this
23:53is meant
23:54to punish
23:54us,
23:55you do
23:55not have
23:56to go
23:56this far.
23:58Kasper's
23:59eyes were
23:59red.
24:00Your
24:01highness,
24:02you accepted
24:03our gifts
24:03last night.
24:04I looked
24:05at him.
24:07Accepting
24:08them did
24:08not mean
24:08forgiving
24:09you.
24:12Vadidkor
24:13gritted
24:13his teeth.
24:14I am
24:15Vadidkor!
24:16I grew
24:17up with
24:18you!
24:19There is
24:20no way
24:21you would
24:21truly
24:22choose a
24:22snake!
24:23Atticus
24:24bared his
24:24fangs.
24:26I placed
24:27a light
24:27hand on
24:27his shoulder,
24:28telling him
24:29not to
24:29move.
24:30Guards!
24:31So!
24:37The wolf
24:38guards
24:38immediately
24:39stepped
24:39forward and
24:40blocked the
24:40three men
24:41below the
24:41steps.
24:42Cyrus
24:43looked at
24:44me in
24:44disbelief.
24:45You are
24:45restraining
24:46us in
24:46public!
24:48I turned
24:50to face
24:50my people.
24:54At my
24:55signal,
24:55a maid
24:56carried
24:56forward
24:57three
24:57memory
24:57stones.
24:58These
24:59were the
25:00pieces of
25:00evidence I
25:01had gathered
25:01over the
25:02past three
25:02days.
25:05You called
25:06me spoiled,
25:08petty,
25:09unworthy
25:10of the crown.
25:11Then let
25:12all of
25:12Valon
25:13see who
25:14is truly
25:14unworthy
25:15of standing
25:16beside the
25:17queen.
25:19The first
25:20memory stone
25:20lit up.
25:21The first
25:22memory showed
25:22the infirmary.
25:24Cyrus stood
25:25behind her,
25:25blocking away
25:26every clan
25:27member who
25:28questioned
25:28her.
25:32Don't be
25:33afraid.
25:35I'll always
25:36protect you.
25:39As soon
25:40as those
25:40words rang
25:41out,
25:41many eyes
25:42in the
25:43square turned
25:43towards me.
25:44Because when
25:45I was
25:46fourteen,
25:47after Cyrus
25:47carried me
25:48down from
25:49the Storm
25:49Lath Tower,
25:50he had
25:51said the
25:51exact same
25:52words to
25:53me.
25:54I looked
25:55at him.
25:56You said
25:57she deserved
25:58respect.
25:59I do not
26:00disagree.
26:01But when
26:02you used a
26:02promise meant
26:03for your
26:03future queen
26:04to comfort
26:05another woman,
26:07did you
26:08remember who
26:09you were?
26:10Cyrus' face
26:11turned white.
26:13But no
26:13words came
26:14out.
26:15The second
26:16memory stone
26:17lit up.
26:18In the
26:18herb garden,
26:20Casper shifted
26:20into his
26:21adult white
26:21tiger form
26:22and lowered
26:23his proud
26:23back.
26:25Lelia
26:26climbed onto
26:26him and
26:27placed her
26:28hand against
26:28the mark
26:29between his
26:29brows.
26:30Then the
26:31image changed
26:32again.
26:33At night
26:34in the
26:34infirmary,
26:35Casper
26:36had shifted
26:36halfway
26:37back to
26:37human
26:38form.
26:39His
26:39silver
26:40white
26:40hair
26:40spilled
26:41over
26:41his
26:41shoulders.
26:43Lelia
26:43banded the
26:44wound he
26:45had suffered
26:45while testing
26:46medicine.
26:47He lowered
26:48his head
26:49and kissed
26:50her fingertip.
26:51Lelia did
26:52not pull
26:53away.
26:54The swear
26:54erupted.
26:56The elder
26:57of the
26:57white tiger
26:57clan turned
26:58iron-faced.
26:59Tears fell
27:00from At
27:01Casper's
27:01eyes.
27:04I was
27:05feverish
27:05from the
27:06medicine.
27:07Lux,
27:08I never
27:10meant to
27:10betray
27:10you.
27:12What you
27:12meant
27:14does not
27:15change what
27:15you did.
27:16You told
27:17me yourself
27:18that only a
27:19chosen mate
27:20may ride the
27:20white tiger
27:21clan's animal
27:22form.
27:23You crossed
27:24the line.
27:26The third
27:28memory stone
27:28lit up.
27:30Beside the
27:31healing pool,
27:33Limlia stood
27:34in my old
27:34dress.
27:35Vadakor stood
27:36in front of
27:37her and said
27:37to me,
27:38If you
27:39continue like
27:40this, you
27:41do not
27:41deserve to
27:42wear your
27:42father's
27:43crown.
27:43The memory
27:44stone carried
27:45his words
27:46clearly across
27:46the entire
27:47square.
27:48Every wolf
27:49in the crowd
27:50lifted their
27:50head.
27:52The wolf
27:52clan's
27:53valued loyalty
27:54above all
27:55else.
27:57And
27:58Vadakor had
27:59once sworn
28:00that his
28:00wolf soul
28:01bowed only
28:02to me.
28:03My father
28:04stood on the
28:04high platform,
28:06his face
28:06colder than
28:07stone.
28:08Vadakor sank
28:09to his
28:09knees.
28:13Lux,
28:14I was
28:15wrong.
28:17I looked
28:18at him.
28:19You wanted
28:20the king
28:20consort's
28:21crown.
28:23You wanted
28:24glory for
28:24your clans.
28:26You wanted
28:26to stand
28:27beside the
28:28future
28:28queen.
28:30But again
28:31and again,
28:32you pushed
28:33me in front
28:33of another
28:34woman and
28:35humiliated me.
28:37I turned
28:38to the
28:38crowd.
28:39The wolf
28:40throne has
28:40no place
28:41for disloyal
28:42men.
28:43From this
28:44day forward,
28:45Cyrus,
28:46Caspar,
28:47and Vadakor
28:48are stripped
28:49of all rights
28:49as consort
28:50candidates.
28:51All three
28:52men lifted
28:53their heads
28:54at once.
28:57Lux,
28:58your highness,
28:59please,
28:59do not do
29:00this.
29:01I did not
29:02look at them
29:03again.
29:07Instead,
29:08I placed the
29:10king Concord's
29:11crown on
29:11Atreus' head.
29:16He knelt at
29:17my feet and
29:17kissed my
29:18royal ring.
29:22I swear to
29:23you, Lux.
29:25I am greedy.
29:27I am dark.
29:30I am never
29:31satisfied.
29:33So I will be
29:34greedy in my
29:35loyalty,
29:36dark in my
29:36protection,
29:38and never
29:39satisfied in
29:39loving you.
29:41The square fell
29:42into complete
29:43silence.
29:43I reached down
29:45and lifted his
29:45chin.
29:47Rise.
29:49My king
29:50consort.
29:52Lillia knelt
29:53in the center
29:53of the square.
29:56You may
29:57punish me,
29:57but you cannot
29:58do this to
29:59them!
30:01You want
30:02to plead for
30:02them.
30:04I want to
30:05speak up for
30:05them.
30:06Lillia bit
30:07her lip,
30:08her voice
30:09trembling.
30:11I am
30:12human!
30:13I do not
30:14understand the
30:15rules of
30:16your clans
30:17and consorts.
30:19But where
30:20I come from,
30:22helping someone,
30:23someone weaker
30:24than you,
30:25is not
30:25betrayal!
30:26She raised
30:27her head to
30:28meet my eyes.
30:29They were
30:30only being
30:30kind.
30:31They saw
30:32a human
30:33woman struggling
30:34alone in the
30:34royal city,
30:35and they
30:36helped me.
30:37You have the
30:38crown,
30:39noble blood,
30:40your father,
30:41and the entire
30:42continent of
30:43Valen.
30:44Why would
30:45you destroy
30:46their lives
30:46over a
30:47little jealousy?
30:48Low whispers
30:50moved through
30:50the crowd.
30:52With human
30:53morality as
30:54her weapon,
30:55Lillia placed
30:55herself in the
30:56role of the
30:57helpless and
30:58painted me as
30:59the ugly face
30:59of power.
31:01Before I could
31:02speak, my
31:03father had
31:04already stepped
31:04down from the
31:05platform.
31:07Human healer,
31:08you stand at
31:10the coronation
31:10of a wolf
31:11queen, and
31:12judge her by
31:13human rules?
31:17They were not
31:18ordinary men
31:19helping a stranger
31:20by the roadside.
31:21They were
31:22consort candidates.
31:24They carried
31:25the oaths of
31:25their clans,
31:26and the loyalty
31:28owed to the
31:28future queen.
31:32If you were
31:33truly kind,
31:34you should have
31:35stepped away
31:36when they
31:36crossed the
31:37line.
31:37instead.
31:39You accepted
31:40again and
31:41again the
31:42closeness that
31:43belonged to
31:43the queen.
31:45Tears fell
31:46from Lillia's
31:47eyes.
31:54I never
31:55meant to
31:56take anyone
31:56from her.
31:58What you
31:59meant no
32:00longer matters.
32:03Wolf
32:03King lift
32:04his hand.
32:06Escort her
32:07out of the
32:07royal city.
32:09From this
32:09day forward,
32:12Lillia is
32:13forbidden from
32:13entering the
32:14wolf court.
32:16Send her
32:17back to
32:17human territory.
32:19Lillia stared
32:19in disbelief at
32:20Cyrus,
32:22Casper,
32:22and Vedeticor.
32:25None of
32:26them spoke
32:26right away,
32:27because every
32:28word my
32:29father had
32:29spoken was
32:30true,
32:31and they
32:31knew it
32:32now.
32:34Lillia was
32:35still crying
32:36when the
32:36guards dragged
32:37her away.
32:39Cyrus!
32:41Casper,
32:42Vedicor!
32:44Say something!
32:46Cyrus lowered
32:47his eyes.
32:48Casper's lips
32:50trembled.
32:51Vedicor's jaw
32:53tightened,
32:53but he still
32:55did not move.
32:58That night,
33:00the coronation
33:01banquet was
33:01held in the
33:02royal city.
33:04The nobles
33:05hid their
33:05displeasure,
33:06but their
33:07eyes kept
33:08sliding toward
33:09Trichus,
33:09who sat
33:10beside me.
33:12He was
33:12almost
33:13unnervely
33:14well-behaved.
33:16Only when I
33:17reached for
33:18my wine,
33:18did he
33:19replace it
33:20with a
33:20cup of
33:20warm
33:21honey water.
33:24afraid I'll
33:25be
33:25poisoned?
33:30Afraid
33:31you'll
33:31get
33:31drunk?
33:33Tonight
33:33is our
33:34wedding
33:34night.
33:36I want
33:37you to
33:37remember
33:38it.
33:39Heat
33:40rose to
33:40my ears.
33:42Atticus!
33:44He laughed
33:46under his
33:46breath.
33:47Am I
33:48wrong,
33:48your majesty?
33:49Late
33:50that night,
33:51moonlight
33:51fell over
33:52the silver
33:52curtains of
33:53my bed
33:54chamber.
33:55Atticus
33:56removed the
33:57heavy crown
33:57from my
33:58head,
33:58his cool
33:59fingers
34:00brushed
34:00through my
34:00hair.
34:02Do you
34:03regret it?
34:05Regret
34:06choosing you?
34:07Yes.
34:09I looked
34:11into his
34:11golden eyes.
34:13Not yet.
34:15Atticus
34:16smiled.
34:18His
34:18snake tail
34:19slid slowly
34:20from beneath
34:20his robe
34:21and
34:21wooled
34:22curled
34:22you
34:22loudly
34:22lightly
34:23round by
34:23my
34:23ankle,
34:24careful
34:24not to
34:25tighten.
34:25Then I
34:26will do
34:26my best
34:27to make
34:27sure you
34:28never do.
34:29When the
34:30curtains fell,
34:31he lowered
34:31his head
34:32and kissed
34:33my fingertips.
34:35Then my
34:36wrist,
34:37my shoulder,
34:40the center
34:41of my
34:42forehead.
34:44Like a
34:45snake finally
34:45permitted to
34:46coil around
34:47me,
34:47yet still
34:48holding back
34:48at the
34:49last moment.
34:51He remembered
34:52I was his
34:52queen.
34:54Before dawn the
34:55next morning,
34:56urgent knocking
34:57broke through the
34:58chamber doors.
35:00Your majesty!
35:04Pups all over the
35:05royal city have
35:06suddenly developed
35:06high fevers.
35:07The healers can't
35:08bring them down!
35:11That night,
35:13the coronation
35:14banquet was
35:14held in the
35:15royal city.
35:17The nobles
35:18hid their
35:19displeasure,
35:19but their
35:20eyes kept
35:21sliding toward
35:22Trichus,
35:22who sat
35:23beside me.
35:25He was
35:26almost
35:26unnervely
35:27well-behaved.
35:29Only when
35:30I reached
35:31for my
35:31wine did
35:32he replace
35:32it with
35:33a cup
35:33of warm
35:34honey water.
35:37Afraid
35:38I'll be
35:38poisoned?
35:43Afraid
35:44you'll
35:44get
35:44drunk?
35:45Tonight
35:46is our
35:47wedding
35:47night.
35:49I want
35:50you to
35:50remember
35:51it.
35:52Heat
35:53rose to
35:53my ears.
35:55Atticus!
35:57He
35:58laughed
35:59under his
35:59breath.
36:00Am I
36:01wrong,
36:01your majesty?
36:02Late
36:03that night,
36:04moonlight
36:04fell over
36:05the silver
36:05curtains of
36:06my bed
36:07chamber.
36:08Atticus
36:09removed the
36:10heavy crown
36:10from my
36:11head,
36:11his cool
36:12fingers
36:13brushed
36:13through my
36:14hair.
36:16Do you
36:16regret it?
36:18Regret
36:19choosing you?
36:20Yes.
36:22I looked
36:24into his
36:24golden eyes.
36:26Not yet.
36:29Atticus
36:29smiled.
36:31His
36:31snake
36:32tail slid
36:32slowly from
36:33beneath his
36:33robe and
36:34wooled curled
36:35your loudly
36:35lightly round
36:36by my
36:36ankle,
36:37careful not
36:37to tighten.
36:38Then I
36:39will do
36:39my best
36:40to make
36:40sure you
36:41never do.
36:42When the
36:43curtains fell,
36:44he lowered
36:44his head and
36:45kissed my
36:46fingertips.
36:48Then my
36:49wrist,
36:50my
36:51shoulder,
36:53the center
36:54of my
36:55forehead.
36:57Like a
36:58snake finally
36:58permitted to
36:59coil around
36:59me, yet
37:00still holding
37:01back at the
37:02last moment.
37:04He remembered
37:05I was his
37:05queen.
37:07Before dawn the
37:08next morning,
37:09urgent knocking
37:10broke through
37:11the chamber
37:11doors.
37:13Your
37:14Majesty!
37:17Pups all
37:18over the
37:18royal city
37:19have suddenly
37:19developed high
37:20fevers.
37:20The healers
37:21can't bring
37:22them down.
37:26Atropicus
37:27raised his
37:28hand and
37:29the snake
37:29guards dragged
37:30in a
37:30pharmacy
37:31assistant.
37:32The moment
37:33the assistant
37:34saw me,
37:34he dropped
37:35to his
37:35knees,
37:36shaking too
37:37hard to
37:38speak.
37:40Before
37:41Lilillia was
37:41escorted out
37:42last night,
37:44she gave
37:45this man
37:45a packet
37:46of powder.
37:47The assistant
37:48slammed his
37:49forehead to
37:49the floor
37:50and sobbed.
37:56Ah!
37:57Mercy,
37:58Your Majesty!
37:59Healer!
38:00Lilillia said
38:01it was medicine
38:02to prevent
38:03the pup's
38:03fevers from
38:04returning in
38:04the night.
38:08I didn't
38:09know it
38:09would do
38:09this.
38:11The infirmary
38:12fell
38:13completely
38:14silent.
38:15Cyrus'
38:16face
38:17slowly
38:17lost
38:18all
38:19colour.
38:20Casper
38:21shook
38:22his
38:22head.
38:27No.
38:29Lilia
38:30would never
38:31hurt
38:31children.
38:33Of course
38:34she didn't
38:34intend for
38:35them to
38:35die.
38:37No.
38:41I walked
38:42to the pot
38:43of medicine
38:43and caught
38:44the faint
38:45bitter stent
38:46rising from
38:46it.
38:47She only
38:48wanted everyone
38:49to learn
38:49that without
38:50her,
38:51the royal
38:51city cannot
38:52even bring
38:53down a
38:53pup's
38:53fever.
38:56Vatacor
38:57closed his
38:57eyes.
38:59Lilia
39:00at
39:00Tuptu's
39:01scheme
39:01was finally
39:02laid bare
39:02in front
39:03of them.
39:04She had
39:05always stood
39:06in the
39:06place of
39:07the weak,
39:08waiting for
39:08others to
39:09defend her.
39:11I turned
39:12to Atticus.
39:13Can it
39:14be cured?
39:16He
39:17nodded.
39:19Yes.
39:20But it
39:21requires
39:21cold-scale
39:22grass from
39:23the snake
39:23clan.
39:24Use it.
39:26I will
39:27bring the
39:27guilty back
39:28to the
39:28capital
39:29to face
39:30justice.
39:34By
39:35dusk,
39:37Lilia
39:37was brought
39:38back to
39:39the royal
39:39city.
39:40When she
39:41was dragged
39:42into the
39:42infirmary and
39:43saw the
39:43pups sleeping
39:44weakly after
39:45their fevers
39:46had broke,
39:47her face
39:48finally changed.
39:49I didn't
39:50mean to
39:50kill them.
39:52She
39:53sobbed.
39:54I only
39:55wanted you
39:56to know
39:56that you
39:57need me.
39:58Casper
39:59looked at
39:59her as
40:00if he
40:00were seeing
40:00her for
40:01the first
40:01time.
40:03Lilia
40:03grabbed
40:04his sleeve.
40:06Casper,
40:07believe me,
40:08I was just
40:09scared.
40:10She
40:11drove me
40:11away and
40:12I had
40:12nothing left.
40:13Casper
40:14slowly pulled
40:15his hand
40:15free.
40:18They
40:19were
40:19children.
40:20Lilia
40:21went still.
40:22Cyrus
40:23closed his
40:24eyes.
40:26Vadicor
40:27turned away
40:28and would
40:28not look
40:29at her.
40:30They
40:30finally
40:31saw her
40:31for who
40:32she really
40:32was.
40:34But it
40:35was too
40:35late.
40:37A mother
40:38slapped
40:38Lilia
40:39across the
40:39face.
40:42My
40:43child
40:44screamed
40:45all night
40:46because of
40:47you!
40:48Lilia
40:49covered her
40:49cheek and
40:50looked toward
40:50the three
40:50men again,
40:51waiting for
40:52someone to
40:53protect her.
40:58no one
40:59moved.
41:00Your
41:01majesty,
41:02the pups
41:03are safe
41:03for now.
41:05The trial
41:06can begin
41:06whenever you
41:07command.
41:09I looked
41:10at Lilia's
41:10pale,
41:11shaking
41:12face.
41:14Then let
41:15all of
41:15Valon
41:16hear what
41:17she has
41:17done.
41:19When Lilia
41:20was brought
41:21to the
41:21judgment
41:21platform,
41:22the royal
41:23square was
41:24packed.
41:25The parents
41:26of the pup
41:27she had
41:27nearly harmed
41:28knelt below
41:29the platform,
41:30their eyes
41:31swollen from
41:32tears.
41:33My father
41:34sat beside
41:34the throne.
41:36I sat
41:37in the
41:37queen's
41:38seat.
41:39A
41:39trickist
41:40stood
41:40half a
41:40step
41:40behind
41:41me.
41:42Lilia
41:43still wore
41:43her faded
41:44healer's
41:44dress.
41:46She
41:47lifted
41:47her head
41:49and
41:49looked at
41:50me.
41:54Your
41:54majesty,
41:55I saved
41:56many lives.
41:57You can't
41:58accuse me
41:59based solely
41:59on someone's
42:00word.
42:01I ordered
42:01the evidence
42:02to be
42:02presented.
42:03Black
42:04Marsh
42:04Heat
42:04Ween.
42:07The
42:07pharmacy
42:08assistant's
42:08confession.
42:10The
42:11spare
42:11powder
42:11hidden
42:12in her
42:12luggage.
42:14And
42:14the
42:14letter
42:15she had
42:15written
42:15to a
42:16human
42:16border
42:17apothetory.
42:18The
42:18letter
42:19was
42:19clear.
42:21If
42:21the
42:21wolf
42:22royal
42:22city
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.
42:29By
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
42:48her
42:49face.
42:52Because
42:53I was
42:53angry.
42:58I
42:58saved so
42:59many
42:59people,
43:00yet one
43:01word from
43:02her could
43:02drive me
43:03out.
43:04Why?
43:05Just
43:06because she
43:07is queen!
43:09Because I
43:10am queen,
43:11I am
43:11responsible for
43:12the pups
43:12of this
43:13city.
43:14You
43:14were allowed
43:15to be
43:15angry.
43:15you
43:17were
43:17allowed
43:17to
43:18hate
43:18me.
43:19You
43:20were
43:20allowed
43:20to
43:20return
43:21to
43:21human
43:21territory
43:22and
43:22begin
43:22again.
43:23But you
43:24chose to
43:25endanger
43:25children.
43:27The square
43:29fell into
43:29dead
43:30silence.
43:33I
43:34lifted my
43:35hand.
43:36Lilia,
43:37your healer's
43:38status is
43:38revoked.
43:43right 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 judgment.
43:57Cyrus
43:58suddenly knelt.
44:00Your
44:01majesty, I
44:02request
44:02punishment.
44:03Casper
44:04nailed as
44:05well.
44:06Vedicore
44:06knelt last,
44:07and his
44:08knees hit
44:08the ground
44:09the
44:09hardest.
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.
44:22Now,
44:23I felt
44:24only calm.
44:26Of course
44:27you will be
44:27punished.
44:29Cyrus,
44:30the
44:30Eagle
44:31clan is
44:31responsible
44:32for aerial
44:32patrols over
44:33the royal
44:34city.
44:35Lilia 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,
44:45the 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,
44:58your majesty.
44:59Casper,
45:01the White
45:02Tiger clan,
45:03provided Lila
45:04with medicinal
45:04herbs and
45:05allowed her
45:06to test
45:06medicines,
45:07yet never
45:08inspected the
45:09powders she
45:09kept hidden.
45:11The White
45:11Tiger clan's
45:12medicinal fusion
45:13will be
45:13doubled.
45:14All clan
45:16herb gardens
45:16will be
45:17managed by
45:17the Royal
45:17Medical
45:18Office for
45:18one year.
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
45:28privilege.
45:29You will
45:30treat the
45:30soldiers and
45:31pups your
45:31negligence
45:32endangered.
45:33Yes,
45:34your majesty.
45:35Last,
45:35I looked at
45:36Vedicore.
45:37Vedicore,
45:38you brought
45:39Lilia 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
46:04bloodline,
46:04there was
46:05no harsher
46:06exile than
46:07being cut
46:08off from
46:08the pack's
46:09name.
46:10Vedicore's
46:11throat moved.
46:12In the
46:13end, he
46:13lowered his
46:14head.
46:17Yes,
46:18your majesty.
46:20Three days
46:21later,
46:22Lilia was
46:23escorted out
46:24of the
46:24Royal
46:24City.
46:26Lila thought
46:27human territory
46:28would welcome
46:29her.
46:31The moment
46:31the Valen
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
46:40only a
46:40human woman
46:41trapped in
46:41a beast
46:42city.
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 Valen
46:55report and
46:57read the
46:57charges
46:58aloud.
47:00You
47:00added
47:01black
47:01marsh
47:01heat
47:02weed
47:02to
47:02medicine
47:03meant
47:03for
47:03wolf
47:04pups.
47:05You
47:06caused
47:06a
47:06citywide
47:07fever
47:07outbreak
47:08to prove
47:09they
47:09needed
47:09you.
47:10The crowd
47:10outside the
47:11court
47:11exploded.
47:12She
47:13poisoned
47:14children!
47:15And she
47:16calls herself
47:17a healer?
47:18Lilia's
47:19face went
47:20white.
47:21They were
47:22beasts!
47:23Their
47:23queen!
47:26twisted
47:26everything!
47:30A human
47:31healer
47:31stepped
47:32forward
47:32and tore
47:33the healer's
47:33ribbon from
47:34Lilia'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.
47:44Lilia reached
47:45for the
47:45ribbon,
47:46but the
47:47guard shoved
47:48her back.
47:52stand
47:53down.
47:54Until
47:55the final
47:55trial,
47:56you will
47:56serve in
47:57the
47:57quarantine
47:57tents
47:58under
47:58guard.
47:59Lilia
48:00stared
48:00at him.
48:01You
48:02want
48:02me to
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 to
48:19welcome
48:19him.
48:20The
48:20black-winged
48:21guards
48:22stood
48:22in two
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,
48:38the
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 a
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
49:05his
49:05head.
49:06I
49:06will
49:06accept
49:07whatever
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's
49:14chest.
49:16You
49:17will
49:17not
49:17command
49:18a
49:18patrol.
49:19You
49:20will
49:20not
49:20enter
49:21the
49:21royal
49:21city
49:22without
49:23written
49:23permission.
49:25And
49:26when
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's
49:34black
49:34wings
49:34trembled
49:35once.
49:36Outside
49:36the
49:37window,
49:37royal
49:37guards
49:38crossed
49:38the
49:39sky
49:39routes
49:39that
49:39had
49:40once
49:40belonged
49:40to
49:41him.
49:41For
49:42the
49:42first
49:42time,
49:44Cyrus
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
49:53to
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 not
50:03care that
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
50:09hour.
50:10By
50:10nightfall,
50:11his
50:11hands
50:12were
50:12cracked
50:12from
50:13carrying
50:13water
50:13and
50:14washing
50:14blood
50:15from
50:15bandages.
50:21An
50:22injured
50:22pup was
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
50:46white
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.
50:59I'm
50:59sorry.
51:06the
51:07northern
51:07captain
51:07entered
51:08with
51:08snow
51:08on
51:09his
51:09armor.
51:10If
51:11you
51:11want
51:11them
51:11to
51:12trust
51:12your
51:12hands,
51:13work
51:14until
51:14your
51:15hands
51:15are
51:15worth
51:16trusting.
51:17For
51:18the
51:18rest
51:18of
51:18the
51:18night,
51:19Caspar
51:20cleaned
51:20wounds,
51:21boiled
51:22medicine,
51:22and
51:23carried
51:23fever
51:24water
51:24from
51:24tent
51:25to
51:25tent.
51:27On
51:28the
51:28first
51:29full
51:29moon
51:29after
51:30the
51:30trial,
51:30Vedicors
51:32stood
51:32outside
51:33the
51:33wolf
51:33clan
51:33gates.
51:35Inside
51:35the
51:35walls,
51:36the
51:37pack
51:37gathered
51:37for
51:38the
51:38moon
51:38run.
51:40Once,
51:41young
51:41wolves
51:42had
51:42stepped
51:42aside
51:43when
51:43he
51:43passed.
51:44Tonight,
51:46the
51:46gate
51:46stayed
51:47closed.
51:51The
51:51wolf
51:52elder
51:52walked
51:52out
51:53with
51:53two
51:53guards.
51:55In
51:55his
51:56hand
51:56was
51:56Vedicor's
51:57broken
51:57guard
51:58crest.
51:59The
51:59queen
52:00has
52:00removed
52:01you
52:01from
52:02the
52:02royal
52:02guard.
52:03The
52:04wolf
52:04council
52:07has
52:08accepted
52:08her
52:09sentence.
52:10Am I
52:11forbidden
52:11from the
52:12pack run?
52:13The elder
52:14looked at
52:14him without
52:15pity.
52:16You
52:17have been
52:18banished
52:19from the
52:19pack.
52:20Behind the
52:21gate,
52:22the wolves
52:22howled.
52:24Vedicor's
52:24inner wolf
52:25answered by
52:26instinct,
52:26blinked,
52:26but the
52:27sound
52:27broke
52:28in his
52:28throat.
52:29He
52:30shifted
52:30into
52:30wolf
52:31form
52:31and
52:31stood
52:31alone
52:32in
52:32the
52:32snow,
52:33never
52:33be
52:34accepted
52:34by
52:34the
52:34pack
52:35again.
52:39The
52:40bells
52:40of the
52:41royal
52:41city
52:41rang
52:42again.
52:44I
52:44stood
52:45on the
52:45city
52:45wall
52:46and
52:46watched
52:46Valon's
52:47banners
52:47unfold
52:48in the
52:48wind.
52:50Once,
52:50I
52:51thought
52:51love
52:52meant
52:52possession.
52:54If I
52:54ordered
52:55someone
52:55to
52:55stay,
52:56they
52:56could
52:56not
52:57leave.
52:58Then
52:59they
52:59told
52:59me
53:00I
53:00was
53:00spoiled,
53:01arrogant,
53:02too
53:02blind
53:03to
53:03cherish
53:03what
53:04I
53:04had.
53:04Now
53:05I
53:05had
53:05learned
53:06better.
53:07Love
53:08could
53:08not be
53:08commanded
53:09by a
53:09crown.
53:10Loyalty
53:11should
53:11never
53:12have
53:12to
53:12be
53:12begged
53:12for
53:13on
53:13my
53:13knees.
53:14I
53:14could
53:14lose
53:15Cyrus.
53:16I
53:17could
53:17lose
53:17Casper.
53:20I
53:21could
53:21lose
53:21Vedicor.
53:23The
53:23crown
53:24would
53:24not
53:24fall.
53:26My
53:26wolf
53:27spirit
53:27would
53:27not
53:27go
53:28out.
53:29Atticus
53:30stood
53:30half a
53:31step
53:31behind
53:31me.
53:32That
53:33was
53:33where
53:33a
53:33king
53:34consort
53:34belonged.
53:36When
53:37I
53:37needed
53:37him,
53:37he
53:38was
53:38there.
53:40When
53:41I
53:41did
53:41not,
53:42he
53:43waited.
53:44I
53:45asked
53:45him,
53:47Attius,
53:48do you
53:48know what
53:48needs
53:49to be
53:49king
53:49consort?
53:50It
53:51means
53:51I
53:51will
53:52always
53:52stand.
53:53Behind
53:54my
53:54queen.
53:56He
53:56paused,
53:57then
53:57bent
53:58close
53:58to
53:58my
53:58ear.
53:59And
53:59it
54:00also
54:00means
54:00I
54:00get
54:01to
54:01sleep
54:01beside
54:01her
54:02at
54:02night.
54:05Atticus
54:06lowered
54:06his
54:06head,
54:07golden
54:08snake
54:08eyes
54:09reflecting
54:09my
54:09crown.
54:13Lux,
54:15I
54:16will
54:16not
54:16teach
54:16you
54:16to
54:16bow
54:17your
54:17head.
54:18I
54:19will
54:19never
54:19say
54:19you
54:20ask
54:20for
54:20too
54:21much.
54:23If
54:23you
54:23want
54:23loyalty,
54:24I
54:24will
54:25give
54:25you
54:25loyalty.
54:26If
54:26you
54:26want
54:26all
54:27of
54:27Valon
54:27to
54:27watch
54:28the
54:28snake
54:28clan
54:29kneel
54:29at
54:29your
54:29feet,
54:31then I
54:32will
54:32kneel.
54:36rise.
54:37he
54:37finished,
54:38he
54:38truly
54:39dropped
54:39to
54:39one
54:40knee
54:40on
54:40the
54:40city
54:41wall.
54:41This
54:42time,
54:42he
54:43was
54:43not
54:44kneeling
54:44for
54:44ceremony,
54:45not
54:46for the
54:46nobles
54:47watching.
54:48It
54:49was
54:49only
54:49for
54:49me.
54:52I
54:53reached
54:53out
54:54and
54:54lifted
54:54his
54:54chain.
54:58Rise.
55:02my king consort far off at the edge of the snowstorm all of my former candidates got
55:10what they deserved i did not look again my story with them was over and my throne my wolf spirit
55:22my new king consort and all of avalan were waiting for me to move forward
55:29you
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