ra’s POV

    People turned instinctively toward the source of the voice.

    A young man emerged from the crowd, weaving his way through the gathered group.

    He was no older than fifteen, lean and lithe, with a youthful energy that stood out in the tense atmosphere.

    Golden curls, messy and wild, framed his face, giving him a slightly angelic appearance. His piercing blue eyes–eyes that burned with a familiarity ra couldn’t shake–locked onto her. She nced at Dorian, then back at the boy. The resemnce between the two was undeniable. These two were definitely brothers.

    “Prince Wells,” someone whispered reverently.

    The group bowed low in unison, their voices quiet as they addressed him.

    Dorian’s brow furrowed deeply, a storm brewing behind his eyes. “Not now, Wells. We’re in the middle of something important,” he snapped.

    The young man–Wells, as they had all just called him–pouted, clearly unbothered by his brother’s sharp tone. “You haven’t even listened to me. brother! I know about the poisoned barrel at the ball, and I know you’re searching for the culprit. I have a witness!”

    He gestured for someone to approach.

    A maid appeared, her face freckled and her movements hesitant. She looked down, her voice a quiet tremble. “K–King Dorian…Elders…Good day.”

    “This is Finn, the kitchen maid,” Wells introduced, his voice firm.

    Elder Briar’s gaze sharpened. “What’s she doing here? Prince Wells, we don’t have time for irrelevant people.”

    Wells‘ lips curled into a snarl. His hand balled into a fist as he growled, “Watch your tone. The only one who can scold me is my brother, the King! The rest of you should show some respect for your prince!”

    The elders fell silent, their heads lowered.

    “Fine,” Elder Briar muttered, still disdainful. “Proceed, my prince.”

    Wells turned back to Finn, giving her a gentle nudge. “Go on, Finn. Tell them.”

    Finn’s hands shook as she clutched her apron, her voice barely a whisper. “I was in the kitchen, preparing for the feast tonight… counting the bottles of wine for the ball when another maid bumped into me. I fell and twisted my ankle. She said she’d get the wine to the garden for me since I couldn’t walk. I agreed, and she left. That’s when I bumped into Prince Wells. He said I should get my ankle checked, so we came to the hospital together. That’s when we heard someone had been poisoned…”

    Dorian’s tone turned sharp, eyes narrowing. “Why was Wells in the kitchen?”

    Finn shifted nervously. “Prince Wells often visits the kitchen for midnight snacks and drinks,” she replied quietly.

    Dorian shot a re at his brother. “Is that why you missed the ball tonight? Sneaking around the kitchen instead of entertaining guests?”

    Wells rolled his eyes, groaning. “Great, another lecture… But you’re missing the point! Finn saw who took the barrels of beer from the kitchen to the garden! That’s the person responsible for the poisoning!”

    ra’s ears perked up.

    Finally!

    112

    ???? ??????

    Dorian hadn’t seen that maid.

    Eliza had lied about the maid’s existence.

    ra had been at the end of her patience, but now–finally–there was someone to back up her version of the story.

    She stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension. “You’re certain that you handed all the barrels to that person?”

    Finn nodded, her voice steadier now. “Yes. Eighteen barrels. I finished counting when that maid bumped into me,”

    ra’s chest tightened, but she didn’t let it show. “Then it’s all clear now,” she said, addressing the room. “This was a calcted crime. Someone knocked Finn down deliberately to hijack the barrels, poison the beer, and then framed me when they brought it to the garden.”

    “But that can’t be right,” Amara’s voice interrupted, cold and controlled. “Eliza told us she didn’t see any maid near the barrels.”

    ra’s eyes shed. “And I’m telling you, there was one. Eliza even pointed her out for me.”

    Amara let out a small, mockingugh. “Eliza, why don’t you tell Lady ra that she’s remembering everything wrong?”

    Eliza lowered her head, her voice small.

    Amara gripped Eliza’s shoulder with a tight, almost painful force.

    Eliza shuddered. “L–Lady ra, you… remembered it wrong. There was no maid. Nobody asked for your help. You… you carried the barrels yourself.”

    A burst of fury exploded inside ra’s chest.

    That poor girl was being controlled–manipted by Amara.

    Wells didn’t wait another second. He moved quickly, yanking Eliza away from Amara’s grasp.

    “Stop pinching her, you evil woman!” he spat, his voice seething.

    Amara blinked, her eyes wide with fake innocence. “What are you talking about, Prince Wells? I haven’t pinched anyone…”

    “I saw you!” Wells shouted, his finger pointed at Amara with zing anger. “You were twisting her words, manipting her testimony. I knew it! You’re behind this whole thing!”

    Amara’s face paled, herposure cracking.

    She turned to Dorian, her eyes welling with tears. “My King, I brought Eliza here to help… But now they’re insulting us–me and my family–like this…b” /bHer sobs were theatrical, but her eyes, burning with anger, betrayed her.

    Wells red at her. “Crying again? Really? Save it for my brother, not me!”

    Amara broke down, burying her face in her hands. “I… I’m just so sad. If Nora were still here, he’d defend me. But now… I’m all alone. Just a widow with no one to stand by me…”

    Wells’s temper red. “You maniptive—”

    “Careful, Prince Wells,” Elder Briar’s voice cut through the tension like a de. “Don’t disrespect my daughter.”

    Briar stepped forward, his hand resting heavily on Amara’s shoulder.

    “Nora was my son,” Briar said with a dark, menacing tone, “And since his death, I’ve sworn to protect Amara like she’s my bown/bb. /bIf anyone dares bto /binsult her, they’ll answer to me–and to the House of Shadow.”

    There was ba /bcold, unmistakable threat in his words.

    ??????

    Dorian’s eyes narrowed, assessing the situation.

    Briar sneered as he turned to the crowd, his voice dripping with arrogance. “finn says there was a maid. Amara and my daughter say there bwas/b. wonder who we should believe, hmm?”

    “I vouch for Finn!” Wells shouted, puffing out his chest, his voice full of pride..

    Briar snorted. “Then I vouch for Eliza and my daughter. And I’m an elder. Do you really want to challenge me, Prince Wells?”

    “Don’t forget about me, Elder Briar,” ra’s voice rang out, calm but icy, eyes fixed on Amara and Briar. “I stand with Finn. And I happen to be your bfuture /bqueen.”

    Briar’s lips twisted into a mocking smile. “Future queen? You’re nothing but a lowborn werewolf, a potential suspect in this mess. You don’t have a say in anything.”

    “Enough,” Dorian’s voice cut through the rising tension like a whip.

    He turned to Amara, his gaze softening. “Rx, Amara. No one will bully you here. You have me–and the entire Lycan Kingdom–behind you.”

    ra’s heart dropped.

    Amara looked up at Dorian, her eyes still wet with tears. “Then… when will you stand up ifor /ime? When will you punish the person truly responsible?”

    ra’s fists clenched at her sides, frustration boiling over.

    She couldn’t let Amara manipte him any longer.

    Just then, the curtain separating the room was yanked aside.

    The doctor stepped out, his expression grim.

    “We’ve finished the emergency treatment for Elder Randy,” he said, his voice low and tense.

    Dorian’s breath caught. “How is he?”

    ra’s heart raced.

    If Randy’s condition worsened–or if he didn’t survive–everything she had fought ifor /iwould be jeopardized.

    bAD /b