bChapter /bb215 /b

    ra’s POV

    I felt my pulse quicken as I stared at Dario, my heart hammering in my chest. Was this the man who tried to kill mest

    night?

    I couldn’t say for sure. I hadn’t seen his face clearly–just those eyes. But those eyes… they were too familiar.

    “ra?”

    Dorian’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. My eyes shifted toward him, and then to Dario, who was standing silently by the door.

    “What’s going on?” Dorian’s concerned gaze lingered on me, a furrow forming between his brows. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

    I swallowed, trying to steady my breath. “I… I’m fine.” My voice cracked as I spoke, and I nced back at Dario, trying to gauge his expression. But there was nothing. nk. Cold.

    “Anyway,” Dorian said, still skeptical, “As I was saying, Dario is our best warrior. He’s been assigned to you as your personal guard. He’ll stay with you, day and night. No exceptions.”

    I raised an eyebrow. “Which house are you from?”

    “The House of Shadow,” Dario answered, his voice as t as his expression.

    That made my stomach twist. The House of Shadow… the very house that wanted me gone. Why would Dorian assign me a guard from them? Was this a sick joke?

    I shot Dorian a look, my voiceced with disbelief. “Dorian! What the hell is going on?”

    He looked at me like I was overreacting. “Look, ra, let’s not do this right now. I’ve got a meeting, and I’m alreadyte.”

    He checked his watch and made a dismissive motion.

    But I wasn’t backing down. “ALONE,” I hissed through clenched teeth.

    Dorian sighed, rolling his eyes. He nodded at Dario, who immediately turned and exited the room.

    As soon as the door shut behind him, I felt my heart race even faster. “He can’t be my guard.”

    Dorian raised an eyebrow. “He’s the best I’ve got. If Dario can’t keep you safe in this castle, I don’t know who can.”

    I stared at him, frustration boiling. “It’s not about his abilities, Dorian. It’s… that’s him. The guy who tried to kill mest night.”

    For a moment, Dorian wentpletely still. Then, his lips twisted into augh. It was a sound that made me feel like I was losing my grip on reality.

    “What the hell is so funny?” I snapped, anger ring in my chest.

    11:38 Sat, b30 /bAug

    Sat, 30

    He put a hand on my shoulder, still chuckling. “Come on, ra. You’re imagining things. Dario? No way. He’s thest person who would do something like that. I’d even put money on Wells or Belle before I’d suspect him.”

    “How can you be so sure?” My voice trembled with disbelief.

    “Because I know him,” Dorian shrugged casually, the words dropping like stones into a pool of silence. “He’s Nora’s younger brother. Nora and I were best friends, and Dario grew up around us. He’s practically family to me. Trust me, I’d trust him with my life.”

    A chill ran through me as the pieces began to click into ce. Nora was Elder Briar’s son. Dario’s brother. Which meant…

    Nora was Briar’s son?

    “You want me to trust Briar’s son?” My voice dropped to a whisper, each word more painful than thest.

    Dorian stiffened. “Now you’re using Briar of something? Where’s all this paranoiaing from, ra?”

    I red at him, feeling the walls closing in. He didn’t get it. He couldn’t.

    Dorian softened his tone, sensing my anger. “I know Elder Briar made a bad first impression at the hospital, but that was personal. He’s not a fan of werewolves, that’s all. No reason to take it so personally.”

    I rolled my eyes internally. “Nothing personal,” I muttered under my breath.

    “And as for Dario,” Dorian continued, “Even if Briar had told him to hurt you–which I’m sure he didn’t–Dario wouldn’t

    listen to him. The father–son rtionship between them is… non–existent. Trust me, I’ve seen it.”

    I shook my head. “So you’re really just going to force him on me.”

    “All I’m asking is that you give him a chance,” Dorian said, his voice soft but firm. “When you be my Queen, Dario will

    be like a brother to you. I need you to trust him.”

    “Dorian,” I started, but he was already walking away, his gaze fixed on the door.

    “I really need to go to this meeting,” he said, a quick kiss on my cheek, before he was gone.

    I stood there for a moment, my chest tight. Dorian didn’t believe me. Of course, he wouldn’t. He trusted Dario–his best friend’s brother, the man he had known for decades–over me. A woman he’d known for barely a year.

    I was alone in this, with a killer on my side 24/7i. /i

    I had no choice but to face it.

    I stormed out of the great hall, my heart thumping as I saw Dario standing by the door, waiting for me like a shadow. As soon as I stepped outside, he fell in step behind me, silent as ever.

    I nced over my shoulder at him. “You’re going to follow me everywhere, aren’t you?”

    He nodded, voice t. “It’s the King’s order.”

    I shot him a look. “You don’t have anything more important to do than follow me around?”

    11:38 Sat, 30 Aug

    The words rang in my ears like a distant bell, fading into confusion.

    林肉b33/b%含

    “An heir…” the elder continued, unaware of the turmoil swirling in my mind, “A child of both the werewolf and Lycan blood. The birth of such an heir would solidify the bond between your two peoples.”

    What the hell?

    I shot a nced at Dorian, fury welling in my chest. He’d said nothing to me about this—nothing at all.

    “I need a moment with my Queen,” Dorian muttered, turning to me.

    The room cleared quickly as the elders filed out, one by one. The heavy wooden doors groaned as they shut, leaving me

    alone with him.

    I didn’t even wait for him to speak. “No.” My voice was sharp, my fists clenched at my sides.

    He paused, brows furrowed in surprise. “You haven’t even heard me out.”

    “I don’t fucking need to,” I shot back. “Our deal was simple: I’ll pretend to be your Queen until you get your elders under control. I’m not recognizing any mate bond, and I’m damn sure not giving birth to your heir.”

    Dorian leaned against the stone column, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. “You think you have a choice?”

    “Of course I do.” My hands were trembling, but I was beyond caring.

    He pushed himself off the wall, his eyes locking onto mine. His gaze turned cruel. “Let me remind you of something, ra,” he said, his voice low. “You’re in a foreignnd, surrounded by enemies. And the only person you have to protect you is me. If you refuse my offer…” He stepped closer, his handing to rest on the back of my neck, pulling me toward

    him. His breath brushed my ear. “You’ll regret it. Trust me.”

    I swallowed, trying to ignore the way his voice made my pulse spike. I yanked myself free from his grasp, anger ring in my chest. “What if I tell your precious elders that our rtionship is a sham? That you’re just a kidnapper and I’m your prisoner? How would that go over with them, huh?”

    Dorian chuckled, his eyes lighting up with something dangerous. “You’re very attractive when you threaten me, my love,”

    he teased, his voice dripping with amusement.

    1 could feel my cheeks flush with frustration. “Don’t make me hit you,” I hissed through gritted teeth.

    His smile faltered for just a second, but he recovered quickly, a glint of amusement still dancing in his eyes. “Too bad your threat means nothing to me,” he shrugged. “The elders may resist, but they’ll never turn on me. They wouldn’t dare.”

    My heart thundered in my chest, my thoughts racing.

    “Then why don’t you just find someone else to be your Queen?” I snapped, my voice tight with exasperation. “I already told you, Dorian! My heart is with Thorne.”

    He grabbed my chin, his grip firm but not unkind. His voice dropped to a low growl. “Then change your heart.” His gaze flickered down to my lips. “You are my mate. My Queen. The only person I want by my side.”

    I could feel the tension in the air thickening, the space between us shrinking.

    11:38 Sat, 30 Aug

    “You’re delusional,” I muttered, but it came out quieter than I intended.

    33%

    “I’ll give you one week to think about it,” he said suddenly, his voice rough withmand. “One week. After that, we’ll recognize the bond, and I’ll have my grand mating ceremony.”

    “I won’t-”

    He cut me off. “One week.”

    I stared at him, my body trembling with frustration. Could I find a way out of this?

    Could Thorne get here in time?

    But there was no way through the mist forest… no way to escape.

    “No matter what you think,” Dorian added with a sly grin, “you need someone to protect you. Especially when I’m not around.”

    “Why don’t you just let me die and find yourself a new Queen?” I spat, my words dripping with venom.

    Dorian smiled, that damn charming smile. “That’s not going to happen. You’ll live a long, peaceful life with me.”

    Before I could retort, he whistled sharply.

    The doors creaked open, and in walked a tall figure, d in armour.

    “Meet Dario,” Dorian announced, his voice smooth. “The best warrior in the Kingdom.”

    I turned to look at him, and my heart skipped a beat. His eyes–cold, grey–sent a chill down my spine. The same eyes I’d seen in the dark the night before.

    And suddenly, my fight felt like it was slipping through my fingers.

    田

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