…

    ra’s POV

    I snapped my gaze up, startled.

    “How do you know?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

    He shrugged, his tone matter–of–fact. “I found your pregnancy test.”

    …Shit.

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    55 vouchers

    I thought I’d gotten rid of it, making sure no one would see. But I guess nothing escapes Dario’s eyes.

    And judging by the way he said it, I could tell he thought the baby was Dorian’s.

    I bit back ia /ifrustrated sigh.

    “I don’t understand why you’re running around with the King’s child in your belly,” Dario muttered, frustration thick in his voice. “He cares about you, you know. I haven’t seen him this… invested in anyone. But it doesn’t matter now. You need to tell him. Let him know you’re pregnant, and ask him to set you free. Is being locked up like this really what you want?”

    No, I didn’t want that. But telling Dorian? That could make everything worse.

    Because he knew. He knew who the father was.

    Dorian and I never slept together. There was no way the child could be his.

    I stared hard at Dario, narrowing my eyes.

    “So, you knew about my pregnancy,” I said, voice steady. “And you still haven’t told the King? Why?”

    He shifted ufortably, the question clearly striking a nerve. “Forget about me,” he muttered. “We should focus on you right now. You need to-”

    “Because someone else told you to keep it quiet,” I cut him off. “Who is it? Amara?”

    Dario’s face froze. A sh of guilt crossed his features before he could hide it.

    I let out a coldugh. “I knew it. I knew she was behind this.”

    His silence spoke volumes.

    I almost wanted tough at how obvious it was now. Amara. Elder Briar. They were my enemies, but it wasn’t just about me anymore. It was about my baby too.

    Everything started to click into ce. Dario’s loyalty to Amara. Her ties to thete Nora. The way he looked at her with eyes full of obligation, like he owed her his life.

    I felt a sharp pang in my chest. It was clear now.

    But what really made the blood in my veins freeze was the memory of that night.

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    “The one who tried to kill me… it was you, wasn’t it?” I hissed, voice trembling with fury. “How could you betray Dorian like that? You were supposed to protect me, and yet you were working for her. For Amara. I wonder how Dorian will feel when he finds out about this…”

    “I’m not working for Amara,” Dario snapped, his voice tight with emotion. He shook his head, frustrated. “It’s…plicated. I’m responsible for Nora’s death, I owe her so much–there’s nothing I can do. I can’t say no to her.”

    I couldn’t hear it anymore.

    My mind raced back to my baby, my stomach clenching at the thought. Amara knew. Amara knew about my child–and she thought it was Dorian’s.

    If she found out, she would do anything to get rid of us.

    “Amara wants to be Queen,” Dario said, voice low, almost trembling. “You and your baby are threats to her. I don’t want any part of this anymore. But she’lle after you again. She will send another assassin. She’s capable of that.”

    My heart raced in my chest, every muscle tense with fear. “Tell him,” Dario insisted, “Tell the King about your baby. He’s the only one who can protect you.”

    But I couldn’t. Dorian? He wasn’t my protector. He was the reason I was here.

    I was alone. Desperate. Trapped.

    Dario sighed, his frustration palpable. He turned to leave.

    1 couldn’t help myself. “Leave the candle,” I whispered, barely audible. “Please.”

    He paused, ncing back at me. Then, without a word, he did as I asked.

    “The King doesn’t want to see you, Dario added, voice tinged with regret. “But I’ll check in before this candle bburns /bout. Let me know what you decide.”

    With that, he left.

    I crawled toward the candle, the flickering me the only thing keeping me from sinking deeper into despair. It was all I bhad/b. The andy warmth in this cold, dark prison

    I felt cornered Trapped My enemies closing in, waiting to strike

    I could ask Dorian for help, beg him to protect me But the truth was, he wasn’t just a threat to me anymore.

    The baby… my baby.

    I had no choice but to protect us both. But how!

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    :

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    I swallowed, the sharp taste of fear in my throat. As much as my stomach churned, I forced myself to take a

    bite of the sandwich. I couldn’t afford to let my hunger overtake me.

    But my mind was elsewhere–drowning in the weight of everything.

    I froze. A noise–footstepsb–/bcame from the next room.

    I perked my ears up, straining to hear.

    It was night. No one was supposed to be here.

    Dario had just left. Dorian didn’t want to talk to me. So who?

    The sound of a bookshelf scraping. The doorknob rattled.

    The door swung open, a gust of cold wind sweeping in.

    I flinched, instinctively shielding the candle from the wind with my hand.

    When I looked up, my blood ran cold.

    Amara. Her pale, ghostly face appeared in the doorway.

    A wave of fear washed over me, ice cold and paralyzing.

    She was here to kill me.

    A twisted smile spread across her face. “Surprised to see me?”

    I forced my heart to slow, to not betray the fear that was swelling inside me. “Does Dorian know you’re here?”

    She shrugged, pushing the door shut behind her. “No, but he’ll thank meter for this little favour. Once I get rid of you… and your bastard child… Dorian will finally get back on track.”

    She reached into her pocket, pulling out a dagger.

    I clenched my fists, my palms slick with sweat.

    “Have you ever killed someone before?” I demanded, keeping my voice steady despite the terror threatening to choke me,

    Amara chuckled, the sound like nails on a chalkboard, “Oh, I’ve killed before. But this… this will be so much more satisfying.”

    She raised the dagger, a gleam of madness in her eyes. I barely had time to react before she lunged at me.

    bI /bscrambled, rolling across the floor, narrowly avoiding the de.

    She came at me again. I caught her wrist, pushing against the force of her strike.

    “I’m not your enemy!” I snarled, my voice rough with emotion. “I don’t even love Dorian!”

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    “Lying bitch!” Amara screamed. “How did you get him to fall for you? How did you trick him into this?!”

    I gritted my teeth, struggling against her. The dagger came down again, closer this time.

    I was weak–starving, exhausted, and no match for her strength.

    But I wouldn’t let her win. I wouldn’t let her hurt my baby.

    With a growl of effort, I pushed Amara off me, knocking her back.

    The dagger slipped from her grip, but before I could grab it, she lunged at me again.

    This time, she wasn’t aiming for my chest. No. She was going for

    my stomach.

    bI /bscreamed as the cold steel pierced my shoulder. The pain exploded through me. Blood streamed down my arm, pooling around the wound.

    “YES! Scream, bitch!” Amara taunted. She yanked the dagger out and swung it again, aiming straight for my belly.

    I gritted my teeth, trying to stop her. The de was almost there, but I grabbed it.

    Pain shot through my hands, but I wasn’t letting go. Not this time.

    “Don’t-” I gasped, blood leaking from my palms, “-touch my baby!”

    I kicked her off me with all the strength I had left.

    The momentum knocked the candlestick over, and in an instant, the hay on the floor caught fire.

    mes shot up, crawling across the room, faster than I could think.

    “Shit!” Amara cursed, her hair catching fire.

    She pped at it, frantic.

    That was my chance. I grabbed the dagger, pointing it at her, my voice low but deadly.

    “Come at me again,” I hissed, “And I’ll drag you to hell with me.”

    Amara’s eyes narrowed, but she was already stepping back. She knew I meant it.

    She sneered. “Doesn’t matter… The fire and the blood loss will kill you anyway.”

    With that, she turned and fled.

    I copsed onto the ground, the fire zing around me, my body shaking with blood loss. The heat and

    smoke made it harder to breathe.

    Was anyoneing? Would anyone notice before I suffocated?

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    It was getting harder to see, my vision going blurry.

    And then I heard it–the door bursting open.

    “ELARA!” Dorian’s voice roared.

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