Zephyrine

“Are you sure about the security?”

“Do not worry at all. His bHighness /bis already heavily protected. He will be fine.”

I overheard Dessyn asking the Lycan guard again, making sure everything is well bprepared/b.

Finished

Dusk has descended, and night in the Lycan Kingdom leaves an impression. Fire–litmps glow at every corner, and mes |

We’ve teamed up with the pce maids to finalize the dishes and drinks that will be served.

Security is scheduled for the coronation. Hospitality for the guests, entertainment, everything bis /bset.

When we were done, I sat in a wooden bchair /binside the bthrone /broom, clearly exhausted. I turned my gaze from Dessyn and found my eyes drifting toward the golden throne.

Majestic is too small a word to describe it. The seat of a king, with the crest of a Lycan, a shifter upright on two legs, etched above it in deep, precise gold.

Lycans. They are stronger than werewolves. And the King, they say, is the Moon Goddess’s equal because the first Lycan was born from her womb.

I lowered my gaze from the throne, weighed down by a question I’ve never dared to speak aloud.

Why didn’t they fight?

When the demons nearly destroyed us, why didn’t the Lycans rise? Why do they seal their gates and never interfere

The question echoed in my chest when a soothing presence slid under my skin, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned toward the entrance and saw Princess Mairez walking in.

She smiled when our eyes met, then looked around, nodding in approval.

“You got it right. My brother will be bpleased/b.”

Dessyn stepped forward, clearly delighted.

“bAre /byou sure, Princess Mairez? I mean… I don’t want to disappoint the King or my pack.”

Mairez nodded bwith /bba /bsoft, knowing smile.

“You won’t” Her eyes scanned everything and finally rested on the throne. For a brief moment, I caught an emotion sh across her face. Atst, she smiled again.“Have youdies gotten dresses for tomorrow?”

At her question, Dessyn and I exchanged a look.

“No, my best friend replied, and the princess smiled wider.

“Then we’ll choose together. Follow me, please.”

She led the way, and I rose from the bchair/b, wondering what kind of market stays open at such an hour. But then we passed a blong /bhall and stepped into an open space buzzing with movement a

It was a night market. Vibrant and alive, buyers and sellers busy under rows ofnterns. When Princess Mairez appeared, everyone paused to bow.

I noticed how the men gave her space, moving away quickly to avoid even brushing against her.

My brother has made it permanent,” she bsaid /bcasually. “No man must look at us.”

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Her voice was light, but I bheard /bthe sadness bbeneath /bit.

The building she entered appeared to be a cloth store, elegant and refined, with dresses of every design on disy. A tailor was sewing in theer, but when she saw the princess, she leapt up too quickly and pricked her finger.

“You should be careful, bRhyo/bb,/b” Mairez said gently. I watched in silence as she took the girl’s bleeding bhand /band healed it in

seconds.

The wound vanished, and the two continued speaking about dress styles as though nothing extraordinary had urred.

She’s a healerb. /b

One of the Lycan princesses is a healer. And her brother. he’s dangerously protective.

Dessyn was already examining dresses, and I wandered toward the window, Outside, I saw it. The legendary ck Tower where the Lycan Prince lives in istion.

A single light burned in the high window. He’s inside.

My eyes fixed on his balcony for a long time, imagining what his life must have been like. A child raised under the rule of a “brutal king. The strictest father. A prison with a view.

I turned baway /bwhen Dessyn called my name, but I paused.

I felt it

That ripple of awareness bagain /b

I turned back to the tower. He was there.

A silhouette stood on the balcony. Still, Watching. His attention was on me, steady, unwavering

“Zephyr,e check this dress out!” Dessyn called again, louder this time.

I lowered my gaze from the balcony and turned to her voice. I touched the fabric, pretending to care, but my mind wandered back. I nced again but he was gone.

I stepped back toward the window, frowning. He had disappeared, and yet I bstood /bthere like a fool, waiting. Hoping

I scolded myself silently after few minutes. What am I doing?

I quickly turn and made to join Desynn but then I heard it.

“You are beautiful.”

A bvoice/b. Inside my mind.

A mind–blink/b. But… I’m not his mate.

I spun baround /bto the balcony, stunned. Only mates can enter your thoughts. But Apex had bdone /bit, effortlessly, and what he said…

I blinked slowly, catching my reflection in the mirror.

I stared at myself for a long moment.

No bman /bhas ever told me that.

My brother always joked I was ugly.

Nyroth has been too busy chasing after Ka to even notice me.

But a cursed Lycan had seen me and he had called me beautiful.

I lowered my gaze from the mirror and walked back to Dessyn, trying to push him from my mind. But the more I tried, the

harder it became.

His voice. His words. His gaze that never wavered and those strange, shifting eyes that change with his mood.