Chapter Thirteen

POV Kaden

"Majesty!" I hear a voice coming from behind me. I turn to see my warriors bringing one of the rabid rogue wolves. The rogue is tied up with chains around its neck.

"Caught one I see," I walk to them and see the redness in the rogue's eyes.

"No sir, this one wanted to get caught. They brought a letter for you." My interest peeked as Joran grabbed the letter for me.

He gave it to me; I opened it and took out the letter.

To His Majesty King Kaden,

Greetings nephew,

I trust by now the news of the amulet has reached you. It took longer than I expected, but I must say, I'm impressed. You've kept quite the secret from the rest of us for three whole weeks, well done. As your uncle, I felt it only right to speak with you directly.

Chiefs Julian and Bjorn are curious, too, though they lack the... creativity I employ. You see, I couldn't help but run a little experiment of my own. I'm sure you've noticed the rogues by now. Harmless to me, of course, but I wonder how they fared under your care.

Now, there's talk of a powerful amulet, a very interesting artifact. Some even say a human might have brought it. You wouldn't be withholding something so important from family, would you? I'd hate to think you were trying to keep something of such value all to yourself.

You've always known I'm not fond of secrets, nephew. Dangerous things, secrets. Especially when they're kept from someone like me

Warm Regards, Uncle Sven

I took a steady breath, forcing the rage to simmer beneath the surface. My fingers unfurled, and I handed the crumpled letter to Joran without a word. He straightened, unfolding the paper carefully, his eyes scanning my uncle's twisted words. Torin leaned in beside him, reading over his shoulder, his expression growing darker with every line.

The weight of Sven's words settled over us like a storm. When Joran finally looked up, his eyes were hard, the same fury I felt burning in their depths.

"He's playing with us," Joran said, his voice low but seething. "Sending rogues as messengers, using them as pawns in his twisted game."

Torin shook his head, his jaw clenched. "Experimenting, toying with lives like they're nothing. This isn't just a threat; he's testing our patience. And he's doing it to get to the amulet and Astrid."

Joran's gaze sharpened at the mention of Astrid, his protectiveness flaring to the surface. "He knows she has the amulet," he said, more to himself than anyone else. "And if he finds out how important she is to you, Kaden..."

"He won't," I interrupted, my voice ice-cold. "Because I'm going to stop him before he gets that far."

Torin handed the letter back to me, shaking his head in disgust. "This is more than a taunt. He's pushing you, trying to see how far he can go before you strike back. Who is Astrid to you, your majesty?"

I folded the letter carefully, tucking it into my belt. "She is my mate and your future Queen. This is exactly what he wants. To provoke me into acting rashly."

Joran's eyes darkened. "Then let's not disappoint him. We can end this now."

I met his gaze, the loyalty and fierce determination clear in his eyes. "We will," I said, my voice cold with resolve. "But not yet. First, we deal with the creatures at the border. Then we take the fight to Sven."

Joran nodded, but the tension in his body remained, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as if itching for a fight. "Understood. But when the time comes, I'll be the first to put him down."

"I'll hold you to that," I said, my tone grim. "Astrid needs to be protected, and Sven will never get near her. Not while I'm alive."

Torin crossed his arms, his voice steady and unwavering. "We'll be ready. But Sven's not the type to sit idly by while we plan. We need to act fast before he pulls another stunt. I can personally overlook the Queen's protection detail."

I nodded. "The Task Force is already being prepared. Once we secure the border, we will deal with Sven. And this time, we end it. Thank you, Torin."

As I handed the letter back to Joran, I felt the heavy weight of responsibility settle over me. This wasn't just about protecting the kingdom anymore. This was personal. Sven made it personal. And soon, he would understand that crossing me and endangering Astrid was the biggest mistake he'd ever made.

Astrid's POV

The warmth of Kaden's touch lingered long after he left, the weight of his kiss still heavy on my lips. I sighed, sinking back into the plush pillows, the blanket still wrapped around me as if it could somehow hold him there longer. But the door had closed, and the moment was gone.

The ache of his absence settled in my chest, a strange mix of longing and frustration. I hadn't expected this—us. This bond, this pull between us, was undeniable, like an invisible thread that tugged tighter every time we were apart. And yet, despite everything that had happened, despite the intensity of our connection, there was a part of me that was still afraid.

Afraid of what I had become. I was scared of who I was meant to be in this world of magic and power, where I felt like an outsider, still trying to find my place.

I pushed the thoughts aside and rose from the bed, slipping out of the blanket. The air in the room was cool against my skin, the morning light spilling through the curtains, casting a soft glow over everything. My mind wandered back to the night before—to the way Kaden had looked at me as if I were the only thing that mattered in his world.

I wasn't used to that.

I wasn't used to any of this.

In my world, things were simple—normal. I was an archaeologist, fascinated by the mysteries of the past, not the bearer of some ancient prophecy. And certainly not the mate of a Lycan king. Yet here I was, caught between two worlds, between the person I used to be and the person I was becoming.

I wrapped my arms around myself, walking toward the window. The view from Kaden's chambers was breathtaking. Rathguard stretched out beneath me, a kingdom I barely understood yet felt oddly connected to. The people, the land, the magic that thrummed in the air—it was all so foreign and yet so... familiar, as if I belonged here, even though part of me still resisted that idea.

Kaden had told me I had a choice. And I believed him. But was it really a choice if every part of me was drawn to him, to this place? The bond between us was undeniable, a force that seemed to grow stronger with every glance, every touch. But it wasn't just the bond that made me want to stay. It was him.

He was fierce, protective, and so much more than just a king. He had shown me glimpses of the man beneath the crown, and each time, I found myself falling deeper. He hadn't pushed me to accept this life, to accept him. But the way he looked at me, the way he touched me, made it clear that he was waiting—waiting for me to choose him, not because of some mystical connection, but because I wanted him as much as he wanted me.

And I did. I just wasn't sure I was ready to admit it yet. A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned, half-expecting Kaden to have returned. But it wasn't him. One of the palace servants stood in the doorway, her head bowed slightly.

"Miss Valenwood," she said softly. "The council has convened, and the king is in attendance. He requests that you remain here for your safety."

My safety. Of course, I overheard about the creatures. There was always some threat looming over us, some danger that seemed to grow with each passing day. And now, with the amulet's power awakening, I was at the center of it all.

I nodded, offering the servant a small smile. "Thank you. I'll stay here."

She bowed slightly and disappeared, leaving me alone once again.

I turned back to the window, my mind racing. Staying here, hiding away, wasn't something that sat well with me. I had never been the type to sit idly by while others fought battles on my behalf. But here, in this strange world, I felt like I was constantly waiting for my role to be revealed.

But how long could I wait? How long could I sit here while Kaden faced the dangers of this world? I wasn't just anyone in Rathguard. I had been brought here for a reason, the prophecy tying me to this land, to Kaden, in ways I still didn't fully understand. But if there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that I wasn't going to stand on the sidelines forever.

I would find my place here. And when I did, I wouldn't let anything or anyone keep me from protecting the people I cared about. Not even Kaden, with all his protective instincts and responsibilities as king.

Because this wasn't just about him; it was about me, about us, about the future of this kingdom.

And I intended to be a part of it. I stepped away from the window, my heart steady with resolve. Whatever the prophecy held, whatever this amulet meant. I would face it head-on. I would fight for Rathguard, for Kaden, and for the life we were building, even if that meant facing the unknown.

The time for waiting was over. I was ready to find out who I truly was. Grabbing the amulet, I sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the bed, holding the glowing stone at eye level. Its soft light pulsed, mocking me with its silence.

"Alright, listen," I muttered, frustration creeping into my voice. "I know you're in there. You've already taken over my body once, so... say something. Do something."

The amulet remained still, its glow unwavering, as if indifferent to my plea.

I clenched my jaw, the frustration bubbling into anger. "I am literally talking to a glowing rock that refuses to cooperate!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the walls. "You can show up whenever you want and make me look like a lunatic talking to a rock, but now, when I actually need you, nothing?!"

I felt ridiculous, the absurdity of it all crashing down on me. With an exasperated sigh, I tossed the amulet onto the floor and stood, shaking my head as I turned toward the window.

But before I could take more than a few steps, a sudden surge of energy pulsed through the room. My hands tingled with a strange, electric buzz. I froze, turning slowly back to the amulet. It was no longer lying still. It was glowing brighter. Much brighter, and now it was levitating.

"What the...?" My heart raced as I stumbled backward, catching myself on the edge of the bed. The last time it had done this, I'd been transported to another place entirely. Panic flickered in my chest. Not again.

The door flew open, and I barely registered the sound before Sylphie and Erica burst into the room, their faces pale with shock.

"Astrid!" Sylphie cried, rushing toward me, her hand outstretched.

Before she could reach me, the amulet's glow intensified, and I felt it pull me toward it like a magnet.

"No! Get Kaden!" I shouted just before the amulet surged forward, its light enveloping me completely.

The world spun around me, and in an instant, I was gone.

Not again...