LOGINRavenna’s POV The heavy warning from Lady Vivienne stayed in my mind all through the night. She knew the deep secrets of the royal family. She had been the head lady of the court for many years, which meant she knew exactly what happened five years ago when my family was murdered. If I wanted to find the truth, I needed to make her talk to me.The next afternoon, after my long hours of walking and talking lessons, I saw Lady Vivienne walking down the quiet back corridor of the guest wing.I quickened my steps and walked up to her side. "Lady Vivienne," I said softly, keeping my voice low. "Please, can I speak with you for just a moment? About what you said yesterday."Lady Vivienne stopped walking. She did not look at me. "I have nothing more to say to you, Miss Vexley," she said in a hard, flat voice. "Your lessons for today are finished. You should go back to your room.""But you know something about this family," I pressed, stepping closer. "You warned me for a reason.""Mind
Ravenna’s POV My heart gave a slow, heavy thud inside my chest. I made sure to keep my face completely blank, not letting her see how fast my blood was suddenly pumping. I did not want to show any fear or excitement."Why are you telling me this, Lady Vivienne?" I asked. I spoke in a very quiet, careful way, hoping to make her talk more and share her secrets."Do you know something about my position here? Do you know why I am really in this place?"Vivienne did not give me an answer right away. She kept her eyes locked on the empty hallway outside. "I am telling you what history has already proven, Vexley. This royal family is exceptionally fond of using people until they have bled them dry, only to completely discard them the moment they are no longer convenient. Look at what they just did to Princess Thalia. She was a guest in this house for years, promised a throne, and yet she was cast aside in a single night without a second thought."She turned her sharp look back toward m
Ravenna’s POV For the past three days, my entire life had revolved around this room.From morning until night, I endured endless lessons, constant corrections, and the suffocating scrutiny of the royal family. Every movement, every word, and every expression was watched and judged. I was exhausted."Straighten your back, Vexley. Your chin is dropping."The sharp, commanding voice of my instructor, Lady Vivienne, cut through the room once again. She was a formidable head lady of the royal court. She was a woman whose entire existence was dedicated to protocol. But while Vivienne was the one actively conducting the lessons, she wasn't the one I was worried about. Sitting on a velvet chaise lounge a few yards away, casually sipping tea, was Luna Selena. Her dark eyes followed my every move, silently vetting her new puppet."Let us try the walking steps again," Lady Vivienne instructed, waving a hand toward the long, polished mirror lining the wall. "A true Luna does not hurry. You
Ravenna’s POV The formal dinner courses had finally come to an end, though I had barely managed to eat more than a few bites of my food. My stomach had been coiled in too tight a knot to process anything substantial. Now, the servants had cleared the plates, leaving the four of us sipping on heavy crystal glasses of expensive fruit wine. The Grand Alpha King swirled his wine and looked at me, his gaze was calm but there was something different in his eyes I couldn't ignore. "So, Vexley," he said, leaning back as his voice took on a more relaxed tone. "Tell us a bit more about yourself. What course are you currently pursuing at the university, and what of your family? Ronan has told us so little about your background."I offered him a modest smile, dropping my gaze slightly to play the part of a shy girl. "I am studying Anthropology and Gender Studies, Your Majesty," I replied smoothly, weaving the fake backstory I had spent the previous night memorizing into my response. "As fo
Ravenna’s POV "My mother wants to ensure that you're ready for everything that comes with this role," Ronan said smoothly while cutting his steak."She will vet you personally over the next few weeks, just to ensure you understand court etiquette and pack politics. It’s traditional, and honestly, her stamp of approval will silence the remaining skeptics among the elders."Inside my chest, a hot wave of irritation flared up. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from rolling my eyes right at him. *Damon was completely right,* I thought bitterly. *He really is a weak mama's boy. Can this guy make a single major decision in his life without involving his mother?* He was the future Alpha King, yet he was practically handing the keys to my future over to Luna Selena just to keep the peace.Despite the internal anger, I kept my composure flawless. I smoothed down the fabric of my dress and made a gentle nod. "That is completely fine with me, Ronan. If it makes your family more com
Ravenna’s POVThe silver fork slipped completely from my fingers, clattering sharply against the pristine porcelain plate. I sat frozen in my chair, staring at Ronan as if he had just started speaking an entirely different language. I almost couldn't believe my ears. It was as if the sheer exhaustion of the last twenty-four hours was causing me to hallucinate. My heart began to hammer violently against my ribs, a sudden, cold sweat breaking out across the palms of my hands.*Marriage?*The word felt like a heavy stone dropped directly into the center of the table, shattering the fragile peace we had just built."Are you serious right now, Ronan?" I asked, my voice trembling just enough to convey genuine shock as I struggled to regain my composure. I leaned back against the plush leather seat, crossing my arms over my chest to hide the slight shaking of my fingers. "I literally just told you less than an hour ago that I was still desperately processing the chaos from your sudden
Ravenna’s POVThe look on Ronan’s face had been absolutely priceless—he was a man completely starved, standing on the edge of a cliff I had built for him. But my triumph lasted for only a fraction of a second.The moment I stepped past the hallway leading toward the palace’s main exit, a sharp, suf
Ronan’s POVMy hands shook at my sides as Silas’s words repeated in my brain, over and over again like a death sentence. My biggest, darkest fear was coming to life right in front of me, much sooner than I had ever prepared for. The web was closing in around my neck, and I was completely trapped
Thalia’s POVSilas did not just kiss me; he completely consumed me. The moment the bedroom door clicked lock behind him, he moved like a hungry animal. He pulled my body so hard against his wide chest that the air left my lungs. His lips were rough, hot, and demanding. He pressed his mouth over m
Ravenna’s POV My chest felt like it was going to explode, but I forced my muscles to obey me. I stood up from my chair smoothly and dropped into a very deep, respectful curtsy, keeping my eyes glued to the grass.While my head was lowered, I closed my eyes and focused every bit of my mind on my ow







