Prologue
The Heir
Everything that I amand everything that I have yet to become, I owe to the family I have made—for what is a queen without her court? Who would I be, or who would my rage reshape me into without my court of rebels and mate at my side to ground me?
The realm was my birthright by blood and claim, and since the moment I took my first breath in this unforgiving world, its malevolent beings have done everything in their power to rip it from my grasp.
Too long had I been forced to lurk in the shadows of the castle, never allowed to know the true love of kin. Too long had the realm been forced to bear the wrath of the wicked queen and her scorned hatred for my father. And too fucking long had I endured manipulation, trickery, and abuse from those I should have been able to trust.
The Kingdom of Velyra would be mine if it were the last thing I ever did, for the realm itself would not rest as long as my lungs breathed air.
Heir of the Realm.
Descendant of the First of the Fae.
True Heir of the Mother Goddess, Terra.
The One Who Was Promised.
Lia Solus, Captain of the Velyran army, a hidden orphan raised by the castle staff, and secret daughter of the king, was no more—for she has been mended and reforged into what she was always meant to be.
Elianna Valderre—Queen of the Realm.
Chapter one
Jace
I stood ten pacesbehind my queen, watching as she took her reforged blade and slit Vincent’s throat. I had seen her wield weapons in battle and hold her own against multiple men twice her size, but something about her finally taking a sliver of her revenge had unleashed the primal beast beneath my skin.
Lia released her prisoner’s blood-soaked, lifeless body and left him slumped in the chair he was bound to as she approached the three of us.
Gage stood at attention beside me, face hard as stone, and it was one of the few times in my life where I couldn’t read him. Zaela, on the other hand, wore her concern like a heavy cloak, her furrowed brow and tense shoulders giving her away. I couldn't take my eyes off my mate, feeling a wave of pride wash over me, knowing how much she craved the taste of revenge—needing it more than the air she breathed.
Lia re-sheathed her dagger at her side and halted before us. “We leavenow,” she announced, turning to move toward the entrance.
I took a step forward to follow, but Zaela rushed past me and caught up to her instantly. “Is this wise, Lia? I understand you are upset, rightfully so, but—”
Lia stopped in her tracks. “But?” She tilted her head to the side, and Zae physically tensed beneath her stare.
For the first time in my life, I witnessed Zaela gulp. “But,” she hesitated. “We should come up with a plan before we make our move. It could be a trap. You never know at this point.”
“It isn’t a trap. They arefleeing. I watched the fear slither into Vincent’s eyes when he realized I put it all together. If we don’t move now, we could miss them,” she said and went to turn, but then stopped herself. “And besides… I have a wyvern.”
Lia pushed past her, and I took a step closer to Zaela. “Now is not the time to question her,” I breathed as I moved to guide her with me to the door.
“Lia knows what she’s doing,” Gage chimed in from my other side, not sounding entirely convinced of his own statement.
“Let’s hope so, for our sake,” she whispered as we followed Lia into the gloomy, mud-slicked streets.
Lia burst through the townhouse’s door, and Avery and Veli were instantly on their feet, jumping up from where they sat and waited for our return. Nyra was also now alertwhere she sat next to Avery; her once blood-stained coat was now washed and clean.
“Where have you been?!” Avery shrieked as she stared at us with eyes full of worry.
My mate didn’t answer her as she stormed up the stairs, her heavy footsteps echoing throughout the townhouse.
I turned to Avery. “We have…business to attend to,” I said as gently as possible.
“Business?” she erupted as she crossed her arms and stared at me. “What kind of business? You all need rest! It is nearly the middle of the day, and none of you have slept. Where did you even go?”
