The next two days of training were a bit strange.
Wren didn't try to make things difficult for me but she didn't teach me anything either. I was pretty much invisible to her, just like some ghost lingering on the training grounds. She focused all her attention on the others. Especially Luke.
Luke's werewolf abilities were developing at an astonishing rate. His instincts, speed, and control sharpened with each passing hour. I watched from a distance, genuinely happy for him, even though the ache of my own inadequacy pulsed quietly in my chest.
Today was the day I planned to take permission to return home. I couldn't let go of that nagging feeling that all wasn't well.
Midway through the training session, a palace guard burst into the training grounds, panting, eyes wide with urgency. He rushed straight to Wren and whispered something into her ear.
She turned sharply to us, her voice slicing through the air.
"Stop!"
Everyone froze. Her gaze swept over us, then, for the briefest second, her eyes locked with mine. A flicker of satisfaction passed through her expression. Why would she feel satisfied because of me? Was I imagining things now?
"There's an interesting show to watch at the palace," she said. "Let's go."
"Interesting show?" Luke echoed beside me, shifting back into his human form. He glanced at me. "I wonder what's going on."
We followed the others in silence, tension brewing in the air like a coming storm.
When we arrived at the palace throne room, the atmosphere was filled with anticipation. The king sat tall on his throne, his expression was cold. Jesse stood beside Lord Varrth, who looked pale and shaken, clutching a rolled parchment in both hands.
We all went to our positions and bowed.
"Father," Jesse began, his voice firm, "he says he's ready to confess, to tell the real truth of the matter. But he asked that everyone be present…unless he wouldn't say anything. That's why I brought him here, I don't know what he wants to say."
My eyes scanned the dais and stopped.
A new person sat in one of the royal seats, regal and poised.
Princess Seraphina.
She was finally back.
She looked ethereal in silver and navy robes, her long hair braided with sapphires, her expression as calm and beautiful as the moonlight. She looked cold and distant. I'd heard about how loved she was by her father.
The king's voice thundered, drawing all attention forward.
"Speak now! Don't waste any more time." He leaned forward slightly. "Who gave the order?"
Lord Varrth stepped forward with his knees still on the floor, trembling slightly. His lips parted, but no sound came. He looked around the throne room at the nobles, the guards, and the royal family. Then, his gaze found mine. I shivered a little.
"I didn't act alone," he said, voice cracking. "I… I was coerced."
"Coerced by who?" the king demanded.
Varrth unrolled the parchment in his hand with a shaking grip. "By the most renowned healer. Daniel."
A gasp rippled through the hall. My blood ran cold.
"My father?" I screamed and all eyes turned to look at me.
"He gave me this," Varrth continued, holding up the letter. "A signed letter, with his seal. He threatened me, he said if I didn't poison the nobles and carry out the attack, he wouldn't treat my daughter's illness. I had no choice…"
"That's a lie!" I shouted again, before I could stop myself. I stepped forward right in front of him. "My dad would never do something so despicable!"
"Silence!" Wren snapped.
The king stood. "Bring the letter."
Jesse gave me a look then he took it and handed it to him. The king's eyes scanned it, his expression hardening by the second. "The seal… the handwriting… it belongs to him indeed."
"No! That has to be fake! Please… he wouldn't…he couldn't…" My voice trembled, breaking under the weight of fear and disbelief.
The king's glare dropped to me like a sword.
"If he would go this far," he said slowly, "what else has your family been hiding?"
Everything in me went cold. "Nothing, my father is being framed right now," I whispered.
Princess Seraphina stood, her voice cool and unfeeling. "Such audacity… poisoning nobles and involving his own daughter in treason. The disgrace."
"Arrest her," the king commanded.
"My king—please listen to me.."
"Take her to the torture room now."
The words hit me like a wrecking ball.
Two guards moved forward instantly.
"No—wait—!" I stepped back, but the cold iron of their grip was already on my arms.
Luke moved to intervene. "Your Highness, this doesn't make sense! There's no way that…"
"No one else is allowed to speak again!" the king said, his voice filled with authority and power.
As the guards dragged me out, the last thing I saw was Princess Seraphina leaning slightly in her seat, an unreadable expression on her face.
Then I could see her lips move, it was barely a whisper.
"Tsk, what a pity."