Serena walked into dinner, fingers interlocked with Dex's. Tonight, King Tiberon had personally requested her presence.
The formal dining hall was warm, low-lit with golden sconces and high banners swaying in the draft, but the warmth hit a wall the moment she saw who else was seated.
To her surprise, Queen Bellatrix was there.
Her expression was one of disdain. She immediately spoke, eyes on Serena, voice loud and projected.
"Ah. Yes. The temporary companion of my son. Known as Skeletor Silver-Whore."
Serena almost laughed. She had saved this woman's life. And still.
She was going to ignore it. Truly. She was going to let it go.
But Dex didn't. He turned his head, voice cold and sharp enough to draw blood.
"Don't call her that or speak to her in that way. Apologize, or we leave."
Queen Bellatrix smiled.
"My apologies," she replied with a tone that could sand paint off a wall. "I forgot commoners bruise so easily these days."
Dex's jaw ticked. Serena gave his hand a squeeze.
He understood that she could handle it. But he didn't like it. It sent the wrong message to omegas and anyone watching that he would allow that treatment of his mate.
And he would not.
His father entered a moment later. The reason they were there. Dex wondered why Bellatrix had even come.
Seated at the long table were Elara, Hale, Gavriel, Hyran, and a few high-ranking officers. King Tiberon sat at the head.
The atmosphere was just starting to relax a bit. Bellatrix was behaving.
Then the doors opened again.
Princess Agnes entered with the quiet drama of someone used to arriving late for effect. She was in full court attire, regal as ever.
Dex glanced at his father, who did not react. But the look on Bellatrix's face answered Dex's unspoken question.
His mother invited her.
Because of course she did.
Agnes shot Serena a look of pure hatred the moment she spotted her.
Serena noticed her eyes were red, and even with everything Agnes had done, she still felt a tinge of guilt.
She had told Agnes that she wasn't after Dex. She wasn't lying at the time. But a week later, she was marked, mated, and sitting at the royal table next to him.
Agnes sat next to Gavriel, which happened to be across the table from Serena and Dex.
The room buzzed with low conversation, silver scraping plates, goblets clinking. Serena was quiet. She had a lot on her mind, and Elara was no better.
That silence lit a fuse in Agnes.
She set down her goblet with deliberate force to gather attention and tilted her head, smiling.
"You're very quiet, Serena. Afraid if you speak you'll give away your illiteracy?"
Serena let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
Agnes took a sip of her wine slowly, still staring at Serena.
"It's difficult to tell if she's mute, stupid, or just too busy warming his bed to speak. Maybe all three?"
Dex stiffened and was about to say something, but Serena squeezed his hand. He looked at her and understood. She didn't want him to jump in.
His jaw locked, and his grip on her hand tightened. If Agnes continued, he absolutely would be interjecting.
"I'm flattered you think about me so often, Princess," Serena remarked, meeting her gaze head on.
"Oh yes, I'm sure you're used to thinking that. You are not as important as you think," Agnes retorted.
Serena tilted her head. "You seem very concerned for someone claiming indifference."
Agnes let out an incredulous laugh. She either didn't notice or was unbothered by the looks of horror from the officers at the table.
"What is this look you're going for, exactly? Feral minimalism? You look like you ran through the woods and rolled around in dirt before showing up here."
Serena's lips twitched. That was actually funny. She had just showered, and Elara had done her hair and makeup, so no, that wasn't true. A stretch. But still funny.
Elara leaned forward, joining the conversation.
"Jealousy is so unbecoming, Princess. Especially when it's this obvious."
Agnes snapped her head to Elara, eyeing her up and down.
"What are you? Her spokesperson?" she demanded, voice full of annoyance. "You have no business sitting at this table either."
"Keep going," Elara replied lightly. "You're almost interesting."
"In Viremont, you both would have had your tongues cut long before now," Agnes hissed, venom dripping.
"You mentioned that to us before. Do you miss it?" Serena's tone was warm, no malice, not taking the bait but open if Agnes wanted to change her tune.
"I have no desire to fraternize with a skeleton who doesn't know how to form a sentence or a red-headed possessed Chucky Doll who aimed for a Beta after she failed to catch the attention of the prince," Agnes declared.
Hale coughed on his drink, ready to jump in. Elara squeezed his hand.
Agnes looked toward Hale with satisfaction. Like she had just revealed something he didn't know and now the jig was up.
"You both are temporary," she announced. "Don't get comfortable."
Elara took a sip of her wine, tone unbothered.
"Bold talk from a girl who's been chasing a man that wouldn't touch her if she came gift-wrapped in legacy and desperation."
Agnes stiffened.
"This won't last," she snapped, looking at Serena again. "You'll be thrown back into whatever hole you clawed out of."
Elara leaned back in her chair, sipping.
"That's funny. You've had twenty years of royal training, and still no one wants you. What's your excuse?"
"I have honor and will not bed my way to a crown," Agnes shot back.
"Well, there you go. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," Elara remarked, now bored with this conversation. "You could try being mute too. That seems to be working for her."
Serena fought the urge to laugh. She fought it so hard that Dex felt it through their matebond and started to laugh, turning it into a cough.
Ironically, Agnes didn't say anything to that and quieted.
Dinner resumed. Conversation flowed. Laughs occurred. Tension was still in the air, but manageable.
King Tiberon lifted his goblet.
"When this castle was attacked, Serena and Elara ensured every omega, child, elder, and innocent pack member was hidden and safe, sweeping the castle inside and out."
His gaze was cool, deliberate.
"Neither holds an official title," he continued, "yet both acted with the authority of those who understand responsibility."
He raised his glass.
"In my experience, that matters more than blood, rank, or tradition."
"To Serena. To Elara. And to leadership revealed under fire."
The table followed. Agnes and Bellatrix did not.
Dex kissed Serena's hand, his eyes full of love and unmistakable pride.
King Tiberon spoke again.
"Additionally, we will be crowning Serena tomorrow. And Elara will be sworn in as our Beta Luna."
Serena's look of surprise didn't go unnoticed. Elara had the exact same expression. Neither of them had even thought about that.
Dex cut in, voice calm. "I haven't told her any of that yet."
Serena recovered quickly, lifting her chin and offering the king a graceful nod. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am honored."
Queen Bellatrix slammed her fork into the table with a clang that silenced every last whisper of civility.
"That's it!" she snapped, rising halfway from her seat.
"I will not have a Satan worshiper carry our family name. Absolutely not!"
The room froze.
Gavriel blinked. Then leaned forward, completely serious.
"Satan worshiper?"
Elara shot him a look sharp enough to skin a deer.
Bellatrix pointed a shaking finger at Serena. "Yes! She brainwashed my son against me through her worship of Satan!"
"And how does one worship Satan?" Hyran inquired, his expression perfectly neutral.
"For starters," she declared, voice lowering with certainty, "they perform sexual acts on Satan's star in a ritual every full moon while chanting ancient filth."
Gavriel raised his hand. "I have follow-up questions."
"Gavriel," Elara warned.
"What? I'm genuinely curious about the logistics."
Bellatrix reached into her robes and pulled out a small flask.
"I brought holy water!" she announced, sloshing it.
How she had this ready? No one knew.
"Of course you did," Hyran muttered.
Without missing a beat, she splashed a few drops directly at Serena.
Serena blinked as the water hit her shoulder.
Nothing happened.
No sizzle. No smoke. Not even a dramatic gasp.
Elara leaned forward. "Try again. Maybe aim for her forehead this time."
Serena shot her a look.
Queen Bellatrix wasn't finished. Of course she wasn't. She raised the flask again and splashed more holy water—this time directly on Serena's forehead.
Serena wiped it off with her napkin, and her composure cracked.
A tiny smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth before she caught it and forced her face back into neutral.
Bellatrix narrowed her eyes.
"You little she-devil," she hissed. "I saw that smirk. No one else did—but I did."
"I saw it too," Gavriel announced, raising his hand.
"Same," Hale added.
"It was very obvious," Elara confirmed.
"Fine," Bellatrix snapped. "Have her cut her hand. You'll see. Her blood is Satan's blood."
Dex moved like he might stand, but Serena surged calm through their matebond and gave his hand a quiet squeeze.
Serena spoke in a flat tone. "You were bleeding out on the throne room floor. I saved your life. And this is the conclusion you come to?"
"I've seen you use magic!" Bellatrix shrieked, pointing now with both hands like Serena might suddenly levitate. "You didn't use that to heal. You used your ritual blood on me!"
"Ritual blood," Gavriel repeated slowly, like he was savoring the phrase. "I'm writing that down."
Hyran sighed mid-sip and set his goblet down with dramatic resignation.
"She doesn't know how to heal with magic," he stated. "And her blood is rare, yes—but not demonic. Unless being genetically superior offends you."
"It might," Elara murmured.
"FINE!" Bellatrix snapped, eyes wild. "Let's unpack some of her other lies, shall we? Silverveil is not the name of any royal bloodline in Skardos. She told me she was an heir when she kidnapped me!"
Serena remained calm, her voice kind but unwavering.
"That dragon ride was not intentional. I apologize you were frightened."
Bellatrix laughed sharply.
"It was no accident. I've never heard of that happening to anyone else!"
Serena met Bellatrix's gaze without flinching.
"It was," she confirmed with composed grace. "I was unaware Velkaris was even nearby. I trust you recall the events preceding that moment. You followed me through two corridors directing profanities the entire time."
"You mean when you walked away from me, your Queen, with absolutely no respect?" Bellatrix snapped.
Serena didn't acknowledge that and continued.
"I entered the courtyard assuming you would continue on your way. Regrettably, you did not. Velkaris arrived only after you threatened to castrate your son."
Dex choked on his wine, coughing. It shocked him equally as much as it did the first time he heard Serena say it.
Bellatrix didn't deny it. Her jaw ticked.
"Stop avoiding the question. Are you an heir? Or was that a lie too? What is your real last name?"
Serena answered without hesitation. "Frostborne."
The word landed heavy. A few officers shifted in their seats.
"When my pack was annihilated, I took my mother's maiden name for protection."