ELARA'S POV
"Six months," I repeated, the words tasting like poison. "That's all I have?"
Cassian's jaw tightened. "We don't know for sure that—"
"Don't lie to me!" The shadows around my hands flared like dark fire. "Your mother had six months. You think I'll magically have longer?"
"My mother didn't have help. Didn't have anyone who understood what she was going through." He stepped closer, his voice urgent. "You have me. I watched it happen once—I know the warning signs, the progression. We can find a way to control it before it's too late."
"And if we can't?"
He didn't answer. That was answer enough.
I sank onto the bed, my legs suddenly too weak to hold me. Six months. Half a year. That was all the time I had left to exist.
"There's a court session in an hour," Cassian said quietly. "You need to attend."
I laughed—a bitter, broken sound. "I'm dying, and you want me to play dress-up for your nobles?"
"I want you to stay alive long enough to find a cure." His voice turned hard. "And that means maintaining appearances. If the court suspects you're unstable, they'll demand I execute you before the chaos magic kills someone."
"Maybe they should."
"Stop that." He crouched in front of me, forcing me to meet his eyes. "You're not a danger. You're not your mother. And you're sure as hell not giving up after four days."
"Why do you care?" I whispered. "I'm just bait. Just a tool to catch the councilors."
Something flickered in his expression—hurt? Regret? "Is that really what you think?"
Before I could answer, Mira appeared in the doorway with an armful of black fabric.
"Court dress," she announced, then saw my face. "What happened?"
"She knows," Cassian said simply.
Mira's expression softened. "Oh, Elara—"
"Don't." I stood, forcing strength into my voice I didn't feel. "Just tell me what I have to do to survive your cousin's court."
An hour later, I stood outside the throne room in a black dress that felt like a shroud.
"Mourning colors," Mira had explained while helping me dress. "To show respect for your fallen kingdom."
More like to remind everyone that I'd lost everything.
The doors opened. Guards flanked me on both sides—not rough, but present. Making sure I didn't run.
The throne room was massive and filled with nobles dressed in rich colors that made my black dress stand out like a scar. They all turned to stare as I entered.
I'd been stared at before—as queen of Luminveil, attention came with the crown. But this was different. They looked at me like I was a circus animal. A exotic pet. A trophy their king had won.
I lifted my chin and walked forward, refusing to show weakness.
Cassian sat on his throne at the far end—not the beautiful silver throne from my palace, but something darker, carved from black stone. He wore formal armor that made him look every inch the conquering king.
Our eyes met for one brief moment. Then he looked away, his expression unreadable.
That hurt more than it should have.
A guard positioned me beside the throne—not on it, not even on the steps leading to it, but standing to the right like a piece of furniture. A decoration.
"Don't move unless instructed," the guard whispered. "Don't speak unless spoken to."
I wanted to spit at his feet. Instead, I clasped my shadow-wrapped hands in front of me and stood perfectly still.
The court session began.
Nobles approached with petitions and complaints. Land disputes. Trade agreements. Requests for titles and favors. The boring machinery of running a kingdom.
I'd sat through hundreds of these in Luminveil. But I'd been on the throne then, making decisions. Now I was just a prop.
My feet started hurting after the first hour. The shoes Mira had given me were beautiful but tight, and standing motionless made my legs ache.
After two hours, my back screamed in protest. My pride hurt worse.
Everyone stared. Some whispered behind their hands. A few smiled cruelly, enjoying my humiliation.
And Cassian never looked at me. Not once. He handled each petition with cold efficiency, making decisions, giving orders, being every inch the powerful king.
While I stood beside him like a statue.
"Your Majesty," a nobleman in green velvet said, bowing deeply. "I must congratulate you on your recent... acquisition."
My hands clenched. Acquisition. Like I was a painting he'd bought.
"Lord Garrett," Cassian acknowledged, his voice flat.
"The court is curious, Your Majesty." Garrett's smile was oily. "What do you intend to do with your prize? Surely she's more than just decoration."
The room went silent. Everyone leaned forward, eager for Cassian's response.
Cassian's jaw tightened—just for a moment. Then his expression smoothed into cold indifference. "The former queen serves as a reminder to all who would oppose Ashencourt. That is her purpose."
Former queen. The words stabbed like knives.
"Of course, Your Majesty." Garrett bowed again. "Though I must say, it seems a waste. Perhaps you could—"
"That's enough." Cassian's voice cut like steel. "Next petition."
Garrett retreated, but his smile suggested he'd gotten the reaction he wanted.
The session dragged on. Three hours total. Three hours of standing silent while nobles discussed me like I wasn't there. While Cassian pretended I didn't exist.
Finally, he dismissed the court.
Nobles filed out, still whispering, still staring. I remained frozen in place, unsure if I was allowed to move.
When the room emptied except for guards, Cassian finally looked at me.
"You did well," he said quietly.
"I stood there like a trained dog," I said bitterly. "Such an achievement."
"You maintained dignity under humiliation. That takes more strength than you know." He stood, moving toward me. "I know it's hard—"
"Hard?" My voice rose. "You have no idea what—"
A commotion at the doors cut me off. A guard rushed in, his face pale.
"Your Majesty! We found something in Vex's chambers."
Cassian tensed. "What?"
"A journal. It details everything—the assassination, the conspiracy, all of it." The guard hesitated. "And there's something else. Something about Queen Elara."
My heart stopped. "What about me?"
The guard looked between us nervously. "According to Vex's notes... the chaos magic wasn't supposed to awaken. Ever. Her family had it locked away with blood magic that should have been permanent."
"Then why did it activate?" Cassian demanded.
"Because someone broke the seal." The guard's voice shook. "On purpose. During the invasion."
The room spun. "What? Who would—"
"Vex claims he didn't do it," the guard continued. "Says he couldn't have—the magic required was beyond his skill. But he knows who did."
"Who?" I whispered.
"He'll only tell you, Your Majesty." The guard looked at me. "He says it's information for the rightful Queen of Luminveil, and he'll speak to no one else."
Cassian's expression darkened. "It's a trap."
"Of course it's a trap," I said. "But I'm dying anyway. What do I have to lose?"
"Your life. Your sanity. Your—" He stopped, something raw flashing across his face. "You have everything to lose, Elara."
"Then come with me." I met his eyes. "You wanted to help me control this magic. This is how we start—by finding out who unleashed it."
For a long moment, he stared at me. Then he turned to the guard.
"Take us to Vex. Now."
The dungeon was everything a dungeon should be—dark, cold, and smelling of despair. Vex sat chained to a wall in the deepest cell, bruised but alive.
He smiled when he saw me. "Your Majesty. How gracious of you to visit."
"Tell me who broke the seal," I demanded. "Now."
"Such urgency. One might think you were dying." His smile widened. "Oh wait—you are."
Cassian's hand moved to his sword. "Answer her question or—"
"Or what? You'll kill me?" Vex laughed. "I'm dead anyway. But I'll make you a deal, little queen. I'll tell you who freed your chaos magic... if you tell me one thing first."
"What?" I asked warily.
"Do you feel it yet?" He leaned forward, chains rattling. "The hunger? The shadows whispering that they could solve all your problems if you'd just let them? The temptation to stop fighting and embrace what you're becoming?"
I said nothing. Because yes, I felt all of that.
"I thought so." Vex's expression turned almost pitying. "The person who broke your seal knew exactly what they were doing. They didn't just free your magic—they weaponized you. Turned you into a living bomb designed to destroy everything you touch."
"Who?" My voice broke. "Who would do that to me?"
Vex looked past me to Cassian, and his smile became cruel.
"Why don't you ask your beloved captor? After all..." He paused for effect. "It was his court wizard who broke the seal. On King Cassian's orders."
The world stopped.
I turned slowly to face Cassian, shadows exploding around my hands.
"Tell me he's lying," I whispered. "Tell me you didn't do this to me."
Cassian's face had gone white. "Elara, I can explain—"
"YOU DID THIS?" The shadows erupted outward, cracking the stone walls. "You unleashed this curse? Gave me six months to live? Made me into a WEAPON?"
"I didn't know!" His voice was desperate. "The wizard said he was just breaking the suppression spell, that it would free your natural magic, I never knew it would—"
"LIAR!" The shadows shot toward him like spears.
He didn't defend himself. Just stood there, accepting death.
At the last second, I pulled them back. Not because I forgave him. But because killing him would make me exactly what Vex wanted—a monster.
"Get out," I said, my voice deadly calm. "Get out before I change my mind."
"Elara, please—"
"GET OUT!"
He left. The dungeon door slammed behind him.
I turned back to Vex, shadows writhing around me like living things.
"You're wrong about one thing," I said softly. "I'm not becoming a weapon."
"No?" Vex looked amused.
"No." I let the shadows grow darker, hungrier. "I'm becoming a reckoning. And when I'm done, everyone who hurt me will burn."
Vex's smile finally faltered.
Because he realized, too late, that he'd created something far more dangerous than a weapon.
He'd created a queen with nothing left to lose.