Mated to Four Heirs

Chapter fifteen

KARL BLACKWOOD

That night, I had visited the Ancient Archives for answers to the questions that clouded my mind.

My entire body became rigid as I stared into the darkness that had swallowed the Ancient Archives, and although every instinct inside me screamed that I wasn't alone anymore, I couldn't smell another person in the room. The candles had all gone out at the exact same time, yet there wasn't even the slightest breeze that could have extinguished them. My fingers slowly tightened around the old leather-bound book while my heartbeat echoed loudly inside my ears.

"You were never supposed to find that," a female voice whispered, sounding calmer, yet somehow even more unsettling, and the words seemed to come from every corner of the room at once.

"Show yourself," I demanded, narrowing my eyes into the darkness as my wolf stirred beneath my skin.

Silence answered me.

I slowly reached into my jacket and pulled out my Moonstone steel dagger before taking another careful step forward. My breathing remained steady, although my pulse refused to obey me.

"I know you're here," I said, keeping my voice firm as I scanned the endless rows of bookshelves.

Again, there was nothing.

Then, without warning, every candle burst back to life. The flames flickered violently before settling into a soft silver glow.

I immediately looked around. The Archives were empty, completely empty.

A deep frown settled on my face as I slowly lowered my dagger.

"I imagined it," I muttered to myself, although even I didn't believe those words.

The voice had been too clear, too real.

Looking back down at the book in my hands, I turned once more to the final page.

The painting was gone.

I blinked. Then I looked again. It was the same outcome… blank. Every single page inside the book was now completely blank.

"What?" I whispered, disbelief washing over me as I hurriedly flipped through the pages.

Nothing. No prophecy. No Moonborn Queen. No four Alpha Kings.

Nothing but empty parchment.

My jaw tightened.

"I know what I saw," I said under my breath, frustration creeping into my voice as I slammed the book shut.

Whoever had spoken… whatever had happened… it wasn't an illusion. Someone had erased the evidence. Or perhaps, the book had hidden it again.

I remained standing there for another minute before finally slipping the mysterious book beneath my arm.

If it had revealed itself once, perhaps it could do so again. Besides, I wasn't leaving empty-handed.

Turning toward the exit, I walked through the heavy stone doors before locking them behind me. The corridor outside was silent, and the entire Academy had already fallen asleep.

Almost.

As I descended the spiral staircase, hurried footsteps echoed from the floor below.

I immediately stopped.

Moments later, Professor Aldren emerged from the shadows carrying several scrolls beneath his arm.

"Karl?" he asked, surprise flashing across his face as he slowed to a stop.

"Professor," I replied politely, keeping my expression neutral.

His eyes shifted toward the old book tucked beneath my arm.

"What are you doing here at this hour?" he asked, folding his arms as curiosity settled across his face.

"I couldn't sleep," I answered calmly.

His gaze lingered on me for several long seconds before he finally nodded.

"Be careful," he said quietly, adjusting the scrolls in his arms. "The Archives have a habit of answering questions people aren't prepared to ask."

A chill crept down my spine.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, studying his face carefully.

Professor Aldren smiled faintly.

"When the Academy wants something forgotten," he replied, his expression becoming unreadable, "it rarely stays buried forever."

Before I could ask another question, he continued walking down the corridor.

I watched him disappear around the corner. Something about that conversation bothered me. He hadn't sounded confused. He had sounded concerned.

The following morning arrived much sooner than I wanted.

My thoughts never left the prophecy. Even during breakfast, I barely tasted the food sitting on my plate.

Across the dining hall, Samantha laughed at something Adrian had said.

Darius immediately pretended to be offended before placing a hand dramatically over his chest.

"You wound me," he declared loudly, making several nearby students laugh along with him.

"I haven't even said anything yet," Samantha replied, smiling despite herself as she shook her head.

"You were thinking it," Darius insisted confidently, earning another laugh from Adrian.

Karl...

Focus.

I forced my attention back to my breakfast. It didn't work. Without meaning to, my eyes drifted toward Samantha again. She looked normal.. too normal.

How could someone carrying the weight of an ancient prophecy laugh so freely?

Did she truly know nothing?

Or had someone spent eighteen years making sure she never discovered the truth?

"Karl."

Adrian's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"You've been staring at your food for five minutes," he observed, raising an eyebrow playfully.

"I'm eating," I replied, lifting my fork at last.

"No," Darius said, grinning as he leaned back in his chair. "You're interrogating your breakfast."

Samantha couldn't hold back a quiet laugh.

"I think the eggs are winning," she added, covering her smile with one hand.

I looked at all three of them.

For a brief moment, I almost smiled. Almost.

Then movement near the entrance caught my attention.

Principal Vex had entered the hall. She wasn't alone. Two Council guards followed closely behind her carrying a long wooden chest bound with silver chains.

Every conversation inside the dining hall gradually died away. Students turned to watch. Even the professors exchanged uneasy glances.

Principal Vex stopped near the center of the room. Her eyes slowly swept across every table before finally settling...

On Samantha.

A strange heaviness settled over the hall.

"Samantha Carter," Principal Vex called calmly, her expression revealing nothing as every student immediately looked toward Samantha.

Samantha slowly rose to her feet.

"Yes, Headmistress?" she asked, confusion flickering across her face.

Principal Vex remained silent for several seconds before speaking again.

"There is something," she said quietly, her gaze never leaving Samantha, "that has waited eighteen years to be returned to its rightful owner."

Every heartbeat inside my chest seemed to stop.

Then, before anyone could react, she continued…

“Come with me.”