Rejected, Then Crowned Queen

Chapter seven

The throne room fell deathly silent.

Lyra turned to the guard.

"The western barrier?"

The young man nodded, still catching his breath.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

She nearly flinched at the title.

It still felt odd on her tongue.

Fenrir turned toward the doors.

"How many?"

"One," replied the guard.

Emma frowned.

"One person managed to get through an ancient magical barrier?"

The guard hesitated.

"It wasn't exactly a barrier."

His expression darkened.

"It opened for him."

Fenrir's brow furrowed.

"You mean he has Lunar blood?"

Lyra inhaled sharply.

"But you said only my family survived."

"I said we assumed so," replied Fenrir as he crossed the room.

"Clearly, we were mistaken."

A deep horn sounded from outside the palace.

A single note.

Then a second.

The entire palace seemed to stir at the eerie sound.

Guards fell into formation as they marched tirelessly up and down the palace's long corridors.

Lyra followed Fenrir.

"Who do you think it is?"

"I don't know."

"Then how do you suggest we stop him?"

Fenrir turned to look at her.

"We don't."

Lyra shot him a confused look.

"What?"

"We find out why he came first."

They entered the western courtyard where dozens of warriors had gathered.

At the center of it all stood a lone figure draped in black.

His hood obscured most of his face,

save for a pair of vivid crimson eyes staring right at her.

He smiled.

"Lyra Ashwyn."

At the sound of her name on his lips, unease curled in her stomach.

"Who are you?"

The stranger lowered his hood, revealing a sharp face dusted with dark hair.

He was handsome, though a jagged scar marred his jaw.

Fenrir placed himself in front of her.

"You."

The man smiled wider.

"So, you remember me."

Fenrir's expression hardened.

"Impossible."

The stranger chuckled.

"You said the same thing a millennium ago."

Lyra turned to stare at him.

"You know him?"

Fenrir said nothing.

It was the stranger who replied.

"My name is Darian Vale."

He placed a hand over his heart in a mocking bow.

"Former royal commander of the Lunar Kingdom."

Lyra blinked in surprise.

"Former?"

Darian's smile vanished.

"My family served your ancestors for centuries."

"Until your father thought otherwise," growled Fenrir.

The courtyard went silent.

Darian's jaw tensed.

"You know nothing about my father."

"I know enough," replied Fenrir coldly.

"He opened the gates to the enemy."

Darian's eyes narrowed.

"And your queen ordered my family to be executed."

Lyra turned to him, stunned.

"My mother?"

"Your mother," Darian repeated, meeting her eyes.

"Queen Selene ordered my family's execution."

Lyra shook her head in disbelief.

"That doesn't sound like her."

"You didn't know her," he said bitterly.

"You knew the woman who raised you."

"Not the queen," she said quietly.

The words cut deeper than she expected.

Could her mother really be responsible for ordering Darian's family to be killed?

Lyra turned to Fenrir.

"Is it true?"

Fenrir was silent for a long moment.

That was answer enough for her.

Her heart sank.

"What happened?"

Fenrir exhaled sharply.

"Your mother's rule was short-lived."

"There was a rebellion."

"Your family was accused of treason."

Darian scoffed.

"Accused?"

"My father was executed and my mother imprisoned."

"And you?" asked Lyra.

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"I was forced to hide," he said, his crimson eyes locking onto hers.

"For a thousand years, I've waited for the bloodline of the Lunar Kingdom to return."

He took a step closer.

"I'm not here to harm you."

Lyra sagged in relief.

"Then why are you here?"

Darian's expression darkened.

"To warn you."

Fenrir instantly stiffened.

"Warn us about what?"

Darian turned to look at the palace.

"The person responsible for destroying your kingdom is not dead."

There was a pause.

A heavy silence.

Lyra's heart pounded in her chest.

"What do you mean?"

Darian turned back to her.

"The enemy that invaded Luna is awake."

"The same enemy who has been hunting you."

Fenrir's eyes narrowed.

"Who?"

Darian smirked.

"Ask your mother."

Lyra paled.

"My mother is dead."

"I know," said Darian quietly.

"Then how can I ask her?"

Darian turned toward the palace.

"Because she left you a message."

Suddenly, silver magic coursed through the courtyard as the pendant at Lyra's neck began to glow.

She instinctively reached for it as it levitated from her dress.

Powerful light burst from the ancient pendant.

A woman's voice echoed from the magical artifact.

Lyra's hands trembled as she listened.

"Lyra..."

Her mother's voice.

"If you're hearing this, that means Luna has awakened."

Tears streamed down Lyra's cheeks.

"And if Luna has awakened, they have found you.

There is something you need to know."

The image of her mother flickered.

Her shadow crossed over the glowing pendant.

"...Do not trust the Alpha King..."

Lyra's eyes widened in horror.

The light from the pendant dimmed.

"...Do not trust the Alpha King..."

Her mother's voice sounded strained.

"...Do not trust the Alpha King..."

The vision of her mother disappeared.

The pendant fell back to Lyra's chest.

She gasped.

"Lyra..."

Emma turned to look at her, but Lyra was far away, trying to grasp what her mother had just said.

Why would her mother tell her to not trust Kael?

What happened between the two kingdoms?

What did the enemy want with her?

Darian turned toward the western wall.

"They're here."

Fenrir turned to look at him.

"What?"

A pack of howls echoed from the distant mountains.

One after another.

Lyra's heart froze in her chest as hundreds of wolves ran through the forest.

The palace guards scrambled to the walls as a scout hurried into the courtyard.

"Guardian!" he shouted, pale with fright.

"We sighted an army!"

Fenrir turned toward the scout.

"Who does the army belong to?"

The scout hesitated before answering.

"Silver Moon Kingdom."

Lyra felt her heart stop.

Kael.

Darian turned to look at her.

"Your former mate has come to rescue you."

Fenrir's expression darkened.

"Or someone wanted him to."

Beyond the palace walls, Lyra caught sight of lights twinkling among the trees.

The enemy army was growing closer.

At the center of it all rode the future Alpha King.

Kael Draven.

Lyra watched the lights blink out one by one as she silently wondered if Kael had come to take her back... or end the life of the queen she had sworn to protect.