CHAPTER 10 - THE LETTER
1111 Words
"For Lady Nyra Alone."
The silver words shimmered beneath the lantern light.
Nyra instinctively stepped forward.
Before her fingers could touch the letter, Azriel caught her wrist.
"Wait."
She looked up.
His expression had changed.
The warmth in his silver eyes had vanished, replaced by the sharp caution of a king.
"It could be dangerous."
"It's only a letter."
"That doesn't mean it can't harm you."
Nyra searched his face for a moment before slowly lowering her hand.
Azriel carefully picked up the folded parchment instead.
He examined both sides.
There was no royal seal.
No family crest.
Only Nyra's name is written in elegant handwriting.
After a long pause, he unfolded it.
His eyes moved quickly across the page.
Then his jaw tightened.
"What does it say?" Nyra asked.
For a heartbeat, he said nothing.
Finally, he handed it to her.
"There isn't a single word."
Nyra frowned.
She looked down.
The page was completely blank.
"Why would someone leave an empty letter?"
"I don't think it was empty."
Azriel glanced toward the open doorway.
"I think whoever left it wanted me to read it first."
A chill ran through Nyra.
"So... it was meant for you?"
"No."
His voice became quieter.
"It was meant to tell me that someone can reach you whenever they choose."
Neither of them noticed a pair of eyes watching from the darkness beyond the corridor.
The shadow smiled before silently disappearing.
...
Azriel personally escorted Nyra back to her chamber.
To anyone else, it looked like a king ensuring the safety of a palace guest.
Only the two of them knew it was much more than that.
When they reached her door, neither immediately spoke.
"I'll assign additional guards outside your room," Azriel said.
Nyra sighed.
"You don't have to."
"I do."
"They'll think I'm a prisoner."
"They'll know you're under my protection."
She folded her arms.
"You always have an answer."
He smiled faintly.
"I have to."
She took a step closer.
"So who's protecting you?"
The question caught him off guard.
He had expected fear.
Curiosity.
Even frustration.
Not concerned.
For the first time in many years, someone had asked about him instead of his kingdom.
"I've managed this long," he replied quietly.
"That wasn't my question."
Their eyes met.
Azriel felt the familiar ache beneath his skin.
The curse.
It always grew stronger when his emotions slipped beyond his control.
His wolf stirred restlessly.
Tell her.
No.
She deserves the truth.
Not yet.
He forced himself to take a slow breath.
"If you keep worrying about me," he said with a small smile, "I'll start believing you like having me around."
Nyra's cheeks flushed.
"I... I never said that."
"You didn't have to."
Before she could think of a reply, Mira appeared at the end of the hallway carrying a stack of neatly folded linens.
She stopped when she noticed them standing so close together.
"Oh..."
A grin spread across her face.
"Should I come back later?"
Nyra quickly stepped away.
"Mira!"
"What?"
"I haven't said anything."
"You were about to."
Mira laughed as Nyra hid her embarrassed face.
Even Azriel couldn't stop himself from smiling.
For just a few precious seconds...
The palace didn't feel burdened by secrets.
It almost felt like home.
Then a loud bell echoed through the castle.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Every smile disappeared.
A guard rushed into the corridor and dropped to one knee.
"Your Majesty!"
"What is it?"
The guard struggled to catch his breath.
"The blank letter..."
"We've discovered it wasn't blank after all."
Azriel frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The guard swallowed.
"When exposed to moonlight..."
"...words began to appear.”
Azriel's expression changed instantly.
"Take me there,"he said.
The guard bowed and moved with Nyra hurrying after him but was stopped
“Stop treating me like glass," she said. refusing to slow down.
"This isn't something to risk your life for."
For a moment, they simply stared at each other then to everyone's surprise,Azriel sighed.
"You are incredibly stubborn."
A smile appeared on Nyra's lips and she responded.
"So I've been told."
Amusement flickered across Azriel's face as she instructed Nyra to stay close to him.
"I wasn't planning to do anything else."
Those simple words warmed something deep inside him.
……………
Moments later, they entered the palace library where the moonlight streamed through the towering windows, illuminating the parchment resting on a marble table where several scholars stood around.
The elderly royal scholar bowed.
"My King."
"What happened?"
"It remained blank until the moon reached its highest point. Then... the ink appeared by itself."
Azriel and Nyra came closer and read aloud.
"The Moon has awakened."
Another sentence appeared.
"The last daughter has returned."
Nyra's breathing hitched as another line slowly formed.
"You cannot hide her forever, Beast King."
The final sentence appeared one word at a time.
"We are already among you.”
The scholars exchanged frightened looks as Azriel folded the letter.
"Leave us,"the king commanded and they left, leaving Azriel, Nyra and Mira.
Nyra looked at him and told him they already knew who she was who was and the fact that they are already in the palace disguised as whatever.
The king's silence gave her the answer she expected which led to fear settling among them
Not for herself alone
But for everyone around her.
She lowered her eyes with guilt found on her face.
"If I hadn't come here..."
"Don't,"Azriel stopped her.
Azriel's voice was sharper than intended.
"This isn't your fault."
"But people are in danger because of me."
"They're in danger because someone chose to betray this kingdom,"Azriel reminded her with his tone softened.
"Never confuse those two,"Nyra's eyes shimmered as she continued.
"I don't want anyone else getting hurt."
Azriel stepped closer.
"So do I,and that's why I won't let anything happen to you."
The certainty in his voice made her chest tighten.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just a promise.
She smiled sadly.
"You keep making promises."
"And I'll keep keeping them."
Mira quietly cleared her throat.
"I suddenly feel like I'm interrupting something."
"Mira..."she called.
"What?"
"I'm only standing here and nothing else."
Azriel actually laughed in a low, genuine manner. The sound surprised all three of them which at that moment Mira's eyes widened dramatically.
"There it is."
"What?"Azriel asked.
"The smile."
Azriel looked genuinely confused.
"You've smiled more in the last two days than in the last two years."
He looked away in pretense.
"I don't smile that little."
"You do."
"No, I don't."
Nyra couldn't help laughing.
"You really do,"Nyra maintained her stand.
Azriel looked from one woman to the other.
"So this is what betrayal feels like."
- Writer
