The Mate I Was Never Meant To Have

The False Princess

Silence descended over the throne room. Lucien sat motionless upon the black stone throne, with golden eyes fastened on the large doors.

Everyone in the room felt the same unease.

"Bring her in," Lucien ordered.

The doors swung open and a young woman walked in.

She wore a white gown embroidered with silver thread. Long golden hair fell over her shoulders, and a silver crescent pendant laid against her chest.

She walked with the confidence of royalty. Behind her came six Crimson Knights in chains, their heads bowed.

She stopped before the throne.

"My King."

Lucien's expression remained unreadable.

"Tell your name."

She gently raised her head.

"I am Princess Lyra Moonborn."

My heart sank. The room erupted into whispers.

"It can't be."

"The lost princess?"

"Could it truly be her?

Her calm blue eyes settled on me. Pity showed up on her face for a little moment. Then, it vanished.

"I'm sorry," she murmured gently. "But you have been misled."

I frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

Lyra looked at Lucien.

"She isn't the royal heir."

Aldric stepped forward.

"Watch your words."

"I am."

Lyra took off the silver pendant she was wearing around her neck. Inside was an ancient family crest. It was the Moonborn Crest.

Aldric's face became pale.

"From where did you get that?"

"It belonged to my mother."

She looked around the throne room.

"I was hidden after the m******e. I was raised far away from the kingdoms until I was old enough to come back."

My chest tightened. Everything Lyra said seemed believable, too believable.

Lucien stood up from his throne.

"Proof."

Lyra extended her hand without thinking twice. A silver glow spread across her skin. Ancient symbols emerged along her arm. The very same symbols that had shown up on mine.

Gasps echoed across the hall. Even Aldric took a step backward.

"That can't be..."

I stared at the glowing markings. They were identical.

"If Lyra possessed the same symbols, then who was she?" I wondered within me.

Lucien looked at me.

"Show us."

I hesitated. Then I closed my eyes. The warmth beneath my skin responded right away and silver lights spread across my both arms. Once more the Moon Sigils materialised.

Now both of us stood facing one another, both marked by the Moonborn bloodline, and both claiming same destiny.

The silence got intolerable. Then Lyra smiled.

"Do you see? There cannot be two princesses."

I caught her gaze.

"I never said I was one."

"You accepted their belief."

"I accepted nothing at all."

Lucien watched us carefully. His eyes narrowed and he looked as if he had caught something. A scent maybe.

A loud crash echoed outside before Lucien could speak. The stained-glass windows shattered and an arrow flew into the throne room.

It embedded itself beside Lucien's throne. A black scroll was tied to it.

A guard took it right away. Lucien opened ut and his expression darkened.

"What is it?" Aldric asked.

Lucien read aloud.

«"One princess carries the light. The other carries death. Choose the wrong heir... and every kingdom will burn."».

The room dropped silent. Everyone glanced from Lyra to me. They knew one of us was being honest, while the other was hiding something.

A thunder rolled across the sky and Lyra slowly smiled. A smile so brief that only Lucien and I noticed it.

And in that single moment, I realized the greatest danger in the room wasn't the army outside the castle, it was the woman standing only a few feet from me.