THE KING'S VIRGIN MAID: Royal blood2

The creature smiled. Elena wished it hadn't. There was something deeply unnatural about the expression. Its lips stretched too far across its ancient face, revealing rows of silver teeth that seemed to glow from within. Lucien moved in front of Elena again. His sword remained raised. “What are you?” The creature ignored him. Its enormous silver eyes remained fixed on Elena. “My queen.” Elena's breathing became shallow. “I am not your queen.” The creature tilted its head. “You were before you were born.” Lucien glanced at Seraphine. “What does that mean?” Seraphine looked terrified. “It means the old blood remembers her.” “What old blood?” “The blood that existed before the throne.” The creature slowly rose to its full height. It was taller than any man Elena had ever seen. The chamber seemed too small to contain it. “Your ancestors ruled the moonlands,” Seraphine continued. “They could bend possibility itself. Kings feared them.” “And Alaric?” Elena asked. “He wanted their power.” A low growl came from the creature. “He wanted immortality.” Lucien's expression hardened. “And he imprisoned this thing for that?” Seraphine shook her head. “No.” She looked at Elena. “He imprisoned it because it refused to obey him.” Suddenly, footsteps echoed beyond the chamber. Lucien turned. “Someone is coming.” The iron doors opened. Adrian rushed inside, sword drawn. “My king!” Lucien looked at him. “What happened?” “The palace has been sealed.” “By whom?” Adrian hesitated. “The council.” Lucien's face became cold. “What council?” “All of them.” Elena felt a chill. “Why?” Adrian looked at her. “They know.” Silence. “They know what?” Lucien demanded. “That she is alive.” Elena's stomach tightened. Adrian continued. “And they know she is the Moonborn princess.” Lucien's eyes narrowed. “How?” “Someone sent them proof.” Seraphine whispered: “Alaric.” Adrian nodded. “He is turning the nobles against her.” Lucien looked at Elena. She could see the decision forming in his eyes. “No one touches her.” Adrian lowered his voice. “My king, there is more.” “What?” “The nobles have declared Elena responsible for the famine.” Elena stared at him. “That is impossible.” “They believe the prophecy has begun.” Lucien's expression became murderous. “They want her executed.” Elena felt the room spin. Seraphine grabbed her hand. “No.” Lucien stepped toward Elena. “Look at me.” She did. “You are not going anywhere.” “But they will come.” “Let them.” His voice was frighteningly calm. “I've faced armies larger than this palace.” Elena's eyes filled with tears. “What if they hurt you?” Lucien's expression softened. “That is the first thing you've said tonight that concerns me.” She gave a trembling laugh. “You're impossible.” “So I've been told.” He reached for her hand. Their fingers intertwined. For a moment, the king disappeared. There was only Lucien. And Elena. His thumb slowly moved across the back of her hand. “You should be afraid,” he whispered. “I am.” “Of me?” She shook her head. “Of losing you.” Something changed in his eyes. He stepped closer. “Elena…” She looked up at him. He gently touched her cheek. “I don't know what you've done to me.” Her voice was barely audible. “I haven't done anything.” “That is the problem.” He leaned closer. She could feel his breath against her lips. “If you keep looking at me like that…” He paused. “What?” “I may forget that this kingdom needs its king.” Elena's heart raced. “And if you forget?” His lips brushed hers. “Then I become only a man.” He kissed her again. This time, there was no hesitation. Elena's hands rested against his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss remained tender, but beneath it was something stronger. Fear. Desire. The desperate need to hold onto something beautiful in a world that seemed determined to destroy it. When they finally separated, Elena rested her forehead against his. “I don't want you to become only a man.” “Why?” “Because I think I love the man more than the king.” Lucien closed his eyes. Those words seemed to wound him more deeply than any sword. He whispered: “Then don't ever take them back.” A crash shattered the moment. Adrian turned toward the doors. “Guards!” The palace erupted into chaos. Screams echoed from above. Then came the sound of bells. One. Two. Three. Elena's crescent mark burned. “Thirteen,” she whispered. The final bell rang. Every flame in the chamber went out. Darkness swallowed them. Then Elena saw the future. Hundreds of soldiers storming the palace. Lucien fighting alone. Adrian falling. Seraphine chained. And Elena standing before a burning throne. A crown rested on her head. But something was wrong. The crown was made of bones. She reached toward it. A voice whispered: “Choose.” Elena gasped. The vision changed. She saw Lucien dead. Then alive. Dead again. Alive again. Hundreds of possibilities. Thousands. Millions. Her mind began to fracture under the weight of them. She screamed. Lucien caught her. “Elena!” “I can see everything!” “What?” “Too many futures!” Her eyes glowed silver. The creature stepped forward. “Choose one.” “I don't know how!” “You already do.” Elena looked around. The world seemed frozen. Lucien's hand remained around hers. The creature stood motionless. Seraphine's tears hung suspended on her cheek. Even the flames were frozen in midair. Everything had stopped. Everything except Elena. She realized the truth. Her power wasn't showing her the future. It was showing her choices. Every decision created another path. Every path created another future. And somewhere among them was one where Lucien survived. One where Seraphine lived. One where Alaric died. One where Eldoria remained free. She reached toward it. The world exploded. Elena opened her eyes. She was lying on the floor. Lucien was beside her. “Elena?” She stared at him. “I changed it.” “What?” “I changed the future.” Before he could answer, the doors burst open. Royal soldiers flooded the chamber. Adrian drew his sword. “Stay behind me!” But the soldiers weren't attacking Lucien. They were attacking Elena. “By order of the council,” their captain shouted, “the Moonborn princess is to be taken into custody.” Lucien slowly stood. “No.” The captain raised his sword. “My king…” Lucien's voice dropped. “I said no.” The captain swallowed. “You are defying the council.” “I am the council.” “You are protecting a witch.” Lucien stepped forward. “She is my queen.” The chamber went silent. Elena stared at him. Even Adrian looked stunned. Lucien hadn't planned to say it. But he didn't take it back. The captain lifted his weapon. “Then you will fall with her.” He charged. Lucien moved. Steel collided with steel. The chamber erupted. Adrian fought beside him. Seraphine raised her hands. The ancient creature roared. And Elena stood in the middle of it all. She could see every possible outcome. In one future, Lucien killed every soldier. In another, he was wounded. In another, Adrian died. In another, Seraphine was captured. Then she saw something worse. A future where Elena surrendered. The soldiers chained her. Alaric entered the chamber. He smiled. Then he placed a crown on her head. And Lucien knelt before him. Elena's blood ran cold. “No.” She closed her eyes. “I choose another future.” The silver light exploded from her body. Every sword fell from every hand. Every soldier dropped to their knees. The palace shook. The ancient creature bowed. Seraphine stared at her daughter. And Lucien simply watched. Elena opened her eyes. They were completely silver. Then she spoke in a voice that did not sound entirely like her own. “Leave.” The soldiers obeyed. Every single one. They walked backward out of the chamber. The doors slammed shut. Silence returned. Lucien slowly approached her. “Elena?” She looked at him. Her eyes returned to normal. Then she collapsed. He caught her. She whispered against his chest: “I don't know what I'm becoming.” Lucien held her tightly. “Whatever you become…” He kissed her forehead. “I'll stand beside you.” From the shadows, Seraphine watched them. But her expression was troubled. Because she knew something Elena did not. The power she had just used was not Moonborn magic. It was something older. Something that had once destroyed kingdoms. Something even the Moonborn had feared. Seraphine looked toward the ancient creature. “What have you awakened?” The creature smiled. “The Queen.” Then, far above them, inside the royal council chamber, every noble simultaneously turned toward the doors. A black-robed man entered. Alaric. Alive. Smiling. And carrying the severed head of the council's most powerful lord. He placed it upon the table. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said softly. “You wanted the Moonborn princess.” His smile widened. “You should have asked me first.” Outside the palace windows, the moon turned completely black.