The throne room was empty now, save for the lingering echoes of Prince Hak's challenge. Juliana paced in her quarters, her heart a tangle of nerves and uncertainty. Her wolf stirred within her, growling softly, urging her to take action, but she felt paralyzed by the weight of everything around her. The memory of Hak's feverish grip on her arm, his whispered words, and the fire in his eyes all replayed in her mind.
"I will protect you. Even if I have to burn this kingdom to the ground."
She clutched the book she had taken from the forbidden library tightly against her chest. The History of the Destructive Queen Fajer. Her name, written in bold letters on the spine, felt both like a prophecy and a curse. She hadn't dared to open it again since bringing it home. What secrets did it hold? W
