Chapter Three
1366 Words
Riordan’s POV
Thunder rolled across the sky the moment the witch stepped into my throne room.
The doors closed behind her with a heavy thud. The torches on the stone walls flickered like the fire itself felt nervous.
Most people feared storms. I, I welcomed them. Storms meant fewer spies listening at windows. Storms meant fewer servants wandering the halls. Tonight’s meeting needed silence.
The woman walking toward me wore black robes that dragged across the floor like shadows. Long silver hair hung over her shoulders. Her eyes glowed faintly purple in the dark room.
Witch Queen Zola. The most dangerous woman in the eastern kingdoms My guards stood near the walls, but I raised a hand.
“Leave us.”
They hesitated.
Zola smiled slowly.
“Your king gave an order.”
The guards quickly bowed and stepped outside. The large doors shut again. Now only the two of us remained.
Zola walked closer to the throne. Her eyes scanned the room like she was looking for secrets hidden inside the stones.
“Bloodstone palace always feels so tense,”
She said calmly.
“Like the walls expect betrayal.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“Most kingdoms do.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“But not all kings invite witches into their throne room.”
I didn’t respond to that. Zola stopped in front of me. Her smile grew wider.
“Let’s stop pretending. You didn’t call me here for small talk.”
“No,” I replied.
Lightning flashed outside the tall windows.
The light briefly filled the room. Zola’s eyes gleamed.
“Then tell me about the girl.”
My fingers rested on the arm of the throne.
“Elarys.”
Zola corrected me immediately.
“Elaris.”
Her voice sounded almost excited. I frowned slightly.
“You already know her name.”
“Of course,”
Zola said.
She began slowly walking around the throne like she was studying the room from every angle.
“I’ve been watching her for years.”
That caught my attention.
“You’ve been spying on my kingdom.”
She laughed softly.
“Oh please, Riordan. Everyone spies on everyone.”
Her fingers brushed across a stone pillar.
“But Elaris…”
She continued quietly.
“She is fascinating.”
I crossed my arms.
“She is a problem.”
Zola stopped moving. Then she turned to face me fully.
“Is she?”
Her purple eyes locked onto mine.
“Tell me what you think she is?”
I spoke slowly.
“Wolves fear her.”
Zola nodded.
“Yes.”
“They can’t smell her rank.”
“Yes.”
“They say her scent feels… wrong.”
Zola’s smile returned.
“Yes.”
I leaned forward slightly.
“And I want to know why.”
The room stayed silent for a few seconds. Then Zola walked closer. Her voice dropped lower.
“Because she is Unclaimed.”
The word hung in the air.
I narrowed my eyes.
“Explain.”
Zola clasped her hands behind her back.
“Every wolf in existence is touched by the divine in some way.”
She began pacing slowly again.
“Alpha wolves carry power blessed by the Moon Goddess.”
“Omegas carry balance.”
“Lunas carry unity.”
She stopped walking.
“But Elaris carries nothing.”
My jaw tightened.
“Impossible.”
“It isn’t,”
Zola said calmly.
“She was born without divine protection.”
Lightning flashed again outside. For a moment the room looked like pure silver.
Zola continued.
“She is an empty vessel waiting to be filled.”
Her words made my stomach tighten slightly.
“You’re saying she’s… weak.”
Zola laughed.
“No.”
She leaned closer to my throne.
“I’m saying she’s dangerous.”
I didn’t respond immediately. My thoughts moved quickly. Elaris had always caused problems. Servants avoided her. Wolves refused to stand near her.
Even trained soldiers felt uncomfortable when she entered a room. Zola studied my face carefully.
“You don’t understand what she is, do you?”
She said.
“No,”
I admitted.
“But I know one thing.”
I stood from the throne.
“My kingdom does not need her.”
Zola raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
I walked down the steps slowly.
“She frightens wolves.”
“Yes.”
“She causes rumors.”
“Yes.”
“She brings instability.”
Zola watched me carefully.
“And what are you planning to do about that?”
I stopped walking.
Then I spoke clearly.
“I’m sending her away.”
Zola’s smile returned instantly.
“As tribute.”
Her voice sounded amused.
I nodded.
“To Moranis.”
The witch laughed out loud.
“That is cruel even for you, Riordan.”
I crossed my arms.
“Moranis expects gold. Or soldiers.”
Zola’s eyes gleamed.
“But instead they receive…”
I finished the sentence.
“A female Alpha.”
“An unmarked wolf.”
“A living insult.”
Zola clapped her hands once slowly.
“Oh this is wonderful.”
She walked towards the window and looked out at the storm.
“You’re sending them a mystery.”
Lightning flashed again. Thunder followed immediately. Zola turned back toward me.
“The Moranis wolves will hate her.”
“Good.”
“They will fear her.”
“Even better.”
Zola’s smile became sharp.
“And if the prophecy is real…”
I stared at her.
“What prophecy?”
Zola tilted her head slightly.
“Oh.”
She smiled wider.
“You don’t know.”
My patience snapped slightly.
“Speak clearly.”
But Zola only laughed again. Then she lifted one finger and pointed toward the sky.
“Let the gods watch what happens.”
***
Elaris’s POV
The carriage wheels creaked loudly as soldiers loaded supplies. Morning sunlight barely touched the streets of Bloodstone.
People gathered near the gates to watch the royal convoy prepare. I stood beside Mona. My hands stayed folded tightly in front of me.
My shoulders stayed low. Like always. Royal soldiers moved everywhere. Armor clanged. Horses stomped against the ground.
None of them looked at me for long. Some whispered. Some smirked. One soldier walked past and muttered to another.
“That’s the tribute?”
The other snorted.
“She looks like she’ll break in half.”
Heat crawled up my neck. I lowered my head more. Mona grabbed my arm gently.
“Don’t listen to them.”
“I’m not,”
I said quietly. But my chest still felt tight. A servant approached carrying my small travel bag.
He dropped it beside the carriage like it weighed nothing. Then he wiped his hands like he touched something dirty.
I noticed. He noticed that I noticed. He quickly walked away. Mona sighed softly.
“I wish I could go with you.”
I looked at her.
“Why can’t you?”
“The king refused.”
Of course he did. My fingers tightened together. The vision from yesterday flashed again in my mind. The burning throne. The broken moon.
The man in silver armor. The strange pull in my chest. Something about this journey felt wrong. Very wrong.
Mona suddenly grabbed both my hands. Her eyes looked serious now.
“Listen to me.”
I blinked.
“What?”
Her voice lowered.
“Do not trust the Moon Goddess.”
My eyebrows pulled together.
“What?”
“That goddess is not what wolves think she is.”
“Mona…”
Her grip tightened.
“I’m serious.”
My thoughts spun.
“Why are you saying this?”
But before she could answer. A loud horn sounded. The royal convoy was leaving. Soldiers climbed onto their horses. One commander shouted.
“Move out!”
The carriage door opened behind me. Mona slowly released my hands. Fear filled her eyes.
“I’m sorry,”
She whispered. I stepped into the carriage. The door closed. The horses started moving. The wheels rolled forward.
Bloodstone slowly disappeared behind us. And I couldn’t stop thinking about Mona’s words.
"Do not trust the Moon Goddess.”
- Writer
