Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Chapter 171

The King had not slept in days.

He sat beside Freya’s bed, watching his daughter’s chest rise and fall with shallow, labored breaths. The blackness had spread to her throat now, dark veins pulsing beneath her pale skin, her lips tinged with blue. The healers had done everything they could. They had given her potions, poultices, prayers. Nothing worked.

She was dying.

Aldric Thornridge had ruled the Seven Packs for over two decades. He had faced wars, rebellions, assassinations. He had buried his own father, his own brother, his own friends. He had thought he understood pain.

But this, watching his daughter die, helpless to stop it this was a pain beyond anything he had ever known.

I can’t lose her, he thought. I can’t.

He thought of Varek’s offer. The antidote for the throne. It was a devil’s bargain he knew that. Varek would betray him. Varek would take the throne and let Freya die anyway. But what choice did he have? What choice did any of them have?

I have to try. I have to save her.

He rose from his chair and walked to the door. His wife was there, sitting in the corner, her face pale, her eyes red. She looked up when he approached.

"I’ve made a decision," he said.

Seraphina stared at him. "What decision?"

"I’m going to take Varek’s offer. I’m going to give him the throne in exchange for the antidote."

"No." Soren’s voice came from the doorway. He had been standing there, listening, his golden eyes blazing. "Father, you can’t. Varek will betray you. He’ll take the throne and let Freya die."

"I know." The King’s voice was heavy. "But I have to try. She’s my daughter, Soren. Your sister. If there’s even a chance—"

"There is no chance! Varek is a liar. He’s been lying since the beginning. He killed his own brother. He tried to kill me. He’s been trying to destroy our family for years. He will not keep his word."

"Then what do you suggest?" The King’s voice rose. "That I sit here and watch her die? That I do nothing while my daughter slips away?"

"There has to be another way."

"There isn’t." The King turned to face his son. "I’ve exhausted every option. The healers can’t cure her. The antidote is the only way. And Varek has it."

Soren opened his mouth to argue, but the King held up his hand.

"I’ve made my decision. I’m going to the exchange tonight."

He walked past Soren and out of the room.

The King gathered his advisors in the war room.

"I’ve made a decision," he announced. "I’m accepting Varek’s offer. I’m going to exchange the throne for the antidote."

The room erupted.

"Your Majesty, you can’t!"

"It’s a trap!"

"Varek will betray us!"

"I know." The King’s voice was calm. "But I have no choice. My daughter is dying. I will do whatever it takes to save her."

The advisors argued, pleaded, reasoned. They told him it was political suicide. They told him it would destroy the realm. They told him it was exactly what Varek wanted.

The King listened. And then he spoke.

"I understand your concerns. But I am the King. And I will do what I must to protect my family."

He turned to his commander. "Send word to Varek. Tell him I accept his terms. The exchange will happen tonight at the old temple on the border of the Shadowwood. He will bring the antidote. I will bring the abdication papers. If he dares go back on his word if he tries to cheat me, he will not live to see the next day."

The commander nodded and left.

The King looked at his advisors. "Prepare the army. I want them on standby. If this goes wrong—if Varek tries anything—I want to be ready."

The advisors nodded and dispersed.

The King stood alone in the war room, his heart heavy. He had made his choice. Now he had to live with the consequences.

Soren checked the clock.

Seven hours until the sacrifice.

He had been counting down the hours, the minutes, the seconds. Seven hours until he gave his life for his sister, for Nyra, for everyone he loved. Seven hours until he died.

I need to prepare, he thought. I need to say goodbye.

He found his mother in her chambers. She was sitting by the window, staring out at the dark sky, her face pale, her eyes red from crying.

"Soren." She looked up when he entered. "I thought you were with your father."

"He’s busy with the exchange. I wanted to see you."

He crossed the room and sat beside her. She took his hand, her fingers cold and trembling.

"I’m scared," she admitted. "I’m scared for your father. I’m scared for Freya. I’m scared for you."

"I know." He squeezed her hand. "But everything is going to be alright."

"How do you know?"

He didn’t answer. He couldn’t tell her the truth that he had made a bargain with the Moon Goddess, that he was going to die tonight. She would never forgive him. She would try to stop him.

"I just know," he said. "Trust me."

Seraphina looked at him at the determination in his golden eyes, at the quiet strength in his voice. She didn’t understand what he was planning. But she trusted him.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too." He leaned down and kissed her hair. "Take care of yourself."

He stood and walked to the door.

"Soren?" He paused but didn’t turn around. "Yes?"

"Be careful tonight."

"I will."

He walked out of the room, his heart heavy. He had said goodbye to his mother without saying goodbye. He would never see her again.

He found Freya in the healing chamber.

She was alone the healers had given her a small dose of a sleeping draught to ease her pain. She looked peaceful in sleep her face pale, her breathing shallow, but peaceful.

Soren sat beside her bed and took her hand.

"Hey, little star," he said softly. "It’s me."

She didn’t stir.

"I wanted to talk to you. To say... to say some things."

He paused, gathering his thoughts.

"I’m sorry I wasn’t there when they took you. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m sorry for all the things I said when we were growing up, the teasing, the bossing, the way I acted like I was better than you." He laughed, but it was a sad, hollow sound. "You were always the best of us, Freya. The bravest. The kindest. The one who never gave up."

He squeezed her hand.

"I’m going to save you. I don’t know how, but I’m going to. You’re not going to die. I won’t let you."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Take care of yourself," he whispered. "Mother and Father will need you. Be strong for them. Be the person I know you can be."

He stood and walked to the door. He looked back at her one last time.

"Goodbye, little star."

He left the room.

He found Corvin in the training grounds, alone.

The Alchemist was practicing his forms his movements precise, his expression focused. But there was a tension in his shoulders, a tightness in his jaw. He had been working nonstop since Freya was taken, searching for a cure, searching for answers.

He looked up when Soren approached. "What’s wrong?"

"I need to talk to you. It’s important."

Corvin lowered his sword. "What is it?"

Soren took a deep breath. "I have a plan. A way to catch Varek’s minions—all of them. But I need you to do it."

"What do you mean, you need me to do it?"

"I mean I won’t be there. I have... something else I need to do." Soren paused. "The plan is simple. You’ll use the exchange as a distraction. While Varek’s attention is on the throne, you’ll move in and capture everyone Elias, Xavier, Nikolai, the guards. All of them."

"And Finn?"

"Finn and Morgath will probably escape. They’re too smart to be caught. But if we can take out the rest of the network, we can cripple Varek’s power."

Corvin studied him. "Why are you telling me this? Why not just do it yourself?"

Soren didn’t answer. He couldn’t.

"Just promise me you’ll do it. Promise me you’ll protect Valeria and ask Ragnar and Roderic to help you. But don’t tell Ragnar about Finn. Not yet."

"Soren—"

"Promise me."

Corvin was silent for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly.

"I promise."

"Good." Soren turned to leave.

"Soren?" He paused. "What are you planning?"

Soren looked at him at his friend, his brother, the man who had stood beside him through everything.

"Nothing you need to worry about," he said. "Just... take care of them. All of them."

He walked away before Corvin could respond.

In the Moon Court, the Moon Goddess was meeting with her advisors.

"The sacrifice will happen tonight," she said. "The Lycan prince has agreed to give his life for my daughter’s."

"And the girl?" one of the advisors asked. "Nyra?"

"She will return to the mortal realm. She will be the one to punish the betrayals to bring justice to those who wronged her."

Evelyn stepped forward. "And Soren? What happens to him?"

The goddess was silent for a moment. "He will die. His soul will be bound to the Moon Court for eternity. It is the price of his love."

Evelyn’s face was pale. "Does Nyra know?"

"No. And she must not know. Not until it is done." The goddess paused. "True love has not completely disappeared from the world. The Lycan prince has proven that."

"Then we must prepare," the goddess continued. "The sacrifice will happen tonight. We must be ready."

The advisors nodded and dispersed.

Evelyn remained behind. "Are you sure about this? Are you sure you want to take him from her?"

The goddess looked at her at the woman who had raised her daughter, who had loved her as her own.

"I don’t want to take him from anyone. But this is the only way. The realm needs Nyra. And the only way to bring her back is through sacrifice." She paused. "He loves her. He’s willing to die for her. That is more than most people ever find."

Evelyn nodded slowly. "Then we must honor his sacrifice."

"Yes. We must."

The night wore on.

The King gathered his soldiers and prepared to leave for the exchange. The army was on standby, ready to move at a moment’s notice. The palace was quiet, the halls empty, the guards on high alert.

Soren returned to his chambers and closed the door. He had an hour until the sacrifice. One hour until he gave his life for the people he loved.

He sat on the edge of his bed and stared at the wall.

This is it, he thought. This is the end.

He thought of Nyra, of her silver hair and moonlight eyes, of her fierce spirit and stubborn heart. He thought of Freya of her laughter and curiosity, of the woman she would become. He thought of his mother and father of their love and sacrifice, of everything they had given him.

I hope they will be alright. I hope they will forgive me.

He closed his eyes.