Princess's Revenge: Slave to the Soulbound King Chapter 103

Adelaide

Silver moonlight filtered through the gaps in my curtains, casting ethereal patterns across the empty chamber. The silence felt oppressive, broken only by the distant sounds of activity throughout the castle. It was well past midnight, and Lycanthar still hadn't returned, and I'd been told to wait in our chambers.

But as the hours stretched on, my unease only grew stronger. Lycanthar never stayed away this late unless something catastrophic had occurred. I moved to the window, gazing out at the various areas of the castle that remained brightly lit, and the knot of anxiety in my chest tightened.

I couldn't bear the uncertainty any longer. Opening the door, I summoned Lina, one of the maids who'd been stationed outside.

"Lina, could you help me find out where His Majesty is? I'm growing concerned."

Lina hesitated, her eyes darting nervously before she stepped closer and lowered her voice. "Your Majesty, I fear the situation is... grave. I shouldn't speak of such matters, but I believe you have the right to know—the war council has been in session all evening. Commander Draven has gone missing, and... and Silverhowl has officially declared war on the humans."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I gripped the doorframe to steady myself, feeling as though the ground had shifted beneath my feet. "What? How is that possible? Draven went to investigate the village attacks—how could he be missing? War? Has it truly been decided?"

Lina nodded gravely. "Yes, Your Majesty. I heard it from the guards in the kitchens. Commander Draven's second-in-command returned with reports that they were ambushed by human soldiers and mages. Commander Draven disappeared while covering their retreat. The meeting just concluded, and the Wolf King has ordered full mobilization to march against the human kingdom."

I closed my eyes, drawing a shaky breath. My thoughts immediately turned to Thalia—Draven's beloved, my dearest friend. Not only would she be heartbroken by Draven's disappearance, but the outbreak of war would fill her with terror beyond measure.

"Lina, fetch me a cloak, and summon the personal guards Lycanthar assigned to me. I need to see Thalia immediately."

Lina looked at me with concern. "Your Majesty, it's very late, and with the current tensions—"

"That's precisely why I must go," I said firmly. "Thalia needs to know what's happening, especially regarding Draven."

Ten minutes later, wrapped in a heavy cloak and escorted by two imposing werewolf guards, I made my way across the moonlit courtyard toward Moonclaw Citadel. The castle buzzed with activity—soldiers hurrying back and forth, weapons and armor being transported to assembly points, medical supplies being urgently distributed. The scent of war already permeated the air.

My heart felt as heavy as lead. I was both the Princess of Eldoria and the Moon Bride destined to become Wolf Queen. Two worlds I loved deeply were about to clash in bloodshed, and I felt powerless to prevent it. Worse still, Draven—the only person who might know the truth—was now missing, possibly dead.

When I reached Thalia's chambers in Moonclaw Citadel, guards stood vigil outside her door. Upon seeing me, they bowed respectfully and stepped aside.

I knocked gently. "Thalia, it's me, Adelaide. May I come in?"

A weary voice came from within. "Please, enter."

I stepped into the room to find Thalia sitting by the window, staring out at the distant night sky. Moonlight illuminated her pale face, making her appear particularly fragile.

"You already know, don't you?" I asked softly.

Thalia turned toward me, her eyes filled with worry. "I sense something terrible has happened, but I don't know the details. Tell me, Adelaide—what's occurred?"

I took a deep breath and moved to sit beside her, taking her hands in mine. "Draven is missing. He was ambushed while investigating those village attacks. And worse... the werewolves have officially declared war on humanity."

Thalia's face went ashen, and her hands trembled in my grasp. "No... that can't be. Draven promised he would return. He gave me his word." Her voice cracked, and tears began forming in her eyes.

"I know, and I'm so sorry," I said, pulling her into my embrace as I felt her body shake. "But we can't give up hope. Draven is a warrior—he's strong. If anyone could survive such circumstances, it would be him."

Thalia suddenly straightened, determination flashing in her eyes. "I have to find him. I can use divination magic to locate him."

"Divination?" I asked in surprise. "But your condition... that kind of magic will drain your strength considerably."

Thalia shook her head stubbornly. "I must do this. If Draven is still alive, every minute could mean the difference between life and death. And he might possess crucial information that could prevent this war."

Seeing the resolve in my friend's eyes, I knew I couldn't dissuade her. "Very well, but let me stay with you. If you feel unwell, we stop immediately."

Thalia nodded, then retrieved a small pouch from her bedside table, emptying several crystals and herbs onto the surface. She arranged them in a circle, placing a protective gemstone Draven had given her at the center.

"This requires absolute concentration," Thalia explained. "I'll connect my consciousness to Draven's life force, trying to sense his location and condition."

I nodded tensely, stepping back to give her space.

Thalia closed her eyes and began chanting in an ancient tongue. As the incantation continued, the crystals began emanating a soft blue glow, and the herbs started burning slowly, releasing an otherworldly fragrance. The air in the room seemed to thicken, charged with magical energy.

I held my breath, watching anxiously. Thalia's face contorted with pain, her skin growing paler, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. But she didn't stop, persisting with the incantation.

Several minutes later, Thalia's eyes suddenly snapped open with a pained gasp, her hands clutching her abdomen. The crystal light extinguished instantly, and the herbs stopped burning.

"Thalia!" I rushed forward to support her. "Are you all right?"

Thalia was breathing heavily, her complexion extremely pale. "I... I saw him. Draven is alive, but his life force is very weak. He's... he's in a valley about twenty miles northeast of Greymill village. There's an abandoned hunter's lodge there—he's hiding inside, recovering from his injuries."

Relief flooded through me. "Thank the Moon Goddess he's alive. We must inform Lycanthar—"

"No!" Thalia suddenly grabbed my wrist. "We can't risk it. If Draven was ambushed, there might be a traitor feeding information to our enemies. We have to go find him ourselves and bring him back."

I stared at her in shock. "Thalia, have you lost your mind? Your physical condition doesn't allow for such a dangerous journey. And that location might already be controlled by humans or... other forces."

Thalia's eyes blazed with determination. "I can do this. Draven needs me, and he has information that could prevent this war. Think about it, Adelaide—if war breaks out, how many innocent humans and werewolves will die?"

I fell into deep thought. As Princess of Eldoria, I couldn't stand by and watch my people consumed by the flames of war. As the Moon Bride destined to become Wolf Queen, I couldn't let the werewolves march toward destruction based on false information.

"All right," I finally decided. "We'll go together."

Thalia smiled weakly. "Thank you, Adelaide. I know what this means for you."

I squeezed Thalia's hands tightly. "This isn't just about Draven—it's about the future of both kingdoms. If Draven truly possesses information that could prevent this war, then we have a responsibility to bring him back safely."

We looked into each other's eyes, silently making a pact under the moonlight. We would venture into dangerous territory, not only to find a missing beloved, but to prevent a war that could destroy both our peoples.