Princess's Revenge: Slave to the Soulbound King Chapter 116

Adelaide

I stood in the center of my spacious royal chambers, watching as the servant women bustled about, preparing the items for the soul bonding ceremony. In three days, I would officially become Lycanthar's soul mate and claim my place as Wolf Queen.

"Are you nervous?" Thalia's voice came from the doorway, interrupting my contemplation.

I turned to see my dear friend standing there. Though Thalia tried to hide it, I noticed her complexion was pale. "More nervous than I imagined I'd be," I admitted, walking over to take her hand. "Are you alright? You look a bit tired."

Thalia shook her head gently, forcing a smile. "Just haven't been sleeping well lately. Draven's been coming home very late because of border affairs." She settled into the chair beside mine. "Tell me, are you ready to become Wolf Queen?"

I took a deep breath, sitting across from her. "Honestly, I don't know. Everything has happened so fast. And I'm worried that the ceremony's energy might be too strong—it could expose the royal blood moon mark on my back."

Thalia placed her hand on my back, feeling the area thoughtfully. "It won't," she said with certainty. "The concealment magic is very stable. Unless someone deliberately tries to break it, it won't manifest on its own."

I exhaled in relief, nodding. The weight of keeping my true identity secret had been crushing at times, but knowing the magic held firm brought some comfort.

A gentle knock at the door interrupted us. Lina curtsied respectfully before speaking. "Your Highness, Lady Morgana requests an audience."

Thalia and I exchanged surprised glances. "Morgana? Garrick's companion?" I asked quietly, my brow furrowing. "What could she want at a time like this?"

Thalia shook her head cautiously. "I don't know, but be careful. Though Garrick's conspiracy has been exposed, Morgana's relationship with him makes her someone to be wary of."

I considered for a moment before nodding. "Let her in. Whatever her intentions, we need to understand them."

Moments later, Morgana entered the room with slow, measured steps. She wore a simple deep gray dress, her hair hanging loosely over her shoulders, and her eyes appeared slightly red and swollen, as if she had been crying. She bowed deeply to me. "Thank you for agreeing to see me, future Wolf Queen."

I gestured for Morgana to sit. "Lady Morgana, what brings you here?"

Morgana sat down, her hands clasped tightly together, tears glistening in her eyes. "Since Garrick's imprisonment, I've been treated coldly at court. Many people blame me for his crimes, even though I knew nothing of his conspiracies. I live in fear every day, worried I'll face retaliation."

Thalia maintained polite neutrality. I felt a twinge of sympathy, though my inner caution remained alert. "I understand your situation, Lady Morgana. But surely you didn't come here today just to tell me this?"

A small smile appeared on Morgana's face as she retrieved a small box from her sleeve. "Yes, I also brought a gift as congratulations for your upcoming role as Wolf Queen." She opened the box to reveal an exquisite silver chain with a suspended deep red gemstone that flickered with an unnatural light. "This is a protective amulet passed down through generations of my family. It's said to protect the wearer from harm. I hope you'll accept it as a symbol of my loyalty to you and the Wolf King."

I hesitated, noticing Thalia's warning look. But out of courtesy, I accepted the box. "Thank you, Lady Morgana. This is a very thoughtful gift."

Morgana stood and bowed again. "I won't disturb your preparations any longer. I wish you all the best for your soul bonding ceremony." With that, she gracefully withdrew from the room.

After the door closed, Thalia and I looked at each other, both seeing confusion in the other's eyes.

"We have no real relationship with her—why would she make such a special trip to bring such an expensive gift?" I asked, opening the box to examine the necklace again.

Thalia reached out as if to touch the necklace but stopped several inches away, frowning. "This is strange. I sense something... wrong. This necklace has an odd energy about it. Morgana has always been a loyal supporter of Garrick, and now she's suddenly being so friendly toward you... I don't trust her."

I immediately snapped the box shut, nodding in agreement. "I share your suspicions." I turned to a nearby servant. "Put this away in my jewelry box, at the very bottom. Don't take it out for now, and don't let anyone touch it."

The soul bonding ceremony was approaching, and I didn't want anything to ruin this important moment, especially when I was about to confess my true identity to Lycanthar.

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Thalia

After returning from Adelaide's quarters, I sat on the balcony of Moonclaw Citadel, gazing at the distant mountains bathed in the evening sunlight. My hand unconsciously rested on my abdomen, where our child grew—a life I loved deeply but might never see grow up.

"What are you thinking about?" Draven's voice came from behind me, warm and steady.

I turned with a smile, watching Draven's tall frame approach. Since recovering from the vampire ambush, his eyes seemed deeper but were always filled with tenderness and concern for me. "I was thinking about Adelaide," I said, gently concealing my true thoughts. "In three days, she'll soul bond with Lycanthar. Seeing them so happy makes me glad for them."

Draven sat beside me, gently taking my hand and noticing the slight tremor in my fingers. "Are you sure that's all you're thinking about? Since we returned from the border, you seem to always have something on your mind."

I leaned against his shoulder, avoiding his searching gaze. "We're very happy too, aren't we? It's just... sometimes I regret that we can't soul bond like they can." This wasn't a lie, just not the complete truth.

Draven's expression softened as he caressed my cheek, his thumb gently wiping away tears I hadn't realized were falling. "Soul bonding is just a ceremony, Thalia. Even without it, my heart already belongs completely to you. The Moon Goddess knows I love you more than anything in this world."

I closed my eyes, feeling Draven's warmth. "Draven, have you ever thought about... having a child?" My voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried so much heavy emotion.

Draven's body stiffened slightly, then he sighed softly. "Of course I want to have children with you, Thalia. But you know how extremely dangerous it is for human women to carry werewolf pups. Wolf cubs need enormous amounts of life energy to grow, which would put tremendous strain on your body." His voice became tense. "I can't take that risk... I can't lose you. I've already lost too much—I couldn't bear to lose you again."

"But Draven," I said softly, looking up into his eyes. "I'm human. My lifespan is naturally much shorter than yours. Someday, I will leave you." I touched his face with my fingertips. "I don't want to leave you alone again. If I could give you a child, then even when I'm gone, you wouldn't be completely alone. You'd have the continuation of our love."

Tears glistened in Draven's eyes as he leaned down to kiss my forehead, his voice trembling with emotion. "I only want you, Thalia. Just you. Even if our time is limited, I'd rather spend every moment with you than risk shortening that time." He paused, his voice becoming even softer. "When you... when that day comes, I'll continue living with the memories and love of you. That's enough."

I felt the pain deep in my heart. If Draven knew I was already pregnant, if he knew I only had five years left... But I couldn't tell him. I couldn't burden him with such pain and guilt. I had chosen this path, and I would walk it firmly.

"I love you, Draven," I said softly, my voice carrying hidden farewell. "No matter what happens, no matter what the future holds, please remember how much I love you."

Draven held me tightly, as if sensing something, as if wanting to merge me into his very being. "I love you too, Thalia. You're the most precious gift in my life. I won't let anything hurt you, I swear."

I nestled in Draven's embrace, immersed in this moment of peace. *Moon Goddess,* I prayed silently in my heart, *please give me enough time to love him. Please protect our child and let them be born safely.*