Princess's Revenge: Slave to the Soulbound King Chapter 141

Nova

I pressed my ear closer to the door, my small hand gripping Pax's tightly. The stone floor was cold against my knees, but I didn't dare move. Every word from inside Aunt Adelaide's chambers seemed to echo in my chest.

"Listen! They're leaving for Silverhowl! They're going to get Papa!" I whispered to Pax, my voice barely a breath. When I saw his brown eyes widen with the same mixture of hope and fear I felt, I knew we were thinking the same thing.

The sound of boots echoed down the corridor. Without thinking, Pax and I slipped away like shadows. We'd learned to move quietly during all our games of hide-and-seek, but this felt different. This felt important.

Back in our nursery, I watched Pax bounce on his bed, his little legs swinging with nervous energy. "We have to see Papa, Nova! Mama is going to see him, we have to go too!"

I sank into the window seat, speaking sadly. "They'll never let us. Adults think they're protecting us by keeping us away from dangerous things." But even as I said it, my fingertips began to glow with that soft blue light that appeared when my emotions were strong. The magic seemed to agree with Pax—we needed to be there.

"But what if this is our only chance to have the whole family together?" Pax's voice cracked, and I saw tears gathering in his eyes. "Mama’s health is really bad. What if she doesn’t come back?"

My heart clenched. "You're right," I said finally, my mind already working through possibilities. "But we can't just follow them. The journey is too long, and we're too small."

That's when Pax's face lit up with one of his brilliant ideas. "Uncle Alexander! He's always been good to us, and he'll be leading the guard!"

I felt a flutter of hope. Uncle Alexander was different from other grown-ups. He taught us things without making us promise not to tell, and he never talked down to us like we couldn't understand important things.

Finding Uncle Alexander at the training grounds, I watched him work with the young knights. He moved with such confidence and kindness—surely he would understand.

"Uncle, we have an important request," I said when he opened his arms to us, trying to make my voice sound as serious as I felt inside.

His eyebrows went up, and he smiled. "This sounds official. Are you planning another kitchen raid for sweet cakes?"

I shook my head solemnly. "We know Mama and Adelaide are going to Silverhowl to see Papa."

I watched Uncle Alexander's smile disappear, saw him glance around nervously before kneeling down to our level. "How do you know about this? This is classified."

"We heard," I said softly.

"This isn't an adventure story, children. This is dangerous."

"But he's our papa!" Pax burst out, and I could hear his heart breaking in those words. "Mama said she doesn't have much time... if we don't go, we might never see them together again."

I stepped forward, letting my eyes fill with the tears I'd been holding back. "Please, Uncle Alexander. We promise we'll be good. We just want to see Papa and Mama together one last time."

I could see him struggling, see the moment when his heart won over his caution. "If you happen to be near the supply wagon tomorrow morning," he said quietly, "and I happen not to notice you climb inside..."

My heart soared. "Really?"

"But you must promise to do exactly as I say. No wandering, no risks. Once you see your mother safely to Silverhowl, you must return directly to the castle with my people. No exceptions."

“We promise!” Pax and I said excitedly in unison.

---

Adelaide

The morning light streaming across the courtyard felt different somehow—charged with the weight of the journey ahead. I stood on the palace steps, making final adjustments to our preparations, acutely aware that this might be the last time I saw this place for... well, I didn't know how long.

"Are you certain the children will be all right?" Thalia asked beside me, her voice so quiet I had to lean closer to hear. The concern in her tone made my heart ache. She was already so weak, and leaving Nova and Pax was clearly tearing her apart.

I squeezed her gloved hand, trying to channel strength into the gesture. "Marianna will take excellent care of them. They'll probably enjoy having free rein of the palace without us there to supervise their mischief."

But even as I said it, something felt wrong. There had been an odd energy in the castle this morning—servants whispering, guards exchanging glances. I'd attributed it to nervousness about our departure, but now...

"They held me so tightly last night," Thalia continued, tears gathering in her eyes. "Nova asked if I would bring their father back. How do you answer a question like that?"

Before I could respond, Alexander approached across the courtyard, his armor gleaming in the sunlight. "Everything is ready, Adelaide. The convoy awaits your order."

I studied my brother's face, noting something I couldn't quite identify in his expression. "Thank you for this, Alex. I know Father had reservations."

"You're my sister," he replied simply, but there was something in his eyes—a flicker of... guilt? Nervousness? "And it's my duty."

That's when the maid came running, panic clear in every line of her body. "Your Highness! Nova and Pax are missing!"

The words hit me like a physical blow. "Missing? What do you mean missing?"

I saw Thalia sway, her face going even paler if that were possible. My first instinct was to cancel everything, to tear the castle apart until we found them. But even as that thought formed, another part of my mind was calculating—every hour we delayed was an hour closer to losing Lycanthar forever.

"Find them," I commanded the maid, my voice tight. "Search every room, every corridor. Report to me via the communication crystal once they are found. We leave now, but my heart stays here until I know they are safe."

Alexander cleared his throat. "I'm sure they're just... exploring the castle. You know how curious they are."

Something in his tone made me look at him sharply. There was definitely something he wasn't telling me, but the urgency of our mission pressed against my consciousness like a physical weight.

I helped Thalia into the carriage, arranging cushions around her frail form while my mind raced. The children were safe within the castle walls—they had to be. Marianna would find them. We couldn't delay.

"Keep a close eye on our supplies," I told Alexander as I performed one final check of our provisions. "We can't afford to lack anything essential."

"Of course," he replied, and that odd note in his voice was back. "I'll personally ensure all our important... cargo remains safe."

The way he emphasized 'cargo' made me frown, but the captain of the guard was already calling for departure. As our convoy rolled through the palace gates, I felt the familiar mixture of determination and dread that had marked my last journey to Silverhowl.

But this time felt different. This time, I wasn't going as a spy or a prisoner. I was going as myself—Adelaide Valendria, Princess of Eldoria, Moon Bride, and perhaps the only person who could save the Wolf King from the vampire corruption slowly destroying him.

The sun climbed higher as we traveled west, toward Silverhowl, toward answers, and toward a confrontation with the past I'd tried so hard to leave behind.