The Princess's Revenge Chapter 69

Valencia’s POV

The afternoon sun was starting to dip lower. The steam from the hot springs caught the golden light, creating a dreamy haze that made everything feel otherworldly.

Birds were settling in for the evening, their calls echoing off the valley walls. A few ravens perched on the rocks above us. The sound of water trickling from pool to pool created a peaceful rhythm that made me want to close my eyes and drift off.

"You're quiet," Alpha Logan said, his arms still wrapped around me.

I shifted on his lap, turning slightly to look at him. "I was just thinking about what Gareth gave me today."

"The secret weapon you mentioned?" His gray eyes showed interest.

"Yes." I bit my lip. "He made special darts for my sling. Paralysis darts with poison that can drop a warrior in minutes."

Alpha Logan's eyebrows rose. "Gareth's always been clever with his designs. How many?"

"Five. That's all he had." I traced patterns in the water with my finger. "He said even one hit would be enough if it breaks the skin. The poison would spread through the bloodstream and cause paralysis."

"Smart," Alpha Logan said. "Range attacks against Amara. Keep your distance while the poison works."

"That's what Gareth said too." I looked up at him. "But I only get five chances. If I miss them all..."

"You won't miss." His voice was confident. "You've been practicing."

"I hope you're right, Alpha."

Alpha Logan's body tensed under me. His hands tightened on my waist. "Don't call me that."

I blinked in confusion. "What?"

"Don't call me Alpha." His voice was serious now. "Call me by my name."

I stared at him in shock. "I... I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because you're the Alpha!" The words came out louder than I intended. "I'm a slave. I wear a collar. Slaves don't call Alphas by their names. Ever."

"You're not a fucking slave," Alpha Logan said firmly.

"But I am!" I pulled back slightly, my heart racing with panic. "This is carved into my bones, into everything I am. For fifteen years, I've been taught that using an Alpha's name without permission means death. I can't just—"

"Valencia." His hands came up to cup my face. "Look at me."

I met his eyes reluctantly.

"I love you," he said simply. "You're going to be my Luna tomorrow. My equal. My partner. I want to hear my name from your lips."

My throat felt tight. "I—" I stopped, realizing what I'd started to say. "I mean, Alpha, please. Let me think about it. I can't just say it now."

"No." His voice was firm, almost commanding. "Say it now."

"I can't—"

"Yes, you can." His thumbs stroked my cheeks. "Look into my eyes and say my name."

I stared into those gray depths, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. This felt like breaking chains that had bound me my entire life. Like shattering walls I'd built to survive.

"I..." My voice came out as barely a whisper. I took a deep breath, gathering every ounce of courage I had. "L... Lo..."

The name stuck in my throat like a physical thing. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing the word out like ripping off a bandage.

"Logan," I whispered, so quiet I barely heard it myself.

"Again," he commanded softly.

I opened my eyes but couldn't look at him. My gaze fixed on his chest. "Logan."

As the name left my lips, something stirred deep in my memory. Fragments of a time before the slavery. I wasn't always a slave. My adoptive parents had been an Alpha and Luna. They'd given me so much love, treated me as their own. Back then, I'd called them Mom and Dad, not Master or Mistress. I'd been a person, not property.

Maybe saying his name wasn't as hard as I thought. Maybe it was just about remembering who I used to be. Who I could be again. For the first time in years, I felt it - that sense of being a normal person. An equal. Not lesser. Not beneath anyone. Just... me.

"Good girl," he murmured, and then his lips were on mine.

The kiss was gentle at first, like he was rewarding me for being brave. But then it deepened, his tongue sliding against mine in a way that made me forget everything else. When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathing hard.

"See?" he said, a small smile playing at his lips. "The world didn't end."

"It felt like it might," I admitted, settling back against his chest.

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, just enjoying the warm water and each other's presence. I traced lazy patterns on his chest with my finger.

"Delphine told me the funniest story today," I said, breaking the quiet.

"Oh?" Logan's hand stroked through my wet hair. "What happened?"

"We were in the stone house grinding herbs, and she was telling me about this servant named Rhodes who tried to catch a pig that escaped from the pen last month."

Logan chuckled. "I heard about that. The pig won, didn't it?"

"Completely!" I laughed. "Delphine said Rhodes chased it all around the courtyard for an hour. He kept diving for it and missing. By the end, he was covered head to toe in mud, and the pig was just standing there looking at him like he was an idiot."

"Sounds about right," Logan said. "Rhodes isn't the brightest."

"The best part was when he finally gave up and tried to walk away with dignity," I continued, giggling at the memory of Delphine's storytelling. "But he slipped in the mud and fell face-first right in front of everyone watching."

Logan's chest rumbled with laughter under me. "Poor bastard."

"Delphine said they still call him Pig Boy when he's not around." I tilted my head to look up at him. "Is that mean?"

"Probably," Logan said, but he was still smiling. "But that's what happens when you lose a fight to livestock."

"Have you ever lost a fight to an animal?" I asked.

"Never," he said immediately. Then he paused. "Well, there was this goose once..."

I sat up straighter, grinning. "A goose? You lost to a goose?"

"I was five," he defended. "And it was a very aggressive goose."

"What happened?" I was trying not to laugh.

"It was protecting its nest. I didn't see it until it came at me, wings spread, hissing like a demon." He shook his head at the memory. "Thing chased me all the way back to the castle. Bit me on the ass twice."

I lost it, laughing so hard I nearly slipped off his lap.

"Hey," he said, but he was smiling too. "Geese are vicious. Ask anyone."

"Did anyone see?" I asked between giggles.

"My entire training group," he admitted. "They called me Goose Boy for a year."

"That's worse than Pig Boy," I said, wiping tears from my eyes.

"Much worse," he agreed. He pulled me closer, nuzzling into my neck. "But if you tell anyone that story, I'll throw you in the coldest pool in this valley."

"You wouldn't," I challenged.

"Try me," he said, but his voice was warm with affection.

I settled back against him, feeling happier than I could remember being in... maybe ever. "Thank you for bringing me here."

"You needed it," he said simply. "Tomorrow will be challenging. The ceremony, the pack's reaction... I wanted you to have this moment of peace."

I looked up at Logan, feeling warmth spread through my chest. "Thank you for everything today." I paused, then added quietly, "I won't let you down tomorrow. I promise."

"I know you won't," he said simply.

I bit my lip, thinking about all the ways I could mess up the ceremony. What if I said the wrong thing? What if I tripped? What if the pack laughed at me?

Stop it, I told myself firmly. Logan believes in you. Don't embarrass him. Don't waste his trust.

Logan's fingers traced along my collar, and his expression darkened. "I've already sent a letter to Luna Kestrel about this."

"What?"

"She might know how to remove it." His jaw tightened. "I hate seeing this thing on you."

My eyes stung with sudden tears. "You wrote to another Luna about my collar?"

"Of course I did," he said, like it was obvious. "You're going to be my Luna. You can't wear a slave collar."

I pressed my face against his chest, overwhelmed. The light was fading around us, the sky turning deep orange and purple. The temperature was dropping.

"We should head back," Logan said, looking at the darkening sky. "The funeral is tonight. In the courtyard. Dr. Vance is preparing everything." His voice was heavy.

My stomach dropped. I nodded, climbing off his lap carefully. The cool air hit my wet skin. We both got out of the pool and dressed quickly. My chemise stuck to my damp skin, but I didn't care.

Logan helped me mount the black mare, then swung onto his own horse. We rode back, leaving the peaceful valley behind.

The path back to the castle was beautiful in the fading light. The setting sun painted everything gold and red. Long shadows stretched across the frozen ground. The bare trees looked like they were on fire, their branches glowing orange against the darkening sky. Ravens called to each other as they settled for the night.