The Princess's Revenge Chapter 91

Valencia’s POV

The silence stretched on. My heart hammered against my ribs as I waited for someone to speak. Anyone. The tension was suffocating.

Logan's voice cut through the quiet. "I'll ask one more time. Does anyone object to my choice of Luna?"

Still nothing. People shifted in their seats, but no one stood up.

"Very well," Logan said, satisfaction clear in his voice. "Then we proceed with the marking ceremony."

He turned to the small table behind us where two ceremonial daggers lay waiting. My stomach clenched.

"Are you ready?" Logan asked softly.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. He picked up one dagger and handed me the other. The handle was warm, the blade sharp.

"Your palm," Logan said, demonstrating by placing his own dagger against his left palm. "Just a small cut. Enough for blood."

I pressed the blade to my skin and drew it across. Sharp pain flared, then warm blood welled up from the cut. Logan did the same, his face calm and focused.

"Now," he said, moving closer to me. "I'll mark you first."

He dipped his finger in his own blood, then reached up to trace a symbol on my forehead. A horizontal line, then a V beneath it. His touch was gentle but deliberate.

"Your turn," he said.

My hands shook slightly as I dipped my finger in my blood and reached up to his forehead. I traced the same symbol carefully. The moment I finished the V, something extraordinary happened.

Pain exploded through my skull. Not physical pain, but something deeper. Information flooded my mind. I could suddenly sense everyone in the hall. Their heartbeats, their emotions, their very life force. It was overwhelming.

I gasped, stumbling backward. The sensation was too much. Too intense. My head felt like it might split open.

Valencia. Breathe. Focus on my voice.

I spun around to face Logan, eyes wide. His lips hadn't moved. But I'd heard him clearly.

Can you hear me? his voice came again, gentle and reassuring. Still his lips didn't move.

"What..." I whispered, staring at him in shock.

He smiled, his gray eyes warm with understanding. It's the mind link. We're bonded now. Connected.

"This is impossible," I breathed.

You're a fast learner, Logan's voice said in my mind, amusement coloring it.

I looked around frantically. Had I just...?

Yes, Logan confirmed. You just spoke to me through the mind link without realizing it. Natural talent.

"Logan, how is this happening?"

The marking creates a permanent bond between Alpha and Luna. We can communicate this way, sense each other's emotions, share locations.

The wonder of it all made me dizzy. This was magic. Real magic.

But the overwhelming sensations didn't stop. Emotions kept flooding into my mind - anger, joy, confusion - all from the pack members around me. It felt like drowning in other people's feelings.

Logan, I reached out desperately through the mind link. I can't handle this. There are too many emotions. How do I make it stop?

Don't think about their emotions, Logan's voice came back. If you don't focus on them, you won't receive them. Once you're familiar with the bond, you can choose what to receive and what to block out.

I tried to follow his advice, pushing away thoughts of the crowd's feelings. Gradually, the overwhelming tide of emotions began to recede. I could still sense them if I concentrated, but they weren't forcing themselves into my mind anymore.

Relief washed through me. No wonder Logan had seemed so devastated after the attack. He must have been receiving all the grief and pain from the families who lost loved ones.

I can hear that thought, Logan's voice suddenly appeared in my mind.

I looked at him in shock. "Wait, you can hear my thoughts too?"

Same principle, he replied. You can choose to receive or block them out. It just takes practice to control it properly.

"Okay," I said, feeling both fascinated and slightly unnerved by this new connection. "I'll need time to get used to this."

Logan raised his hands for the crowd's attention. "The marking is complete!" he announced. "Let the celebration begin! From tonight! Valencia is your Luna. You will respect her as you respect me."

The hall erupted. Some people cheered and clapped enthusiastically. Others politely applauded. But I could see the faces that remained stone cold, the eyes that still held contempt.

A group of musicians appeared from behind the main doors, carrying lutes, drums, and flutes. They set up quickly in one corner and began playing a lively melody. The music filled the hall, echoing off the stone walls.

People began moving immediately. Servants and warriors worked together to push the long tables and benches against the walls, clearing the center of the hall for dancing. The transformation was remarkable – within minutes, the formal dining space became a proper ballroom.

Children ran between the adults' legs, laughing and playing. Young couples moved to the center, beginning the traditional circle dances. Even some of the older pack members stood up, tapping their feet to the rhythm.

The musicians played with skill and joy, their music lifting the spirits of those willing to celebrate. It was beautiful, exactly what a medieval celebration should be.

But as I watched from the platform, my attention was caught by a figure near the main doors. A familiar silhouette, hunched and moving carefully. Bandages were visible on her arms and torso.

Amara.

She stood alone at the edge of the celebration, watching for just a moment. Then she turned and slipped out through the doors, disappearing into the corridor beyond. Something cold settled in my stomach.

"Valencia?" Logan appeared beside me, offering his hand with a warm smile. "May I have this dance?"

His eyes were bright with happiness, and part of me wanted nothing more than to take his hand and dance with my new mate. But I couldn't shake the feeling about Amara.

Before I could answer, Dr. Vance and Elias approached us, their faces grim and serious. They moved with purpose, urgency clear in their steps.

"Alpha," Dr. Vance said quietly. "We need to speak with you."

Elias nodded. "It's urgent."

Logan's expression shifted, the joy draining from his face. "What's wrong?"

"Not here," Elias said, glancing around at the celebrating crowd. "Too many ears."

I touched Logan's arm. "I'm going to step outside for some air," I said. "The hall is getting warm."

Logan looked torn between the crisis his advisors needed to discuss and staying with me. His protective instincts were clearly at war with his duties as Alpha.

Go, I told him through the mind link. I'll be fine.

He squeezed my hand. "Don't go far. Stay where the guards can see you."

I nodded and headed toward the main doors, leaving him deep in hushed conversation with Dr. Vance and Elias. Their faces were tight with worry, and I had a sinking feeling that whatever they needed to discuss, it wasn't good news.

I stepped into the corridor, the sounds of celebration fading behind me. The castle felt different now. Quieter. I could hear my own footsteps echoing softly.

Up ahead, I caught a glimpse of auburn hair disappearing down the staircase. My pulse quickened. Something about the way she'd left the hall bothered me. She'd looked so... purposeful.

I followed, keeping my footsteps as light as possible. The red silk dress whispered against the stone as I descended the stairs, and I gathered the fabric carefully to avoid tripping.

Amara moved slowly ahead of me, her injured body clearly still causing her pain. But she walked with determination, never looking back. She seemed completely unaware that I was following her.

We crossed the courtyard, heading toward the eastern edge of the castle grounds. The wind had picked up, rustling the leaves of the trees that grew near the cliff's edge. I felt grateful for the sound - it would mask any noise I might make.

My heart started racing as I watched Amara walk directly toward the cliff. Surely she wasn't planning to...

I ducked behind a cluster of bushes, crouching low as I watched her approach the very edge of the precipice. The wind whipped her hair around her face as she stood there, motionless.

"Come out," Amara said suddenly, her voice carrying clearly over the wind. "I sensed you the moment you started following me."

I froze, my heart hammering against my ribs. How had she known? I'd been so careful. I didn't come out, still wanting to stay in place and observe.

She bent down and picked up a rock, then without warning, hurled it directly at my hiding spot. My instincts kicked in and I jumped out from behind the bushes, the stone barely missing my head.

"Finally decided to show yourself," Amara said with a cold smile. "I was wondering how long you'd crouch there like a coward."

I brushed dirt from my dress, feeling heat creep up my neck. "Mmm...H...How are you feeling? Are your injuries healing well?"

"Don't pretend you care," she snapped. "Save your fake concern for someone who believes it."

Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she continued. "Congratulations, by the way. On becoming Luna. I'm sure you're very proud of yourself."

I kept my expression neutral, watching her carefully. Something was building in her tone, in the way she held herself.

"You know, I never believed in fate before," Amara said, her voice taking on a strange quality. "But meeting you changed that."

She started pacing back and forth near the cliff's edge, her eyes never leaving mine.

"Before you came, Logan and I fought side by side. We were inseparable. I was his best partner, his closest ally. Everyone believed I would be Luna someday."

Tears began streaming down her bruised face, but her voice remained steady.

"But the first day I saw you in Logan's room, I had this overwhelming feeling. This certainty that you were going to be the siren who destroyed everything. The one who would throw all our lives into chaos."

"Amara," I started, but she cut me off with a vicious look.

"My brother is dead because of you," she snarled. "Logan is being questioned by his own pack because of you. Everything that was stable, everything that worked - you've ruined it all. I have nothing left."

She raised her left arm, and I saw the bandaged stump where her hand used to be. The memory of Logan severing it flashed through my mind, making my stomach lurch.

"I've lost everything that mattered to me," she continued, her voice growing more unhinged. "But I can still do one thing for this pack. I can remove the cancer that's destroying us all. I can eliminate you."

Before I could react, her body began to shift. Her clothes tore as her body expanded and changed shape. Within seconds, a large gray wolf stood, her amber eyes fixed on me with pure hatred.