Chapter 4 - The Court of Silver Thorns
Sophia did not wait until the battle ended to become furious.
Unfortunately, there were soldiers attacking the walls.
So she scheduled the emotional destruction of Caleb Whitmore for later.
“How serious is this?”
She stood beside Ronan in the northern tower while arrows crossed the snow below.
Ronan glanced at her.
“The attack?”
“No. Caleb being an idiot.”
Ronan almost laughed.
“Possibly severe.”
“Good.”
Silver light struck the fortress ward.
Stone shook.
Sophia gripped the wall.
“That’s Selene?”
“Yes.”
Her twin sister.
Alive.
Powerful.
Trying to invade a castle.
Apparently family reunions were different among Moonkeepers.
Caleb moved across the battlement shouting orders.
He looked every inch the king now.
No teasing.
No softness.
Armor.
Sword.
Alpha power rolling through the keep.
Sophia watched.
Even angry, part of her understood why soldiers followed him.
He made fear look manageable.
The battle lasted three hours.
Selene never attempted full entry.
That bothered Caleb.
“She was testing defenses.”
Ronan nodded.
“She could have hit harder.”
“Exactly.”
At dawn, Selene withdrew.
No pursuit.
Caleb knew traps when he saw them.
Once the gates closed, Sophia found him in the war room.
Alone.
Perfect.
He looked up.
“Sophia.”
She shut the door.
“Who was supposed to be your mate?”
Caleb exhaled.
“Sit.”
“No.”
He stood.
“Fine.”
“Talk.”
Caleb looked tired.
“Five years ago, the royal seers identified a potential Moonkeeper bond.”
“With Selene.”
“They never gave me a name.”
Sophia laughed sharply.
“That sounds convenient.”
“It’s true.”
“What were you told?”
“That a surviving Moonkeeper woman existed.”
“And she was your fated mate.”
“They said our bond would strengthen territorial wards.”
“Romantic.”
“I refused.”
Sophia stopped.
“What?”
“I don’t marry prophecy.”
The anger shifted slightly.
Caleb continued.
“My father was dead. Alaric was advising the council.”
“Your uncle wanted it?”
“Yes.”
“He knew who she was?”
“I suspect now that he did.”
“Did you meet Selene?”
“Once.”
Sophia stared.
“You just said no name.”
“She used another.”
“What name?”
“Lady Sera Vale.”
“Ronan’s family?”
“False identity.”
Sophia folded her arms.
“What happened?”
“She was introduced at court.”
“And?”
“I felt no mate bond.”
Sophia’s heartbeat changed.
“Nothing?”
“Nothing.”
“Did she?”
“I don’t know.”
“Maybe she did.”
“Maybe.”
“What did you think of her?”
Caleb hesitated.
Sophia stared.
“You found her beautiful.”
“Yes.”
The answer hurt more than it should have.
Caleb saw.
“But I did not trust her.”
“Why?”
“She asked too many questions about the crown wards.”
“Reasonable, apparently.”
“She disappeared after three days.”
“And five years later she curses you.”
“We don’t know she cast it.”
“She just attacked us with Moonkeeper magic.”
“Fair.”
Sophia paced.
“Why did she say I stole you?”
Caleb said nothing.
There.
“You know.”
“I have a theory.”
“Wonderful.”
He looked at her.
“Moonkeeper mate bonds may not work like standard wolf bonds.”
“What does that mean?”
“The surviving records suggest the bond responds to choice.”
Sophia frowned.
“Choice?”
“Recognition is possible with more than one compatible bloodline pairing.”
“That sounds less like fate.”
“It is.”
Caleb stepped closer.
“Which means Selene may have believed prophecy entitled her to me.”
“But your wolf did not choose her.”
“No.”
Sophia swallowed.
“And me?”
Caleb’s eyes turned silver.
The room became too small.
“What about you?”
“What does your wolf think?”
He looked away.
Coward.
Sophia stepped closer.
“Caleb.”
His jaw tightened.
“My wolf recognized you.”
Her heartbeat pounded.
“When?”
“The first night.”
“You were unconscious.”
“Second night.”
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“And never told me.”
“You thought I was an animal.”
“That is somehow worse.”
“I was cursed and unable to speak.”
“After you changed.”
“I wasn’t sure what it meant.”
Sophia stared.
“Now?”
He met her eyes.
“Now I’m sure.”
Silence.
The air changed.
Her Omega instincts, usually quiet, stirred.
Caleb.
Not King.
Not Alpha.
Him.
Warmth moved through her chest.
Sophia hated magic for making emotions complicated.
“Does that mean I have to choose you?”
“No.”
Immediate.
Firm.
She studied him.
Caleb continued.
“Fate can suggest whatever it wants.”
His voice softened.
“You decide.”
Something inside her loosened.
Then the door opened.
Alaric walked in.
Sophia had never seen Caleb’s uncle.
She understood immediately.
Same silver eyes.
Older.
Dark hair streaked gray.
Elegant armor.
Caleb drew his sword.
Ronan rushed in behind him.
“My King—”
Alaric raised both hands.
“If I meant harm, I would not have entered alone.”
Caleb’s expression became murderous.
“You declared me dead.”
“I believed you were.”
“You attempted coronation.”
“The kingdom needed leadership.”
“You visited Blackwood before Lyra Hartwell died.”
Alaric looked toward Sophia.
His expression changed.
Regret.
Not fear.
“You are Lyra’s daughter.”
“Which one?”
He closed his eyes.
“You know.”
“My twin just attacked your castle.”
“This is not my castle.”
“Not the point.”
Caleb stepped forward.
“Did you kill Lyra?”
“No.”
“Did you take Selene?”
Alaric’s face hardened.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
He looked toward Sophia.
“Your father.”
Silence.
Sophia whispered, “My father died before I was born.”
“That was the story.”
Her chest tightened.
“Who was he?”
Alaric said quietly, “King Edric Whitmore.”
Caleb froze.
Sophia looked at him.
Then Alaric.
“No.”
Caleb’s face went pale.
“My father?”
Alaric nodded.
Sophia laughed because screaming seemed inefficient.
“You’re saying Caleb’s father was my father.”
“Yes.”
The room died.
Sophia looked at Caleb.
Horror crossed both faces simultaneously.
“No,” Mara said from the doorway.
Everyone turned.
The archivist walked in carrying records.
“Edric believed the twins were his.”
Sophia stared.
“Believed?”
Mara placed papers down.
“Lyra was married before the king knew her.”
“Who?”
“A Moonkeeper guardian named Elias Hartwell.”
Sophia recognized the surname.
“My father.”
“Yes.”
Mara continued.
“Edric became obsessed with Lyra.”
Caleb looked sick.
“He thought…”
“He wanted the children to be his.”
“But?”
“Blood records indicate they were Elias Hartwell’s.”
Sophia exhaled.
Caleb actually sat.
Ronan looked toward the ceiling.
“This family needs better records.”
Sophia laughed hysterically.
“Yes.”
Alaric glared at Mara.
“You had those?”
“I found them yesterday.”
“Convenient.”
“Unlike your explanations.”
Caleb recovered.
“Continue.”
Mara looked at Alaric.
“Edric ordered the Moonkeeper sanctuary cleared after Lyra refused him.”
Alaric closed his eyes.
Sophia went cold.
“My mother’s people died because she rejected the king.”
“Yes.”
Caleb looked devastated.
“My father.”
Sophia saw guilt forming.
“Don’t.”
He looked at her.
“You didn’t do it.”
“My crown—”
“Was on his head.”
Silence.
She surprised herself.
Caleb nodded slowly.
Alaric said, “I tried to save Lyra.”
Sophia looked at him.
“How?”
“I helped Elias move her.”
“My father survived?”
“For several years.”
“What happened?”
“Edric’s men found him.”
Sophia closed her eyes.
Dead.
Of course.
“Selene?”
“Taken during the sanctuary attack.”
“By?”
Alaric’s jaw tightened.
“A priestess named Maedra.”
Mara went pale.
“Maedra Thorn.”
“You know her?”
“Moonkeeper extremist.”
Mara looked at Sophia.
“She believed the old royal bloodline had to end.”
Caleb frowned.
“End?”
“She wanted Moonkeepers to rule.”
Sophia understood.
“Moon Queen.”
Mara nodded.
“Selene was raised for it.”
Alaric continued.
“I spent years searching.”
Sophia stared.
“Why didn’t you tell my mother?”
“I did.”
“When?”
“Shortly before she died.”
Everything stopped.
“You were the royal investigator.”
“Yes.”
“Did you kill her?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
Alaric’s voice lowered.
“She was already poisoned.”
Sophia’s knees weakened.
“By who?”
“Maedra.”
Caleb cursed.
“Why?”
“She had found Sophia.”
Sophia whispered, “Me.”
“Lyra realized Maedra was searching Blackwood.”
“So she died protecting me.”
“Yes.”
Sophia looked away.
Caleb stepped closer.
Stopped.
Again waiting for permission.
Sophia leaned into him.
Just slightly.
His hand moved to her shoulder.
Warm.
Steady.
Alaric watched.
His expression became troubled.
“What?”
Caleb looked at him.
“You cannot bond her.”
Caleb’s face hardened.
“You don’t decide.”
Alaric looked at Sophia.
“If the prophecy is correct, a completed bond between Caleb and either Moonkeeper twin will transfer ancient ward authority.”
Mara nodded slowly.
“Oh.”
Sophia hated that sound.
“What?”
Mara whispered, “The crown becomes cage.”
Caleb’s eyes narrowed.
Alaric continued.
“If Caleb bonds Selene, the royal line gains permanent magical control.”
“And me?”
“If he bonds you…”
Mara looked at Sophia.
“You could dissolve the hereditary crown entirely.”
Silence.
Caleb stared.
Sophia laughed softly.
“So that’s why everyone cares who the king loves.”
Mara nodded.
“Essentially.”
Sophia looked at Caleb.
His crown.
His family.
His kingdom.
Her choice could destroy the old monarchy.
Selene’s could strengthen it forever.
Then a messenger entered.
“My King.”
Caleb turned.
“Selene sent terms.”
“What terms?”
The messenger swallowed.
“She will withdraw her forces and return to Blackwood.”
“And?”
“She wants Sophia.”
Caleb’s Alpha power flooded the room.
“No.”
The messenger looked terrified.
“There is more.”
“What?”
“She says if Sophia refuses…”
He looked toward her.
“She will kill every Moonkeeper descendant still alive in the southern camps.”
Sophia froze.
“Descendants?”
Mara whispered, “Survivors.”
Sophia stared.
“My people are alive?”
The messenger nodded.
“Hundreds.”
Sophia looked at Caleb.
He already knew what she would say.
“No.”
His voice broke.
Sophia stepped closer.
“If she has them—”
“No.”
“Caleb.”
“I will find another way.”
“Before she kills them?”
His jaw tightened.
Sophia touched his face.
His silver eyes met hers.
“You told me fate doesn’t get to choose for me.”
His expression cracked.
“Yes.”
“Then neither do you.”
May you like
And for the first time, Caleb understood exactly how painful it was to love someone whose freedom mattered more than your fear.
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