Chapter 4 - The False King Stole the Crown, but Isolda's Blood Refused to Kneel
The man stood at the mouth of the mine.
He looked young.
Too young to carry the ancient Valorian crown.
But there it was.
Silver metal.
Purple stones.
The symbol of the moon engraved across the center.
Isolda's entire body reacted.
The Moon Mark on her wrist burned.
Cedric felt it through the mate bond.
“Stay behind me.”
Isolda shook her head.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“I won't let you face them alone.”
Before Cedric could answer, the crowned man smiled.
“Princess Isolda.”
She went cold.
No one had called her princess in her entire life.
The man stepped forward.
“Do you know who I am?”
“No.”
“My name is Lucian.”
Elias whispered:
“Prince Lucian.”
The false king smiled.
“Not false.”
He touched the crown.
“The crown recognizes blood.”
Elias shook his head.
“You are the son of Malrec.”
Lucian nodded.
“My grandfather.”
Cedric's hand tightened around his sword.
“So you inherited his obsession.”
“No.”
Lucian looked at Isolda.
“I inherited his throne.”
Isolda felt power gathering in the earth.
The mountain trembled.
Lucian raised his hand.
The soldiers behind him dropped to one knee.
“Bow to the last house of Valoria.”
Cedric laughed.
“You have no authority over my people.”
Lucian looked at him.
“You are standing on Valorian land.”
Cedric stepped forward.
“And you are standing in front of my mate.”
The word mate caused whispers among the soldiers.
Lucian smiled.
“Then you know what she is.”
Cedric did.
But he wasn't prepared for what happened next.
Lucian removed a pendant.
It was identical to the one Isolda had worn as a child.
Her mother's pendant.
She touched her throat.
“Where did you get that?”
“From your mother.”
Isolda's heart stopped.
“She gave it to me before she died.”
“No.”
Lucian smiled.
“She gave it to me before I killed her.”
The world went silent.
Cedric's wolf roared.
Isolda's eyes flashed purple.
The ground cracked.
“Don't.”
Cedric grabbed her shoulders.
“Stay with me.”
But Isolda barely heard him.
“My mother…”
“She begged me to spare you.”
Lucian looked delighted.
“She believed you were hidden.”
“I was.”
“She was wrong.”
He raised his hand.
The mountain doors opened.
A woman was dragged forward.
Older.
Thin.
Covered in scars.
Silver hair.
Violet eyes.
Isolda stopped breathing.
“Elara.”
The woman looked at her.
For the first time in twenty years, she smiled.
“Little moon.”
Isolda ran.
Arrows flew.
Cedric's guards formed a wall.
Gideon charged.
War exploded.
Cedric reached Elara first.
Lucian tried to retreat.
Cedric's sword blocked him.
“You're not going anywhere.”
Lucian smiled.
“You can't kill me.”
“Why?”
“Because your mate needs my blood.”
Cedric froze.
Lucian whispered:
“The Moon Throne only awakens when royal blood is spilled by the king's hand.”
Cedric looked at Isolda.
She was holding Elara.
“I don't care about the throne,” she said.
Lucian laughed.
“You will.”
Then he vanished into the mine.
The battle continued.
Rowena fought beside the Northern soldiers.
Tristan protected Isolda's rear.
When the battle ended, more than a hundred enemy soldiers had surrendered.
Elara was alive.
Barely.
She looked at Isolda.
“You survived.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“So did everyone.”
“Why didn't you find me?”
“They told me you were safe.”
“Who?”
Elara looked at Tristan.
“Your mate.”
Tristan lowered his eyes.
“I didn't know where she was.”
Elara shook her head.
“You weren't meant to.”
Isolda turned.
“What does that mean?”
Elara explained the plan.
Their father had known the kingdom would fall.
He sent Elara and Isolda in different directions.
Elara was captured.
Isolda was hidden among common wolves.
Tristan's father had been ordered to protect her.
But when Lord Adrian took control, Tristan inherited the secret.
He had been instructed never to reveal Isolda's identity.
Not until the Lunar Mark appeared.
“That is why he rejected you,” Elara said.
Isolda's eyes filled.
“But he still hurt me.”
“Yes.”
Tristan nodded.
“I did.”
Elara looked at him.
“You made a cowardly choice.”
Tristan accepted it.
“I know.”
Then Elara looked at Cedric.
“You must understand something.”
“What?”
“Isolda's power isn't the danger.”
Cedric frowned.
“Then what is?”
Elara looked at the mountains.
“Her blood wakes the throne.”
“And?”
“The throne can choose its ruler.”
Cedric went still.
“Meaning?”
“Elara's voice lowered.
“Not necessarily Isolda.”
Isolda looked confused.
“Then who?”
“The mate she chooses.”
Everyone fell silent.
Cedric stared at Isolda.
“Elara…”
“There is an ancient law.”
She pointed to his hand.
“Only a king who receives the queen willingly can unite the kingdoms.”
Cedric looked at Isolda.
“And if she doesn't choose him?”
Elara smiled.
“Then the Moon Throne rejects him.”
Cedric's chest tightened.
For years, power had been something he took.
Territories.
Battles.
Crowns.
He had never had to ask anyone to choose him.
Now everything depended on a woman who had been taught her entire life that she was unworthy.
He turned toward Isolda.
“I don't want your throne.”
She looked at him.
“I want you.”
Her breath caught.
“I don't know how to be a queen.”
“Then don't be one today.”
He stepped closer.
“Be Isolda.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“And tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow we figure it out together.”
Before she could answer, a scream echoed from the cave.
Lucian.
He had activated something beneath the mountain.
The entire mine began shaking.
Elias looked terrified.
“The throne chamber.”
Cedric turned.
“What happens if he reaches it?”
Elara whispered:
“He can force the awakening.”
The mountain split.
A beam of silver light erupted into the sky.
Every wolf across the continent began howling.
Isolda's Moon Mark burned brighter than ever.
And somewhere in the darkness beneath the mountain, a voice spoke.
May you like
“Queen Isolda.”
The throne had awakened.
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