Chapter 6 - The Alpha King Was Poisoned at His Own Coronation
The coronation was scheduled for the first day of spring.
Not because Isolda wanted a crown.
Because the kingdoms needed a symbol.
Northern wolves.
Riverlands wolves.
Highland wolves.
Even former enemies arrived.
The ceremony would unite them under a new alliance.
Cedric stood before the castle gates wearing ceremonial black.
Isolda wore silver.
Her hair fell down her back.
The Moon Crown rested in a velvet box.
She stared at it.
“I still think this is absurd.”
Beatrice laughed.
“You've been saying that for weeks.”
“What if I drop it?”
“The crown is ancient magic.”
“That doesn't make me less likely to drop it.”
Cedric appeared behind them.
“You'll do fine.”
“You're not helping.”
He smiled.
Then his expression softened.
“You look beautiful.”
Isolda blushed.
“I thought kings didn't flatter.”
“I don't flatter.”
He reached for her hand.
“I tell the truth.”
The ceremony began at noon.
Elias read the ancient vows.
“The crown chooses no ruler by force.”
“The queen chooses her path.”
“The king chooses service.”
Then Cedric stepped forward.
He removed his sword.
Placed it on the ground.
And knelt.
“I built my life around never kneeling.”
Isolda looked stunned.
“Cedric…”
He held out his hand.
“But I will kneel willingly to the woman who taught me that power means nothing without mercy.”
The crowd became silent.
Isolda placed her hand in his.
The Moon Crown glowed.
She was about to take it.
Then Cedric coughed.
Once.
Twice.
Blood touched his lips.
Isolda screamed.
He collapsed.
Chaos erupted.
Guards surrounded the king.
He was carried inside.
Elias examined the wine cup.
“Poison.”
Isolda's blood turned cold.
“Who?”
Nobody answered.
Tristan arrived with guards.
“I saw someone leave the banquet hall.”
“Who?”
“An old servant.”
Gideon immediately searched the castle.
No one.
The poison was rare.
Deadly.
And nearly impossible to detect.
Isolda refused to leave Cedric's side.
Hours passed.
His pulse weakened.
She held his hand.
“Please.”
The healer shook her head.
“We can't stop it.”
Isolda closed her eyes.
“Then let me.”
The healer stared.
“You don't know what you're doing.”
“I know enough.”
She placed both hands over Cedric's chest.
Silver light emerged.
Warm.
Soft.
It spread through him.
The poison darkened beneath his skin.
Then began disappearing.
Everyone gasped.
Cedric inhaled sharply.
His eyes opened.
The room erupted in relief.
Isolda collapsed against him.
He wrapped his arms around her.
“You're crying.”
“You almost died.”
“I didn't.”
“You could have.”
He brushed her tears away.
“Then I'll be more careful.”
“No more speeches.”
He smiled.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
She laughed through tears.
But the investigation revealed something disturbing.
The poison came from Valoria.
Someone had access to the old royal vaults.
Someone inside the alliance.
The suspect list narrowed.
Then Elias discovered a second message.
Written in ancient ink.
The queen's power can heal the king.
But the king's death will awaken the Dark Moon.
Everyone stared.
“What is the Dark Moon?” Cedric asked.
Elara answered.
“A force created when the first Valorian ruler broke the Moon Goddess's law.”
“What law?”
“Never rule through blood.”
Elara looked at Isolda.
“If she is forced to kill for the crown, her power will change.”
Isolda understood.
Someone wasn't trying to kill Cedric simply to remove him.
They wanted Isolda angry.
They wanted her to use her power violently.
They wanted to transform her.
That night, she confronted Adrian Vale through a magical mirror.
He appeared in shadow.
“You poisoned Cedric.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To show you what love costs.”
She clenched her fists.
“You will never touch him again.”
Adrian smiled.
“That's exactly what I want.”
“What?”
“For you to make a threat.”
The mirror went dark.
Isolda looked at Elara.
“He wants me angry.”
Elara nodded.
“He wants the Dark Moon.”
Cedric stood.
“Then we don't give it to him.”
He walked toward Isolda.
“You don't have to become what they fear.”
She looked at him.
“What if I can't control it?”
“Then I'll stand beside you.”
“What if it hurts you?”
“Then you hold my hand tighter.”
She smiled.
The following weeks were peaceful.
The coronation was postponed.
Cedric recovered.
But Adrian did not attack.
That was what frightened everyone.
He was waiting.
Finally, a messenger arrived.
The Riverlands had fallen.
Not to an army.
To a plague.
Black mist covered the villages.
People were collapsing.
And at the center of the infected region stood a stone tower.
The tower displayed the Valorian symbol.
Elias whispered:
“Adrian has found the Dark Moon.”
Cedric reached for his sword.
“We leave tonight.”
Isolda nodded.
“I am coming.”
Cedric looked at her.
“I wasn't going to ask you not to.”
“Good.”
She smiled.
“Because I was going anyway.”
They rode south.
May you like
Neither knew that Adrian had one final weapon.
A truth about Isolda's birth that even Elara had never been told.
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