Chapter 3 - The Queen Everyone Thought Was Dead
By midnight, the Northern Fortress was divided.
Half the council demanded Declan explain Rosalind's survival.
The other half demanded to know why the Alpha King had hidden an heir.
Declan sat in the throne hall.
Finn slept beside Rosalind in a private chamber upstairs.
Bram stood across the room.
He looked perfectly composed.
That infuriated Declan more than anything.
“You lied to me.”
Bram bowed.
“About what?”
“You knew Rosalind was alive.”
“No.”
“Don't.”
Declan's eyes flashed gold.
Bram remained calm.
“If I knew, I would have told you.”
“You ordered the Winterborn gates sealed.”
“I obeyed the orders given.”
“By whom?”
Bram looked around.
“The king.”
Declan stood.
“I was not there.”
“That does not mean your seal was not used.”
Declan's expression changed.
“My seal?”
Bram nodded.
“The command carried the royal mark.”
Declan knew immediately.
Forged.
Someone had forged his seal.
But why?
To make him blame himself.
To make him hate humans.
To isolate him.
To ensure he would trust Bram.
It had worked perfectly.
For five years.
Declan looked at the council.
“Who had access to my seal?”
Silence.
Then Chancellor Cassian spoke.
“Bram.”
Everyone turned.
Bram laughed softly.
“You're accusing me?”
“I'm asking a question.”
“You gave me authority over the royal guard.”
“I did.”
“And access to your seals.”
“Yes.”
Bram bowed.
“Then I had the means.”
Declan stared.
“You admit it.”
“I admit nothing.”
The council erupted.
Bram smiled.
Then he pulled out a document.
“Your Majesty, perhaps we should discuss the more pressing matter.”
He placed it on the table.
It was an old marriage document.
Between Declan and Rosalind.
But at the bottom was a clause.
A human mate could never inherit the Northern Crown.
Declan tore it in half.
“It was never about her.”
Bram looked at him.
“Then why hide your heir?”
“I didn't know.”
Bram smiled.
“Convenient.”
Declan approached.
“Where did you get this?”
“In your father's archives.”
“You had no right.”
“As your regent, I had every right.”
Declan froze.
Regent.
That was the title Bram had used while Declan was grieving.
A temporary title that somehow had never ended.
“You were never appointed regent for five years.”
Bram's smile vanished.
The hall went silent.
Declan looked toward Cassian.
“Find the appointment.”
Cassian turned to the archivists.
They searched.
Minutes passed.
Then the chief archivist returned.
“There is no extension.”
Declan nodded slowly.
“So Bram has been ruling without authority.”
The council began murmuring.
Bram stepped forward.
“I protected this kingdom when you were lost.”
“You manipulated it.”
“I kept it alive.”
“You stole it.”
Bram's face twisted.
“This is what your human queen has done to you.”
Rosalind entered the hall.
Everyone froze.
She walked directly toward Declan.
Bram stared at her.
“You should be dead.”
“I've been told.”
Finn followed her.
He held her hand.
Bram looked at him.
Then his expression changed.
Recognition.
Fear.
Declan noticed.
“What?”
Bram stared at the boy.
“That cannot be.”
“What?”
“The child.”
Finn moved closer to Declan.
Bram whispered:
“The prophecy.”
Declan turned.
“What prophecy?”
Cassian looked horrified.
“My king…”
“Tell me.”
Cassian swallowed.
“Ancient Lycan records speak of an heir born from a royal wolf and a human mate.”
Declan looked at Finn.
“The prophecy says such a child will either unite the clans…”
Cassian hesitated.
“…or destroy the old order.”
Bram laughed.
“And that is why he must die.”
Declan's wolf surfaced instantly.
He stepped in front of Finn.
“No one touches my son.”
Bram lifted his chin.
“You would destroy the kingdom for him.”
“No.”
Declan's voice became terrifyingly calm.
“I will destroy anyone who tries to destroy him.”
That night, Declan moved Rosalind and Finn to the old royal sanctuary.
But someone betrayed their location.
An attack came before dawn.
Black-clad assassins entered through the eastern wall.
Declan fought them.
Rosalind fought beside him.
Finn hid beneath the bed.
A silver blade pierced Declan's side.
He roared.
Rosalind killed the attacker.
Then someone seized Finn.
“Mom!”
She turned.
A man dragged the child toward the window.
Declan lunged.
The man threw Finn.
Rosalind caught him.
The assassin escaped.
Declan ran after him.
At the window stood Bram.
Watching.
Declan raised his sword.
“You.”
Bram smiled.
“You're beginning to understand.”
He stepped backward.
“And soon you'll understand the worst part.”
“What?”
Bram pointed toward the child.
“Finn isn't the only thing your father hid from you.”
Then he disappeared.
Declan looked at Rosalind.
She went pale.
“What?”
She swallowed.
May you like
“There was another child.”
Declan froze.
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