Chapter 10: The Forbidden Tower

Rain poured relentlessly over the palace as Derek and Magnus made their way toward the western tower.

Royal guards lined the corridor, preventing anyone from entering.

Kira watched from a distance until Derek noticed her.

'I told you to stay in your chambers,' he said.

'You also said someone inside the palace wants me dead,' Kira replied calmly. 'If that's true, hiding won't keep me safe.'

Derek studied her for a moment before sighing.

'Stay behind me.'

Together they entered the western tower.

The air inside felt cold and stale, untouched for years. Dust covered the stone floor, but fresh footprints stretched toward the upper staircase.

'Someone was here recently,' Magnus observed.

Derek nodded.

'Search every room.'

The guards spread out.

Kira slowly climbed the spiral staircase, careful not to disturb the footprints. The silence inside the tower felt unnatural.

Halfway up, they found the unconscious servant lying against the wall.

The royal physician quickly examined him.

'He's alive,' the physician said. 'Someone struck him from behind.'

'Did he see anything?' Kira asked.

'Not until he wakes.'

Derek continued toward the highest floor.

At the end of the hallway stood a massive iron door sealed with ancient silver markings.

Kira stared at the symbols.

'What is this place?'

Magnus looked toward Derek but remained silent.

After several seconds, Derek answered.

'This tower belonged to my father.'

'The former king?'

'Yes.'

'Then why seal it?'

Derek's silver eyes darkened.

'Because some memories are better left buried.'

Before Kira could ask another question, one of the guards shouted from downstairs.

'Your Majesty!'

'We've found something!'

Everyone hurried back to the lower floor.

One guard knelt beside an open window.

'There was someone watching us,' he reported.

'They escaped across the rooftops before we arrived.'

On the windowsill rested another black raven feather.

Derek picked it up.

This time, there was a message tied beneath it.

'You're protecting the wrong queen.'

Magnus frowned.

'What does that mean?'

No one answered.

Even Derek seemed unsettled by the message.

Later that evening, Kira returned to the royal library.

She couldn't stop thinking about the sealed door in the western tower.

While searching through old history books, she discovered a faded portrait tucked inside an ancient journal.

It showed the former Lycan King standing beside a beautiful young woman with silver eyes.

At the bottom of the portrait, someone had written a single name.

'Queen Selene.'

Kira looked closer.

The woman's face felt strangely familiar.

Almost... identical to her own.

She quickly closed the journal as footsteps echoed behind her.

Derek stood at the library entrance.

His gaze shifted from Kira to the old book in her hands.

'Where did you find that portrait?' he asked quietly.