Chapter 11: The Queen in the Portrait

Kira slowly lowered the old journal onto the library table.

Derek's eyes remained fixed on the portrait lying between them.

'Where did you find this?' he asked again.

'Inside the journal,' Kira replied honestly. 'It was hidden between the pages.'

Derek stepped closer and picked up the faded portrait with surprising care.

His fingers brushed across the woman's face before he quietly closed his hand around it.

'Who is she?' Kira asked.

'Queen Selene,' Derek answered.

'Your mother?'

He nodded once.

Kira looked at him, then back at the portrait.

'She looks...'

'Like you.' Derek finished the sentence.

Silence filled the library.

Kira had noticed the resemblance immediately, but hearing Derek acknowledge it made her heart race.

'Is that why you chose me?' she asked softly.

Derek didn't answer right away.

He walked toward the tall window overlooking the palace gardens.

'When I first saw you, I thought it was only a coincidence,' he admitted.

'Now?'

'I'm no longer certain.'

Kira frowned.

'What does that mean?'

'It means there are questions about your birth that neither of us can answer.'

'My father always said my mother died when I was born.'

'Did he ever tell you where she came from?'

Kira shook her head.

'No.'

'Mine never spoke of Queen Selene after she disappeared.'

'Disappeared?'

'Everyone believes she died.'

'You don't?'

Derek stared into the darkness outside.

'No body was ever found.'

Before Kira could ask another question, Magnus entered the library carrying several old documents.

'I found the palace records you requested.'

He placed the dusty files on the table.

'Most of them are incomplete,' Magnus said. 'Several pages have been torn out.'

'Removed intentionally?' Derek asked.

'It appears so.'

Kira carefully opened one of the records.

Most of the writing had faded with time.

Only one sentence remained completely readable.

'The child must never learn the truth.'

She looked up.

'What child?'

Neither Derek nor Magnus had an answer.

A sudden crash echoed from outside.

One of the library windows shattered.

An arrow shot across the room and struck the wooden bookshelf with a loud thud.

The guards rushed inside.

'Protect the Queen!' Magnus shouted.

Derek pulled Kira behind him while another guard removed the arrow from the shelf.

A small piece of parchment had been tied beneath the arrowhead.

Magnus unfolded it carefully.

His face immediately darkened.

'What does it say?' Kira asked.

Magnus handed the note to Derek.

Only five words were written in black ink.

'She carries the Queen's blood.'

Derek folded the message slowly.

His silver eyes met Kira's.

For the first time since their marriage, uncertainty appeared in the Lycan King's face.

Perhaps this marriage had never been about producing an heir.

Perhaps someone had planned it long before either of them were born.