Chapter 15: The Shadow Blood Clan

The training grounds fell silent.

Magnus stared at the torn black cloth as though it carried the weight of an old nightmare.

'The Shadow Blood Clan was supposed to be destroyed twenty-two years ago,' he said quietly.

Derek took the cloth and examined the silver crest stitched into the fabric.

'Tell me everything,' he ordered.

Magnus drew a slow breath.

'They weren't ordinary rogues.'

'They believed the Lycan throne belonged only to those with pure royal blood.'

'Anyone who threatened that belief was eliminated.'

Kira frowned.

'Including children?'

Magnus didn't answer immediately.

His silence was answer enough.

'Years ago,' he finally said, 'an entire noble family disappeared overnight because rumors claimed they were hiding someone important.'

'No survivors were ever found.'

Kira felt a chill run through her.

'And now they're back.'

'Apparently,' Derek replied.

He handed the cloth back to Magnus.

'Send riders to every northern village.'

'Question anyone who has seen strangers within the last month.'

'Yes, Your Majesty.'

As the commanders hurried away, Derek turned to Kira.

'Come with me.'

'Where?'

'Somewhere safer.'

He led her through a narrow corridor hidden behind the throne room.

The passage twisted deep beneath the palace before ending at a thick iron door.

Derek placed his hand against a carved wolf emblem.

A loud click echoed through the tunnel.

The heavy door slowly opened.

Inside was a circular chamber lined with ancient weapons, maps, and shelves filled with old scrolls.

'Only the King, his Beta, and the Queen may enter this room,' Derek said.

'What is this place?'

'The Royal War Chamber.'

Kira slowly walked around the room.

Every wall displayed paintings of former Lycan Kings and Queens.

One portrait immediately caught her attention.

Queen Selene.

Unlike the faded painting in the library, this one showed her standing proudly beside a young King.

Around her neck hung a silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon.

Kira instinctively touched the necklace hidden beneath her own dress.

The small pendant she had worn since childhood had the exact same shape.

'Derek…'

He looked over.

'Look at this.'

She pulled the necklace into the light.

Derek stepped closer.

His eyes moved from the portrait to the pendant in Kira's hand.

His expression hardened.

'Where did you get that?'

'My father gave it to me when I was little.'

'He said it belonged to my mother.'

Derek carefully took the pendant.

On its back was an engraving almost worn away by time.

He rubbed the metal with his thumb until the letters became visible.

'S.W.'

'Selene Wolfe,' Magnus whispered after entering the chamber.

Nobody spoke for several seconds.

Kira's heartbeat echoed in her ears.

'Does this mean…?'

'It proves your mother knew Queen Selene,' Derek interrupted.

'Nothing more.'

Although his voice remained calm, Kira noticed he held the pendant much more carefully now.

Suddenly, the chamber door burst open.

A bloodied scout stumbled inside, barely able to stand.

'Your Majesty…'

He collapsed onto one knee.

'The northern patrol has been attacked.'

'How many survived?' Derek asked.

'Only three.'

'Did you see who attacked you?'

The scout nodded weakly.

'Their leader left a message for the Queen.'

'What message?'

The scout looked directly at Kira.

'He said…'

'Tell Princess Selene…'

'Her family has waited twenty-two years for her return.'