Chapter 6: The Black Feather

Kira stared at the black feather resting in her hand.

The four words written on the parchment seemed heavier than stone.

'Leave while you can.'

She slowly folded the note and slipped it into her sleeve just as a knock sounded at the door.

'Come in,' she called.

A young maid entered carrying fresh flowers.

'Good evening, Your Majesty.'

Kira casually looked around the room.

'Has anyone entered my chambers today?'

The maid frowned.

'No one should have, Your Majesty. The guards have been outside since this morning.'

'Should have? Or did?'

The maid hesitated.

'I... I cannot say for certain.'

Her nervous expression answered enough.

Someone had entered.

Someone the servants were afraid to name.

That evening, Kira walked toward the palace library hoping the silence would calm her thoughts.

The enormous room smelled of old parchment and cedar wood. Thousands of books filled towering shelves that stretched to the ceiling.

She wandered through the history section until one particular title caught her attention.

'The Bloodlines of the First Lycans.'

As she reached for it, another hand touched the book first.

'Interesting choice.'

Kira looked up.

Derek stood beside her.

'I didn't hear you come in,' she admitted.

'Most people don't.'

He removed the heavy book and handed it to her.

'Trying to understand this world?'

'Trying to understand why everyone looks at me as though I don't belong here.'

Derek remained silent for a moment.

'Because they fear weakness.'

'And do you?'

His silver eyes met hers.

'I fear deception.'

The answer surprised her.

He didn't call her weak.

He simply feared lies.

Before she could respond, Magnus hurried into the library.

'Your Majesty.'

His expression was unusually serious.

'The council has arrived earlier than expected.'

Derek closed the book in Kira's hands.

'Stay inside your chambers tonight.'

'Why?'

'Because the council dislikes surprises.'

'Meaning me.'

Derek didn't deny it.

'I'll handle them.'

He turned and left with Magnus.

Curiosity gnawed at Kira.

An hour later, unable to ignore the growing tension, she quietly slipped into one of the upper palace corridors overlooking the council chamber.

Voices echoed below.

'A wolfless queen insults every noble family in this kingdom,' one elder growled.

'The marriage should be annulled immediately,' another demanded.

'The contract cannot be broken,' Derek answered calmly.

'Then produce an heir quickly and send the girl away afterward.'

Kira's heart sank.

Was that truly all she meant to them?

A womb.

Nothing more.

Another voice interrupted.

'Your Majesty, reports from the northern border.'

'Speak,' Derek ordered.

'Three royal patrols were ambushed. The attackers disappeared before anyone could identify them.'

The council chamber fell silent.

Derek's expression darkened.

'Increase security throughout the palace.'

'Especially around the Queen.'

Kira quietly stepped back from the balcony before anyone noticed her.

As she hurried through the corridor, she rounded a corner too quickly and collided with someone.

The hooded figure grabbed her arm for only a second before disappearing into the darkness.

Something cold remained in her palm.

She opened her hand.

Another black feather.

This one carried no message.

Only a tiny silver symbol burned into its stem.

The symbol matched the strange mark she had noticed on the assassin's dagger the night Derek saved her life.