Chapter 7: The Council's Test

Kira barely slept after finding the second black feather.

The strange silver symbol haunted her thoughts. It couldn't be a coincidence. It was identical to the mark engraved on the assassin's dagger from the forest.

Someone inside the palace knew far more than they admitted.

The next morning, a royal maid arrived before sunrise.

'Your Majesty, the Royal Council requests your presence.'

Kira frowned.

'I wasn't told about a meeting.'

'Neither was His Majesty,' the maid answered quietly.

Kira immediately understood.

This meeting wasn't for Derek.

It was for her.

A few minutes later, she entered the council chamber alone.

Ten elders sat around the enormous circular table. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to outright contempt.

Lord Cedric, the oldest among them, spoke first.

'So this is the girl our king chose.'

Kira offered a respectful bow.

'Good morning.'

'Do not mistake courtesy for acceptance,' another elder interrupted.

'You stand here because of a contract, not because you've earned the crown.'

Kira remained calm.

'I never claimed otherwise.'

Her answer surprised several council members.

Lord Cedric folded his hands.

'Very well. Then answer one question.'

'If enemies attacked this kingdom today, what would you offer as queen?'

The room fell silent.

Everyone expected her to speak about strength, armies or political alliances.

Kira looked at each elder before answering.

'A king protects the kingdom with power.'

'A queen protects it with unity.'

'If the packs begin fighting each other, no army will be large enough to save us.'

'So my duty is to make sure they never become enemies in the first place.'

Silence filled the chamber.

Several elders exchanged surprised glances.

Even Lord Cedric paused before speaking again.

'An interesting answer.'

Before anyone could continue, the massive doors swung open.

Derek entered.

His silver eyes swept across the chamber.

'I wasn't informed of this meeting.'

No one answered.

'Then allow me to make something clear,' Derek said calmly.

'Questioning my queen without my permission will not happen again.'

His voice wasn't loud.

It didn't need to be.

Every elder lowered their eyes.

Derek turned toward Kira.

'Come with me.'

Neither of them spoke until they reached the palace gardens.

Finally, Kira broke the silence.

'You didn't have to rescue me.'

'I wasn't rescuing you.'

'Then why come?'

'Because if they wanted to judge my queen, they should have asked me first.'

For the first time, Kira noticed something beneath Derek's cold exterior.

Loyalty.

He didn't protect her because he cared.

He protected the position she now held.

Yet somehow... it still mattered.

As they walked through the moon garden, Magnus hurried toward them.

His usually relaxed expression had disappeared.

'Your Majesty.'

'Scouts found another body near the northern border.'

'Same symbol?' Derek asked immediately.

Magnus nodded.

'Yes.'

'And there's something else.'

'The victim was carrying a map of the royal palace.'

Derek's expression darkened.

'Including the Queen's chambers.'

A cold chill ran through Kira.

This wasn't random intimidation anymore.

Someone wasn't trying to scare her.

Someone was preparing to kill her.