Chapter 9: An Unexpected Protector

Kira looked down at herself.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably, but aside from a few bruises on her wrist and shoulder, she wasn't seriously injured.

'I'm... alright,' she whispered.

Derek didn't look convinced.

He stepped closer, gently lifting her chin to inspect the faint cut near her temple where broken glass had grazed her skin.

'Call the royal physician,' he ordered without taking his eyes off her.

'Immediately.'

'Yes, Your Majesty,' Magnus replied before disappearing into the hallway.

The remaining guards searched every corner of the room.

One of them approached the shattered balcony doors.

'No blood trail, Your Majesty. He escaped over the outer wall.'

Derek's jaw tightened.

'Double the night patrols. No one enters or leaves the palace without my approval.'

'At once.'

Within minutes, the chamber emptied, leaving only Derek and Kira.

Silence settled between them.

Kira finally looked at him.

'You came so quickly.'

'I heard you scream.'

'You broke the door down.'

'The door can be replaced.'

His answer was simple.

Yet something about it warmed her heart.

The physician soon arrived and carefully examined Kira's injuries.

'Only minor bruising, Your Majesty,' the elderly healer said. 'She'll recover in a few days.'

After applying medicine to the cut on her forehead, he quietly left.

Derek remained standing by the broken balcony, staring into the darkness outside.

'This wasn't random,' he said.

'No,' Kira agreed.

'Someone knows the palace too well.'

Derek nodded slowly.

'The assassin reached the royal chambers without being seen. That means he had help from inside.'

Kira's heart sank.

'Someone inside the palace wants me dead.'

'Yes.'

He didn't soften the truth.

He never did.

'Then how do I know who to trust?' she asked.

Derek finally turned toward her.

'Until we uncover the traitor... trust only Magnus.'

He paused before adding quietly,

'And me.'

Those two words caught Kira completely off guard.

She searched his face.

For the first time, his cold expression carried something else.

Responsibility.

Perhaps even guilt.

Before she could respond, a guard rushed into the room.

'Your Majesty!'

'Speak.'

'One of the servants has been found unconscious near the western tower.'

'The western tower?' Derek repeated sharply.

'Yes, Your Majesty.'

'Seal the entire area.'

The guard hurried away.

Kira noticed the sudden change in Derek's expression.

The mention of the western tower clearly unsettled him.

'You told me never to go there,' she said softly.

'Why?'

Derek looked toward the dark hallway leading deeper into the palace.

For several seconds, he remained silent.

Then he answered.

'Because some secrets buried in that tower should never be disturbed.'

Outside, thunder rolled across the night sky.

Neither of them noticed the shadow watching from the palace rooftop.

Hidden beneath a black cloak, the mysterious figure held another raven feather between gloved fingers.

'The first attempt failed,' the stranger whispered.

'Next time... even the Lycan King won't be able to save her.'