Chapter 13: The Assassin in the Night

The Royal Palace lay beneath a blanket of silence. Midnight had long passed, and most of the castle had surrendered to sleep. Only the distant footsteps of the night guards echoed through the endless marble corridors while moonlight spilled through the towering windows.

Hidden among the shadows, a cloaked figure moved silently across the palace rooftops.

Every movement was practiced.

Every step deliberate.

The silver dagger concealed beneath the cloak shimmered faintly whenever moonlight touched its enchanted blade.

"Tonight..." the figure whispered.

"The human dies."

Below, inside the servants' quarters, Micaela slept peacefully for the first time in days.

Her breathing was calm.

Her nightmares had finally stopped.

Or so she believed.

Suddenly...

A strange sensation swept through her body.

Cold.

Heavy.

Danger.

Her eyes snapped open.

For several seconds, she simply stared into the darkness surrounding her small room.

"It was only a dream," she whispered to herself.

Then...

A floorboard creaked.

Not outside.

Inside her room.

Micaela slowly sat upright.

"Who's there?"

Silence answered.

She reached toward the small candle resting beside her bed and lit it with trembling hands.

The tiny flame revealed nothing unusual.

Her wardrobe stood closed.

The window remained shut.

The room appeared empty.

"I'm imagining things..."

She exhaled slowly.

Then the candle suddenly went out.

A freezing breeze rushed through the room.

The window exploded inward.

Glass shattered across the floor.

A dark figure landed silently inside.

Before Micaela could scream, the assassin lunged forward.

The silver dagger flashed through the darkness.

Instinct alone saved her.

She rolled from the bed just as the blade slashed through her pillow.

"Help!" she cried.

The assassin attacked again.

Micaela grabbed the nearest wooden chair and shoved it toward the attacker.

The chair splintered into pieces beneath a single strike.

"Stay still," the masked voice hissed.

"This won't hurt for long."

Micaela stumbled backward until her shoulders struck the wall.

There was nowhere left to run.

The assassin raised the dagger.

Suddenly...

A deafening roar echoed through the palace.

The entire building shook.

The assassin froze.

"Impossible..."

The bedroom door exploded inward.

Not opened.

Exploded.

Massive splinters scattered across the room as the Alpha King burst inside.

His sapphire eyes glowed with terrifying intensity.

His wolf stood dangerously close to the surface.

"Touch her..."

His voice was little more than a growl.

"And I'll erase your entire bloodline."

The assassin reacted instantly.

Instead of attacking Micaela...

The dagger swung toward the King.

Steel met claws.

The impact sent the assassin flying across the room.

The Alpha King hadn't fully shifted.

Only his hands.

Massive black claws now extended from his fingertips.

His wolf snarled violently.

"Kill them!"

"No," the King answered internally.

"We need answers."

The assassin recovered quickly.

Throwing several silver blades toward the King.

He dodged effortlessly.

One blade buried itself into the wall behind him.

Another grazed his shoulder.

Smoke immediately rose from the wound.

"Silver," Marcus shouted while rushing into the room alongside several royal guards.

"Be careful!"

The assassin realized escape was becoming impossible.

Without hesitation, they hurled a small glass vial onto the floor.

Thick black smoke filled the room instantly.

"Protect Micaela!" the King roared.

When the smoke finally cleared...

The assassin was gone.

Only the shattered window remained.

Royal guards immediately spread throughout the palace.

"Seal every exit!" Marcus ordered.

"Search the rooftops!"

"No one leaves the palace!"

Meanwhile...

The Alpha King turned toward Micaela.

She was trembling uncontrollably.

Her nightdress had been torn during the struggle, exposing several shallow cuts across her arm where broken glass had struck.

"You're bleeding," he said quietly.

"I'm fine."

"You're not."

He stepped closer.

Very carefully.

Very gently.

Taking her injured arm into his hands.

His touch was surprisingly warm.

Micaela looked up.

For the first time...

She saw genuine fear inside the King's eyes.

Not fear for himself.

Fear of losing her.

"I almost didn't make it," he whispered.

"How did you know?"

He hesitated.

"I... felt it."

"Felt what?"

"That you were in danger."

She stared at him.

"That's impossible."

"I know."

"Yet it happened."

Neither of them noticed Marcus quietly watching from the doorway.

He had seen the entire exchange.

The King's panic.

His desperation.

The way he looked at the human girl.

Marcus already knew what it meant.

The bond was strengthening far faster than anyone expected.

Moments later, the palace physician entered to examine Micaela's injuries.

"Nothing serious," he announced after several minutes.

"Mostly superficial cuts."

"Good," the King replied.

"She should still rest."

"I'll arrange another room immediately," Marcus offered.

"No," the King answered firmly.

"She won't remain in the servants' quarters."

Everyone looked at him.

"Your Majesty?"

"Whoever attacked her knew exactly where she slept."

"That means someone inside the palace helped them."

"Until we discover who..."

He looked directly at Micaela.

"She stays somewhere no assassin can reach."

"Where?" Marcus asked.

The King's answer stunned everyone present.

"My private chambers."

Silence.

Complete silence.

"Your Majesty..." Marcus said carefully.

"The council won't approve."

"I wasn't asking for permission."

Micaela's eyes widened.

"Your Majesty, I couldn't possibly—"

"You nearly died tonight."

His voice softened.

"I'm not giving you another opportunity to risk your life."

"But Princess Anastasia..."

"Is not my concern right now."

The King's gaze never left hers.

"Your safety is."

Far across the palace...

Standing inside her private chambers...

Princess Anastasia listened silently as Cedric reported the assassin's failure.

"He survived?" she asked coldly.

"No..." Cedric answered.

"She survived."

"The King arrived before the final strike."

For several long moments...

Anastasia said nothing.

Then...

She laughed.

Softly.

Dangerously.

"Interesting."

"He's becoming reckless."

"Your Highness?"

"Moving her into his private chambers?"

She slowly smiled.

"Now the entire kingdom will know."

"Know what?"

"That the Alpha King has finally found something..."

She turned toward the moonlit window.

"Worth starting a war for."