Pain exploded behind Lilith's eyes as the blade twisted in her shoulder. She looked down to see silver seeping from the wound, smoking against her skin—wolfsbane-laced steel. Ella's shriek cut through the chaos, half-panicked, half-triumphant.
"Monster! She's a monster!" the fake princess screamed, backing away from the smoking blood.
Kane moved faster than humanly possible, yanking the knife from Lilith's shoulder. His eyes blazed amber as he stared at the blade, then at her wound. "Silver doesn't affect humans." His voice was low, dangerous. "What are you?"
Lilith hissed, pressing a hand to the gash. The system's alert blared in her skull: Wolfsbane poisoning detected. Administer antidote within 10 minutes. Reward: Partial wolf immunity. A vial materialized in her free hand, cool against her palm.
"None of your business, mutt." She uncapped the vial with her teeth, ignoring the burn as the liquid hit her tongue. The pain receded, replaced by a warm tingle spreading from her shoulder.
The king hauled Ella to her feet, his face purple with rage. "Guards! Throw her in the dungeon. And fetch the royal physician—now!"
Elena struggled against her captors, spitting at Lilith. "You think this changes anything? The wolf council will never accept a half-breed queen!"
Kane's head snapped up. "Half-breed?"
Lilith laughed, though it hurt to breathe. "Surprised your precious Elena didn't tell you? Her little pet project—infusing royal bloodlines with wolf DNA. Too bad her daughter's a dud." She nodded at Ella, who was now sobbing hysterically. "But me? Turns out kings and Valtorian princesses make lovely little abominations."
The physician arrived, gasping at the smoking wound. "By the gods—this is wolfsbane. How did you survive?"
"Let's just say I've got good insurance." Lilith nodded at the locket, which had fallen open during the scuffle. Inside, a tiny portrait of her mother—silver-haired, blue-eyed, wearing a crown. "Fix me up. I've got a kingdom to reclaim."
System notification: Fetal soul resonance at 50%. "Proud."
The words appeared in her vision as the physician cleaned the wound. Lilith smiled through the pain. One down, a lot more to go.
Three hours later, Lilith sat on the edge of a velvet-covered bed in the royal guest suite, staring at her bandaged shoulder. The king had insisted she stay at the palace, assigning a squad of guards to "protect" her—though she suspected it was more about keeping her under watch.
A knock sounded at the door. "Enter."
Kane stepped in, his black coat dripping rain. He'd changed out of his formal attire, now wearing a tight black shirt that showcased the muscles in his arms. "Your Highness." He dipped his head, but his eyes never left hers. "May I?"
Lilith gestured to the chair across from her. "Come to finish the job? Or did Elena's arrest leave you short on orders?"
He sat, folding his hands. "I had nothing to do with the trafficking ring. My uncle acted alone."
"Convenient." She raised an eyebrow. "Tell that to the kids in Bahrain."
Kane's jaw tightened. "They're being rescued as we speak. All of them." He leaned forward. "Why didn't you tell me who you are? In the alley, at the bank—you knew who I was."
"Would it have mattered?" Lilith stood, pacing to the window. The palace gardens stretched below, lit by torches. "You were too busy fawning over Ella to notice the girl dying in the mud."
A low growl rumbled in his chest. "I don't fawn. And I've never seen Ella as anything but a duty." He stood, moving so fast she barely saw him cross the room. He caged her against the window, his scent—pine and snow—washing over her. "But you? I've smelled you since you were twelve. Moonstone and wildfire. I thought I was going mad."
Lilith's breath hitched. The proximity was dangerous—too many memories of his hands on her, his teeth at her throat. She pushed against his chest, but he didn't budge.
"Get off me, Kane."
"Not until you answer me." His fingers brushed her bandage, featherlight. "Why does your blood react to silver? And don't lie—I can smell it."
The system pinged: Reveal partial truth. Increase wolf alliance chance. Reward: Wolf language translation.
Lilith tilted her chin up, meeting his amber gaze. "My mother was Valtorian. Their royal line has… ancient ties to wolfkind. A marriage pact, centuries ago." She lied smoothly, omitting the part where her father was the one with wolf blood. "Silver affects me because of that blood. But not as much as it affects you."
Kane's eyes widened. "The Valtorian prophecy. 'When silver and shadow bleed as one, the wolf king shall kneel to the feral queen.'" He stepped back, looking stunned. "It's you."
"Save the prophecy talk for your fan club." Lilith crossed her arms. "I don't care about your king or your queen. I just want my son back."
"Your son?"
The words slipped out before she could stop them. Lilith cursed, turning away. "None of your business."
But Kane's expression softened. "The system. It mentioned a fetal soul. You had a child. In your past life."
Lilith's shoulders shook. She hadn't meant to tell anyone, least of all him. "He died. Because of me. Because I was stupid enough to love you."
Kane's face paled. "Lilith, I—"
"Save it." She wiped her eyes. "I don't need your apologies. I need contribution points. And right now, your head on a platter would earn me a lot of them."
A knock interrupted them. The king poked his head in, looking exhausted. "The council's waiting. They want to meet their long-lost princess." He smiled weakly. "And they're very curious about the wolfsbane incident."
Lilith sighed. "Let's get this over with."
As she followed the king to the council chamber, Kane fell into step beside her. "I'll help you. With the points. With the council. With whatever you need."
Lilith glanced at him, skepticism etched on her face. "Why?"
"Because," he said, his voice low enough for only her to hear, "I think I loved you in that past life. And I think I killed you. For that, I'll spend this life making amends."
Before Lilith could respond, the council chamber doors swung open. Forty pairs of eyes turned to her—curious, hostile, greedy. At the front, a silver-haired man stood, his expression cold as ice.
"Ah, the b*st*rd child returns," he said, sneering. "Let's see if you're worth the trouble, Princess."
Lilith smiled, baring her teeth. "Trouble? Darling, I am the trouble."
The system blared: Main mission update. Secure royal power. Neutralize council opposition. Reward: Fetal soul temporary manifestation.
Her son. She'd get to see him, even for a moment.
Lilith squared her shoulders, meeting the council's stares. Let them come. She was ready.