bChapter /bb97 /b

    Mi’s POV

    My mouth mped shut, trapping the scream that threatened to tear through my chest. My breath hitched as my gaze fell on the lifeless form bsprawled /bbacross /bthe cold, unforgiving floor. Serena’s body, blood pooling beneath her like a sickening tide, stared up at me with vacant eyesb. /bI took ban /bbinvoluntary /bstep back, my shoes scraping against the floor as fought the urge to vomit.

    I could barely breathe. The room spun around me. You killed het… The words stoned their

    ay out of my mouth, almost too horrified to believe.

    Lance didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look phased. A towel in his hands, he casually fly. Just a fly, I thought bitterly, but I couldn’t say the words out loud. Not yet.

    the

    from his fingers, as though cleaning up a minor spill. A

    His eyes met mine then, that glint of nonchnce in his smile. “What’s the matter, Mi? This the first time you’ve seen a dead body bup /bclose?”

    I swallowed hard, the bitterness and fear pooling in my throat. “I’ve seen bodies… On the battlefield. But never this close.” My voice wavered.

    Lance chuckled, the sound hollow and cold. “Well, you’ve been lucky, I guess. iBut /ito it, sweetheart.”

    f you want to be my mate, as the Rogue Queen, you’ll need to get used

    Rogue Queen. The title hit me like a wave, sweeping away the horror for a split second, I was going to be Queen. My hands trembled as excitement surged inside me, quickly recing the dread. Queen. Me. One day.

    I pulled in a shaky breath, grounding myself. “Right. I overreacted. I’m sorryb. /bbIt /bwon’t happen again.”

    Lance smiled, a strange warmth behind his eyes. “That’s the spirit.” He pped once, and then turned back to Zara. “She’s got potential, doesn’t she?”

    Zara gave a nod, quiet but approving, as if this was all part of the n. I didn’t understand it–didn’t understand any of this. But bI /bnodded along, trying bto /bkeep up.

    “So, anything else on your mind?” Lance’s voice cut through my confusion, his gaze fixed firmly

    ion /iollime. /li/ol

    I hesitated but then remembered. “I overheard ra asking about the Great Canyon today. She was talking to Prisca… wondering if they could get there without being seen by the rogues. Do you think they’re nning something?” I caught myself holding my breath as I asked.

    course they are. Thorne’s desperate. He wants to know

    Lance’s smile spread into something dark, something that sent a shiver through me. everything about me, every little secret. He’ll do anything to find a way in, anything to get closer.” He began pacing the room, his energy almost manic. “And the thing is, Mi… it’s perfect. They’ll slip into my territory thinking they’re being sneaky. But they won’t know what’sing.”

    My territory. Our territory.

    I found myself caught up in his excitement, a strange thrill growing within me. This wasn’t just about surviving anymore. This was about power.

    “And what’s the n?” I asked, my voice smaller than I intended.

    Lance turned to me, his eyes gleaming. “Simple. We don’t wait for them to make their move. We make it happen ourselves.”

    I blinked, the implications of his words sinking in. “Wait… What do you mean? What about Serena’s body? Shouldn’t we-?”

    “Forget the body,” Lance interrupted, his tone suddenly stern. “It’s taken care of. Don’t worry about it. You’ve got a bigger job now.” He stepped closer, cing a hand on my shoulder. “Go. Be seen. Make sure you have an alibi for what happens next.”

    Before I could protest, Lance was waving me away. “Go on, Mi. You’ve been gone too long already. You don’t want to be caught in a lie.”

    bI /bnodded, the weight of his words sinking in. There was no time to question.

    As I walked toward the door, I could still hear Lanceughing softly behind me, augh that didn’t reach his eyesb. /bbThe /bbroom /bbfelt /bbcold /bbagain /bbas /bbI /bbstepped /b

    out, and my thoughts turned to what awaited me next. Thest few hours had flipped my world upside down, and bnow /bI was bexpected /bbto /bbjust/bb… /bbact/bb. /bbTo /bbfit /b

    b1/3 /b

    bChapter /bb97 /b

    binto /bbthis /btwisted new reality,

    bThe /bshelter smelled of sweat and antiseptic when I arrived. ra and Prisca were busy tending to the injured soldiers, but they passed is tonk az bUs /bb– /b

    bsaw /bme.

    b“/bWhere’s Serena?” ra asked, a frown knitting her brow.

    I gave her my most convincing smile. “She’s still in the office. The math is taking her longer than expected. She asked me to give her some btime /bstone to finish the work.”

    ra’s eyes softened, and she exchanged a look with Prisca. “Has she been a good addition? Do you like having her around?”

    “Oh, yes,” I said, my voice warm. “She’s been so helpful. And she told me how ha I’m d she’s getting a second chance.”

    it

    was

    living with the rogues. It’s tough, but she’s starting bfresh /bnow

    some mistakes, but she’s turning things around. Just like

    Their faces lit up, pleased. “That’s great to hear,” ra said, her voice softening.

    you.”

    Prisca nodded. “A new chapter for both of you.”

    1 forced a smile. “Exactly. A new start for everyone.”

    I changed the subject quickly. “Actually, I have an idea. Since we’ve all been through so much, why don’t we throw a party? A celebration to lift everyone’s spirits? We’ve won the battle. It’s time to rx.”

    ra’s eyes brightened. “That’s a great idea! We’ve been so focused on everything else, we haven’t really had time to just enjoy ourselves.”

    Prisca agreed. “And when Alpha Thorne returns, he can join uster on.”

    The idea seemed to settle in all of us like a calm wave. “Let’s do it,” ra said decisively. “City Hall. Big enough for all of us. I’ll let everyone know. Priscab, /bMi, can you help with the food?”

    We agreed, and before long, we were in the kitchen, preparing enough food to feed an army. By the time we finished and made our way to City Hall, a crowd had already gathered outside.

    Bex, Jory, Vessa–they were all there. As I stepped into the hall, I could feel the weight of something off–kilter in the air.

    iBex /iraised an eyebrow. “Hey, where’s Serena? Haven’t seen her.”

    “She’s still in the office. Don’t worry, I’ll go get herter,” I replied, trying to keep my voice light.

    Zara, who had joined us, gave me a nod. “Let’s get the food set up first. We can grab herter.”

    I led the way into the grand dining hall. The chandeliers above cast their soft light over the oak table iin /iit /i

    felt like the war had never happened.

    But then… my heart skipped a beat.

    A gasp caught in my throat.

    center of the room, and for ba /bsecond, it almost

    I stumbled back, a icold /irush of dread sweeping over me. The body of Serena wasid out on the table, her bchest /bbtorn /bopen, beyes /bstaring up with lifeless horror. A message written in blood covered the linen.

    “A gift from the Rogue King.”