CHAPTER 88: WOVEN DECEPTION

Athena’s pov

I couldn’t breathe. "That’s not possible."

"It is. And worse, you were the vessel through which the veil could finally be broken."

"No," I murmured. "No one told me that."

"They couldn’t. They feared it. Your existence... your very life... is the thread holding the last of the ancient protections together. And if you break—if you fall under his influence—everything falls with you."

I shook my head furiously, stepping away. "I don’t care about ancient magic or old balances or veils. I just want to go home."

She smiled sadly. "There is no home to go back to if you fail here."

"I’m not going to fail."

The woman’s eyes softened. "You will have to be stronger than those before you. Stronger than me."

"Who are you really?"

Another ripple passed through the world, the sky flickering. The woman’s image began to waver too, like a flame in the wind.

"I am the first queen of the wolves," she whispered. "The true vessel of the bloodline. And you are my last hope."

I opened my mouth to ask more—but she suddenly reached out, grabbed both sides of my face, and pressed her forehead against mine.

Visions erupted behind my eyes.

Fire. Stone. Blood on ancient thrones. A war fought between creatures I didn’t recognize. Wolves larger than mountains, eyes like burning suns. Portals torn open with screaming winds. And standing behind all of it—the king’s face, smiling as the world fractured.

"No," I whispered. "I won’t let it happen."

"You don’t have a choice anymore," she said quietly. "They will use you or destroy you."

"Who’s they?"

She didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped back as her form began to glow brighter, burning white-hot, her features fading into pure light.

"Athena!" a voice called from far away.

Lucas’s voice.

I whirled, searching for him, but the world around me was beginning to collapse—breaking apart like glass hit with a hammer.

"Wait—!" I shouted to the glowing woman. "How do I stop it?"

But her lips moved without sound, lost to the growing roar of breaking reality.

And then everything shattered.

My eyes flew open with a gasp. The room was dim, the stone walls familiar—but now everything felt wrong, like a thousand invisible threads were wrapping around me, trying to drag me back under.

Lucas was kneeling beside me, his hands on my shoulders, his face pale with fear. "Athena! Talk to me—are you alright?"

I blinked at him, my heart still racing, the echoes of the dream still pounding in my skull. "I—" My voice cracked. "I saw her. The one I look like."

Lucas’s throat worked as he swallowed. "Who is she?"

"I don’t know," I said, shivering. "But she called herself the first queen of the wolves."

His eyes widened. "What’s that."

"I don’t know," I whispered, feeling the weight of it settle on me like iron chains. "She.... She said... she said I’m the last hope."

I looked up at Lucas then, really looked at him—and saw the weight of guilt on his features, something cracking behind his carefully constructed mask of strength.

"There’s more you haven’t told me," I said quietly. "Isn’t there?"

His jaw clenched, but before he could answer, the heavy doors to the chamber creaked open.

The king stood there, watching us with polite interest, like a cat studying trapped prey. "Perfect," he said smoothly. "You’re awake now."

Lucas stood, stepping protectively in front of me. "What have you done?"

"Only what was necessary," the king replied.

"She needed to know. And now she does."

I tried to stand, but my knees buckled, and Lucas caught me.

"Don’t worry," the king said, smiling like a benevolent father. "Soon, we’ll open the portal. And then you’ll all go home."

But in his eyes, I saw the truth .

He never planned to help me.

And I wasn’t sure if I could trust anyone standing with me.

I lost consciousness and woke up again.

Darkness had been soft, warm, almost too familiar. It wasn’t the darkness of sleep, or of death, but something else entirely—like drifting in warm water with the surface just beyond reach. And when the surface finally shattered and I woke, everything was wrong.

The air was perfumed with something faintly sweet, cloying. I blinked slowly, the ceiling above me draped in silk banners, golden embroidery catching the light.

I sat up abruptly, panic snapping through me.

Where—?

Then I saw them.

Lucas stood at the far side of the room, facing the King.

No, not just the King—the man who had promised safety, who had pretended to help me. The one I had trusted to open the portal back to my world. His black robes fell elegantly to the floor, his golden crown tilted forward slightly, as though he’d worn it so long it was starting to become part of his skull.

He smiled at me like a father catching his child awake from a nap.

And beside him—

Lira.

I blinked. Was I still dreaming?

She stood by the King’s side, dressed in flowing white robes, her expression serene, her gaze soft and docile. There was no recognition in her face when she looked at me

None.

And Lucas—he looked broken. His entire body leaned forward like it hurt to breathe. His fists clenched at his sides. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

"I know you’re confused," the King said gently, his voice full of false warmth. "But let me explain."

I stared at Lucas instead. "What... What did you do?"

His lips parted. No sound came.

"Tell her," the King encouraged, almost sweetly, like a grandfather encouraging a shy child to speak up. "You owe her that, don’t you, Lucas?"

The way he said it made my stomach turn.

Lucas’s jaw worked, and finally he spoke, voice low, shredded with guilt. "I—I didn’t have a choice."

"Didn’t have a choice?" My voice was sharp now, scraping against my throat. "What are you talking about?"