CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
DANIEL'S POV
I felt it.
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Her presence.
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The moment I entered my father's chamber—
I knew she was there.
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Hidden.
Invisible.
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But not to me.
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Tanya.
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My heart tightened, but I didn't react.
I didn't expose her.
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Instead…
I spoke.
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At first, I hesitated.
The elders were watching me closely.
Waiting for answers.
Waiting for decisions.
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But I was tired.
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Tired of hiding.
Tired of pretending.
Tired of fighting what I felt.
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So I told them the truth.
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Not everything.
But enough.
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And the whole time—
I knew she was listening.
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I wanted her to hear it.
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Not lies.
Not plans.
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The truth.
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After everything was said and done, I left the palace.
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And returned to the covenant.
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But something was wrong.
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Very wrong.
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Tanya.
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She didn't confront me.
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She didn't question me.
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She didn't even look at me differently.
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She acted…
Normal.
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As if nothing had happened.
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As if she didn't follow me.
As if she didn't hear everything.
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And that—
Scared me.
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More than her anger.
More than her hatred.
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Silence.
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That kind of silence…
Was dangerous.
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I watched her from a distance.
Carefully.
Trying to read her.
Trying to understand what she was planning.
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But she gave me nothing.
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No signs.
No clues.
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Just calm.
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Too calm.
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My chest tightened.
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"Is she waiting?" I whispered to myself.
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Waiting for the right moment…
To kill me?
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It would make sense.
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I betrayed her.
I lied.
I came to destroy her.
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Even if I changed—
Even if I meant what I said—
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Why would she believe me?
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I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building inside me.
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"I should tell her," I muttered.
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Everything.
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The truth.
My feelings.
My intentions.
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But something stopped me.
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Fear.
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Not of death.
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But of losing her.
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Completely.
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If she rejected me…
If she chose her oath…
If she chose revenge…
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Then everything between us—
Would be over.
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Forever.
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That night—
Sleep finally came.
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But not peacefully.
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I found myself standing in a dark place.
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The air was heavy.
Silent.
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Then I saw her.
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Tanya.
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She stood in front of me, her eyes calm… almost soft.
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For a moment—
Everything felt real.
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We were close.
Closer than ever before.
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I reached out to her.
And she didn't pull away.
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Instead—
She stepped closer.
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Our lips met.
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Warm.
Soft.
Dangerous.
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Everything I had been denying—
Was right there.
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Love.
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But then—
Something changed.
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My hand moved on its own.
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A dagger appeared.
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Cold.
Sharp.
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I tightened my grip.
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Duty.
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My father.
My kingdom.
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Everything came rushing back.
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Without thinking—
I tried to stab her.
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But Tanya was faster.
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She moved before the blade could touch her.
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In one swift motion, she kicked the dagger out of my hand.
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It fell to the ground with a loud sound.
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My heart stopped.
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This was it.
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The end.
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I had failed.
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I looked at her, my body trembling, waiting for her to strike.
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To kill me.
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But she didn't.
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She didn't say a word.
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She just looked at me.
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Hurt.
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Disappointed.
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Then—
She turned.
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Walked to the door.
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And left.
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Silently.
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That silence…
Broke me more than death ever could.
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Days passed.
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Two days.
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I searched for her.
But she was gone.
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Then I heard the news.
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"She is getting married."
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My heart shattered.
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"To a powerful, handsome, and wealthy man."
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I felt the ground beneath me disappear.
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No.
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No…
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I tried to move.
To speak.
To stop it.
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But I couldn't.
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I had made my choice.
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Duty.
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And now—
I had lost everything.
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I fell to my knees.
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Regret consumed me.
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"What have I done…" I whispered.
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The pain inside me grew unbearable.
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I picked up the dagger again.
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My hands shaking.
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"If this is the cost…"
I whispered.
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"Then I don't want to live with it."
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I raised the dagger toward myself—
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And suddenly—
I woke up.
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My body was covered in sweat.
My breathing heavy.
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It was just a dream.
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But it didn't feel like one.
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It felt like a warning.
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I sat up slowly, holding my chest.
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"No…" I whispered.
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I couldn't lose her.
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Not like that.
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Not because of my own choice.
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I ran a hand through my hair, my mind in chaos.
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"This is worse than war…" I whispered.
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Because in war—
You know your enemy.
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But here—
I didn't know where I stood.
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Not as a prince.
Not as a warrior.
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But as a man…
Who had fallen in love with the wrong person.
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And now—
I was waiting.
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Waiting for her next move.
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Hoping…
It wouldn't be my end.
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END OF CHAPTER TWENTY SIX