The strange chill Selena felt in the courtyard refused to fade.
Even after the soldiers returned to training and the morning continued like nothing had happened, her wolf instincts remained restless.
Wolves trusted instinct above everything.
And right now, her instincts were screaming.
Danger.
Selena crossed her arms as she stood across from Adrian.
"You felt that too, didn't you?"
Adrian's crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yes."
"So I'm not imagining things."
"No."
Selena glanced around the courtyard again. The soldiers seemed unaware of anything unusual, but she could feel the tension beneath her skin.
"Something's wrong."
Adrian didn't disagree.
"There are many things wrong."
Selena rolled her eyes.
"You know what I mean."
"Yes."
He gestured toward the palace entrance.
"Walk with me."
Selena hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because some conversations shouldn't happen in the middle of a training yard."
She studied him for a moment before shrugging.
"Fine."
They walked through the courtyard together, drawing plenty of attention from the nearby soldiers.
The sight of the vampire prince walking beside the wolf Luna was still something the castle hadn't grown used to.
Whispers followed them.
Selena ignored them.
Inside the palace corridors, the air felt cooler.
Candles flickered along the walls as they moved through the halls.
Finally Adrian stopped outside a large balcony overlooking the valley.
The wind carried the scent of rain.
Selena leaned against the stone railing.
"So."
She looked at him.
"What's the secret meeting about?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he watched the distant mountains.
"Last night," he said quietly, "you tried to kill me."
Selena sighed.
"We've already established that."
"That wasn't the only assassination attempt."
Selena blinked.
"What?"
Adrian turned toward her.
"Two nights ago, someone poisoned my wine."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Was it me?"
"No."
"Then why are you telling me?"
"Because it happened before you arrived."
Selena frowned.
"You think someone else is trying to kill you."
"I know someone is."
She considered that for a moment.
"Vampire politics?"
"Partly."
"But not entirely."
Selena studied his expression carefully.
"You're worried."
Adrian rarely showed emotion.
But there was something different in his voice now.
Concern.
"Someone powerful is moving in the shadows," he continued.
"They've been working quietly for years."
Selena tilted her head.
"Trying to overthrow the king?"
"No."
"Then what?"
Adrian's gaze hardened.
"Destroy both kingdoms."
Selena straightened.
"That doesn't make sense."
"Why not?"
"Because wolves and vampires already hate each other."
"Exactly."
He gestured toward the mountains again.
"Imagine someone using that hatred to start a war."
Selena frowned.
"You're saying someone wants wolves and vampires to destroy each other."
"Yes."
"Who?"
Adrian shook his head.
"That's the problem."
"We don't know."
Selena's mind raced.
"If someone wanted war…"
"They would start by attacking my pack."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"That attack on the Moonfang Pack…"
Her heart pounded.
"You think it was planned?"
"I think it was manipulated."
Selena stepped back slightly.
"You led that attack."
"Yes."
"But I didn't order it."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
Adrian's voice remained calm.
"My father received information that the Moonfang Pack was preparing an invasion."
"That's ridiculous!"
"I know that now."
Selena's anger flared.
"So you attacked us based on a lie?"
"Yes."
Her fists clenched.
"Hundreds of my people died because of false information."
Adrian didn't argue.
"I'm aware."
Selena glared at him.
"You don't sound very sorry."
"I don't apologize for mistakes without proof."
That answer only made her angrier.
"You're unbelievable."
"I prefer careful."
Selena turned away, gripping the balcony railing.
"If what you're saying is true…"
"Then someone manipulated both sides."
"Yes."
"And now we're married because of it."
Adrian nodded once.
"The prophecy complicated things further."
Selena laughed bitterly.
"Of course it did."
The wind grew stronger, tugging at her silver hair.
After a moment she asked quietly,
"Why tell me this?"
Adrian looked directly at her.
"Because you're already involved."
"I didn't ask to be."
"Neither did I."
Selena sighed.
"Let me guess."
"You think we should work together."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"It would be logical."
Selena smirked.
"You want an alliance."
"I want survival."
"That sounds dramatic."
Adrian's eyes darkened slightly.
"You tried to kill me last night."
"Yes."
"And yet you're still alive."
Selena shrugged.
"That's your decision."
"Exactly."
He stepped closer.
"If someone else had tried that, they'd be dead."
Selena raised an eyebrow.
"Should I feel honored?"
"You should feel informed."
She studied him carefully.
"You're serious."
"Very."
Selena turned back toward the valley.
"If someone is really manipulating both kingdoms…"
"That means my pack was used."
"Yes."
"And my people died because of it."
"Yes."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I'll kill whoever did that."
Adrian didn't doubt it.
"I believe you."
Silence settled between them again.
For the first time since her capture, Selena wasn't thinking about revenge against Adrian.
She was thinking about something bigger.
A hidden enemy.
A war built on lies.
Finally she spoke again.
"So what now?"
Adrian answered simply.
"We wait."
Selena groaned.
"I hate waiting."
"I noticed."
She looked back at him.
"And what if your mysterious enemy strikes again?"
"They will."
"You sound certain."
"I am."
Selena frowned.
"Why?"
Adrian's gaze moved toward the castle behind them.
"Because if they truly want war…"
He paused.
"…the Blood Moon marriage ruins their plan."
Selena's eyes widened slightly.
"You mean us."
"Yes."
"If wolves and vampires unite…"
"They lose control of the conflict."
Selena slowly understood.
"So they'll try to break the alliance."
"Yes."
"By killing one of us?"
"That would be the simplest solution."
Selena laughed softly.
"Well."
"That's comforting."
Adrian's voice remained steady.
"You should be careful."
She looked at him with amusement.
"Are you warning me?"
"Yes."
Selena grinned.
"You realize I tried to kill you."
"And someone else might try to kill you."
"That's fair."
For a moment they simply stood there, staring at each other.
Enemies.
Partners.
Something in between.
Then Selena spoke again.
"Fine."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"Fine?"
"I'll play along."
"With what?"
"Your little investigation."
Adrian watched her carefully.
"You're agreeing to cooperate?"
"Temporarily."
"For what reason?"
Selena's silver eyes glowed faintly.
"Because whoever destroyed my pack…"
Her voice hardened.
"…belongs to me."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"I suspected you'd say that."
Selena pushed away from the railing.
"Don't get used to this partnership."
"I won't."
She walked toward the palace doors.
"But if someone tries to kill me…"
Adrian waited.
Selena glanced back over her shoulder.
"You're allowed to help."
Adrian almost smiled.
"Generous."
Selena disappeared into the hallway.
Adrian remained on the balcony, watching the clouds gather over the distant mountains.
Storms were coming.
And somewhere far beyond the vampire kingdom…
Someone was already preparing the next move.
Unseen.
Patient.
And far more dangerous than either Selena or Adrian realized.