Valestra had faith in . She had only just t , and yet it blood in her eyes.
It caused an unusual feeling of warmth. I never had a family that loved or had any faith in . The tis I had envisioned having the chance of eting my mother one day, I imagined it would go like this.
I’d know she loves and believes in . Just a single eting with Valestra, and it already seems like so dream co true.
What am I saying? She could be lying and hiding her true intentions. Despite Orianna acting alone, I shouldn’t let my guard down.
I chewed the inside of my mouth. I shouldn’t fall for a trap. I pressed my thumb on the locket I held. That is what my head told , but my heart said otherwise.
"This is unacceptable!" The Dowager pitched, pacing frantically.
She had been like this the entire day. The thought of the snowbloods within our borders put her on edge. Not just her, but the courts and nobles.
"How could you let them through our borders? You must get rid of them now! It’d be just as easy; their numbers are diminished. They must have a death wish coming to us in such a vulnerable state. We must take this chance!"
"They are diplomats," Drevon said calmly. "Your worry is justified, Mother, but they represent the snowbloods. They did not co to us as enemies but as a mutual state of affairs."
"Diplomats? The snowbloods attacked the queen and princess!"
"Orianna Winter acted on her own," Drevon corrected.
This was getting too heated. The only reason Drevon let the snowblood through the borders unhard was because of .
The Dowager sneered. "I do not believe you can just sit here and let this happen. Have you forgotten what happened to your father and the blood spilled?"
"Blood was spilled, yes," Drevon conceded. "Both sides. Let us not be selfish and make this all about us. If the snowbloods are willing for a peaceful approach, perhaps we should follow up and act with our heads, not claws."
I’m this close to kissing the light out of my husband, but I restrain myself.
The Dowager’s teeth clenched as silence broad, but it didn’t seem she was ready to let this go easily. "You-"
"Let’s say I do what you think should be done," Drevon cut her off before she could start again. "Kill Valestra in place of Orianna, and if by primal instinct, finish off the last snowbloods. What would that change?"
"Everything! Our instinct is to destroy them. Do you want to go against that too?"
"Yet I stood there without laying a hand on her, sotis we aren’t slaves to our instinct. If it is our pri focus, then I’d have had Eloise’s blood on my hands a long ti ago."
It seed like Drevon’s last words finally shut the Dowager up. I knew it took everything for him to utter such a thing. He was trying to prove that Lycans are not only driven by instinct.
Her breath shuddered, and she turned away, rubbing her forehead in distress.
"I agreed with Drevon," Diana said, stepping forward. "We think with our heads and not claws."
"Diana..." I said in relief. "Are you alright? Should you be out of bed so soon?"
She smiled. "As good as new, there’s nothing to worry about."
"How could you say that, Diana? After what Orianna did to you?"
Diana sighed heavily and crossed her arms on her chest. I narrowed my eyes. She looked different. She was always quite short, but it looked as if she had added an extra inch or more, and her features were more mature and sharper.
Was pregnancy making see things now?
"I was the victim. Certainly, in any right course of mind, I should be thirsty for revenge. Oh, I am thirsty, but I do not want blood."
I was grateful she thought the sa way, too. I honestly believe she would side with the Dowager, given what transpired.
"I’m willing to avoid any more bloodshed. Even though we haven’t admitted it, Orianna and Valestra are the last of the Winters and what is left of the snowblood. They are Eloise’s family, too. The right thing to do is to let her decide."
I gulped at Diana’s words.
"Eloise..." Drevon said softly as he took my hand in his. "I’m going with any decision you make."
I blinked away the tears, knowing this was not the ti to be emotional. Whatever decision I make will shape the future. This pressure wasn’t just on but on Drevon, too.
He was already in support of , and any judgnt I made was the sa as the Monarch of Lycans passing his final verdict.
What if I make the wrong choice? What if I do sothing that will put Valkanor in danger?
I felt warm lips on my knuckles, and I faced Drevon.
"It’s alright if you cannot make a decision now. We can wait."
"It’s best we make one right now, and—"
"Mother!" he snapped, moving his stern gaze to her. "Only when Eloise is ready. I do not wish for her to be pressured, not by you or anyone."
"You’d wait?" I asked.
"Of course, my love. Forgive for putting you in this tight position, but Diana is right. However, take as much ti as you want."
A smile curled on my lips, and I shook my head. "I don’t need ti, I already know what I must do."
"Then fire away, my love."
I gripped his hand tightly. "Orianna will be punished for her cri, but not with execution."
"Do you realize what you’re saying? Do you think the empire would sit still after their princess and queen were attacked?" the Dowager interjected angrily. "Are you trying to create an outrage?"
"No... I’m not."
"Then how do you intend to deal with any negative reactions?"
"The war..." I blinked. "I always believed it only ravaged the humans, for I grew up within the walls of confinent. I thought to myself each day that the beasts could never understand what we humans had to deal with while they frolic with war."
I exhaled. "But I thought wrong. Coming to Valkanor made realize that humans weren’t the only casualties, but the lycans were, including the snowbloods, we’re all remnants of an age that breeds nothing but bloodshed, the least we can do is break that cycle. I’m sure the people will want nothing more."
"I admit, my husband once shared your visions as well. He was an expense of a war that did not belong to him either. It was passed on to him as it was to Drevon." Her eyes grew wistful. "But Drevon’s reign was different because he ended it. I do not wish for a war either, but snowbloods will always be our nesis, nothing we do can change that. Yes, you’re a snowblood, but you’re every bit of human, and your heart is not frozen."
A frozen heart. There was a ti I thought my heart was frozen, too. I never thought it would beat for anyone. I had hoped to die alone as the gods willed it.
But that changed when I t Drevon.
Valestra is a snowblood too, and as the Dowager said, their heart is frozen, yet when she caressed my cheek and looked at with sad eyes, all I saw was warmth. She was a creature of the cold, yet she felt like the sun.
I placed a hand on my bump. "What runs through my veins isn’t just ice, Mother, there is magic too."
"Wha-What?" She stuttered, looking to Drevon and Diana for an explanation. "Do you all know this?"
"The Ravemont family of Beloria cos from a line of warlocks. His na was Roderic the Green, a Forsaken," Diana explained.
"Oh my goodness!" she exclaid, glancing my way. "Then..."
"My son doesn’t just have moonblood and snowblood but magic blood. He’s already proof that we can all live as one."
Her breathing hitched. "S-Son?"
I smiled. "Your prayers to the goddess were answered, Mother."
"By the goddess! That is good news! This calls for a celebration."
"Shouldn’t we face the matter at hand first?" Diana urged.
"Right."
"As for Valestra, all I ask is more ti with her to unravel if she could be a threat to the empire."
"Eloise!"
"Mother..." I enforced. "I’m a snowblood, a Winter, but first I’m the Queen of Valkanor. I do not wish for violence, for we both know that is the last thing we want, yet the simplest of decisions. We hold their fates in our hands, yet Valestra ca knowing she wouldn’t see the next light, all because she wanted to et her grandchild’s daughter. I’ll not shun you in this mother, all I ask is that you give a chance."
"As you wish. Do not bla if you get disappointed. This Valestra Winter may not be what she seems."
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