a's

sed to be kept hidden. It contains the seal of Alpha Caleb, Freya's fathe

er in my hands. My heart is racing. This isn't jus

death must be perfectly timed." Ryker will be heartbroken a

rds would change and that it's a mistake. But it's all the same. Alpha Ca

father, didn't want to just reign from the shadows. He intended to take Ryker's place on the throne. And the on

k is blurry, I keep going. I want to kno

ere I discovered it. But my head is racing. What did Freya k

ot did Ryker know? Did

astily close the drawer. My heart is beatin

the necessity to keep it a secret. It seems like I'm not in charge

ker's voice from

yself. But when I finally look into

r years. "Freya?" he asks, his voice soundi

yself to move forward. "Ryke

e carefully, as if he doesn't know

t is about to bubble up. "Your father-in-law. H

gly as they did. I can see a flash of recognitio

's voice drops to a hazardous level, and he stiffe

found the papers. "The plot. Caleb... "He has been

him for a second. But then, just as s

ice, "You need to sta

name is Maya. And I know what I witnessed. "You've b

es and a tight mouth. "It's too

ing the betrayal today. Ryker might not

n me. The reality I've just found out is making my head spin. Caleb's plan to kill Ryker. The lette

so quiet that it seems like it's deafening. How could Freya not have known? How could she s

yal, and the icy smirk on his face as he watched me die. I still can't figure it out. But thi

select her and view her as more than just a political weapon. Ryker never gave her what she wante

lost, I start to cry. A

walks in. He doesn't say anythin

less confident of himself now. "I know things

Freya. I won't ever be. But that's not t

im to the desk where a letter from my prio

ords are short but very harsh. "The scheme is still

and my breath is s

y want to kill

a's old room. As I kneel, the wood creaks under my weight, and my fingers shake as I

t red wax mark. I carefully tear the seal and open the paper, as

yker will be weak without Freya. Once he is done grievi

about power; it's also about control.

eyes wide and my

her death happens at the right time to coincide with the upheava

her, has been plotting against her. But this wasn't just about Ryker. It was about being in c

eep reading, and the last few se

lready on the move. The

volved in planning my demise. No, Freya died, but it feels the same. There was a plot. T

what the story is really about, but

I put the note back where I found it, kn

st feel heavy. My hands are shaking, and my heart is racing because I can't believe it. The trut

't know who I can trust. My d

. The servants, the aristocrats, and the guards all look at me with respect

is; his presence fills the space before his body does. I look

yet there's something about it th

seem to understand how much I've changed. I wonder whether he

ned, but I don't let the shake

ts firm. "A

is the truth I've b

ing," I said. "

ore I can finish. He focuses hi

t know if I can tell him everything.

t happened to Freya." "An

e. Ryker moves forward, but it doesn't seem warm. Not a bit o

, "You don't know anything,

stop, Ryker," I respond in a low but forceful voice. "Your father-i

lks away, and his steps are he

he said in my chest. He doesn't hear me. That's what te

's shadows, and I know that th