Kieran's POV
The carriage isn't moving fast enough.
Every muscle in my body is tense, ready for another attack. My eyes scan the darkness outside, searching for threats. The guards surround us on horseback, but it's not enough.
It will never be enough.
Not when someone knew. Not when they planned to kill her the moment the moon made its choice.
Isla sits across from me, wrapped in my cloak. She's so small, so fragile-looking. Her hands won't stop shaking. The Moon's Kiss glows faintly on her neck, a constant reminder that everything has changed.
My mate.
The words still feel impossible. I didn't want a mate. I especially didn't want to care about one.
But my wolf is making himself very clear. He's pacing inside me, demanding I pull her closer. Protect her. Keep her safe. Never let her out of my sight.
"Are you really going to go through with this?" Lord Corvus rides up beside the carriage window. His expression is carefully neutral, but I hear the question underneath: Are you really going to accept a servant as your queen?
"The moon has chosen," I say coldly. "That's the end of it."
"But Your Majesty, the nobles will never accept—"
"I don't care what the nobles accept." My voice drops to a growl. "The kingdom's wards are failing. We need a moon-blessed mate to restore them. The goddess chose her. That makes her mine."
Mine. The word settles into my chest with surprising satisfaction.
Corvus's jaw tightens. "Of course, Your Majesty. But there will be... resistance. Perhaps we should keep her existence quiet until—"
"No." The word comes out sharper than I intended. "I won't hide her like she's something to be ashamed of."
Isla's head snaps up at that. Her dark eyes meet mine, wide with shock.
Does she really think so little of herself? That I would claim her publicly only to hide her away?
The thought makes something angry twist in my chest.
"Spread the word," I tell Corvus. "The moon has chosen my mate. Anyone who questions it questions the goddess herself. And anyone who harms her—" I let my eyes flash wolf. "—will beg for death before I'm done with them."
Corvus bows stiffly and falls back.
Silence fills the carriage.
"You don't have to do this," Isla whispers suddenly. Her voice is so quiet I almost miss it. "I know you don't want... someone like me."
Someone like me. As if she's less than everyone else just because she was born a servant.
"What I want doesn't matter," I say, and I see her flinch. Wrong words. I try again. "The moon chose you for a reason. I won't question that."
"But I'm nobody," she says, and there's so much pain in her voice it makes my wolf whine. "I can't even shift properly. What kind of queen—"
"You're not nobody." The words come out fierce, almost angry. "The moon goddess doesn't make mistakes. If she chose you, there's a reason."
She looks at me like she wants to believe it but can't.
I lean forward, capturing her gaze. "Listen to me, Isla. I don't know why the moon chose you. But someone was willing to send assassins to kill you the moment she did. That tells me you're more important than you think."
Her breath catches. "What do you mean?"
"The attack was planned. Those assassins were waiting. Someone knew the moon wouldn't choose Seraphina." I watch her face carefully. "Someone knew it would be you."
The color drains from her face. "That's impossible. I didn't even know I would be at the ceremony until this morning."
"Then someone has been watching you. Studying you." My hands clench into fists. "And they want you dead before you can claim your power."
"What power? I don't have any power!" Her voice rises with panic. "I'm weak! My wolf barely exists! I'm—"
"You have the Moon's Kiss." I gesture to her neck where the mark glows. "That alone makes you one of the most powerful people in the kingdom. The moon only marks those with strong blood. Ancient blood."
She stares at me like I'm speaking another language.
"You really don't know, do you?" I lean back, studying her. "About your parents. Your bloodline."
"My parents died when I was a baby. That's all anyone ever told me."
"Convenient," I mutter. Too convenient.
The palace gates loom ahead. I see servants scrambling, guards taking positions. News travels fast. By now, the entire palace knows what happened at the temple.
They know their king has chosen a servant girl as his mate.
Let them talk.
The carriage stops. I step out first, then turn to help Isla down. She takes my hand hesitantly, and I feel her trembling.
The moment her feet touch the ground, I hear it.
Whispers. Gasps. Shocked murmurs from the servants lined up to greet us.
Some look curious. Most look horrified.
And there, in the front—Clara, one of the servant girls who tormented Isla. Her mouth hangs open in disbelief.
"Your Majesty," the head butler stammers. "We... we didn't expect... that is, we prepared the guest quarters for—"
"She stays in the Queen's chambers," I say flatly. "Next to mine."
More gasps. The Queen's chambers haven't been used since my mother died.
"But Your Majesty, the ceremony hasn't been completed yet. For an unmarked girl to stay in—"
"She bears the Moon's Kiss." I let my voice carry, making sure every servant hears. "That makes her my mate. My queen. And you will treat her as such."
Silence.
Then, slowly, every servant drops to one knee.
All except Clara, who's staring at Isla with pure hatred.
I catch her eye and let my wolf show through. She pales and quickly kneels.
"Come," I tell Isla gently. "You must be exhausted."
She nods mutely, letting me guide her through the palace. I feel every eye on us. Hear every whisper that follows.
A servant.
Can't even shift.
Dark magic.
She'll be dead within a week.
My wolf snarls at each comment. Part of me wants to turn around and punish every single person who dares question my mate.
But Isla's hand trembles in mine, and I know she hears them too.
Better to get her somewhere safe first.
We reach the Queen's chambers. I push open the massive doors, and Isla gasps.
The room is enormous. Silk curtains, marble floors, a bed big enough for five people. Windows overlooking the royal gardens. Everything untouched since my mother's death twelve years ago.
"This is... too much," Isla whispers. "I can't—"
"You can. You will." I turn to face her. "These are your rooms now."
She looks so lost standing there in my too-big cloak, surrounded by luxury she's never known.
Something protective and fierce rises in my chest.
"Isla." I wait until she meets my eyes. "I know this is overwhelming. I know you're scared. But you're under my protection now. I won't let anyone hurt you."
"Why?" The question bursts out of her. "Why do you care? You don't even know me."
Because you're mine, my wolf demands I say.
But I can't. Not yet. She's already terrified. If I tell her what I'm feeling—this overwhelming need to protect her, claim her, keep her—she'll run.
"Because the moon chose you," I say instead. "And I trust the moon more than I trust people."
It's not the whole truth. But it's all I can give her right now.
A knock interrupts us. A maid enters, bowing low.
"Your Majesty, the High Priestess is here. She says it's urgent."
I curse under my breath. "Tell her I'll be there in a moment."
The maid leaves. I turn back to Isla.
"Get some rest. Lock the door. Don't open it for anyone except me." I head toward the door, then pause. "There's a dagger in the nightstand. Use it if you have to."
Her eyes widen. "You think someone will—"
"I think someone already tried to kill you tonight. I won't take chances."
I leave before I can do something stupid like stay with her all night.
The High Priestess waits in my study, her ancient face grave.
"There's something you need to know, Your Majesty," she says without preamble. "About the girl."
My wolf goes on alert. "What about her?"
"Her bloodline. I've been searching the ancient records." She hands me a worn scroll. "Isla isn't just any servant. Her real name is Isla Thornewood."
The name hits me like a punch.
Thornewood. The original royal family. The moon priests and priestesses who ruled before my line took the throne.
They were all murdered twenty-five years ago in a coup.
Or so we thought.
"She's the last surviving heir," the priestess continues. "Someone placed a curse on her as a baby to hide her true nature. To suppress her power. That's why she can't shift—the curse is blocking her wolf."
My blood runs cold. "Who placed the curse?"
"I don't know yet. But Your Majesty..." She meets my eyes. "Whoever did it is still in the palace. And they knew the moon would choose her tonight."
"That's why they sent assassins."
"Yes. They wanted her dead before she could break the curse and claim her power." The priestess's expression is grim. "Because once that curse is broken, Isla won't just be your mate. She'll be powerful enough to challenge for the throne itself."