COMPLICES VALERIA After making the boldest agreement of my life , Aldric left and asked the innkeeper to prepare a hot bath .


    I appreciated the gesture and sank into the soothing water up to my neck , alone in the room , sighing in relief .


    I didnt want to think about anything , but as I raised the hand where I had been burned by that strange stone , I realized it was almost fully healed .


    I touched my neck too no pain .


    All my wounds and bruises were healing fast , faster than ever before , except for the most serious and old scars .


    It was the power of the Lycan , I knew it well .


    I also remembered all the strange things I had experienced .


    My memories of the specter attack were hazy , but one thing was certain I faced it, and I even think it feared me .


    What am I , really ? No one can ever know about this .


    Absolutely no one .


    Everyone connected with those creatures and vampires is executed without question .


    That order had been given by none other than the King himself .


    And I am right by his side .


    Aldric can never discover my oddities .


    I rose from the bathtub and grabbed the towel from the screen along with my clothes , ready to change .


    The moment I stepped out , drying my hair , there was a sudden knock at the door .


    I answered confidently , thinking it was the innkeepering to empty the tub .


    I froze when I saw Guardian Quinn standing there .


    Y Your Excellency ? What are you doing here ? I asked , surprised , then realized my rudeness .


    Why ? Am I interrupting something between you and the King ? he asked bluntly , stepping inside without waiting for an apology , his sharp gaze immediately scanning the bed and my clothes .


    I felt judged .


    His tone was cold , nothing like the sunny Lycan he usually was .


    Of course not , Your Majesty has gone out , I replied respectfully , lowering my gaze but matching his coldness .


    After a few tense seconds , he sighed .


    I apologize , Valeria .


    Im frustrated by other matters and took it out on you .


    Im here because the King called me , he exined , and I nodded without holding a grudge His Majesty is likely handling pack business .


    You can find him at the Alphas house , I informed him .


    No , Im more interested in the Goddesss Altar he mentioned in his message .


    I want to inspect it .


    Would you take me there ? I saw no reason to refuse .


    Honestly , I wanted to see it again too .


    A few minutester , I came down the stairs , meeting him the inns reception area IF my roommate returns , please tell him I went to the old temple , I instructed the innkeeper , who nodded .


    1/3  COMPLICES Quinn and I walked through the packs streets toward the forest .


    You share a room with the King ? Why sleep so ufortably ? he asked along the way , so I exined the issue with the limited rooms .


    He fell silent and didnt press further , which I appreciated , When we finally reached the ancient temple , Quinn immediately approached the stone , inspecting the carvings closely .


    I climbed the worn steps as well , standing nearby , listening to him mutter .


    Can you read it ? I asked , surprised .


    This entire tragedy had unfolded because no one seemed capable of deciphering the writing .


    More or less .


    Its an ancientnguage , lost to time .


    Only fragments remain , and Ive studied them out of fascination .


    Thats why His Majesty called me , he exined , and the doubts in my mind grew .


    Then how on earth can I understand it all ? I watched him scribble notes in a small notebook , clearly misunderstanding many parts .


    He had no clue what he was reading .


    How can I casually reveal this without putting myself in danger ? Staying silent was an option , but my gut told me it wasnt the right one , not when the enemy was seeking this information .


    L … I can understand some of it too , I suddenly admitted , making his golden eyes widen as they snapped to mine .


    My father … he was a schr too .


    He taught me some lessons about this mysteriousnguage when I was a child , I invented the lie on the spot , but his intense stare made me nervous .


    Im terrible at lying .


    Did he catch me ? I see .


    Thats … helpful .


    Then perhaps you could assist me with this phrase here ? He pointed to a section of the carvings .


    I leaned closer , pretending to think hard .


    I made it seem like it was difficult , though I knew exactly what it said .


    … and to the skies , it shall rise … like an eagle taking flight I recited it as if unsure , though I was certain .


    Quinns face darkened , and he suddenly grabbed my arm , squeezing it firmly , Valeria , never never tell anyone you can read this , he warned gravely .


    This is a deadnguage , used only by beings of darkness vampires , specters , and creatures more terrible than you can imagine .


    My heart pounded in fear .


    I couldnt hide it as I tried to pull away from his grip .


    No, my father- Dont lie to me again .


    The only traces of this dark script in the entire kingdom are locked away in our private library .


    Its impossible for your father to have studied it less he had ties to the Dark Realm .


    COMPLICES  I shook my head frantically , panic rising .


    That usation would ruin my parents memorypletely .


    … What will you do with me now ? Just tell me … how do you know thisnguage : I swear , I have no connection to the Vampire Kingdom ! 1 … I just understand whats written here .


    It was the truth .


    But I was still trembling , gnawing on my lower lip , ready to bolt .


    Calm down , Valeria .


    Breathe , he finally released me .


    Dont be scared .


    I wont expose you .


    Your secret is safe with me but you must keep this from the King .


    He hates the Dark Kingdom more than anyone .


    Why would you keep a secret that could be considered treason ? Youre a Guardian … I stepped back , still unsure .


    Because I like you , Valeria .


    Ive liked you from the start .


    I have no intention of harming you .


    If you keep quiet , not one will ever hear about this from me .


    Besides … its good to have someone who shares my passion for thisnguage and can help me decipher it .


    1 nodded slowly , watching him closely .


    I wasnt sure if he was being truthful but I had already put the noose around my neck .


    Thank you , Guardian Quinn , I whispered , genuinely grateful .


    He didnt seem like a bad man .


    But Ive been wrong before If youre truly grateful , help me figure this out .


    Its incrediblyplex .


    This altar seems to be from when the kingdoms were still united , he requested .


    And since I was already in this mess … I had no choice but to dive in .


    I knelt beside him and began helping him decode the stones tale .


    Why does the King hate them so much ? I finally blurted out .


    Quinn hesitated .


    Because … vampires ughtered his newborn pups in their cradle .


    He walked in on them .


    In his rage , he lost .


    control of his Lycan form , ughtering the vampires but someone else also entered the room during his frenzy His mate .


    The mother of his children .


    And she died … under his ws .


    VALERIA IS MINE VALERIA I froze at Quinns words .


    He kept deciphering the message , but my mind could only think about what the King must have felt when his children were murdered , and he had to take his mates life with his own hands .


    I know all too well that soul crushing pain that leaves you wanting nothing but death .


    Aldric had it even worse I didnt carry my baby in my womb for long- He held his pups in his hands and loved his woman .


    She didnt betray him like I was betrayed .


    She didnt deserve to die .


    She was his mate , so he had apanion , surely a beautiful female who shared his bed , his dreams , his life .


    Someone he truly cherished .


    Someone who bore his children .


    Why did I feel so bitter inside ? I raised my hand and touched my scars .


    I had never cared about them before , but now ,paring myself to a poor deceased woman , all kinds of insecurities tightened around my heart .


    ? Idiot , how can you evenpare yourself to her ? Aldric will never see you that way .


    Dont get your hopes up I scolded myself and forced my focus back on the text I had practically memorized by now .


    << Beautiful and mysterious, bold and alive , the most rebellious daughter of her father .


    It was so dull just watching the creations from afar .


    So vivid , soplex in themselves .


    They loved , suffered , hated , and lived each day as if it were theirst .


    A longing grew in her heart , watching and wishing every night , until one day , she decided to break the rules ande down to y ? That was what the beginning of the story said .


    It seemed to speak of a woman , and below , it described a ce I didnt recognize .


    Quinn seemed more interested in this part .


    It looked like the location of another altar .


    I dont quite understand where it could be … he murmured .


    You got this wrong .


    Its notva ; its water .


    It talks about a ce with argeke or something like that , I pointed out , and he stared at the passage .


    Of course ! Of course ! How could I be so stupid ? It must be that pack near the waterfalls ! he eximed happily , like a child , and suddenly surprised me by grabbing me around the waist and lifting me up .


    Youre amazing , Valeria ! Amazing ! Thank you ! he spun me around ,ughing .


    The sunlight reflected on his pale hair , and his smile was radiant , contagious .


    I clung to his shoulders for bnce , about to ask him to put me down when , looking toward the forest , I saw the man who always had the gift of showing up at the most suspicious moment .