<h4>Chapter 628: Saving Her King (VII)</h4>


    <strong><i>[Third Person].</i></strong>


    des hovered in midair, turning as if held by invisible hands.


    Draven, still on the floor, watched without surprise. But the Alphas and Elders stared in stunned recognition.


    <i>’Fae.’</i>


    <i>’She has fae blood.’</i>


    The realization spread like wildfire. But on the other hand, Este’s smirk faded. For the first time, something like caution entered her expression.


    Meredith raised a hand, causing the weapons to pivot and aim straight at Este. She instinctively took a half step back. Este had expected a wolf. Not this.


    "Kill her!" Este snapped.


    As soon as she issued thatmand, her vampire soldiers surged forward, abandoning the hostages and charging at Meredith with terrifying speed.


    At the same time, Meredith’s fingers curled, and the weapons shot forward. des sliced through the air like silverets. Spears pierced vampire torsos. Daggers embedded into skulls. Several vampires copsed before even reaching her.


    Their screeches echoed, then Meredith drew her sword in one fluid motion. Her fingers slid along its de, and immediately, lc-purple light ignited along the steel. The sword hummed.


    Este’s eyes widened.


    "She is fae-blooded," someone whispered.


    Meredith advanced. Her sword carved through two vampires in a single arc, the enchanted de burning through undead flesh. Another leapt at her—she ducked, pivoted, drove her glowing de upward through his chest.


    Her silver hair came loose from its bindings. It fell behind her like a waterfall of moonlight as she fought.


    She was precise and deadly with her attacks.


    At the same time, Oscar finally rushed to Draven’s side, now that the coast was clear, helping him to sit upright.


    "Your Majesty—"


    "I’m fine," Draven muttered. Though blood still streaked his jaw, his eyes never left Meredith. Pride flickered there.


    Across the hall, Este’s jaw tightened. Her soldiers were falling too easily. And unable to bear it, she barked sharply, "Stop!"


    The remaining vampires froze. Meredith did too, her chest rising and falling, her sword still glowing faintly in her grip.


    Then, Este stepped forward. "I will take her," she dered as her gaze locked with Meredith’s.


    Meredith’s lips curved faintly. "That," she said quietly, "is what I’ve been waiting for."


    The next second, she tossed her sword aside, and it ttered across the marble. Gasps of shock erupted again at her bravery.


    Ignoring the side distractions, her ws slid from her fingertips, sharp and gleaming. Valmora roared within her.


    <i>"Do not let her live."</i>


    Este attacked first, leaving a blur of ck, but Meredith was faster. She sidestepped and raked her ws across Este’s shoulder. Blood sttered.


    Shock shed across Este’s face as the hall went silent. Meredith had drawn first blood.


    Este recovered instantly, striking low. Meredith leapt back, silver hair whipping behind her. Este vanished and reappeared at her nk, but Meredith spun, catching her wrist mid-strike and driving her knee into her ribs. A crack echoed.


    Este snarled.


    The two women collided again, their ws shing. Este shed across Meredith’s arm, giving Meredith the first injury. Blood welled.


    Meredith did not even look at it. Instead, she lifted her hand slightly, and an invisible force surged outward. Este was flung across the hall, crashing into a pir hard enough to fracture it.


    The Alphas stared in disbelief. "She’s overpowering her..."


    A momentter, Este pushed off the broken stone, her rage zing now.


    She lunged, grabbing Meredith’s hair and yanking hard before driving her elbow into Meredith’s side.


    Meredith staggered a step, then her eyes burned brighter. The air trembled, and the chandeliers shook violently overhead.


    "Enough!" Meredith whispered, taking slow breaths.


    Finally, she moved with the speed of something older. She caught Este mid-attack and mmed her into the ground with such force that the marble beneath them shattered.


    Before Este could rise, Meredith’s ws pressed against her throat.


    Her silver hair fell forward like a curtain of moonlight. Though blood streaked her cheek, her gaze was merciless.


    "You came for Stormveil’s throne. That was your greatest mistake," Meredith said softly. "You should have stayed in the dark."


    Around them, the hall was silent. Even the vampires hesitated, not knowing whether to intervene and save their leader or stay put and wait for hermand.


    Draven, leaning against Oscar for support, watched his Queen. And he had never looked prouder.


    Slowly, but deliberately, Meredith lifted her other hand. Her fingers hovered over Este’s chest, then they sank in.


    Stone cracked beneath them as her ws pierced through armour remnants and flesh.


    Este’s body arched violently, a sharp gasp tearing from her lips as Meredith’s hand pushed deeper, seeking the steady, unnatural rhythm of a vampire’s heart.


    Pain finally twisted Este’s face, and her smirk vanished. Her jaw tightened as her breath hitched.


    Meredith leaned closer, her purple eyes zing like twin stars. "Earlier, you asked who I was," she said quietly. Then, her fingers brushed against something pulsing beneath bone. "Now you have earned your answer."


    Her voice rang clearly across the silent hall. "I am Her Majesty, Queen Meredith Carter. Queen of Stormveil."


    Even the Alphas felt the weight of those words.


    Este gave a strained, painfulugh. "A fool..." she managed, her blood slipping from the corner of her mouth. "You are a fool."


    Meredith’s grip did not falter.


    Este’s eyes flicked toward the hall. "You just exposed yourself before those myopic, power-hungry wolves..." she whispered hoarsely.


    "While he..." her gaze shifted faintly toward Draven, "...gets to keep hiding."


    The words were poison. They were calcted and meant to fracture something powerful. But Meredith’s expression did not change.


    She leaned closer until her lips were near Este’s ear. "It is my wish," she whispered back calmly. "Not anyone’s."


    Then, her ws tightened, and a bone cracked. Este’s body convulsed as Meredith’s fingers began to close around her heart in a single, brutal squeeze. The hall could almost hear it.


    Meredith’s eyes burned brighter as Valmora surged within her.


    <i>"End her. End this now. Don’t let her live to tell the tale."</i>


    Este’s breathing became ragged and weak. For the first time, death shadowed her expression.