Page 20 of Her Fated Alpha Prince
“I need to see for myself,” she said, determination settling in her voice. “Can you take me there?”
The older guard hesitated but nodded. “Follow me.”
They moved quickly through winding corridors, shadows stretching like fingers along the walls. The palace, grand and ancient, held secrets in every stone. Ariana’s pulse raced with every step, the weight of what she didn’t understand pressing down on her.
When they reached the east wing, the air shifted—cooler, heavier. The flickering of candlelight cast long, wavering shadows. Ariana’s eyes scanned the darkened hallways, every sense alert.
Suddenly, a faint whisper echoed—soft, unintelligible. Her breath caught.
“Did you hear that?” she whispered.
The guards exchanged uneasy glances.
Before anyone could answer, a door creaked open at the far end of the hall.
Ariana stepped forward, heart pounding. The scent of smoke and something metallic drifted out.
Inside, the room was empty—except for a single, glowing mark burned into the floor. Silver and sharp, the same shape as the one on her wrist.
She knelt, tracing the symbol with trembling fingers.
“Someone’s been here,” she said softly. “Someone who knows me.”
The older guard’s voice was low. “We should report this.”
Ariana shook her head. “Not yet. I need to understand what it means first.”
Her eyes flicked back to the mark, determination blazing. Whatever this was—whatever was coming—she wouldn’t face it alone.
Ariana stood slowly, the weight of the glowing mark etched into her skin and the floor pressing down on her chest. The silence of the empty room felt suffocating, thick with secrets.
“Someone’s watching,” she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “And they’re close.”
The older guard’s eyes flickered with unease. “This isn’t just palace politics anymore.”
She nodded, heart thudding. She could feel it — the pull of something ancient, tangled in her blood, in the soil beneath the palace. The dream, the mark, the warning from Varos — it was all connected. And it was all leading to this moment.
“We have to be careful,” she said, glancing toward the shadows outside the room. “If they know …”
The young guard swallowed hard. “You’re not alone in this, Ariana. We’ll watch your back.”
A soft breeze stirred through the cracked window, carrying with it a faint scent of smoke and wildflowers. The garden, the moonlight, the secret messages — all threads woven into a web she was only beginning to understand.
Ariana clenched her fists. She wouldn’t run from it. Not anymore.
“We need answers,” she said, determination steady in her voice. “I’ll find Varos. If he’s the one sending the warnings, he might know what’s coming.”
The guards exchanged glances but said nothing. They knew better than to question her resolve.
As they left the room, Ariana paused at the doorway, glancing back at the silver mark glowing softly on the floor.
It was a promise and a threat.
The palace around her seemed to hold its breath, ancient stones whispering stories she had yet to hear.
Outside, the garden bloomed brighter in the moonlight, colors deeper, alive in the night.
Ariana stepped back into the corridor, her footsteps echoing like a heartbeat. Every step took her closer to the truth — and deeper into the danger that awaited.
