The palace gates loomed like a judgment, their iron bars glinting in the morning sun as Lilith's carriage rumbled through. She'd barely slept—every time she closed her eyes, she saw her son's tiny hand reaching for hers. Fetal soul resonance at 65%. The system's notification glowed faintly in her vision, a constant reminder of what was at stake.
"Nervous?" Kane asked, nudging her knee with his. They discussed coexistence zone logistics throughout the trip, his arm brushing against hers frequently.
"Of the council? Please." Lilith adjusted the locket around her neck—now tucked under her gown, close to her heart. "They're just old men afraid of change. But their coin? That's useful." She'd unlocked royal vault access after exposing Silas, and the gold would fund the Frostpine coexistence zone. System mission progress: 10%.
Kane grinned. "Valtorian queens always this pragmatic?"
"Only the ones who've died once." She met his gaze, softer than she intended. "Thanks. For Frostpine. For… believing me."
His amber eyes warmed. "Always."
The carriage stopped. The king waited on the steps, his face tight but hopeful. "The council's already screaming. Silas's brother's demanding a 'pureblood' inquiry into your lineage."
Lilith stepped down, her boots clicking on the marble. "Let him. I've got Valtorian archives, wolf clan records, and a locket that glows for me. What's he got? A bad haircut?"
System notification: New threat detected. Lord Bartholomew (Silas's brother) plans to challenge your claim via blood duel. Accept to earn +3000 contribution points.
Her eyebrows shot up. "Blood duel? How medieval."
The king sighed. "Old laws. He thinks a half-breed can't fight. Prove him wrong, and the council bends. Refuse, and they'll call you coward."
Lilith flexed her bandaged shoulder, still tender from Ella's blade. "When?"
"Dusk. The training yard." The king clapped her back. "Don't kill him. Maiming's fine, though."
The training yard smelled of sweat and steel. Lords in velvet robes ringed the perimeter, sipping wine as if a duel to the death was afternoon entertainment. Bartholomew stood in the center, a brute with Silas's silver hair and twice the muscle, twirling a broadsword like it weighed nothing.
"Look who's here!" He laughed, spitting on the ground. "The wolf's b*tch come to die."
Lilith stepped into the ring, wearing leather armor cinched tight over her gown. Kane had insisted on gifting it—"Wolf clan steel. Stops blades better than silk." His scent lingered on the metal, pine and snow.
System Tips: Activate combat analysis mode. Bartholomew Weaknesses: Old right knee injury, slower reaction speed than normal. Rewards: Mastery of two-handed sword.
A sword materialized in her hand, its hilt wrapped in moonstone—vault loot, system-approved. She twirled it, grinning as Bartholomew's eyes widened.
"Begin!" the king shouted.
Bartholomew charged, swinging his broadsword in a arc that would've split her skull. Lilith ducked, sliding between his legs, and slammed the hilt into his knee. He howled, crumpling.
"First lesson," she purred, pressing the blade to his throat. "Never underestimate a girl who's died before."
The crowd erupted—boos from conservatives, cheers from the few lords brave enough to support her. Bartholomew spat blood. "Cheat! She used magic—"
"Or skill." Kane's voice cut through the noise. He tossed a vial onto the ground, its contents steaming. "Wolfsbane. We found it in your saddlebag. Planning to poison the queen, Lord?"
Bartholomew paled. The king nodded at the guards. "Arrest him. And fetch the council. They owe my daughter an apology."
That night, the palace feast hall thrummed with tension. Lords who'd sneered at her yesterday now clinked goblets in her direction, their smiles too wide, their motives too transparent. Lilith sipped wine, ignoring their stares—until Kane slid onto the bench beside her, a plate of venison in hand.
"Coexistence zone blueprints are done." He pushed a roll of parchment toward her. "Wolf clan elders agreed to send guards. But the settlers want guarantees—no midnight hunts, no 'accidental' livestock snacks."
Lilith laughed. "Tell them we'll install a snack bar. Venison jerky, courtesy of your clan."
Kane's hand closed over hers, his thumb brushing her knuckles. "Dance with me. Piss off the conservatives."
She let him pull her into the throng, their bodies moving to the fiddle's tune. His hand rested low on her back, warm even through the armor. "You know they'll call this treason. A princess fraternizing with a wolf."
"Good." He dipped her, his breath hot against her neck. "Let them talk. I'd rather they fear us together."
System notification: Coexistence zone construction begins tomorrow. Mission progress: 25%. Fetal soul resonance at 70%. A vision flickered—her son, laughing, chasing a wolf pup through a meadow. Lilith's chest ached.
"I need to show them it's possible," she said, pulling away. "Not just talk."
Frostpine's coexistence zone rose in three weeks. A wooden palisade enclosing cottages, a schoolhouse, and a market square where humans and wolves (in shifted form) traded goods. On opening day, Lilith stood beside Kane, watching as a wolf elder bartered a pelt for a loaf of bread. Progress.
Then the first stone flew.
It narrowly missed a wolf pup, crashing into a cottage wall. A man in the crowd screamed, "Freaks! Go back to the woods!"
Chaos erupted. Wolves bared fangs, humans grabbed axes, and Lilith found herself tackled to the ground as a second stone sailed overhead. Kane's weight pinned her, his growl rumbling like thunder.
"Stay down," he snarled, shifting into half-wolf form. Claws extended, he lunged into the crowd, grabbing the stone-thrower by the scruff. "Who sent you?"
The man whimpered, pointing at a hooded figure slipping into the woods. "Bartholomew's men! They paid me to start a riot!"
Lilith stood, brushing dirt from her gown. "Kane, secure the zone. I'll handle the rats."
System mission update: Capture Bartholomew's conspirators. Reward: Fetal soul manifestation (10 minutes). Her pulse raced. Ten minutes. Enough to hear him say "mama."
She chased the hooded figure into the forest, her boots crunching over pine needles. He was fast, but not faster than her—system-enhanced speed, baby. She tackled him to the ground, yanking off his hood.
Ella stared up at her, eyes wild, a dagger in her hand. "It should've been mine! The crown, the wolf king, everything!"
Lilith grabbed the dagger, twisting it from her grip. "Newsflash, princess—you're a pawn. Bartholomew's using you to start a war. And when he's done? He'll feed you to his wolves."
Ella froze. "No… he said—"
"He lied." Lilith hauled her to her feet. "Prove you're not your mother's daughter. Tell me where Bartholomew is."
A twig snapped. Bartholomew stepped from the trees, crossbow raised. "Release her. Or the girl gets it."
Lilith pushed Ella behind her, reaching for her sword. "Nice try, but I've got backup."
Kane materialized beside her, fully shifted—a massive black wolf with amber eyes. Bartholomew fired, but Kane swatted the arrow aside, tackling him to the ground. The crossbow skidded into the underbrush.
"Finish him," Kane rumbled, shifting back to human form.
Lilith pressed her sword to Bartholomew's throat. "Confess. Tell the council you planned to raze the zone, frame the wolves, seize the throne."
He spat. "Never."
Lilith sighed, kicking his wrist until he screamed. "Last chance. Or I let the wolves have you. Slowly."
Bartholomew whimpered, spilling every detail—meetings with disgruntled lords, caches of weapons, even a plan to poison the king's wine. Ella listened, her face paling. "You… you wanted to kill Father?"
"Foolish girl." Bartholomew sneered. "He's weak. Letting a half-breed—"
Ella's fist connected with his jaw. "Shut up." She turned to Lilith, tears streaming. "I'll testify. Against him, against everyone. Just… don't send me to the dungeon."
Lilith studied her, then nodded. "Prove yourself. Help rebuild Frostpine. Start with the schoolhouse."
That night, Lilith sat on the palace balcony, watching the moon rise. Kane joined her, silent, until she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Ella's not evil," she said. "Just broken. Like I was."
"Like we all were." His arm slid around her waist. "The zone's thriving. Kids are playing with wolf pups. The system's happy."
System notification: Mission progress: 40%. Fetal soul manifestation in 3… 2… 1…
The glow appeared, brighter this time. Her son crawled into her lap, gurgling, and grabbed Kane's finger with both hands. "Dada," he babbled.
Kane went rigid. "He… he spoke."
Lilith laughed, tears spilling. "Told you he's smart." She kissed the baby's forehead, memorizing the feel of his chubby cheeks. "Almost there, my love."
As the glow faded, the system chimed: Permanent anchor progress: 50%. New mission: Uncover the wolf council's secret treaty with Valtoria. Reward: Key to Valtorian royal archives.
Lilith tensed. "Valtoria. My mother's kingdom."
Kane nodded, his expression grave. "They've been silent since her death. Too silent. Whatever's in those archives… it connects to you. To us."
She stood, gripping the balcony rail. The wind whipped her hair, and for a moment, she felt like her mother—silver-haired, unyielding, ready to burn the world to protect her own.
"Then we go to Valtoria." Lilith met his gaze, fire in her veins. "Whatever's hidden there, I'll find it. For him."
Kane smiled, a feral, beautiful thing. "Together."
Below, the palace slept. But beyond its walls, a kingdom waited—for a queen, for a wolf king, for a future where silver and shadow finally stood as one.
Moonlight sheathed them in a silver hue, and from afar drifted the intertwined echoes of wolf howls and children's laughter, knotted as one. Lilith clasped Kane's hand, her nails all but piercing his palm, only to be met with a tighter, more resolute grip in return. She knew the journey to Valtoria would be beset with thorns—that the secrets lurking in the shadows might upheave every shred of understanding. Yet for the children, for the true peace this land deserved, she and Kane had long since exhausted all paths of retreat.