The Tiger's Daughter
Tanya heard the news before the palace finished whispering.
She was seated before a bronze mirror when the maid knelt behind her, fingers trembling as she braided her hair. The girl had been placed in the palace years ago—quiet, forgettable, loyal to one cause only.
The tiger's cause.
"The servant has been moved," the maid said carefully.
"To the West Wing."
The comb stilled.
Tanya's reflection stared back at her, eyes sharp, calculating. Slowly, she turned her head.
"Repeat that."
"The king reassigned her himself. She now occupies the chamber beside his. The one meant for the Queen Mother… and later, a queen."
Silence stretched.
Then Tanya laughed.
Not loudly. Not sweetly.
It was the sound of offense.
"A servant?" she said, incredulous. "A captive from Ross?"
Her fingers curled against the arm of the chair.
"I am the only woman in this realm with blood worthy of standing beside King Raven," she said coldly. "The only one with enough status to survive that throne."
She rose in one smooth motion.
"So," she said, eyes gleaming, "he finally makes a move—and it is this he chooses to provoke us with?"
The maid lowered her head quickly.
"I believe the King is unaware of the implications, my lady. The palace is already buzzing."
Tanya smiled.
"Good."
Before the Tiger
She wasted no time.
That same evening, Tanya stood before her father—the head of the Tiger Clan—his presence as suffocating as ever. The man listened without interruption as she paced, her frustration barely contained.
"He is slipping from our grasp," Tanya snapped. "Your plan is failing. The court has not turned on him. The seal incident backfired. And now he places a woman at his side—publicly."
Her father's eyes remained unreadable.
"You were told to lie low," he said.
"I did," she shot back. "And look where that got us."
She stopped pacing and faced him fully.
"If removing him is proving difficult," she said, voice lowering, "then why not rule him instead?"
That got his attention.
Tanya stepped closer.
"Let him fall for me. Let me become his queen. The throne still comes to us, Father—by marriage instead of bloodshed."
A pause.
Then he leaned back, fingers steepled.
"Marriage brings risk," he said slowly. "Raven is not a fool."
"I am not asking for permission to love him," Tanya replied smoothly. "I am offering you a better weapon."
Her father studied her for a long moment.
Finally, he spoke.
"One condition."
She stilled.
"If you take him," he said, voice hard as iron, "you gain his trust completely. You wait. You smile. You share his bed."
Tanya's throat tightened—but she did not look away.
"And when the time comes," he continued, "you end him."
The words were final.
"I want that boy gone forever."
Silence fell between them.
Tanya bowed her head.
"I understand."
She turned to leave.
But inside—
Her heart twisted.
Because only she knew the truth she would never speak aloud.
She did not just want Raven's crown.
She wanted him.
And somehow—
she would find a way to have both.