Chapter 253

Lyra’s POV

Dear Lyra,

This may be the last time we ever talk. I have been badly injured during the defense as one of Azythar’s commanders brought a cursed blade after I killed the first lead commander. He snuck in through one of our gates—still don’t know how—and I took a hit I did not expect.

I am not sure I will survive through the coming nights. My body is fighting whatever dark poison he put in, but the healers are running out of remedies. Violetta too is trying some Fae remedies, but nothing seems to be working so far. I know you have been extremely busy, and I know pregnancy has taken its toll on you, which is why I chose not to send any message about it till now. It happened shortly after you delivered the swords, and it was the only way I was able to manage to survive as I managed a jab at him as well.

I am writing this now to tell you that our child will rule should I not survive.

This is my will for the SilverClaw pack. Our royal lineage continues through you. Because the heir is not yet born, Silas will act as the temporary Alpha to hold everything together until this war is over. I am leaving SilverClaw under your command, Lyra, because I trust you are capable and you’re my mate. You will guide our people until our child comes of age to take the throne.

Forgive me for the pain I caused you. Protect our baby. I love you more than life itself.

— Kade

The paper fluttered in my grip as the words blurred before my eyes.

“No,” I whispered, my whole chest aching with it. “No, no, no.”

My knees felt weak, and I had to press one hand against the railing so I could stop myself from falling flat on the ground. There was a sudden ringing in my ears.

Kade was dying…

My mate was dying… it was bad enough that he had lost hope… that he had written his will already. And I wasn’t there for him.

He was lying in his bed in SilverClaw right now, his body deteriorating, thinking he was writing his final goodbye to me.

“Lyra?” Thorne’s voice came from behind me, filled with concern. “What does it say?”

I couldn’t answer him. I just stared down at Kade’s crooked signature at the bottom of the page. Even the handwriting was crooked, too; it was clearly his, but it was obvious he had struggled to put this note together.

I could barely breathe, the pain being so unbearable. It felt like someone was squeezing my heart with bare hands. I had spent the last several weeks yelling at Kade, pushing him away, throwing him out of my carriage, and telling him to stay out of my life. I had convinced myself that I hated him for bringing me to the council, and that keeping my distance was the only way to honor Riven’s memory.

But seeing his words on this bloody paper tore down every single wall I had built.

I couldn’t lose him.

I simply couldn’t afford to lose a second mate.

Riven was already gone, lying cold in the earth behind the packhouse. The thought of Kade dying too—of losing the father of the child growing inside me—made my entire world feel like it was collapsing into dust.

“He named me his successor,” I finally choked out, turning back to face Thorne. My voice sounded broken, tears spilling freely over my cheeks. “He wants me to take command of SilverClaw. He’s... he’s dying, Thorne.”

“Who is dying?” Qamar asked. I hadn’t even noticed when he had returned.

“Alpha Kade?” he asked when I did not respond. Thorne had a pinched expression on his face. Kade had probably written about his illness in the note he sent.

“I have to go to him,” I said, wiping my eyes with the back of my sleeve. “But I can’t leave my people… I…”

Heavy was truly the head that wore the crown. “What should I do?!” I asked, wiping the tears again, hating that they kept spilling from my eyes. Maybe it was the pregnancy making me extra emotional. “I need horses. Right now.”

“Lyra, you are pregnant and exhausted,” Thorne said, stepping forward. “The roads between here and SilverClaw are crawling with rogues and dark creatures. You can’t ride out there in your condition. Kade will not even want it as it is putting you in danger.”

“He will want me to be there—”

“Kade wrote me a note, too!” Thorne said, interrupting me. “He doesn’t want you to come. He needs you to stay safe here and protect yourself and our people. He made me promise that to him.”

“I don’t care!” I screamed, turning on him with my fists clenched tight. “I am not sitting here while he dies alone in that castle! I let Riven die because I was too weak to stop the blade. I am not letting Kade die from a poisoned wound when I have magic in my veins!”

“Goddess, why do you have to be so stubborn, Lyra?!” Thorne yelled back at me. “I cannot bear to lose you again! Do you know how…” he sucked in a sharp breath. “I was this close to losing my goddamned mind when I lost you the first time! I’ll be damned if I let it happen again.”

“You didn’t lose me, Thorne. You lost Zoraira, and I am not her.”

“You aren’t?” He scoffed, raising his brows. “So you deny having any memories of it? Or have you just been blocking it out?”

I swallowed hard, knowing he’s right. The memories started coming back stronger every time I touched something of hers—of what I used to be. It was one of the reasons I was glad to leave the Fae lands. “I am not letting you stop me.”

“That wasn’t what I just asked, Zoraira.”

“I am not Zoraira!” I yelled, closing my eyes… only to see red.