Chapter 71: A Queen’s Fate

Evelyn sat in silence, her mind drowning in a storm of emotions. The truth had shattered the fragile reality she thought she knew. Daughter of the Crimson Queen. It felt foreign on her tongue, yet something deep inside her recognized it—like an echo of a past she had never known.

Lucian knelt before her, his crimson eyes burning with determination. “Evelyn,” he murmured, his voice gentle but firm. “Talk to me.”

She pulled her knees to her chest, gripping them tightly. “You should have told me,” she whispered. “You should have let me decide what to do with the truth.”

Lucian sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “I wanted to, but I couldn’t risk it. Not until you were strong enough to handle what it meant.”

She let out a humorless laugh. “And now I suppose I don’t have a choice, do I?”

His jaw clenched. “No.”

Evelyn swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “Who else knows?”

Lucian hesitated, then answered, “Few. Dante, obviously. The Council has suspected, but no one has confirmed it.”

Her stomach twisted. “And when they do?”

His expression darkened. “They’ll come for you.”

A cold shiver ran down her spine. The Crimson Queen—her supposed mother—was a legend, a ruler feared and revered in equal measure. If the Council learned of Evelyn’s existence, they wouldn’t just be curious. They would see her as a threat.

“They’ll want to control me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucian reached out, brushing his fingers against her cheek. “They won’t get the chance.”

Evelyn looked at him, searching for something—assurance, hope, anything to hold onto. But all she saw was the raw, unyielding possessiveness in his eyes.

She exhaled shakily. “What do we do now?”

Lucian rose to his feet, his posture tense, as if he were already preparing for battle. “We prepare.”

Her lips parted, but before she could speak, a knock echoed through the door.

Lucian’s head snapped toward the sound, his expression instantly sharpening. He moved toward the door in a flash, his movements precise and lethal. When he pulled it open, a familiar figure stood there.

Selene.

Evelyn’s breath caught at the sight of the vampire princess. Selene’s icy blue eyes flickered with something unreadable as she stepped inside.

“You don’t have much time,” Selene said, her voice calm but urgent. “The Council is already asking questions.”

Evelyn pushed herself to her feet. “Then we have to find answers before they do.”

Selene gave her a measured look. “And are you ready for that, princess?”

The title sent a sharp jolt through Evelyn’s chest.

No. She wasn’t ready.

But ready or not—she had no choice.

Evelyn forced herself to stand tall, despite the weight pressing down on her chest. Selene’s gaze was steady, unyielding, and Evelyn knew the vampire princess was testing her.

“No,” Evelyn admitted, meeting Selene’s eyes without flinching. “But that doesn’t change what I have to do.”

A smirk ghosted across Selene’s lips. “Good answer.”

Lucian, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “What do you know?”

Selene’s expression hardened. “The Council has been gathering information. They suspect something—but they don’t have proof yet. The moment they do, they’ll act.”

Evelyn swallowed. “And what will they do?”

Selene tilted her head slightly. “That depends. If they believe you’re a threat, they’ll try to eliminate you. If they see value in you, they’ll attempt to control you. Either way, you lose.”

A cold sensation crept up Evelyn’s spine. So those are my options—die or be used.

Lucian stepped forward, his presence a shield between Evelyn and the reality pressing in around her. “Neither of those will happen,” he said darkly. “She’s not alone.”

Selene sighed. “That might not be enough. This is bigger than just you, Lucian. The Council has survived for centuries by ensuring no one challenges their authority. If Evelyn is truly the Crimson Queen’s daughter, then she is the first real challenge they’ve faced in generations.”

Evelyn’s fingers curled into fists. “Then we’ll have to find a way to beat them at their own game.”

Selene arched a brow. “You speak as if that’s possible.”

Lucian smirked. “Everything is possible.”

Selene rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, she studied Evelyn, as if trying to see beyond the girl she had always known.

“You have the Queen’s blood,” Selene murmured. “But do you have her strength?”

The words cut deep, but Evelyn didn’t let them shake her. She knew what Selene was really asking.

Was she ready to fight?

Was she ready to claim her place?

Evelyn exhaled slowly, pushing aside the fear that threatened to creep in. She thought of everything that had happened—every betrayal, every secret, every moment that had led her here.

And she thought of Lucian.

He had bound himself to

He had bound himself to her, not just through the blood bond, but through something deeper—something unspoken. And Evelyn knew she wasn’t the only one with something to lose.

She squared her shoulders and looked directly at Selene. “I don’t have the luxury of doubting myself. Whether I have her strength or not, I’ll find a way to win.”

Selene’s lips curled slightly in amusement. “Spoken like a queen.”

Lucian turned to Evelyn, his voice low but firm. “Then we start now. No more hesitation.”

Evelyn nodded, feeling the weight of the moment settle over her. There was no turning back.

Selene folded her arms. “Then let me tell you what you’re really up against.”

Lucian’s jaw tightened. “We already know the Council is moving.”

“You don’t know how they’re moving.” Selene’s tone sharpened. “They’ve sent out hunters—assassins trained specifically to take down vampires of royal blood.”

Evelyn felt a chill creep through her veins. “How many?”

“At least five.” Selene hesitated. “And one of them is someone you know.”

Evelyn’s breath caught. “Who?”

Selene’s expression darkened. “Dante.”

The name struck like a dagger to the chest.

Dante.

Once her friend. Once someone she trusted.

Now, a hunter sent to kill her.

Evelyn’s nails dug into her palms as a flood of memories crashed through her mind—late-night conversations, quiet moments of understanding, and now… betrayal.

Lucian’s face was unreadable, but his grip on her wrist tightened ever so slightly. “Then we deal with him like we deal with the rest.”

Evelyn forced herself to breathe. “I need to see him first.”

Selene frowned. “That’s a risk.”

“I don’t care.” Evelyn’s voice was firm. “I need to know why.”

Lucian exhaled sharply. “Then we make it fast.”

Selene studied Evelyn for a long moment before nodding. “You have one chance. If he hesitates, use it. If he doesn’t…”

She didn’t need to finish.

Evelyn understood.

If Dante was truly lost, she would have to do what needed to be done.