Chapter 310

Elias pov

The smell of blood still hangs in the air as we near the kingdom. It’s faint now, but strong enough to twist my stomach into knots. I glance over at Everett and Ethan, both of them wearing the same worried expression I know I’m showing.

None of us speaks, but we don’t need to. The tension is thick, and the silence between us says it all - we might be too late. Fuck, I hope that is not true, I hope we can help somehow still.

Everett is the first to break the silence. “Do you think it’s over?” His voice is low, uncertain.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly, my eyes scanning the road ahead. The castle is coming into view now, and I can see people moving around in the distance. “We’ll find out soon enough.”

As we get closer, I notice something strange. The atmosphere feels different. There are no screams, no signs of panic. In fact, there’s laughter. People are bustling around, hanging banners and decorations. It’s almost festive.

“Are they celebrating?” Ethan asks, his brows furrowed in confusion.

“I think they are,” I say, still trying to wrap my head around it. It looks like just hours ago, this place was a battlefield. What’s changed?

We stop a passing servant carrying a bundle of flowers. She looks up at us, startled at first, but then her expression softens when she sees we’re not a threat.

“What’s going on?” Everett asks, his tone careful but curious.

The woman smiles, a spark of hope in her eyes. “The king has stepped down,” she explains. “And the new queen is taking over. It’s a time of change, a new beginning.”

“Queen?” Ethan echoes, glancing at me and Everett. “There’s never been a queen.”

“There is now,” the servant says with a nod. “She’s the first true queen in the kingdom’s history. And everyone already loves her.”

“Who is she?” I ask, though my gut is already telling me the answer.

The woman beams. “Ashley Kingston. She’s strong, kind, and exactly what this kingdom needs.”

Ash. Her name hits me like a punch to the chest. I exchange a quick glance with my brothers, and I can tell they’re thinking the same thing I am. Could it really be her?

Ethan steps forward, his easy charm slipping into place. “We’re actually old friends of Ashley,” he says with a grin. “Do you think you could show us where to find her?”

The servant’s face lights up. “Of course! Follow me.”

Ethan gives us a wink as we follow the woman through the castle halls. “Old friends, huh?” Everett mutters under his breath, but there’s a hint of a smirk on his face.

“Worked, didn’t it?” Ethan replies with a shrug.

The servant leads us to a large, sunlit living room. The sound of laughter and conversation spills out into the hallway, and my heart starts to pound in my chest.

“She’s in there,” the woman says, gesturing toward the open doorway.

“Thank you,” I say, and she nods before hurrying off.

We step into the room, and my breath catches. Ash is sitting on a couch, surrounded by people. Bears, I realize. Big, intimidating men who look like they could crush anyone who crossed them. But there’s a warmth to them, the way they’re smiling and talking with her.

And then there’s Ash herself. She looks different. Stronger. More confident. There’s a light in her eyes that wasn’t there before, like she’s finally found her place in the world.

“Elias,” Everett says quietly, nudging me. “Look at her.”

I’m already looking. I can’t stop looking. There’s something about her, something that feels right. My heart pounds harder, and I suddenly remember our mother’s words.

“She’s your fated mate,” she had told us. “All three of you. When you meet her, you’ll know.”

And now, standing here, watching her laugh and smile, I do know.

Ethan clears his throat, stepping forward with his usual confidence. “Ash!” He calls out, grinning. “Long time no see!”

She turns at the sound of her name, her eyes widening in surprise when she sees us. “Ethan? Everett? Elias?”

“That’s us,” Ethan says, his grin widening.

Ash stands, looking between the three of us. “What are you doing here?”

“We heard about the chaos and thought we’d come to help,” Everett says, his voice calm and steady. “But it looks like you’ve already got things under control.”

Ash smiles, but there’s a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. “It’s been a lot. But we’re managing.”

“You’re not just managing,” Ethan says, his tone full of admiration. “You’re leading a kingdom. That’s huge.”

Her cheeks flush slightly, and she looks down for a moment. “It’s not something I ever expected,” she admits. “But I couldn’t walk away. Not after everything that’s happened.”

I step forward, my voice quiet. “You’re doing the right thing, Ash. This kingdom needs someone like you.”

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, it feels like the rest of the room fades away. There’s a connection there, something deep and unexplainable. I can see the strength in her, the determination, but also the vulnerability she’s trying so hard to hide.

“Thank you,” she says softly.

Before I can say anything else, one of the bears, Constantine, if I remember right, clears his throat.

“Who are these guys?” He asks, his tone protective.

“Friends,” Ash says quickly, turning back to him. “They’re... friends.”

Constantine doesn’t look entirely convinced, but he nods. “If they’re your friends, then they’re welcome here.”

“Thanks,” Ethan says with a grin, clearly trying to charm the guy.

Ash looks back at us, her expression unreadable. “Why don’t you sit? There’s a lot to catch up on.”

We take seats around the room, and the conversation shifts back to the kingdom and the changes ahead. My mind, however, keeps drifting back to Ash. Fated mate, huh?

Taking advantage of the fact that I sit right next to her, during a moment everyone’s busy listening to one of Ethan’s wild tales, I lean closer to Ash and whisper in her ear, “you’ll have a lot of explaining to do, mate.”