The Lost Queen

Chapter Seventeen

Daya's P.O.V.

"Let's go kick some ass."

James' voice cut through the tense silence, his usual smirk present but dimmed by the weight of the moment. His gaze softened as it landed on me, the remnants of dried tears still staining my cheeks. I met his eyes with a small smile, a silent reassurance that I was okay, before climbing off Kaden. James gave a curt nod and stepped aside, pushing open the door.

Kaden exhaled heavily, the weight of the impending battle pressing against his shoulders. I watched as he stood from the bed, my body instinctively moving toward him. Reaching the edge, I pulled him into a lingering kiss, pouring every ounce of love and desperation into it—one last moment of peace before we plunged into war.

As we broke apart, his forehead rested against mine, his breath warm against my lips. "Go to the safe house," he murmured, his tone laced with an unyielding finality.

I blinked up at him, my chest tightening. "What?"

Did he not see what I was capable of? The power I held? The carnage I could unleash? I had slaughtered enemies in seconds—faster than anyone in this kingdom. He knew that. So why was he trying to push me away now?

As if reading my thoughts, Kaden sighed. "You don't know how to control it yet, love. Please, I don't want you to get hurt." His fingers brushed gently against my face, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

I leaned into his touch, unwilling to pull away. He was doing this to protect me, I knew that, but every fiber of my being screamed to protect him in return.

"I can try to control it," I pleaded, gripping his hands. "You know what I can do. Why not use it to our advantage?"

Kaden shook his head. "Daya, no. Your brother has the element of fire—he can fight. Your mother and father wanted to help, too, but they can't risk it." His voice was firm, resolute. He was not going to change his mind.

"Risk what?" I questioned, following him as he led me down the staircase, our hands still intertwined.

"The kingdom," he answered, his pace unrelenting. "You're not yet ready to rule the werewolf world, and Thomas isn't eighteen. If something happens to your parents, the Rebels will seize their chance and take the crown. We cannot let that happen."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodding as I absorbed the weight of his words.

By the time we reached the bottom floor, I barely had time to register where he was leading me before we entered a hidden passageway in the dining room. The air down here was cold, the dim torches along the stone walls casting eerie shadows. Above us, the faint sound of marching footsteps echoed, growing louder. The battle was beginning. Our time was up.

Kaden turned to face me, his expression torn between duty and love. "Follow the path all the way down. It'll lead you to the safe house beneath the far side of the pack house. There's another entrance disguised as an old shack outside, but you need the code to get in—060856."

He squeezed my hand tighter, his gaze locking onto mine. "It's my time to go, Daya." His voice softened, the weight of his love pressing into every syllable. "I love you."

I could barely breathe as his lips pressed against my forehead. My heart ached, but I forced myself to whisper, "I love you too."

And then he was gone.

I clenched my fists, blinking away the sting in my eyes before turning toward the tunnel. The cold air bit at my exposed skin as I walked, the flickering torchlight casting an eerie glow along the stone path. The minutes dragged, my footsteps echoing in the silence.