Kamrynn’s POV
The hall descended into a suffocating silence after Thalia’s stunning declaration. All eyes locked onto her, wide with shock and disbelief.
“Kamrynn is telling the truth,” Thalia repeated, her voice trembling but resolute.
Kyven stepped closer to her, his face twisted with a mixture of confusion and desperation. “Thalia… what are you saying?” His voice cracked, his usual composure utterly shattered.
Draven’s thunderous voice interrupted, sharp as a whip. “Enough!” His tone carried an iron authority, cutting through the mounting whispers. “Thalia, you don’t need to be afraid of Kamrynn. Don’t let her manipulate you into saying things you’ll regret.”
Thalia turned to her father, tears streaming down her face, her voice trembling but firm. “I’m not afraid of Kamrynn, Father. I’m afraid of you.”
Gasps rippled through the room.
Draven stiffened, his expression darkening dangerously. “You don’t know what you’re saying,” he growled, his tone low and menacing.
“I know exactly what I’m saying,” Thalia shot back, lifting her chin despite the fear in her eyes. She faced the crowd, her voice rising. “Kamrynn is right about my father. Everything she said is true. The curse, the plan to transfer it to Alpha Orion and Luna Rmonica, all of it.”
The hall erupted into whispers, the tension thick enough to suffocate.
“Thalia, stop this at once!” Draven barked, his fury boiling over.
“I can’t, Father,” she said, her voice breaking. “I can’t keep lying for you. I won’t. I…” Her gaze flicked to Kyven, her face crumpling with emotion. “I was supposed to seduce Kyven. You told me to make him fall for me so that this cursed union could happen. And I tried. I really tried. But I never expected to fall in love with him.”
Kyven froze, his face pale, his lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out.
Thalia pressed on, her voice heavy with emotion. “I love him, Father. And I can’t hurt him or his family like this. I won’t be a part of your sick plan anymore!”
“Enough!” Draven’s roar shook the walls. His face was a mask of fury, veins bulging on his neck.
“No!” Thalia’s voice rose, defiant. “I won’t stop, not this time. Everyone deserves to know the truth.” She turned back to the crowd, her voice trembling. “My father… he’s been trying to break our family’s curse for years. It’s real. It’s been passed down through generations, and it kills every descendant of Corvis Amethyst as soon as they turn forty. Today is my father’s fortieth birthday. He’s desperate, and he’s found a way to transfer the curse. That’s why this mating ceremony had to happen-because once Kyven and I are mated, our Packs will become family, and he’ll use dark magic to transfer the curse to Alpha Orion and Luna Rmonica and their entire bloodline.”
A shocked cry came from Rmonica’s direction, and I saw her clutching her abdomen protectively. Alpha Orion’s face turned pale as the hall broke into chaos.
“Enough!” Draven bellowed, his voice filled with rage. “Thalia, you don’t understand what you’re doing! You’re ruining everything!”
“I’m stopping you!” she shot back, her tears flowing freely. “You don’t care about anyone but yourself. You’re willing to sacrifice an entire family, an entire Pack, just to save yourself!”
Draven’s composure snapped. With a roar, he struck her across the face, the sound echoing throughout the hall.
“You’re no daughter of mine,” he spat. “You’re useless. Weak. A failure.”
Kyven surged forward, his face a mask of rage. “Draven, don’t you dare lay another hand on her!”
“You stay out of this, boy!” Draven growled.
Orion’s voice boomed over the chaos. “Guards! Arrest Alpha Draven! He is charged with attempted assassination and coup!”
The guards moved quickly, but Draven was faster. In one swift motion, he grabbed Rmonica, pulling her close and placing a switchblade against her throat.
“No one moves!” he snarled, his eyes wild and dangerous. “Come closer, and I’ll kill her!”
The hall froze. Gasps and screams filled the air as everyone stood paralyzed in fear.
“Rmonica!” Orion’s voice cracked with desperation. He raised his hands in surrender. “Draven, please, don’t hurt her. Let her go. We can work something out.”
Draven laughed, the sound cold and humorless. “Do you take me for a fool, Orion? The moment I let her go, you’ll have me executed.”
“No,” Orion pleaded, stepping forward cautiously. “I give you my word as Alpha. I’ll let you and your people leave peacefully. Just don’t harm her.”
“Your word?” Draven sneered. “How noble.” He pressed the blade harder, a thin line of blood appearing on Rmonica’s neck.
“Stop!” Orion cried, his voice breaking. “Please, Draven. Don’t do this. I’ll do anything. Just don’t hurt her.”
Draven smirked. “Anything?” He gestured to the crowd with the knife. “Tell your loyal followers to let me go, and I’ll release her once I’m safely across your borders.”
Orion’s jaw tightened, his fists clenched. “I can’t trust you, Draven. You’ve proven that already.”
“Then you leave me no choice,” Draven said, dragging Rmonica towards the exit.
I stood frozen, my breath caught in my throat as Draven’s knife glinted dangerously against Rmonica’s pale neck. Every instinct in my body screamed at me to do something, anything, but the rational part of my mind reminded me of the stakes. He was unpredictable, unhinged, and armed. Charging at him would not only jeopardize Rmonica’s life but also the lives of the children I carried. I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms, as I watched him inch toward the hall’s exit, dragging Rmonica with him.
“Nobody move,” Draven barked, his eyes scanning the room like a predator watching for signs of attack. “One wrong step, and she’s gone.”
My heart pounded so violently I thought it might burst. Rmonica’s face was a mask of stoic fear, her hands trembling at her sides. The small trail of blood trickling down her neck from Draven’s earlier cut glistened under the flickering chandelier light. I felt useless, trapped by my own fear and limitations.
“Father, stop!” Thalia’s voice broke through the heavy silence, sharp and desperate.
Draven didn’t even glance back at her. “Quiet, Thalia. You’ve done enough damage already.”
But Thalia didn’t back down. She stepped forward, her eyes wide and glistening with tears. “Please, Father! Don’t do this!”
Draven’s grip tightened on the knife, his jaw clenching. “Stay where you are, girl! Don’t think for a second I won’t do the same to you if you get in my way.” His tone was venomous, cold, and devoid of any paternal warmth.
Thalia froze, her face twisting with emotion. “Would you really kill me? Your own daughter?”
He turned his head just slightly, enough for her to catch the glint of menace in his eyes. “You betrayed me, Thalia. You’ve chosen them over your own blood. You’re nothing to me now. Flesh and blood mean nothing when there’s no loyalty.”
Tears streaked down her cheeks, her voice trembling. “Was that all I ever was to you? A tool? A bargaining chip? Did I ever mean anything to you at all?”
Draven sneered, his lips curling cruelly. “You want the truth? Fine. I wanted a son. I needed an heir worthy of my legacy. You were a consolation prize, nothing more.”
Thalia staggered back as if he had physically struck her. Her sobs wracked her body, but she didn’t look away from him. “And Mother? Did you even love her? Was it really the curse that killed her, or was it you?”
Draven stiffened, his face briefly flickering with something unreadable-guilt, anger, or maybe both. He didn’t answer, his silence speaking volumes.
While the heated exchange continued, I seized the opportunity. Keeping my movements subtle, I edged my way toward Kyven, who stood as if rooted to the spot. His face was pale, his expression hollow, as if the weight of everything unfolding before him had paralyzed him.
“Kyven,” I hissed under my breath as I drew close enough. He didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on Thalia and Draven.
“Kyven!” I whispered more sharply, nudging his arm. He blinked and turned his gaze toward me, dazed.
“Kamrynn, I- What… what do we do?” he mumbled, his voice barely audible.
I grabbed his arm and leaned in. “This is our chance. Draven’s distracted. If we act now, we can get Rmonica away from him.”
His eyes darted toward Rmonica, and I saw the resolve harden in his expression. He gave a small nod, his jaw clenching.
Thalia’s voice rose again, thick with anguish. “Was it the curse, Father? Or was it your greed, your obsession with power, that killed her?”
Draven snapped, “Enough!” His grip on Rmonica tightened, the blade pressing closer to her skin. “You know nothing, Thalia! Stay out of this before I end you too!”
Kyven and a guard stationed nearby moved simultaneously. They tackled Draven with precision, the guard grabbing his knife hand while Kyven pulled Rmonica free from his grip and dragged her to safety.
The hall erupted in chaos. Draven, now enraged and cornered, swung the knife wildly, slashing the guard’s arm before shoving him aside. Blood spattered across the floor, and the guard stumbled back with a groan, clutching his wound.
Draven bolted for the exit, his movements frantic and uncoordinated. But fate had other plans.
A loud creak echoed through the hall, followed by a sharp snap. The massive chandelier, suspended high above, began to descend.
Everything seemed to slow as the rope gave way completely, sending the ornate fixture plummeting.
“Watch out!” someone screamed, but it was too late.
The chandelier crashed onto Draven with an earth-shaking impact. The sound of metal and glass shattering filled the air, accompanied by a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed outward in a gruesome arc, painting the polished floors in a grotesque mosaic of red.
The shards of crystal impaled him in multiple places, piercing through his chest, legs, and abdomen. His body convulsed briefly under the weight of the chandelier before going still, his lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
The hall fell silent once more, the gruesome sight leaving everyone frozen in horror. Draven’s blood pooled beneath the chandelier, mingling with the shards of broken glass. His once-imposing figure was now a mangled, unrecognizable heap.
I pressed a trembling hand to my mouth, unable to tear my gaze away from the carnage. It was over. Draven’s reign of terror had ended in the most brutal and poetic way imaginable.