Sorayah swallowed hard, her throat tightening as she watched Lupien break into a wheezing laugh.
"If you truly want to help me as you claim, Your Highness," she said, stepping closer, her expression carved with resolve and curiosity, "then tell me the truth. Tell me the Beta Lord’s origin. Why does he harbor such hatred for humans? And why do you say he’s not your uncle?"
Her eyes bore into him, sharp and unyielding. "What are you hiding, Lupien?"
"There’s nothing more to say, Sorayah," he rasped, his tone hardening with bitter finality. "Except this, if you’re unwilling to become my concubine, then you should leave the palace tonight. I have no heirs. None. And if Dimitri truly becomes the next Alpha, then you and every last human will be ruined."
Blood spilled from his mouth, staining his lips. "If you want to save yourself, Sorayah, run. Leave the palace while you still can."
Sorayah didn’t flinch. Her voice was calm, but steel lay beneath her words. "If the Beta Lord truly needs something from me...that’s the only reason I’m still alive, isn’t it?...then he’ll keep me alive until he gets it. I’m not leaving, Lupien. I’m not done here."
A dry, mirthless chuckle escaped him, followed by another harsh cough and a mouthful of blood. He slumped further into the bed, eyes flickering with something unreadable.
"Do you want to know why Dimitri hasn’t killed you yet?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper. "It’s because of your dragon powers. Your magical scales... they could have saved me, too." His gaze glazed over, haunted. "But it’s too late now. The poison inside me is too strong. If I forced your body to use those scales to heal me, the sickness would be transferred to you. You’d die."
He paused, breathing ragged. "Not that I could do it even if I wanted to. Only you have the power to activate the scales. And no... I would never hurt you just to save myself."
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, then opened them again with effort. "Dimitri... he is cursed by the Moon Goddess. Do you know why he never takes off his mask?" His gaze was sharp now, as if piercing through time itself. "It’s because of what lies beneath. His face is an abomination. They say if an entire city looked upon him without the mask, it would become a land of death. Every blessing meant for to experience...love, joy, peace, fruitfulness was taken from him the moment he was cursed."
Lupien’s hand twitched. "But you... the dragon princess... you’re the only one who can see his true face without dying. The moment you remove that mask, you’ll see everything."
Sorayah’s breath caught. Her mind drifted to the ruined pack they had left behind before. Just what happened there? she wondered. Why did Dimitri suddenly urge me to leave with Anaya and Rhys?
"He’s waiting, Sorayah," Lupien said grimly. "Waiting for the right moment to spill your blood... because that’s the only way he can break the curse. Only one of you gets to live. And it won’t be you."
Just then, the tense silence was shattered by a voice from outside the chamber.
"Congratulations, Your Highness! The Empress Luna is with child!"
The words struck like thunder.
"A child?" Sorayah whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief. "But... how can that be? How does a woman without a womb get pregnant?"
Lupien jolted upright, clutching his chest as he gasped for breath. "She can’t be pregnant," he said through clenched teeth. "It’s not possible."
So, he knew. He knew about the Empress’s damaged womb.
Sorayah let out a bitter scoff. "Then this changes everything," she muttered to herself. "If the Empress is truly with child, won’t that threaten Dimitri’s claim to the throne?"
She stared out the window, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. A child born of a miracle... or a lie? Either way, the game has changed.
"I have to go now, Your Highness," Sorayah said quietly, her voice composed but her mind still spinning.
With a final glance at Lupien, she turned and left the chamber, motioning for his eunuch and the waiting servants who had been ordered out during their conversation to return inside.
As soon as she stepped out, Sorayah didn’t waste a moment. Her footsteps were swift and purposeful as she made her way through the palace corridors toward Dimitri’s manor.
When she reached his door, she didn’t knock. She barged in, breath held tightly in her chest, but was met with an empty room.
He wasn’t there.
Just as she turned to leave, the soft sound of running water reached her ears. Her eyes narrowed. The bathhouse. Without hesitation, she walked toward the sound and pushed the door open.
And there he was.
Dimitri stood naked, stepping out of a misty marble tub, steam curling around his body. Water glistened across his skin, trailing over sculpted muscle and sharp, aristocratic lines. Her gaze unintentionally dropped and lingered on the large, hardened length between his legs, slick and heavy with droplets. The sight struck her speechless for a moment, her heart pounding against her ribs.
"Are you not tired of staring?" Dimitri’s voice broke the silence, a teasing edge laced through it.
Sorayah blinked, snapping out of her daze. She quickly averted her eyes, cleared her throat, and forced her thoughts into order.
"I came here to speak with you," she said sharply, trying to reclaim her composure.
Dimitri picked up a towel and wrapped it around his waist, his chest remaining bare. His presence was commanding even without the formal layers of his royal attire.
"What is it?" he asked casually, raising a brow. "What brings you storming into my chambers without an invitation?"
"You heard the news?" Sorayah asked, her eyes lifting to meet his. "The Empress Luna is with child."
Dimitri smirked, his emerald gaze gleaming with something dark and amused.
"The child is still in her womb, Sorayah," he replied coolly. "And you and I both know it’s a lie. That woman can’t conceive. Her womb was damaged beyond repair."
He scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "I’ve been wondering what she’s plotting. Is she planning to fake a pregnancy until it’s time to present a child...one that isn’t even hers? Perhaps she means to smuggle in a bastard and claim it as her own."
"I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks something’s fishy," Sorayah said, arms folding across her chest. "So what’s the plan? Are we going to expose her?"
Dimitri took a slow step forward, the smirk still dancing on his lips. "There’s no need to rush. Timing is everything."
He moved toward a nearby chaise and draped a robe over his shoulders, leaving it open across his bare chest. "The Empress Dowager will never allow the Empress Luna to rule as regent. She loathes her. The royal court is filled with the Dowager’s loyalists. They’d sooner bring in an outsider than allow the Luna to take the throne."
"But that outsider can’t be just anyone," he continued. "I’m here. I have a claim. I’m the only one powerful enough to maintain order. When the court descends into chaos over the pregnancy, all I need is a final push."
"What kind of push?" Sorayah asked cautiously.
Dimitri’s eyes narrowed with cunning.
"A letter," he said, voice low. "A royal decree written with Lupien’s blood....his last wish, naming me as his successor. It will appear to be something he drafted while dying. And I won’t reveal it immediately. That would be too suspicious. No... I’ll wait. I’ll let the court fester with confusion, factions forming, everyone at each other’s throats. And then. someone will ’find’ the letter, right when the time is ripe."
Sorayah’s breath caught slightly.
"And what of the Empress Luna?" she asked, her tone darker now. "If she truly is faking a pregnancy, that’s a crime punishable by death."
Dimitri looked at her meaningfully. "And you’ve always wanted to deal with her, haven’t you?" he said with quiet amusement. "Once you become my consort, you’ll have every right to strike her down yourself."
He took a slow step toward her, his gaze intense. "Bringing a bastard into the palace is treason. If that truly is her plan, then she’s already dug a grave for herself along with her family and her descendants."
Sorayah felt a chill crawl up her spine. "So Lupien will die tonight?"
Dimitri gave a short nod. "He will. And justice for your family will finally be served. Lupien, who orchestrated the massacre of the humans, will be gone. Your twin sister would finally rest in peace."
Her hands trembled slightly at her sides. She began to move closer to him, watching as his brows rose in faint curiosity.
Does he really know? she wondered. Does he know that I’m the human crown princess? Is he keeping me alive because he plans to use me when the time is right...when my blood becomes the final key to his plan?
"What’s wrong, Sorayah?" Dimitri asked, his voice gentle now, laced with a strange sincerity. His eyes were locked onto hers, searching.
Would I die if I removed his mask? she thought suddenly. Should I let him know that I know his plans?
She said nothing for a moment, lips parted but the words stuck in her throat.