Mira's POV
The moment we stepped through Bloodmoon Keep's massive iron gates, every wolf in the courtyard stopped and stared.
I gripped Elias's arm tighter. "Why are they looking at me like that?"
"Because you smell like their cursed king," he whispered. "And because half of them probably want you dead."
Great. Just great.
Commander Ash led us across the stone courtyard, his boots echoing loudly. Wolves shifted nervously as we passed—some bowing their heads, others growling low in their throats. I could see glowing curse marks on several of them, pulsing with dark magic.
"How many are cursed?" I asked quietly.
"Too many," Ash said. "Drake's been trying to help them, but without the Alpha King's power to break curses properly, we're losing ground."
The Keep itself was beautiful and terrifying at once. Ancient stone walls covered in silver vines. Torches burning with blue flames. Carved wolves decorating every archway, their eyes seeming to follow my movement.
We climbed a long staircase to a hall lined with portraits. I paused at one painting—a young man with golden eyes and a confident smile. Kieran, before the curse stole everything from him.
"Mira!" Elias hissed. "Keep moving."
At the end of the hall, massive wooden doors swung open. A man stepped out, and my whole body tensed.
Drake Wolfsbane was handsome in a sharp, dangerous way. Dark hair, strong jaw, perfectly tailored clothes. He smiled warmly, but something about his eyes made my birthmark burn with warning.
"You must be Mira," he said smoothly, reaching for my hand. "I've waited so long to meet you."
I didn't want to shake his hand. Every instinct screamed not to touch him. But Ash was watching, and I needed to seem cooperative.
The moment Drake's fingers closed around mine, ice shot through my veins.
I gasped, stumbling backward. For just a second—less than a heartbeat—I saw something. A flash of memory that wasn't mine.
A woman with silver hair, crying. Drake's hands around her throat. "You should have chosen me instead of him."
I yanked my hand away, my birthmark blazing with silver light.
"Are you alright?" Drake asked, concern dripping from his voice like honey. "I know this must be overwhelming."
"I'm fine," I lied, forcing my shaking hands behind my back. "Just tired."
Ash's eyes narrowed, studying both of us. "Drake, show Mira to her quarters. She needs rest before we discuss the curse."
Drake's smile never wavered. "Of course. Follow me, Mira."
He led me deeper into the Keep, down corridors that seemed to twist and turn without end. Elias stayed close, one hand on his weapon.
"Kieran and I have been friends since childhood," Drake said conversationally. "When the curse took him, I swore I'd do whatever it takes to bring him back. That's why I've been leading the kingdom in his absence. Someone had to keep things running."
"That's very loyal of you," I said carefully.
"Loyalty is everything to wolves." He glanced back at me. "But I'm sure you'll learn that soon enough. After all, you're the key to breaking Kieran's curse. The Bloodbane we've been waiting for."
The way he said "Bloodbane" made it sound like an insult.
We stopped at an ornate door. Drake pushed it open to reveal a huge bedroom—four-poster bed, fireplace already burning, windows overlooking the forest where Kieran was trapped.
"The Alpha King's private chambers," Drake said. "I thought you should stay here. After all, you'll be bonded to him soon, one way or another."
My stomach twisted. "What do you mean, 'one way or another'?"
Drake's smile sharpened. "The curse requires your willing sacrifice, doesn't it? You give your life, Kieran goes free. Simple."
"There has to be another way—"
"There isn't." He stepped closer, and I backed against the wall. "I've spent seven years searching for alternatives. Trust me, Mira. The only way to save Kieran is for you to die. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be."
Elias growled, moving between us. "Back off, Drake."
For a moment, something dark flashed in Drake's eyes—something that made him look almost inhuman. Then his friendly mask slipped back into place.
"My apologies. I didn't mean to upset you." He moved toward the door. "Rest well, Mira. We'll talk more tomorrow about the ritual preparations. You only have two days left, after all."
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
I collapsed onto the bed, my whole body shaking. "Did you feel that? Something's wrong with him."
"I know," Elias said grimly. "I've never trusted Drake, but Ash says we need proof before we can act. The other wolves are loyal to him."
"The woman I saw when he touched me—silver hair, crying. He killed her. I know he did."
Elias went very still. "Selene had silver hair. Kieran's betrothed—the one he was accused of murdering."
My birthmark burned hotter. "Drake killed her. And somehow blamed Kieran for it. That's why Morgana cursed him—she thought Kieran murdered her daughter."
"We need evidence," Elias said. "Your vision isn't enough to convince an entire kingdom."
"Then I'll find evidence." I looked at the window, at the dark forest beyond. "But first, I need to talk to Kieran. I need to sleep and enter the Dreamscape."
Elias hesitated. "Are you sure that's safe? If Drake suspects—"
"I don't care. Kieran needs to know his best friend is a murderer and a traitor."
After Elias left to stand guard outside, I changed into a simple nightgown and climbed into Kieran's bed. It smelled like pine and winter—like the dreams we'd shared for years.
I closed my eyes, desperate to see him again.
Please work. Please let me find him.
The Dreamscape formed slowly—the mystical forest materializing around me in silvery moonlight. And there, waiting beside our usual clearing, stood Kieran in his human form.
"Mira!" He rushed forward, pulling me into his arms. "Thank God. When I felt you enter the Keep, I was terrified. Drake can't be trusted—"
"I know," I said urgently. "Kieran, I saw something. When Drake touched me, I saw a memory. He killed Selene. He murdered her and framed you for it."
Kieran's whole body went rigid. "What?"
"I'm sorry. I know she was your betrothed, I know you cared about her, but Drake—"
"Selene and I weren't in love," Kieran interrupted. "Our engagement was political. But she was kind. She didn't deserve to die." His jaw clenched. "And Drake... he was my best friend. My beta. I trusted him with everything."
"He's working with Morgana," I realized suddenly. "He has to be. That's the only way this makes sense. He kills Selene, frames you, and Morgana curses you in her grief. Then Drake rules in your place while waiting for me to show up and complete the death ritual."
"So he can claim the throne permanently," Kieran finished grimly. "And probably absorb my power when the curse breaks, if Morgana promised him that."
We stood there in the Dreamscape forest, holding each other while the terrible truth sank in.
"We need proof," I said. "Something concrete that will convince the other wolves."
"The archives," Kieran said suddenly. "There are ancient records in the Keep's underground archives—documents about curse magic, old investigations, everything. If Drake covered his tracks, there might be evidence there."
"Then I'll search tomorrow—"
A sharp pain suddenly stabbed through my chest. I gasped, doubling over.
"Mira? What's wrong?"
The Dreamscape around us started to dissolve, the trees turning to smoke.
"Something's pulling me out," I said through gritted teeth. "Something's wrong in the physical world—"
I jerked awake in Kieran's bed, my heart hammering.
The door was still locked. Elias was still outside. Nothing looked different.
But my water glass on the nightstand was glowing with a faint purple light.
Poison.
Someone had poisoned my water while I slept.
And as I stared at the glowing liquid, I realized with cold horror—I'd drunk half of it before lying down.
My hands started shaking. My vision blurred.
The door burst open. But it wasn't Elias.
Drake stood in the doorway, his friendly mask completely gone. In its place was something cruel and triumphant.
"Did you really think I'd wait two days?" he said softly. "The poison will force your body into the death ritual tonight. You'll die, Kieran will die, and I'll finally take what should have been mine all along."
I tried to scream for help, but my throat wouldn't work.
The last thing I saw before darkness took me was Drake's satisfied smile and the purple magic crawling across my skin like spiders.
Then everything went black.