Chapter 5 A Game of Shadows

Elaria's POV

The chamber was hushed, and it felt alive like it was wrapping around me, squeezing so tight I had to fight for every breath. Rowan wasn't far off, just a few steps away, his gold eyes burning into me. He wasn't unsure of himself anymore. Zero doubts. Something had switched in him, and he wasn't the same—something I wasn't sure I could handle.

"Run that by me again," I breathed, barely getting the words out.

He came closer, and I could feel his body heat, almost like it was burning me. "I won't let them touch you."

I shivered at his words. I believed him, which was scarier than anything else.

The palace walls felt like a prison all of a sudden. Things were going haywire in the kingdom, and gossip about me being weak was getting louder because those Council elders weren't saying anything to stop it. But here, in this room, with Rowan standing right in front of me, the only thing I could hear was the silent war between us, getting ready to explode.

A sharp knock on the door snapped me back to reality.

"My Queen."

I recognized the voice. General Caelum. One of the few people I still trusted. I moved away from Rowan, not looking at him, ignoring how tight his jaw got when I turned my back. I opened the door and met the General's serious expression.

"The Council needs you," he told me. "They said it's important."

Figures. I knew what this was about. Another round of questions. Another plan to take my power away, bit by bit, until I was just a figurehead.

Rowan stepped up next to me, making it clear he had my back. "I'm going with you."

Caelum glanced between us, then gave a curt nod. "Watch yourselves. They're looking for any excuse to come after you."

I knew the deal. The Council had been watching, waiting for me to mess up. They wanted me to fail. But I wasn't going to let them have it.

The council chamber was colder than usual. Seven elders sat in their high-backed chairs, their expressions ranging from boredom to barely concealed hatred. Lord Varek, the one I couldn't stand—the one who always reminded me of a snake—leaned forward, his dark eyes gleaming with something too close to amusement.

"My Queen," he purred, dragging out the words, "so very kind of you to join us."

I didn't bite. That's what they wanted. If I slipped up and let my temper show, they'd use it against me.

Varek's gaze flicked to Rowan. "And your... partner is here too. How cute."

Rowan didn't even twitch. Instead, he smiled. A slow, dangerous smile that made the entire room uneasy.

"Spit it out," I said coldly.

Varek's smile widened. "Right then. The kingdom's unraveling, and you do nothing. This... thing you have with an outsider has made you weak. We've let you do what you want for too long. Time to switch things up."

The atmosphere shifted. This was more than a warning. This was a challenge.

Rowan's fingers brushed against mine for a second—just long enough for me to know it wasn't by accident. A promise. He was with me.

I lifted my chin and stared Varek down. "Try to take what's mine, and I'll show you exactly how strong I am."

Silence filled the room.

Then Varek laughed. "Oh, my Queen. That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say."

And the doors flew open.

Killers rushed in.

The first blade nearly sliced my throat open. I dodged on instinct, twisting and striking out with my claws. Blood splattered as my attacker staggered back.

Rowan was already moving, faster than I'd ever seen. He blocked another assassin from reaching me, his growl low and lethal—the kind of sound that meant death.

The Council remained seated, watching like they didn't care their hired killers were trying to slaughter their queen. Cowards. Traitors. Power-hungry schemers.

Another blade flashed. I caught the assassin's wrist and twisted until I heard a sickening crack. The killer screamed. Before he could recover, I drove my claws into his throat. My heart pounded, blood roared in my ears—but I didn't stop.

Not until they were all dead.

Rowan fought like a force of nature, cutting down anyone who dared come near me. I'd never seen him fight like this—relentless, brutal. And gods, it made me feel something dangerous.

The last killer fell. Blood painted the chamber, the metallic scent thick in the air. I gasped for breath, hands shaking. But we'd won.

For now.

Rowan turned to the Council, his golden eyes burning with fury. "Who sent them?"

No one answered. Varek only grinned, glancing between us like we were pieces in his twisted game.

I stepped forward, my voice steady. "You wanted a war?"

Varek's smirk deepened. "Oh, my Queen. The game has already begun."

A chill ran through me. He wasn't bluffing. And that terrified me more than the assassins ever could.

Rowan wiped blood from his hands. "We need to leave. Now."

I shook my head. "I'm in charge here."

His gaze locked onto mine. "Not for long."

The council doors slammed shut behind us.

And the shadows shifted.

A heavy silence stretched between us. My pulse was too fast. Rowan was too close. I could smell him—wild and dark. My head spun.

His gaze didn't waver. "You're trembling."

I scoffed, lifting my chin. "I'm not afraid of anything."

His smirk was slow, but not amused. "Then look away."

I couldn't. My fists clenched. My breath was shallow. I needed to move—should move. But I was frozen.

His fingers twitched like he wanted to reach for me but held himself back. His stance shifted, keeping me within reach.

My pulse thundered in my ears. Every muscle screamed for me to step back. But I didn't.

"Tell me, Elaria," Rowan murmured, his voice doing something to me, something dangerous. "Is it that you dislike what I might do?" His head tilted slightly. "Or that you might like it?"

I breathed in sharply, struggling to form words.

"Never," I finally said. But it wasn't convincing.

Because I wasn't sure what was happening to me anymore.