Chapter 3 - The Crimson Library
The glass rained down like diamond dust.
In the chaos, Nathaniel moved with terrifying speed. He leaped onto a stone pillar, kicked off the masonry, and vaulted himself toward the upper gallery. His sword flashed in the dim light, cutting through the air before the mercenaries could draw their bowstrings.
The huge black wolf sprang simultaneously, leaping onto the stairs, tearing into the ranks of the mercenaries with ferocious precision.
Grace didn't stand idly by. As two mercenaries dropped down from the balcony near her, she dodged a crude swing from a shortsword, swung the heavy iron candlestick with all her remaining strength, and struck the first attacker square in the temple. He collapsed instantly.
The second mercenary grabbed Grace by her wrists, forcing her against the stone hearth. "You should have stayed in Moon Hall, little girl!"
Grace gritted her teeth, her rejection ribbon fraying against his armor. Despite her weakness, a sudden warmth flared deep within her chest—a strange, ancient power sparking in her blood. Her eyes, normally a deep brown, flashed a vibrant, glowing silver.
The mercenary froze, staring at her in shock. "What... what are you?"
Grace slammed her forehead into his nose, shattering it. As he stumbled back groaning, she snatched his dropped dagger and swept his legs out from under him.
Above them, Nathaniel was a force of nature. His blade was an extension of his wrath, disarming and overpowering Celeste's paid killers with absolute mastery. Within minutes, the balcony was cleared, and the surviving mercenaries fled through a rear service exit.
Celeste backed away, her face twisted in terror as Nathaniel walked slowly toward her, his sword dripping onto the marble floor.
"You're finished, Celeste," Nathaniel said softly, his voice colder than the winter storm outside.
"You can't touch me!" Celeste shrieked, backing into a corner. "The High Council supports me! Half the noble houses in this kingdom signed off on the White Fast! If you strike me down, you start a civil war!"
"Then let it burn," Nathaniel growled, grabbing her by her collar and dragging her down the stairs to the lower level where Grace stood waiting.
Nathaniel threw the Baroness at Grace’s feet. Celeste lay on the cold stone, panting, her grand velvet dress covered in dust and soot.
Grace looked down at the woman who had condemned her and twenty-two other women to a slow, painful death. She picked up the leather-bound ledger from the hearth table and tossed it onto Celeste's lap.
"Look at it," Grace commanded.
Celeste sneered, refusing to touch the book. "Trash. Written by an old fool."
"It contains the true birth records of every child born in this territory," Grace said softly. "Including yours, Celeste. My grandmother noted your birth fifty years ago. You weren't born into the noble House of Pike. You were an abandoned orphan, brought into the palace as a servant. You stole your identity, just like you stole our lives."
Celeste’s eyes widened in absolute horror. "No... no, that's impossible! Destroy it! Destroy that book!"
Nathaniel stepped forward, his heavy boot pressing down on Celeste's wrist. "The court will hear this tomorrow morning. Every noble house, every council member, and every one of the twenty-three women you tried to erase will be in the throne room."
"Nathaniel, please!" Celeste begged, her composure entirely shattering as she realized her power was gone. "I did it for the stability of the realm!"
"You did it for yourself," Nathaniel said. He signaled to his surviving guards. "Lock her in the lowest cell in the dungeon. No food. No visitors. Give her only water. Let her experience her own 'tradition'."
The guards dragged the screaming Baroness away into the dark corridors.
Silence descended upon the library once more. The massive black wolf trotted over to Nathaniel, merging seamlessly into his shadow as the Alpha relaxed his power.
Nathaniel turned to Grace. She was swaying on her feet, the adrenaline finally wearing off, leaving her utterly exhausted. As her eyes fluttered shut, she began to collapse toward the hard floor.
Before she could hit the stone, Nathaniel caught her in his arms, scooping her up effortlessly against his chest.
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Grace looked up at him through heavy eyelids. "Did we... did we win?"
Nathaniel looked down at her pale, fierce face, feeling an overwhelming surge of protectiveness that shook him to his core. "This was just the first battle, Grace. But tonight, you saved us all."
