Chapter 3

The weight of the crown.

The crown sat on the soft red cushion like a snake ready to bite.

I looked at it through my glass. My face looked back from the shiny gold.

The touch light made the diamond shine, painting rainbows on the walls So pretty. So dangerous. Soon it would be Mine.

"Heavier than you would expect". Councilor Elena told me from behind.

Her steps echoed as she walked towards me. "Three pounds of gold, platinum, and dark magic".

"It feels heavier already". I said pressing my hand on the cold glass.

"And I hadn't even worn it yet."

Elena's smile wasn't kind. "Your father said the same thing on his coronation day. She paused. "He said it got heavier every year."

I turned to face her. "Did you bring me here just to warn me about the weight?"

"No". Elena's silver eye locked onto mine. "I called because tomorrow, everyone in the kingdom will hear the news."

Princess Lyra Ravencrest, the new heir to the throne.

My heart sank. "Tomorrow."

"The Council voted." "Today, the news of your brother 's trial would speed very fast." "We must act fast before people panic."

Elena walked to another case. This one thing, holding old scrolls.

"But first, there were things you need to know about being a Queen".

She pulled out an ancient parchment, it's edges yellow and cracked. The wax seal looked new, though it was a hundred years old.

"What is it?" I asked.

"The omega Accords", Elena said as she unrolled the old paper. "Written when Queen Astrid the wise ruled, the last omega queen".

"Last". I stepped closer, looking at the faded words. "What happened to her?"

"She ruled for 37 years. She stopped the pack war and made trade deals we still use." Elena pointed at the writing. "But she had an alpha husband. King Marcus the Bold."

My heart jumped. "Marcus?"

"Common name for northern alphas." Elena looked at me sharply. "Does that mean something to you?"

"No, I just... I ran my finger through my hair."

"Go on".

"The Accord says an omega ruler must bond with an alpha within one year of becoming an heir." "The alpha would be a king consort, he shared power but can't overrule the omega Queen", Elena explained as she unrolled the paper more.

"In theory". I asked

"In reality, they always took full control eventually. It's their nature". Elena's voice was very serious. "You must choose carefully".

Suddenly, the vault door slammed open loudly. Captain Reynolds rushed in, his armor rattling. Sweat shone his face despite the cold room.

"Forgive me", your Highness." He said. Looking between me and Elena, "but there is a problem." "Prince Kael has escaped."

Elena dropped the parchment.

"Escaped? How?"

"He attacked the guards during the transfer." "Killed two." Reynolds clenched his jaw. "He's gone, and took six royal followers with him."

My legs trembled. I grabbed the display case to steady myself.

"How long is it"

"Three hours ago." Reynolds came closer. Your Highness," he's not just hiding." "Our trackers said he's going north, to the shadowlands."

"The Shadowlands?" Elena turned pale. "He wouldn't dare."

"What is in the shadowlands?" I asked, though part of me already feared the answer.

"Outlaws packs, Reynolds growled. Criminals, exiles, alpha banned from decent society. If Kael unites them..."

'He will have an army," Elena finishes. "An army with nothing left to lose."

I looked at the crown in its case, three pounds of gold, A burden I wasn't prepared to carry.

"Maybe three months before he became a real threat," Reynolds replied grimly.

But your Highness, there's more. "The Northern packs are already spreading rumors." "Some packs are saying omega rulers can't keep them safe." Reynolds reported.

The Iron Forge sent a letter today. "The mountain clans are worried about having a new, untested Queen."

Reynolds' face showed what he thought of their worries. Three more packs agree with them. I sank into a chair, Overwhelmed.

"They want me to step down."

"No." Elena corrected. "They want you to prove you are strong enough." "Quickly".

"How?" I asked angrily. By marrying some alpha? Or being as cruel as Keal.

"By acting like a true Queen," Elena said. "By making tough decisions."

The vault went quiet. Only the sound of dripping water broke the silence.

I looked at the shining crown. "Tell me more about Queen Astrid."

Elena actually smiled. "She was strong. Smart. Very stubborn. She told Council that being omega made her fight harder."

"And her husband?"

"Completely royal." "He led her armies but always obeyed her." Elena's smile Faded. "Finding someone like that now will be very... difficult."

Suddenly, a young messenger ran in, out of breath. Your Highness. "News from the east."

Reynolds read the scroll. His face darkened.

"The Nightbreeze pack asks for protection." "They fear Kael will attack the omega who testify against him."

"Sarah," I whispered, remembering her frightening face.

"Three more packs also seek protection," the messenger added.

I stood up filled with new strength. "Tell Nightbreeze, I'm coming myself."

"Your Highness." Elena protested. "It's too dangerous."

"I must go," I insisted. "They need to see that their future queen was not hiding the castle."

Reynolds warned, "Kael is gathering outlaw packs."

"Then I would gather the royal ones first." I touch the crown's glass. "How many guards could come with me?"

"Fifty. Maybe Sixty if we leave the castle lightly guarded." Reynolds replied.

"Do it. We leave at dawn." I turned to Elena. "Call all the pack's leader to meet at Moonfall Ridge in one month."

Elena looked shocked. "That's where Kael...Killed the Thronfield family."

" Yes." I met her eyes. It's time to take that place back from his darkness."

"After a moment," Elena nodded. "It's risky.... But it might work."

It has to work, I said, looking again at the crown. Tomorrow I will be named heir. That the same tomorrow I'd have a target on my back.

But tonight, I am still Lyra. And Lyra needs to help Sarah Nightbreeze, remember the crown hadn't forgotten her.

For the first time, the crown's weight didn't scare me. I would bear it, no matter how heavy it was.

"One more thing." The messenger spoke again. "An unsigned letter came by raven."

He handed me a wrinkled note. The messy writing said: "The Winter Wolf, remembers debt. Call for the North when needed."

My hands shook. Marcus Thronfield. Even now, he supported me.

"Bad news?" Elena asked.

I tucked the note away.

"No." Very good news.

Suddenly, the crown wasn't so heavy anymore.