My mother had fallen ill after giving birth to me and passed away soon after. By the time I was old enough to remember, Serena older sister. My father had always told me to listen to her. So, even though she was constantly at odds with me, I had always chosen and tolerant.
mbers ways
It wasn’t until my last life, during my forced widowhood, that I had accidentally overheard Serena praying at an ancestral tablet.
already my
be patient
“For so many years,” she had whispered, “Father has made me live under the name of Phoebe’s mother, never giving you a proper place. When I become Queen, I will announce to the world that you are my true mother.”
Unfortunately, before I could reveal this truth, I was executed by Damon.
I looked at Serena now. “Your mother had an affair with our father. But he considered her status too low, so he hid the truth and married my moth- er. After my mother died in childbirth, he brought you back to the Phoenix Clan, claiming she had rchal society. The purity of the bloodline is determined by the mother. Serena, your mother.
royal bloodline of the Phoenix Clan.”
given birth to twins. The Phoenix Clan is a matria-
was a common pheasant spirit. You are not of the true
Before Serena could answer, Damon lunged at her, his hands closing around her throat. The King ordered the guards to intervene. Damon was a mess of tears and laughter. “So, all my elaborate plans were for nothing. Serena, you bitch, you dared
to
deceive me!”
Serena, not to be outdone, sneered, “And you’re any better, Damon? Phoebe is the one with the true impersonate the Dragon Prince. You’re the real fool!”
royal bloodline, but you abandoned her to
Chapter 2
Serena’s words seemed to remind Damon of something. He kicked her aside, ignoring her cries of pain, and knelt at
06:17
my feet.
was going to stabilize the kingdom after I took the throne, then reveal the truth “Phoebe,” he pleaded, his face full of regret, “I had my reasons. I and come back to you. I never knew Serena was an impostor. Phoebe, I was wrong, truly wrong. Please, come back to me. If you come back to me, I’ll do anything you ask.”
I leaned down, intrigued. “Anything?”
Damon nodded eagerly.
But I knew the truth. For impersonating the Crown Prince, according to Dragon Clan law, he would likely be stripped of his title and cast out. But the clan could not be without a king. If he could get me back on his side, he would be recognized by the heavens and could legitimately inherit the
throne.
But why should I give him what he wanted?
Under Damon’s hopeful gaze, I said, word by word, “I want you to die.”
The color drained from his face.
touched my still–beating heart, remembering the torment of my past life. “If possible,” I added sincerely, “I hope it’s by
a
thousand cuts.”
“You bitch!” Damon screamed.
Xylos stepped forward, shielding me. He covered my ears and whispered, his voice a private spell, “Phoebe, let’s go.”
The Dragon Clan was in turmoil. The Crown Prince was dead, the Second Prince
Was an impostor, and the people’s faith in the royal family was shattered. Some demanded Damon’s immediate execution; others argued that as the only remaining heir, he must be kept alive.
But none of this mattered to me.
I lay in bed, my feet pressed against Xylos’s chest, pushing him away as I gasped for breath. “No more, I really can’t!”
He was relentless. For an entire day, I had barely left the bed.
But Xylos wouldn’t give up. He whispered in my ear, “Phoebe, who is better, me or
I paused, finally understanding. Since returning from the coronation, Xylos hadn’t asked me how I knew the truth, nor had he shown any concern for the clan’s political chaos. He had simply been… focused.
Was he jealous?
