The Royal Legacy Prequel: Royal Ancestors
Autorzy
Emily Goulden
Lektury
184K
Rozdziały
13
Prologue
The Royal Legacy Prequel: Royal Ancestors
1920
She tiptoed through the castle’s grand corridors, the echo of her heels bouncing off the stone floor and reverberating through the towering ceilings. Her gown and cape, a blend of blue hues, flowed behind her like a waterfall, the sheer fabric catching the light from the candles scattered around. Her dark hair was tucked away under her cloak’s hood, and her crown, more of a headband, sparkled in the warm glow.
In her hand, she held a candelabra, its flickering light casting long shadows down the deserted hallway. Arched windows punctuated the walls, allowing the faint sunlight to filter in. The realm was known for its constant rain, the sun often hidden behind a blanket of thick, gray clouds.
As she moved, her full breasts jostled painfully, and her unhealed wounds throbbed, fresh blood seeping out. Clutched in her other hand was a bundle of blankets, held close to her chest as if her life depended on it.
“Your Highness!” a voice whispered from the shadows, and she swung the candelabra toward it.
“Joanna!” she exhaled in relief, recognizing the wife of one of her royal guards.
“Quickly, this way.” Joanna gestured urgently, leading her into a dim corridor.
“Where are the others?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“They’re safe. Elisa, Marybelle, and Noelle have the children. They’re escaping as we speak. I was hoping to find you and Austin.” Joanna’s eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for the young boy.
“Austin…” She choked back a sob, her hand flying to her mouth. “Ember is our only hope,” she managed to say, regaining her composure.
“Ember?” Joanna echoed, confusion etched on her face.
Pulling back the blanket, she revealed the tiny, pink face of her newborn daughter. Joanna gasped.
“You had the baby?”
“Yes, but we kept it a secret. Arlo and I suspected a plot against the crown, so we hid the pregnancy and her birth. She’s our realm’s only hope. You must take her.” She thrust the bundle into Joanna’s arms.
“But Your Highness, you must come too!” Joanna reached for her hand, but she pulled away.
“No, I need to buy you time. They’re after me. They’ll follow my scent. My wounds are still fresh, they’ll find me easily. I’ll lead them away from the tunnels while you escape. Please, Joanna, keep my daughter safe. She’s the future of the werewolves,” she pleaded, gripping Joanna’s hand tightly.
“Your Highness…Beatrice.” Joanna’s voice wavered, tears welling up in her eyes.
Beatrice smiled, hugging Joanna and kissing her daughter’s forehead.
“It’s okay, Joanna. I’ll be with Arlo soon. We’ll be together, as we’re meant to be, and our daughter will be free. One day, we’ll rise again and reclaim what’s ours. The Moon Goddess will favor us and grant us our revenge,” Beatrice whispered, hugging Joanna one last time.
“We’ll raise the princess as you and the king would have, Your Grace,” Joanna promised.
“No, she mustn’t know her origins. She can’t know she’s a princess or who her parents are. You must find her a safe place, with loving parents. Leave her with them, with one instruction—to love and protect the baby. Do you understand, Joanna?” Beatrice asked, her tone firm.
Joanna didn’t understand why the child couldn’t know her true identity or her parents. But she knew better than to question her brave queen, so she nodded.
“I understand, and I promise,” she vowed.
“Now, go. Quickly,” Beatrice said, looking at her baby one last time before pushing Joanna away.
Joanna bolted from the queen’s presence before a single tear could escape, darting through the castle’s labyrinthine corridors toward the hidden door that led to the underground tunnels. She had wisely swapped her high heels for a pair of flats, allowing her to slip away through the castle unnoticed.
She was bundled up in a heavy cloak to shield her from the biting wind outside, and her gray wool gown blended seamlessly with her surroundings. She clutched the bundle of blankets that held the princess close to her chest as she sprinted, making sure to stick to the shadows.
Thankfully, she reached the secret entrance without being seen. Nestled in one of the seldom-used parlor rooms was a bookshelf that, when a certain book was pulled, revealed an entrance to the underground tunnels. Joanna slipped inside and gently closed the bookcase door behind her.
Now enveloped in darkness, she drew in a breath and held it, waiting for her eyes to adjust. Once she was certain she was alone, she let out her breath and continued through the damp tunnels. She saw a glimmer of light at the end, signaling that she was nearing the grounds just behind the castle.
At the tunnel’s end, she would either find her friends, their children, and her own son, or soldiers ready to kill her. She had no other option but to press on with her plan and run toward the light. She stifled a scream as she stumbled out of the rocky tunnel and onto the dewy grass.
“Joanna!” a woman exclaimed, catching Joanna’s arm to prevent her from falling. “Did you find the queen?”
It was Noelle who steadied Joanna, her eyes wide as she scanned their surroundings.
“I did. She’s leading the invaders away so we can escape,” Joanna explained.
“What? Why didn’t she come with you?” Noelle asked.
Joanna unveiled the baby in her arms.
“The queen gave birth to Princess Ember. She wants us to flee with her, to keep her safe, to keep all of our children safe. She said they are the future of the realm now.” Joanna tried to comprehend the queen’s words, but it was hard to make sense of it all.
“Never mind. We need to take advantage of the distraction and run while we can,” Noelle sighed, grabbing Joanna’s hand and pulling her toward the woods.
Waiting in the tree line were Elisa and Marybelle, along with the four children, Todd, Phillip, Riley, and Samuel.
“We need to run. Now,” Noelle told the others, taking her six-year-old son Samuel’s hand.
Elisa, mother to two-year-old Phillip, and Marybelle, mother to four-year-old Riley, stared at Joanna in shock as she cradled a baby that wasn’t hers. Her own infant son, Todd, was in Marybelle’s arms. Joanna rushed to Marybelle’s side to ensure her baby was safe.
“We are entrusted with the safety of Princess Ember, the heir to the realm. Our escape isn’t just necessary, it’s a command from our queen,” Joanna said, surprising herself with her newfound strength.
“Then, we shall run,” Marybelle said, holding Todd close to her chest and taking Riley’s hand.
The four women, the partners of the royal guard, sprinted into the woods. They were all dressed warmly and in their most comfortable shoes to facilitate their swift escape. They knew these woods like the back of their hands, thanks to their partners who had made sure they knew every possible escape route from the realm for their safety.
They knew that deep within the Golden Woods, miles away from the castle, was a portal. A portal that would transport them from the werewolf realm to the safety of the human realm.
Once in the human realm, they would find a safe house not far from the portal in a place called Oregon. The portal was designed for emergency use only and could only be used once. After its use, the portal would implode and seal off the realm.
“Joanna!” a voice echoed through the woods, followed by the eerie sound of howling.
“Faster!” Noelle shouted.
The girls sprinted as fast as they could toward the portal.
