Seleste examined the wall across from her, her mind buzzing with concern. Everyone would be at supper tonight. Despite being in another room entirely, she knew that Domanik was smiling to himself. He was eager to share the celebration with his closest friends and allies. It was all he could speak of since sunrise.

"Is everything well, Your Grace?" Malyssa looked at the Queen nervously, her hands wrung together.

"Yes. My apologies." Seleste stepped into the billowing gown and took in a deep breath as Malyssa and another handmaiden dressed her. The corset pulled tight across her stomach, but she'd given word to the young women to allow her room to breathe. That was very important, now.

Malyssa tied the corset and rounded the woman, her eyes on Seleste's stomach. "It's grown so big," she nearly whispered.

"It has," Seleste smiled. She placed a hand tenderly onto her stomach, stroking the fabric that stretched over her.

"Do you know that we'll have an heir or not?" The other young woman, Elizabeth, nudged Malyssa. "I'm sorry, I should not have asked." She bowed her head and followed Elizabeth to the door. Before either could escape, Seleste turned and called out to them,

"We shall have an heir. You mustn't tell a soul, though. Domanik will have my head if he knows I spoke about the child before I told our friends." Malyssa's eyes lit up, and she covered her mouth to hide her smile.

"I won't tell a soul," she swore, giggling with eagerness as she followed Elizabeth out. Seleste smiled to herself.

"I'll always come back to you, my love. I will fight for you until I draw my last breath. Until my bones are dust and my soul is long gone. I will fight for you. I swear it."

Seleste shook the vow she'd made years ago from her head and smoothed out her gown. She straightened up and headed down the halls in search of her daughters. She found the two girls in their chamber. The girls looked up in fear as she entered.

"What is wrong, my doves?"

Madelyn, the eldest of the girls, pulled her sheets to her chest. "Won't the monster come while we sleep?"

Seleste bristled at the mention of 'the monster.' Whoever had started the vicious rumor that the woods neighboring the Kingdom of Taviel had given birth to a dangerous beast had long since gotten on her nerves. There was no such thing, and to entertain the idea was a waste of precious time.

"Listen to me when I say this, my doves. There is no beast in the woods. There is no monster to come for you. No faeries, witches, or creatures of that ilk. Now, sleep. You both need to be well-rested come sunrise. Worship begins bright and early."

The two girls reluctantly settled into their beds, still skeptical of the existence of a monster. She placed a kiss on each of their foreheads and walked to the door.

"Sleep," she said softly. Seleste hoped they would soon forget about this fairy tale and resume their normal behavior.

The blood dripped from every surface. Seleste's stomach wretched, her heart breaking as she looked at the massacre. And then, two pairs of hands seized her, pulling her backwards. She thrashed. She screamed. It was fruitless.

Seleste strode down the hall right on time. Domanik stopped in his tracks and took in the sight of his wife in one of the most beautiful gowns he'd had designed for her. "You look breathtaking, my dear."

She blushed and turned to him, stepping closer. Domanik's hands found her hips. He stared down into her deep brown eyes, captivated by the glowing aura surrounding her. Seleste brushed a strand of black hair back and pressed her lips to his.

"It seems as though our guests have started the festivities without us," she said, looking over her shoulder at the doors of the Great Hall. She could hear the laughter and chatter of conversation just on the other side.

"I believe you are correct," he said. His mouth quirked up into a smile, and for a moment, Seleste caught sight of the young man who had stolen her attention so many years ago. Though now much older, a mischievous boy still remained inside the King. "Let us not keep them any longer." Domanik held out his arm, and Seleste hooked hers through his.

King Domanik led the Queen through to the doors and opened them both at once. The gesture was enough to garner the attention of the entirety of the room. All eyes were on the King and the Queen.

Looking out at the sea of faces, all traces of Seleste's nerves disappeared instantaneously. The change was physically apparent. Her spine straightened out, her chin pointed forward, and her eyes hardened just slightly. By all definition, she exuded confidence. Domanik led her to the front of the hall where she took her seat at the throne.

A table had been positioned in front of the two seats, the feast already spread out around two empty plates. Seleste looked over the various platters, distracted by all of her options. Rolls, potatoes, lamb, and stew. The desserts looked particularly delicious. As she contemplated all of her options, Domanik cleared his throat and addressed the room.

"My dear friends," he began, a sweeping gesture around the room. "I thank you all for joining us for our feast this evening. Though I do love to hear myself speak, I ask that you all turn your attention to your queen. She comes bearing important news."

Seleste turned to Domanik, tears in her eyes. "I swear my loyalty." Domanik pulled her into his arms, and she buried her face into his wedding doublet. Only there, did her assured smile falter.

The eyes were once more on Seleste. She rose from her throne and smiled tenderly. At the end of the second table, the one Domanik's royal friends and allies occupied, she spotted a few familiar faces. Leigh, the Duke of Summerold, and his wife, Nelina, stared up at her, eagerly awaiting her words. She drew in a breath and said,

"As your king has said, I have news to share. The whispers throughout the land are true. King Domanik and I are to have another child. A son. An heir."

The words that left her lips were electricity, sparking a discussion so immediate that she was taken aback by the passion. Nelina covered her smile, shocked to hear the great news. Lords applauded Domanik.

"The Almighty have blessed us. They have given us the heir we prayed for." There were murmurs of approval as she continued. "Let us raise our glasses in thanks to our divine protectors." Seleste reached for the glass on the table. Domanik did the same, leaning over to whisper in her ear.

"Are you sure, my love? What if it is unsafe for our son?"

She smiled with mischief. "Just a sip. No danger in that, is there?"

"I suppose not," Domanik said. He turned to their audience. "To the Almighty!" The dinner guests repeated the phrase and each tipped their cups back. Seleste sipped from her glass as well.

"They won't taste it?" Seleste asked. The hag nodded lecherously. Seleste glanced at the second vial on the table. "And what of this other one?"

Seleste watched the smile on Nelina's face slip away. Her eyes flitted around the room, wild, scared. Her lips twitched, then stilled. Seleste placed her glass down and nodded at the two men on either side of the thrones. Before the guards of the neighboring kingdoms could notice the stillness of their lords and ladies, the guards bearing the Alwyst crest drew their swords. In an instant, eight bodies fell to the floor, metal helmets bouncing and clattering about. The Alwyst guards returned to their positions around Seleste.

Two broke away and crossed the hall to open the doors. Behind them, Ryn stood still.

Seleste's heart leapt at the sight of him. She broke into a sprint and threw herself into his arms. The tears hit her instantly. She pulled back to look over his face, her heart pounding in her ears.

"My love," he whispered. His lips collided with hers. Seleste clung to him like she might fall apart if she let go. She broke their kiss only when she needed air.

"I was so afraid," she panted. Ryn's expression softened, and he swiped the tears from her cheeks.

"You need not be afraid, darling. It is nearly over." Ryn took her hand and led her to the end of the table her guests sat at. He let go only to roughly spin around Lord Yllara. The pudgy man's eyes were wide with fear.

Seleste looked over the group and said, "I feel as though I should introduce myself once more. I am not Queen Seleste Alwyst, wife of Domanik Alwyst the Third. I am, and will always be, Seleste Duskguard. The Stolen Princess of Kithar."

She could practically feel the realization settle over the room. It was a sense of still terror, the kind that froze people in their place. It was the kind that Seleste was quite familiar with. She'd made home of that terror years ago.

"Kithar, as many of you may recall, was a bountiful land. We were a peaceful kingdom. We lived our lives as though there were no other kingdoms to make war with. No, we were not perfect, but then, nobody is. Despite our imperfections, we kept our cruelty contained." Seleste rounded the table slowly, dragging her fingers along the shoulders of her guests. "Kithar was known across the lands for our medical studies. We brewed up the teas and wines that our neighbors needed to stay well. It was only fitting that I welcome you into the castle with something from home.

"What you all have swallowed will keep you still, as I'm sure you've figured out by now. Try as you might, you cannot move your arms or legs. You cannot turn your head. You cannot even scream. But you can feel pain."

Seleste returned to Ryn's side. Over his shoulder hung a satchel. She opened the bag and carefully removed a pair of golden gloves. Where each finger ended, a thin, sharp claw began. Ryn held out his hands, allowing her to put the gloves on for him. He flexed his fingers and the shrill, metallic noise echoed in the hall as the blades rubbed against one another.

"You and your ilk know the history," Seleste continued. "When Taviel, this very kingdom, turned their attacks towards Kithar, your lot were silent. 'But Your Grace, we were only children,' you may be thinking. You played no part in the attack of my people. You were babes, same as I. The difference is that while you slept peacefully in your chambers, I was made to watch my mother defiled. I watched as Domanik the Second slaughtered my family. Destroyed my kingdom. Stripped me from my first love."

Seleste met Ryn's eyes once more. He gave the smallest of nods. She approached the thrones. "Once the blood had dried and there was nothing left to steal, Domanik's son stole me." Seleste dug her nails into her husband's shoulder. "Do you remember that, my love? Do you recall the way you dressed me in my crest and then ravished me, claiming me the way your father claimed my kingdom? I remember." Her voice was low, her words directed solely for her husband. "I remember the way you whispered in my ear. You were purifying my body. You took someone lesser and molded her into greatness. I had to be grateful, for our daughters were proof that my people were not utterly useless."

Seleste straightened herself up and motioned for Ryn to begin. "Watch," she instructed Domanik. "Watch as your allies fall for your people's sins. Watch as your father's greed destroys all that he created."

Domanik's eyes remained unblinking as Ryn worked his way through the guests. He ripped his claws across chests. He gouged eyes from their sockets. He slashed through throats. The guests fell to the floor without a word, but their faces revealed the pain behind their motionless lips. Seleste met eyes with Nelina as her throat spit up blood, pooling underneath her head.

"My daughters spoke of a monster not too long ago. Trying to soothe them, I said that there were no monsters, but I lied. This kingdom holds many monsters. We are purging ourselves of them."

Ryn caught his breath once the last guest had fallen to his blades. He wiped his forehead, smearing blood from one temple to the other. Seleste had never seen him look more handsome. She started to speak when she fell to her knees. Domanik's eyes were suddenly alert. Ryn rid his hands of the gloves and hurried to her side, catching her before she completely collapsed.

"Seleste," he whispered. "What is wrong?"

Blinking through tears, she laughed, "Nothing is wrong, my love. Nothing is wrong." The retch in her stomach sent a shudder throughout her body. The pain in her gut was nearly blinding, and for a moment, she was sure she wouldn't survive.

"What is this?" Ryn insisted.

"This is my last gift to the King," she said through strained teeth. She turned her chilling gaze to her husband.

"Behold. Your stolen prince."

Seleste's body shuddered violently one last time before miscarrying. Her eyes fluttered. In an instant, Ryn was on his feet. He drew his sword and swung. Domanik's head bounced across the floor, his dead gaze settling on Seleste. She smiled. The darkness came a moment later.

With Ryn's assistance, Seleste stepped out onto the stone balcony. The morning sun blinded her, but she pressed forward, determined to address the people of Taviel. They needed to hear of the horrific tragedy that had come of the banquet. Her guards from the night before remained statuesque on either side of her and Ryn.

"I know not where to begin other than with an apology," she said. Her eyes were wet without any effort. "Last night... Last night, a terrible beast entered the castle. Our guards tried to stop it, but it was much too strong. King Domanik..." She paused, her voice cracking.

"King Domanik died a hero," Ryn continued. "He gave his life for the Queen. He gave his life for his unborn son, but it was in vanity, for the monster had already affected Queen Seleste. Last night, your queen lost her husband and her heir. Our neighboring kingdoms lost their royals. We have already begun our hunt for the beast. We will not stop until it has been killed. Until then, Queen Seleste will reign. May the Almighty watch over her, forever."

Seleste pressed close to Ryn, into his shoulders, and smiled to herself.

"I'll always come back to you, my love. I will fight for you until I draw my last breath. Until my bones are dust and my soul is long gone. I will fight for you. I swear it, Ryn."