41

Arin stood at the entrance of the grand hall, her eyes narrowing as she watched Aeryn walk past, escorted by two guards. The sight of Aeryn—dressed in the royal robes of their people—made her blood boil. The fabric clung to Aeryn’s human form, foreign and out of place in Arin’s eyes. How could *she*, a mere human, be chosen to be the queen of their kingdom? The queen of *her* people?

It was unthinkable.

With her fists clenched tightly at her sides, Arin turned away from the sight, walking briskly down the dimly lit corridor of the palace. The faint whispers of servants filled the air, but Arin paid them no mind. Her thoughts were consumed with a seething hatred she hadn’t felt in years.

As she turned a corner, her sharp hearing picked up a hushed conversation coming from one of the council rooms nearby. Curiosity sparked within her, and she slowed her steps, moving closer to the partially open door. Voices drifted through the crack, low but urgent.

“It’s only a matter of time before Jack loses everything,” one voice said, a familiar tone of authority. Arin recognized it as one of the elder council members, someone who had once commanded great respect.

“He’s losing power rapidly,” another voice chimed in, lower and more secretive. “The human blood he stole from Aeryn gave him temporary strength, but it’s not enough. He needs more... much more.”

A smile tugged at Arin’s lips. *So Jack’s power is failing.* The thought filled her with satisfaction. Jack had long been a menace to their kingdom, but he was also a symbol of chaos, someone who disrupted the balance of power. And now, his desperation was becoming clear.

“But he won’t stop, will he?” the first voice said, a note of concern creeping in. “He’ll come back. He’s hunting for another human. If he gets one...”

The second voice trailed off ominously, leaving the sentence unfinished. But the implication was clear. Jack’s hunger for power—and his need for human blood—was far from over.

Arin’s smirk widened. She stepped away from the door, already formulating a plan in her mind. Jack might be weak now, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t find a way to restore his strength. And if he needed a human to do it... well, there was a perfect target right in front of her. Aeryn.

---

Later that day, Arin found herself standing in one of the castle’s expansive gardens, her gaze fixed on the horizon. The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink, but the beauty of the sunset did little to quell the storm brewing inside her. The audacity of Alex, her beloved cousin, to choose a human as his queen was something she couldn’t stomach.

The crunch of footsteps on the gravel behind her caught her attention. She didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

“Arin,” Alex’s voice was calm but firm, the kind of tone he always used when he knew something was amiss. “We need to talk.”

Arin turned slowly, her expression carefully neutral. “Do we?”

Alex stepped closer, his piercing gaze fixed on hers. He wasn’t one to shy away from confrontation, especially not with family. “You’ve been avoiding me. And I know why.”

Arin raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest. “Oh? Enlighten me then.”

Alex’s eyes darkened slightly, his patience wearing thin. “It’s Aeryn. You don’t approve of her being here, do you?”

Arin let out a cold laugh, the sound bitter and sharp. “Approve? Alex, she’s a *human*. How could you possibly expect me to approve of her as our queen?”

Alex’s jaw clenched, his frustration evident. “Aeryn is more than just a human, Arin. She’s proven herself in ways you refuse to see.”

“Proven herself?” Arin scoffed, stepping closer to her cousin, her voice lowering dangerously. “She doesn’t belong here. She doesn’t understand our people, our customs. And yet you’ve placed her on a pedestal as if she’s worthy of our crown. Do you honestly believe she can handle the weight of this responsibility? Or is this just some misguided attempt at protecting her because you’re infatuated?”

The accusation hung in the air between them, heavy and cutting.

Alex’s eyes flashed with anger, but he remained composed. “This isn’t about infatuation, Arin. Aeryn has the strength to be queen, whether you see it or not.”

“Strength?” Arin spat, her voice rising. “She’s weak, Alex. Fragile. She crumbles under the slightest pressure. And now, thanks to your foolish decision, Jack has tasted her blood. He’s coming for her, and you’ve put our entire kingdom at risk because of your *feelings*.”

Alex’s expression hardened, his anger finally surfacing. “I won’t let Jack harm her. I won’t let him harm *anyone*.”

“And what makes you so sure?” Arin shot back, her eyes narrowing. “You think you can protect her from everything? From everyone? You’re deluding yourself, Alex. Jack is desperate. He’ll stop at nothing to regain his power, and you’ve just handed him the perfect weapon on a silver platter.”

Alex took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. “I won’t let Jack win. And I won’t let your hatred for Aeryn blind you to the truth. She *will* be queen, and you will respect that.”

Arin’s eyes blazed with fury, but she didn’t back down. “Respect her? She doesn’t deserve my respect, Alex. She doesn’t deserve *anything* from me.”

There was a moment of tense silence between them, the weight of their words hanging heavily in the air. Arin’s chest heaved with anger, while Alex stood tall, his resolve unshaken.

Finally, Arin broke the silence, her voice cold and venomous. “Mark my words, Alex. This will end in disaster. And when it does, I won’t be there to pick up the pieces.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and strode away, her heart pounding with a mix of fury and resentment. As she walked, her mind churned with thoughts of the conversation she had overheard. Jack needed a human to restore his power. And as much as she despised him, she couldn’t deny that his desperation might be useful to her.

---

Hours later, Arin found herself standing on a secluded balcony, her thoughts racing. The night air was cool, but the fire inside her burned hotter than ever. She couldn’t let Aeryn take her place as queen. She couldn’t let Alex’s foolish love for a human destroy everything she and their people had fought for.

Her thoughts turned to Jack. His power was waning, and he needed a human to regain his strength. Aeryn could be that human. If Arin played her cards right, she could rid herself of Aeryn and weaken Jack at the same time.

A smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. It was a dangerous game, but one she was more than willing to play.

“Let’s see how strong your precious queen really is, Alex,” Arin whispered to herself, her eyes gleaming with malice.

As the wind whispered through the night, Arin stood tall, her mind already set on the path ahead.