It’s not Over
This was supposed to be the end. I mean, they got their happily ever after, didn't they?
But, it wasn’t.
Just as Williams reached the top step with Cleopatra in his arms, a sound echoed through the halls—sharp, distinct.
Something had fallen.
Both of them froze.
It came again—a crash, followed by the unmistakable clatter of toys.
Cleopatra's heart plummeted.
“Jayden,” she whispered, already moving.
Williams didn’t hesitate. He dropped her gently to her feet and took off down the corridor, his senses flaring, his beast rising just beneath the surface.
Cleopatra was right behind him.
The scent hit her first. Smoke. Cold air. Old magic.
They burst into Jayden’s room—and everything stopped.
Toys were scattered across the floor like they’d been thrown by a storm. Books had fallen off the shelves, pages fluttering like wings. The window was still shut tight, yet the room felt… wrong. Too quiet. Too heavy.
Jayden sat curled in a corner, his knees tucked against his chest, his tiny body trembling. His blue eyes were wide and wild with fear, locked on the darkened corner across the room.
Cleopatra rushed to him, dropping to her knees. “Baby? Jayden, what happened? I thought you were playing outside.”
His lip quivered. He didn’t answer—just lifted one shaky finger and pointed.
“There,” he whimpered. “He was standing right there.”
“Who, baby? Who was there?” Cleopatra demanded, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade, eyes locked fiercely on his.
Jayden swallowed hard, his voice trembling. “He… he said he’s the Boogeyman.”
Williams growled low and deadly, his eyes scanning the corner Jayden pointed to. But there was nothing—just shadow.
Cleopatra scooped Jayden into her arms, pressing him to her chest. His small arms clung to her tightly, his breathing uneven. She kissed his forehead, her voice soft but firm. “You’re safe now. Mommy and Daddy are here. We’ll take care of the bogeyman for you.”
But Jayden began to cry harder, burying his face in her neck. His voice, when it came, was a whisper—so faint it barely reached her ears.
“He said… he said he would harvest me,” he sobbed. “Said I’m… an abomination. What’s an abomination, mommy?”
Cleopatra’s blood turned to ice.
Williams was already moving, eyes glowing gold as he reached out through the mind link to the palace guards.
"All units—lock down the perimeter. We may have had a breach. Sweep the entire palace. I want eyes on every corridor, every roof, every tree line. Now."
The response was instant: “Yes, your majesty!”
He turned slowly, scanning the room again, his stance rigid, protective. The scent of magic lingered—but it wasn’t from this world. It was ancient, unnatural.
Cleopatra’s mind raced. No one could’ve gotten into the palace without being sensed. No one should have been able to breach their home—especially Jayden’s room, not without triggering the protective wards she and Lucien had sealed themselves.
But Jayden was trembling in her arms, and that fear was real.
“Did he touch you?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Jayden shook his head violently. “No. He just stood there. He had a long cloak… and his face was… missing. Just empty.” He looked up at her, voice breaking. “Mommy… he knew my name.”
A chill crawled down her spine.
Williams knelt beside them, his voice low and dark. “There’s no trace. No footprints. No evidence of forced entry. But someone was here. I can feel it.”
Cleopatra swallowed hard. “Someone dared to step into our son’s chamber. Into our home, Williams.”
Her gaze drifted back to the corner. It was empty. But the darkness there felt like it was still watching.
“I’m going to tear the world apart if I have to,” she whispered, eyes blazing, “to find out who that monster was.”
Jayden whimpered in her arms, and she rocked him gently, whispering lullabies she hadn’t sung since he was a baby.
Williams placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently—but his jaw was clenched, his rage barely restrained.
“Who would call our child an abomination?” he muttered.
Cleopatra didn’t answer.
Because she didn’t know.
But the fear twisting in her gut told her one thing—
The war wasn’t over.
It had only just begun.
****
The warriors returned within minutes, their boots echoing down the hall. The lead guard stepped forward, panting slightly, his brow furrowed.
“Your majesty,” he said grimly, “we searched every hall, roof, and courtyard. There’s no trace of anyone. No scent trail. Nothing.”
Williams’ jaw tensed. “He was here. My son doesn’t lie.”
Before anyone could respond, a piercing scream shattered the silence, rising from the direction of the kitchen.
Every head turned.
Cleopatra’s heart leapt into her throat as she cuddled Jayden closer to her chest.
Williams took one last glance at them, and was already moving, shifting into motion like a blade unsheathed.
They stormed into the kitchen to find one of the maids collapsed on the floor, plates and glasses shattered around her in a glittering mess. Her eyes were wild, her chest heaving, and she pointed a trembling finger toward the pantry.
“You scream like that over dishes?” one of the warriors snapped, irritation in his voice. “Do you know what’s happening tonight?”
“I-I didn’t mean to—” she stammered, her voice cracking. “It wasn’t the plates! It was there! It was right there!”
Williams’ nose twitched.
He caught it—a scent. Barely there. Cold. Rotten. Magic-tainted.
His entire body tensed.
Williams moved beside the lead warrior, eyes narrowing. “What did you see?” He asked hurriedly.
The maid nodded frantically, her fingers still trembling as she pointed again, more forcefully. “Next to the pantry. It—it was right there. Watching. It didn’t move. It didn’t breathe. I swear.”
Williams stepped closer cautiously.
The pantry door creaked slightly as he approached. The shadows felt thick there—wrong.
He didn’t open it.
A second scream tore through the air—louder, pained, unmistakably female.
“RENÉE!” Williams gasped, recognizing it instantly.
They ran. The hall blurred around them as they followed the sound, heartbeats thundering.
Down the corridor, at the top of the east wing staircase, they found her—Renée, hunched over, clutching her massive belly as her body writhed in agony. Her scream fractured the air like glass.
Alex was at her side, eyes wide with panic, holding her hand, whispering desperate comforts.
“I don’t know what’s happening—it’s too early—she just dropped—oh goddess—”
“Make way!” one of the nurses barked, pushing through the chaos with a medical team and a stretcher in tow.
Warriors instinctively moved to the sides, some still gripping weapons, others scanning the surroundings as though expecting the shadow to return.
Renée let out another guttural cry as she was carefully placed on the stretcher. Sweat drenched her brow, her face pale as her eyes rolled back from the pain.
“Alex…” she whimpered, clutching him tightly.
“I’m here, baby, I’m right here,” Alex cried, brushing hair from her face, tears streaming down his cheeks. “You’re gonna be okay.”
Cleopatra, still carrying Jayden, reached for Renée’s hand briefly. “You’re strong. You’ve got this.”
Renée locked eyes with her, panting heavily. “If anything happens to me—promise me—promise—”
“No,” Cleopatra cut in fiercely. “Don’t you dare say that. You are not dying today.”
They wheeled her away, flanked by two midwives and a healer muttering incantations, the corridor quickly dissolving into organized chaos.
Williams stayed behind a moment longer, his gaze flicking back toward the now-silent pantry door.
“Whatever that was,” he said quietly, “it wasn’t after Jayden alone.”
Cleopatra turned, her lips pressed tightly. “You think it’s connected?”
He nodded once. “I know it is.”
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