"Are you certain of this, my lords?"
Dax's voice echoed, laced with hesitation. The beta had known the triplets from the moment they were born.
His own father had once served their father, and he had watched these boys grow from bright-eyed pups into the hardened rulers they were now, men who were willing to send their own mate and wife to her death.
Draven didn't flinch. He turned to him, eyes cold.
"It is already done," he said. "She tried to poison us. Right here. In our own home."
"But... she might be innocent." Dax's voice faltered.
"You side with the traitor wife now, Dax?" Laziel cut in, his expression hardening. "Are you Albenian too?"
"No, my lord—I just… I only want you to be sure."
"Then shut your mouth." Draven's cold voice snarled, "If she's innocent, the goddess will prove it."
Dax hesitated again. "And if she fails? What of your heir?"
Laziel's gaze snapped in his direction.
"Then we'll find another princess."
Silence followed.
Kael said nothing. His thoughts were elsewhere, deep, dark, buried.
Today, their mate would walk into the trial of truth. A journey few had survived.
They knew she was weak. They didn't expect her to make it back. But pride… pride wouldn't let them turn back now.
To pardon her would show weakness, and worse, invite whispers. That the traitor wife had the mighty kings wrapped around her little finger.
"For the first time in Winter's history…"
A new voice rang through the hall, light, amused, and far too calm.
Xane strolled into the court, a lazy smile on his lips.
"…three Lycan Kings send their mate on the journey of truth. How thrilling that sounds."
"She deserves even worse," Draven spat.
Xane chuckled softly and met his eyes. He was about to respond when the massive doors burst open.
The guards stormed in, dragging her between them.
Every gaze shifted to her.
Both hands and legs were bound with chains. Shackles clinked with each step. Her head hung low, but when she looked up, three pairs of piercing eyes roamed her frail form.
She looked nothing like the Blue they once knew.
She was smaller. Paler. Her once-golden skin was ashen and bruised. Her hair, matted with dirt, hung in dull strands around her shoulders. And her eyes, the brilliant blue they had once claimed as their own, now seemed empty. Tired. Forgotten by life itself.
And still, something inside them stirred.
Their beasts growled and pulled at their chests. The bond called to her, even as hatred clung to their thoughts.
Her gaze locked with theirs. For the briefest second… she felt them. All of them. Their pain. Their conflict. The war within.
But it vanished just as quickly and they looked away.
Draven turned to the assemblage, his voice rising through the cold air.
"The prisoner has been summoned to prove her innocence… by taking on the journey of truth."
Gasps and whispers rippled through the court.
By the hearth stood Varys, silent. His eyes never left the triplets.
Blue scanned the crowd slowly. Searching. Hoping. Until she found the one person she wished she hadn't.
Lucia.
She stood in the corner, wearing a composed expression. But when their eyes met, she smiled.
A cold, wicked smile. One she quickly masked when Kael followed Blue's gaze.
Blue's heart sank. No one was coming to save her.
Her eyes flicked to Xane, and he gave her the smallest nod.
Then to Dax, who wore the rawest expression of pity. The beta clearly wished he could undo everything.
Draven's voice pulled her back.
"Does the accused have any last words before embarking on her journey?"
She looked up, her leg aching at just the memory of his last attack.
A long moment passed.
Then she swallowed hard and finally spoke.
"If I survive this trial… then a request of mine must be granted. That's all I ask."
The court erupted in noise.
Even the triplets were startled, her boldness, her nerve.
Xane chuckled and Varys smiled faintly.
Laziel narrowed his eyes at her, but said nothing.
Draven's lips curled.
"Very well then. If you survive… wolf."
He stepped forward.
"Let the trial begin."
Her chains were unlocked, the collar on her neck unfastened.
And with a quiet jolt, she felt it.
Her wolf. Stirring. Awakening inside her after days of silence.
The Journey of Truth was not just any trial. It was sacred. Ruthless.
The accused would be taken to the border between life and endless frost, the barrier where the Frost Empire ended and the Ice Mountains began.
From there, they would travel alone.
Three days. Three nights. Through blizzards, beasts, and turmoil.
And at the heart of the mountains, the accused would need to find the cave of truths… and retrieve a fragment of the sacred stone carved by the ancient Lycan Lords.
If she didn't return by the fourth day, she would be presumed dead. Only the guilty failed.
And today… Blue had been named one.
"My lords," a soft voice spoke.
Dasia.
She knelt before them, her head bowed.
"May I plead that the prisoner be allowed a change of clothes? Just for the journey?"
Blue's chest tightened. Dasia, her friend. Risking everything for her.
Draven's growl rumbled through the hall. But when he looked at Blue, really looked, he paused.
Her clothes were torn. Filthy. Soaked in blood and dirt.
He nodded once. "Five minutes only."
Dasia rose quickly and led Blue out.
The moment they were alone, they collapsed into each other's arms.
Dasia sobbed into her shoulder. "I'm so sorry… this is all my fault. If I hadn't hit that bitch—"
Blue smiled faintly. "It's alright. Maybe I deserved it."
"No. You didn't." Dasia held her face in both hands, her eyes brimming with tears. "You didn't, Blue. Please. No matter what happens… survive this. Come back."
"I promise," she whispered. One tear slid down her cheek.
Moments later, she was dressed. A short wool dress, long boots, and a cloak wrapped around her shoulders. Dasia handed her a dagger.
"This belonged to my mother," she said. "Bring it back to me."
Blue nodded and embraced her one last time.
Then Dax stepped in.
"It's time."
---
They arrived at the border just as the sky began to darken.
Blue was carried in a cage, like a beast. Guards surrounded her. The triplets followed, alongside Dax, Xane, and Varys.
"This is where your journey begins, Princess," Varys announced.
"On the fourth day, if you return with the Ancestral Stone in your hands, the Empire will know you are innocent. If not, we will assume you are dead. And no one will mourn your death. Let truth prevail."
The guards opened the cage.
Blue stepped out slowly, her eyes fixed on the kings.
She looked at Draven, his grip tightened on his horse's reins.
Laziel, his jaw clenched, breath uneven.
Kael… he looked like he wanted to speak. But couldn't.
She could feel it again, the bond. Tugging. Pulling. But none of them moved.
"I understand," she said softly.
The group began to ride off.
But before she could take a step, wind stirred at her side, and suddenly, Xane was there.
He smiled at her, mischievous as ever.
"You remember what I told you?" he asked.
Her breath caught.
"I don't know how… but Ozra's inside me. Like he's inked beneath my skin. I feel his fire. He's alive."
Xane nodded, eyes proud.
"No matter what happens… come back alive."
Then, he placed a dagger in her palm. A small one.
"What the—Xane?!" Draven roared.
But Xane was already walking away, flashing them a teasing grin.
"Saying goodbye to a pretty damsel," he said casually, mounting his horse.
The triplets glared at him, fury simmering beneath their skin.
Xane only smirked.
"What? Don't tell me you're jealous."
Then he rode off, Dax close behind.
The brothers lingered one last moment, then turned.
Blue remained alone. The snow fell gently around her.
Her journey had begun.
And only the goddess could grant her mercy now.