The Alpha Princess Who Challenged the King
Chapter 1
THE PRINCESS WHO REFUSED TO KNEEL
Princess Aria Evermist had never been good at following orders.
At twenty-five, she had already escaped three royal balls, defeated six palace guards during training, and once stolen her father's fastest horse just to explore a forbidden forest.
Tonight, however, she had done something far more dangerous.
She had entered the Moonshadow Kingdom.
Alone.
The kingdom stood beneath an enormous silver moon.
Black towers rose from the mountains, surrounded by floating islands and rivers of blue magical fire.
Aria pulled her cloak tighter.
She had come for one reason.
The Crystal of Dawn had been stolen from Evermist.
The thief had taken it into Moonshadow territory.
Aria intended to take it back.
She reached the royal vault just before midnight.
The door was guarded by two knights.
Aria smiled.
“Good evening.”
The guards drew their swords.
She sighed.
“I was hoping we could talk.”
Five minutes later, both guards were unconscious.
Aria entered the vault.
The Crystal of Dawn floated above a golden pedestal.
“Found you.”
She reached for it.
A voice came from behind her.
“You're trespassing.”
Aria froze.
She slowly turned.
A young man stood in the doorway.
Black royal armor.
Silver eyes.
A dark crown.
King Lucian Nightvale.
The Alpha King of Moonshadow.
He looked at the unconscious guards.
Then at Aria.
“You have exactly one chance to explain yourself.”
Aria lifted the crystal.
“I came to take back what belongs to my kingdom.”
Lucian's eyes narrowed.
“That crystal belongs to Moonshadow.”
“It belonged to Evermist first.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“I expect you to get out of my way.”
Lucian stared at her.
Nobody spoke to him like that.
Nobody.
He stepped forward.
“You are Princess Aria.”
“And you're slower than I expected.”
His expression darkened.
“You have no idea who you're challenging.”
Aria raised her sword.
“Actually, I do.”
She attacked.
Their swords collided.
The vault filled with sparks.
Lucian was faster.
Aria was more unpredictable.
For several minutes, neither could defeat the other.
Then the Crystal of Dawn suddenly exploded with light.
Both stopped.
A strange symbol appeared on their hands.
A silver star surrounded by a black moon.
Lucian stared at it.
His face changed.
“No…”
Aria looked at her hand.
“What is this?”
Lucian whispered:
“The Celestial Bond.”
The crystal vanished.
And somewhere beyond the clouds, something ancient awakened.
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