Moonveil Academy: Trapped With The Five Kings

Reign:

My father sat behind his desk with an unreadable expression on his face, while Selene - my stepmother - stood beside the windows with her arms folded across her chest. Neither looked particularly pleased to see me.

”Sit,” my father ordered.

I remained standing.

His eyes narrowed. ”I said-”

”I heard you.”

Silence filled the room, and I didn’t fail to notice the way my father’s jaw tightened just slightly. Then he leaned back in his chair and studied me with the cold scrutiny that had followed me throughout my entire life.

”You have forgotten what it means to carry the Valemont name.” He finally spoke. ”Or you wouldn’t have ended up being slapped in front of so many eyes waiting to see you smear our name.”

It turned out he had indeed called me home because of Elara. And I wasn’t surprised to say the least.

Darren Valemont had eyes and ears everywhere, both inside and outside Moonveil Academy. And so did Selene. Between the two of them, there wasn’t a corner of my life they hadn’t found some way to observe. I had known for years which servants, students, guards, acquaintances and even supposed friends occasionally carried information back to them.

And I had also known better than to remove those people. Get rid of one set of eyes, and my father would simply replace them with another. Eventually, I’d stopped wasting my time trying to identify every person watching me and learned to live as though I was always being observed. It was easier that way. Besides, there were far more important things occupying my attention than playing some childish game of finding spies.

So when I saw the fury in my father’s eyes, I already knew he had heard about the slap.

Darren Valemont wasn’t a man who tolerated anyone questioning the Valemont name. Not another Regent family. Not a rival noble. Not even a princess. Especially not a princess who had only recently returned to Starfall and apparently hadn’t yet learned that the people around her were supposed to bow before the power my family had spent generations building.

Elara had now caught my father’s attention in a way that went far beyond her being the lost princess, and the thought made something cold settle in my chest.

”She embarrassed you in front of an entire class,” Father said, his fingers tapping slowly against the desk. ”She embarrassed the Valemont heir.”

I remained standing in front of him, my expression deliberately bored. ”She slapped me,” I corrected.

His eyes sharpened. ”And you think that distinction matters?”

”No.”

”Good.”

The single word carried enough weight to make the room feel colder.

Selene remained near the window, silent. She hadn’t spoken since I’d entered, but I could feel her gaze on me. She always watched me that way - quietly, patiently, as though waiting for me to make one mistake she could use later. I had learned long ago that her silence was often more dangerous than her words.

Father leaned back in his chair. ”The Argentis girl needs to be brought under control before her coronation.”

My jaw tightened.

”She is young,” he continued, ”inexperienced, ignorant of our customs and surrounded by people who will encourage her to believe that wearing a crown makes her untouchable. I won’t allow that ignorance to become arrogance directed at this family.”

He paused, his gaze becoming colder. ”The Valemont name will not be questioned by some little girl simply because she happens to carry Argentis blood.”

There it was.

The real reason for this meeting.

Father didn’t care that I’d been slapped. He cared that someone had dared to make the Valemont heir look weak.

”And if you cannot teach her where she belongs,” he continued calmly, ”I’ll find someone who can.”

My heart went cold. And for one brief second, every thought inside my head stopped. I knew exactly what my father meant.

Darren Valemont didn’t believe in gentle lessons. He didn’t believe in warnings without consequences. When someone challenged his authority, he didn’t merely put them back in their place. He destroyed whatever part of their life had allowed them to believe they could challenge him in the first place.

And I wasn’t going to let Elara fall into his hands. Not her. Not after everything I’d already seen in those silver eyes.

But none of that could show on my face, especially not with Selene watching. That woman could turn the smallest crack in my composure into a weapon. If she realized I cared about Elara’s safety, she would remember it. She would store it away until the day it became useful to her. I wouldn’t give her that advantage.

So I shrugged. ”I can handle her.”

Father’s brows lifted slightly.

”The incident today was a one-time mistake,” I continued, keeping my voice casual. ”She’ll learn.”

”And if she doesn’t?” He pressed.

”She will.” I stepped closer to his desk, letting the confidence in my voice convince him even though every word tasted bitter. ”I’ll make sure she understands exactly what the Valemont name means. Before her coronation, she’ll pledge her allegiance to our house. You won’t have to concern yourself with a groundling.”

Father studied me for several seconds.

I forced myself not to move.

”You are certain?” He asked.

”Completely.” I answered with another simple shrug as if I wasn’t the least bit worried of failing in keeping my words. Even though I had already learnt that Elara, of all people, might not be the type to get pushed around.

”And you won’t allow another incident like today’s?” He continued.

”No.” I let the faintest hint of arrogance enter my voice. ”Honestly, Father, she’s barely been in our world for a month. She’s confused, angry and surrounded by people she doesn’t trust. She’s not worth wasting your time over. Let me handle her. She’s kind fun to mess around with.”

That was what he needed to hear.

Not that I wanted to protect her. Not that the thought of anyone else touching her had already made my wolf restless. Not that she’s my fated mate.

Just that I was confident enough to control the situation.

His expression finally relaxed. ”Good.” He waved one hand dismissively. ”Then prove it. Make me believe you are indeed worth shouldering the Valemont name.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. I turned and walked out of the study before either of them could say another word. The moment the door closed behind me, I released the breath I’d been holding, letting my shoulders loosene slightly.

I descended the stairs quickly, needing distance from that room, from that house, from the suffocating atmosphere that seemed to settle over me every time I returned here. Every wall carried expectations. Every room carried memories. Every person inside this place knew exactly what I was supposed to become.

The perfect Valemont heir.

The future Regent.

The obedient son.

I had spent my entire life playing that role. And tonight, I had nearly broken it for a girl who had slapped me across the face.

I reached the bottom of the staircase and was already heading toward the entrance when a familiar voice floated through the silence.

”Reign.”

I stopped, my fingers curling slowly into fists. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Selene.

Her footsteps approached at an unhurried pace, each one echoing through the enormous hall.

Then she spoke again.

”Don’t you think we should have a little talk about Princess Argentis?”

I closed my eyes for half a second.

Of course.

Father had been the first problem. Selene was going to be the second.

I slowly turned around.

She stood halfway down the staircase, one hand resting delicately against the railing. She looked exactly as she always did - perfectly composed, perfectly elegant, with that soft smile that had never once fooled me. Her beauty was effortless, but there was nothing soft about the woman beneath it.

”I don’t think there’s anything to discuss,” I replied.

Her smile widened. ”That’s what worries me about you, Reign. You always think you have already figured everything out.”

I said nothing.

She descended the remaining steps and stopped a few feet away from me. ”Your father believes you can control the princess. Do you?”

”I told him I could.”

”That wasn’t my question.”

My gaze hardened.

She studied me for another moment before her expression changed slightly. ”I heard you have been different since she arrived.”

”I have been busy.”

”With her.” The words were soft, almost casual.

My wolf stirred instantly, but I kept my expression blank.

Selene noticed anyway. ”Interesting,” she murmured.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. ”Whatever game you are trying to play, leave her out of it.”

Her brows lifted.

There it was. The mistake. I had said too much.

Her smile returned, slower this time. ”I see.”

I cursed silently.

She had caught it.

”I merely wanted to warn you,” she said. ”Princesses are dangerous creatures, Reign. Especially one who doesn’t know her place.”

”She knows enough.”

”Does she?” Selene tilted her head. ”Because from what I hear, she’s already managed to make enemies of you, Liliana, and several other noble families.”