Chapter 1

At the once-in-a-century Blessing Ceremony of the Sacred Tree, I stood on the altar beside Elena, a Wandering Fey I'd saved.

As golden divine light gathered above the three of us, every elf chanted devoutly, urging the King of the Elves to kiss his future queen.

I closed my eyes, heart full of joy.

But Leonard Everwood reached past me, cupped Elena's face, and kissed her deeply.

The sacred light shattered.

Leonard's desire hadn't fully faded from his eyes. When he saw my pale face, he casually waved away the ripples of Arcane Resonance still lingering between them.

"Sorry. Reflex from the Arcane Resonance. Elena and I have, uh, practiced together in the sacred springs way too many times," he said to me.

Elena nervously folded the translucent wings that had just grown from her back.

Leonard sighed and traced the Priestess Sigil on my wrist.

"Your soul is too pure. I couldn't bear to taint it with lust. Elena's different. She knows how to please me. She's not so... restrained," he said.

He looked at me like he was doing me a favor, his eyes both passionate and completely shameless.

Then he added, "She gets the pleasure. You get the throne. That doesn't change the fact that I love you most before the gods."

The backlash of nature's power shattered my consciousness. Pain tore through my organs.

Under the watching eyes of the Seers, I looked at this so-called perfect couple.

"Leonard. I'm giving the queen's crown back to the Council of Elders," I said slowly.

*****

In the silence on the sacred altar, my voice was carried everywhere.

The Grand Seer's staff slammed against the stone. His face was pure shock.

The chanting stopped.

Leonard's smug smile froze.

He frowned, annoyance flashing across his face. "We're here for the blessing, and you're throwing a tantrum? Seriously?"

He let go of Elena and strode over to me. "I told you. The queen's position is yours. No one's taking it. I just gave Elena some mana to calm her down. You're the High Priestess. Can't you be a little more understanding?"

His righteous anger twisted in my chest like a rusty blade.

I looked at his face—so familiar, yet so foreign now.

For a hundred years, I'd burned my High Priestess power to cleanse his body, to help him become King of the Elves.

I thought we were soulmates.

But behind my back, in the sacred springs, he was sleeping with another woman.

The backlash of nature's force raged through my meridians. Every breath felt like being torn apart.

I swallowed the blood rising in my throat and pulled the queen's crown from my head.

Without hesitation, I threw it at his feet.

The crown cracked against the white jade stairs. The life gem on it went dark.

Leonard's face turned purple. "Are you insane? Do you have any idea what kind of backlash you'll get for rejecting the blessing?"

He reached for my shoulder.

I stepped back. "Don't touch me. You make me sick."

His hand froze mid-air. Rage burned in his eyes. "Fine. Great. If you're so proud, don't expect me to come crawling after you."

Elena timidly stepped forward, grabbing Leonard's sleeve. Her translucent wings trembled.

"Your Majesty, this is my fault. I shouldn't have relied on you when I was scared of my mana spiraling. She is right to be angry. I'll leave the court right now. I won't get in the way of your relationship," she choked out.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Leonard immediately pulled her behind him, tenderly wiping her tears away. "You just grew your wings. You'll die without the springs."

He turned to me, his eyes cold as if I were a stranger throwing a tantrum. "Since you gave up the crown willingly, go back to the Priestess' Sanctuary and think about your behavior. When you're ready to be reasonable, you can see me again."

He wrapped his arm around Elena's waist and walked off the altar.

The Grand Seer sighed, shaking his head at the broken crown.

Elves whispered among themselves. Some looked at me with pity, others with mockery.

I stood on the empty altar and swallowed the blood that rose to my lips.

The Priestess Sigil on my wrist burned hot. It was a warning from the Sacred Tree about betrayal.

But I knew the one who should be punished wasn't me.

I turned around, straightened my back, and walked down the altar step by step.