~The vampire realm~
Erin's POV.
For the past weeks, I've been having the same nightmare over and over again.
At this point, it's almost ridiculous that I'm getting used to it. Almost.
I tried something new—a desperate tactic.
I thought, if I can learn what happened after Nickolas chanted that spell… maybe the nightmare will stop.
At least if I know the truth, my mind won't keep torturing me.
So, I started asking around—maids, guards, anyone who might know.
But strangely, no one wanted to speak.
Every single time I asked, they pretended not to hear me.
They would bow, smile politely, and walk away like I never opened my mouth.
Even Eric, my own brother, acted like I didn't say anything.
That's when I knew something was wrong.
It's all in the past, right?
Why hide it?
Unless… something truly terrible happened after Nickolas' spell. Something they don't want me to remember. Because if Nickolas intended to destroy this realm, then someone must have stopped him.
Otherwise, we'd all be dead.
And whoever saved everyone… they were powerful enough to counter a spell meant to end an entire realm.
That alone was terrifying.
I was walking through the majestic corridor, thinking about all of this, when I saw a young man ahead of me.
Golden-brown hair. Emerald green eyes. A strong jaw and soft, beautiful lips.
He was walking beside my brother.
The moment I saw those eyes, chills ran through my body.
I didn't know why—but something about him felt familiar… and frightening.
"Hey, sis!" Eric greeted happily. "It's been a while. What have you been up to?"
Before I could answer, he continued, "Anyway, this is going to be your new trainer."
"Trainer?" I blinked at him. "What do you mean trainer? What about Aunt Mona?"
"Oh, Aunt Mona has business in the Elven Realm," he said casually. "Her son is there."
"Her son is there?" I gasped. "I thought he lived in the palace."
Eric stared at me in disbelief. "If her son lived here, wouldn't you see him at dinner or something? He's royalty, Erin."
"Oh. Right."
That made sense.
"He's engaged to the princess of the Elven Realm," Eric added.
"Wait… WHAT?!"
My voice echoed through the corridor.
"That's really huge!"
Eric gave me a blank stare. "Can you please stop overreacting?"
"Sorry, sorry," I said quickly. "It's just—I heard Elven princesses are like angels. Everyone says they're powerful and extremely beautiful. Getting one of them to marry you is nearly impossible. They're so perfect it's scary."
"Well, Grandfather arranged it," Eric sighed. "He has a lot of connections."
I nodded in awe. "That's incredible…"
Eric turned to the handsome stranger beside him. "As I was saying, dear sister, this is your trainer. Aunt Mona sent him. He's very skilled. His name is Mars."
"Mars?" I repeated, looking up at him.
He nodded politely.
Eric waved and walked away, leaving the two of us alone.
The man spoke, his voice calm and velvety.
"I am your new trainer, Queen Erin. Shall we head to the training field?"
"So soon?" I asked.
He nodded again.
Great.
Aunt Mona was strict… but this man looked like he'd make her seem soft.
Nicolas POV.
The moment I saw Erin, my world stopped.
She still looked the same—beautiful, regal, effortlessly captivating.
But there was something different about her.
This new Erin… smiled freely.
There was no coldness in her eyes. No guarded expression. No calculated politeness.
She seemed… innocent.
Is it because she hasn't regained her memories yet?
With everything she went through—war, betrayal, pain, and even my own betrayal—she shouldn't be this light-hearted. Not yet.
Not that I want her to suffer again, but she was never the type to smile so easily.
She's changed.
But it won't last.
Once her memories return, she'll go back to her true self. The Erin I know.
I stared at her as she spoke to her brother—still graceful even in simple clothes.
My Erin.
My Queen.
I hope I'm not late this time.
I hope she hasn't met that idiot yet—the one who made her hate me. The one who stole her heart.
This time, I'll take back what's mine.
A voice echoed in my mind—Diana's voice, sharp and mocking. "What if she finds out about your disguise?"
She won't.
She must never find out.
My disguise, my new face, my new identity—everything was prepared so I could stay close to Erin without suspicion. Even entering the palace and getting a job beside her… it happened too smoothly. Almost like fate.
But I couldn't shake off one thing—Mona.
Aunt Mona was too wise, too dangerous, too observant.
Why would she allow me to stand beside her niece if she knew who I was?
Why would she assign me to train Erin?
Maybe I'm just overthinking.
Maybe this is destiny giving me a second chance.
I led Erin toward the training field—breaking the magical barriers around her powers, just as Mona instructed.
Everything was going perfectly.
Until she suddenly stopped walking.
Erin turned and looked at me with a sharp, calculating gaze—the old gaze I knew too well.
The gaze of a queen.
"Let's do this tomorrow," she said quietly. "I'm tired."
Before I could respond, she turned and walked away, completely ignoring me.
I stood there, confused.
A moment ago, she didn't seem upset.
But suddenly, she was cold… distant.
This Erin was different from the Erin in my memories—and I didn't like it.
---
~The Werewolf Realm ~
Alpha Levi's POV
For months now, I've been trying to reopen the portal I saw that day—the day I smelled my mate.
I wasn't imagining it.
My wolf wasn't imagining it.
She was alive.
I went to the pack seer, hoping for answers.
She told me the truth—shaking, terrified.
"It is a portal," she whispered. "A path to another realm."
Another realm.
I'd heard stories as a pup, but never believed them.
Realms beyond ours… forgotten, erased, hidden.
When I asked her where the portal led, she only smiled sadly.
"Child… those words cannot leave my lips. There are things you are not meant to know. For the peace of this pack, and the peace of every realm. We swore an oath long ago. If one of us speaks, all who know the truth will die."
I stared at her, horrified.
An oath that powerful… an oath that kills.
I asked her again—whispering—if the portal leads to another realm.
She nodded once, heavily.
When I asked for the name of the realm, she opened her mouth to speak…
"Vamp—"
She choked.
Blood—black blood—poured from her lips.
She collapsed in front of me, body trembling, eyes wide in terror.
The oath was real.
Even knowing a single syllable nearly killed her.
And I finally understood:
Someone sealed the truth.
Someone hid the existence of other realms.
Someone doesn't want us to find out about it.
But I will.
Even if I have to break every law in this world.