The Nobody He Killed Was Royalty

Freya's POV

My serpent mate has locked me in the castle, nine months pregnant. A dozen serpent guards watch me day and night. I can't even leave the room.

A month ago, his brother died in a hunting accident. He became the serpent clan leader. Then he brought back his brother's widow, the woman he grew up with. His first love.

He said he needed to take care of his brother's widow. He told me we'd all live together in the castle, nice and peaceful.

I said no.

I'm his mate. I'm a beastman. My pride won't let me accept that. And they grew up together, childhood sweethearts. How could I not think about it?

She came to him in tears, heavily pregnant. She said I poisoned her medicine, that I wanted to kill her and the baby.

He believed her.

He decided I was just some rogue beastman with no background, jealous and vicious, only after his title and money. So he locked me in this freezing castle while he camped outside her delivery room.

When labor hit, I screamed for a healer. I swore I never hurt her. I just couldn't live with her under the same roof. I only ever loved him.

He just laughed. "You're good at acting. I don't believe a word out of you. Once she delivers safely, I'll deal with you. Don't think you can trick me into coming back."

But when a trembling guard reported "Your mate and the child... they didn't make it," he lost it completely.

Pain tears through my stomach. I'm on my knees, nails digging into the stone until they split. The pain comes in waves.

A month ago, Adrian stood in the council hall looking determined. He said he had to bring Seraphina back to the castle, honor his brother's memory. But the way he looked at her—that wasn't just duty.

I protested. Told him I was his mate. I couldn't live with another woman, especially not his childhood sweetheart.

He just frowned. Said I was making a big deal out of nothing.

Then Seraphina came to him in tears. Said I threatened her, poisoned her pregnancy tonic. I never touched her medicine.

After that, the way he looked at me changed. Cold. Disgusted. Like I was a stranger.

"I should've seen through you from the start. You just wanted to be the clan leader's wife."

He ordered me locked in this castle. Guards everywhere. Can't take a single step out.

Another wave of pain hits. I look up at the guards by the door. "Please... get Adrian... the baby's coming..."

Their faces stay blank. Like they didn't hear a thing.

I crawl to the door, pull out the communication crystal. Try to reach Adrian. The crystal flickers once, then dies.

He cut off my access.

"Please..." I turn to the guards, voice raw. "Get me a healer... I'm not asking for Adrian, just someone who can help..."

One guard waves me off. "The clan leader said not to bother him. If something was really wrong, you'd be dead already."

Before I can say more, the guard strides over and shoves me back.

I lose my balance, slam hard into a stone pillar. Sharp pain shoots through my head. Something warm runs down my temple.

I lean against the pillar, gasping. Vision blurs. Pregnancy drained me completely. The strength beastmen are so proud of is nearly gone.

Another contraction hits. I curl up on the floor, bite down on my lip hard enough to draw blood.

The castle door swings open.

I look up. Hope flickers. Is it him? Did he finally come back?

But the face that appears is cold and haughty.

Helena. Adrian's mother. This serpent lady never hid her contempt from the moment we met. A rogue beastman with no background—probably lower than a servant in her eyes.

She stands in the doorway, eyes sweeping over my pathetic state. A cold smile pulls at her lips.

"Look who it is." She walks in slowly. "What a disgraceful sight."

I try to stand. My body won't cooperate.

"You brought this on yourself. Seraphina and Adrian were meant to be together. They grew up side by side, a perfect match. Then you came out of nowhere and took her place."

She looks down at me. "Losing Marcus broke my heart, but at least something good came of it—Adrian and Seraphina found their way back to each other. What makes you think you have the right to be jealous? To try and hurt her child?"

"I didn't..." I grit my teeth. "I never hurt her..."

"No? You think someone as kind as Seraphina would lie? Would hurt her own child?"

"Helena..." My voice shakes. "Please... let me have this baby... I swear, once the baby's born, I'll leave. You'll never see me again..."

She stares at me for a moment, then laughs coldly. Pulls out a crystal from her waist. Blue light spreads in the air, projecting another room.

It's a luxurious chamber. Magic lamps cast a warm glow. Expensive herbs everywhere. Then Adrian appears in the projection.

"I'm at the castle." Helena says. "She looks bad. There's blood on the floor. Maybe you should come back?"

He glances at me, about to speak, when a pregnant woman appears beside him. Rosy cheeks, smiling. Nothing like my agony.

Seraphina. His first love.

"Oh my god, is Freya in labor too?" Perfect concern in her eyes. "Honey, you should go check on her. I'll be fine."

"She must be so scared and lonely in that castle... I have so many healers and clan members here. I'll be okay. You should be with her."

Her eyes redden slightly. "After all... that's your child too."

She sounds so understanding, so caring. Like she actually cares about me. It's almost laughable.

Adrian's relaxed expression tightens after hearing that. "Mom. She's lying again. She's just jealous, trying to trick me into coming back. Keep her quiet. Don't let her disturb Seraphina."

The projection vanishes.

Helena turns to me with a cold smile. "You heard him. My son's own words."

She walks to the weapon rack on the wall, pulls out a whip woven from serpent scales, and moves slowly toward me.