Throne Room Verdict

Throne Room Verdict

diala jennifer · Ongoing · 412.9k Words

411
Hot
411
Views
0
Added
Add to Shelf
Start Reading
Share:facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

Introduction

In a kingdom where winter never fades and shadows whisper beyond ancient peaks, the Frost Throne stands as both shield and shackle. Zavian, a ruler bound by duty and scarred by war, has sealed away an ancient abyss that once threatened to consume his world. But peace in Ironvale is fleeting.

As the kingdom rebuilds from its battle with darkness, whispers of rebellion stir in the Eastern Reach. Ambitious lords and masked conspirators weave plans beneath the frostbitten skies, while ancient prophecies foretell a coming eclipse that will test the throne’s fragile grasp. With betrayal blooming within his walls and a forgotten darkness stirring beyond them, Zavian must navigate a deadly game of loyalty and power.

Allies like the fierce mage Selene and the sharp-eyed ranger Faelar stand by his side, but trust is a rare and precious thing in a kingdom built on secrets. Beneath the silent snow and distant stars, the battle for Ironvale's soul is far from over.

Shadows rise, loyalties crack, and the throne's verdict has yet to be written.

Will light hold firm, or will Ironvale be claimed by the silence between heartbeats?

Chapter 1

The first light of dawn slipped gently over the stone spires of Maelric Keep, casting long, sleepy shadows across the ancient halls. Morning dew clung to the vines weaving through the palace walls, and the breeze carried the faint scent of lilac from the royal gardens. For most, it was a morning like any other—but for Ilyana Elenna, it was the beginning of something she had spent her entire life avoiding.

High in the western wing, beyond the servants' quarters and dusty libraries, Ilyana sat by her narrow window, her fingers tracing idle patterns in the fogged glass. She watched the sunrise bathe the kingdom of Avaran in gold, wondering for the thousandth time what the people below would say if they knew the truth of her blood. A princess, born in silence, hidden from the throne. Her reflection in the window stared back at her—dark-haired, thoughtful, and weary of a destiny she had never asked for.

The door creaked open. Marin, her loyal handmaid, entered with a tray of morning tea and an uncertain smile.

"You didn’t sleep again," Marin said softly.

Ilyana shook her head, offering a small, tired smile. "How can I sleep, knowing what today brings?"

Marin hesitated before placing the tray down. "They’ve summoned you. The High Judge has called for your presence in the Hall of Flame."

Those words settled like cold iron in Ilyana’s chest.

"The Hall of Flame?" she whispered.

Marin nodded gravely. "The Rite of Ascension has begun."

For years, the throne of Avaran had been empty, a kingdom without a sovereign. With the old king gone and no named heir, the ancient laws demanded the trials be held. Few knew that a hidden child of royal blood still lived. Fewer still believed she would dare answer the call.

But fate had found her, and it would not be ignored.

---

The Hall of Flame stood at the heart of Maelric Keep, vast and solemn, carved from obsidian and lined with braziers of cold fire. At its center burned the ancient flame of Veritas—a fire said to reveal the truth of any soul who stood within its light.

Ilyana entered the hall alone, her steps echoing against the silent walls. Lords and nobles lined the balconies above, their faces shadowed by the morning haze. Whispers followed her like ghosts.

High Judge Torvell awaited her beside the flame, his dark robes rustling faintly as he turned.

"Ilyana of Elenna," his voice rang clear and low, "by right of blood and burden, do you stand ready to face the First Trial?"

Her voice, steady though quiet, answered: "I stand ready."

Torvell inclined his head. "Step into the flame. Let Veritas judge your truth."

The air thickened. Ilyana’s pulse thundered in her ears as she approached the cold fire. Every story she had ever heard spoke of what happened to liars who entered its light. Bones turned to ash. Secrets burned away.

She took a breath—and stepped in.

It was not heat that met her, but whispers.

"You are your mother’s daughter."

"You carry the silence of a kingdom."

"You doubt your worth."

The whispers coiled around her heart, tugging at every fear, every regret, every unspoken truth. She closed her eyes.

"I seek not power," she whispered into the flame, "but peace. I seek to restore what was broken."

The flame pulsed once, then settled into a soft white glow.

Torvell raised his staff. "The flame has spoken. She is true."

Gasps filled the hall.

And in the shadows above, Duke Renard Vael clenched his jaw.

---

Renard was a man of sharp edges and sharper ambition. He had plotted for years to claim the throne himself, weaving alliances and threats in equal measure. Ilyana’s sudden emergence was a crack in his perfect plan.

"She cannot win," he growled to Suthan, his most trusted ally. "The trials will break her."

Suthan’s brow furrowed. "The people already murmur her name with hope. If she succeeds, the nobles may rally to her side."

"Then she must fail," Renard said coldly. "We will ensure it."

---

That evening, as the halls quieted and the nobles retired to their chambers, Ilyana wandered the palace gardens. The moon cast silver light over the marble statues of past rulers, their faces weathered by time. She paused before the statue of Queen Alura, the last woman to rule Avaran before the wars.

"Were you as afraid as I am?" Ilyana whispered to the stone.

"Perhaps," a voice answered from the shadows. "But fear does not weaken the worthy."

Ilyana spun, startled. An elderly man stepped forward, his presence calm, his eyes kind.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Othric," he said with a respectful bow. "Royal archivist. I have waited for you." He held out a scroll, sealed with the lion crest.

"What is this?"

"Your mother’s final words," he replied gently. "She knew this day would come."

With trembling fingers, Ilyana broke the seal.

---

The next morning, the Second Trial awaited—the Trial of Sacrifice.

The chamber was smaller, colder. At its center, a stone platform and two cloaked figures stood silently.

Torvell spoke: "Before you are two souls. One has spoken for your claim. The other against it. You may save one. The other will be exiled beyond the Iron Border."

Her stomach twisted.

"I won’t make this choice," she said, voice shaking.

"Refusal is failure," Torvell replied.

She stared at the two figures. Neither pleaded. Neither revealed their face. The silence was worse than a cry for help.

She closed her eyes. Sometimes there is no right choice. Only the one you must live with.

With a trembling hand, she pointed to the figure on the left. "Spare them."

The spared figure was led away, the other dragged through the iron gate without a word.

Torvell lowered his staff. "The throne accepts your sacrifice."

But the victory tasted like ash.

---

That night, she found no rest. Her mother’s scroll lay open on her desk. Among the faded words, a final warning: Beware the Broken Sun. It rises again.

As if summoned by the words, a knock sounded at her door.

Marin entered, pale. "Your Grace... A message was found outside your chamber."

Ilyana took the scroll. No seal. Only one chilling phrase:

"The trials will end, but the war will not."

Her fingers trembled as thunder rolled in the distance.

And somewhere beyond the palace walls, a rebellion stirred.

---

Last Chapters

You Might Like 😍

Omega Bound

Omega Bound

2.1m Views · Completed · Veronica White
Ayla Frost is a beautiful, rare omega. Kidnapped, tortured, and trafficked to rogue clans and corrupt alphas to do with as they pleased.  Kept alive in her cage, broken and abandoned by her wolf, she becomes mute and has given up on hope for a better life until one explosion changes everything. 

Thane Knight is the alpha of the Midnight Pack of the La Plata Mountain Range, the largest wolf shifter pack in the world. He is an alpha by day and hunts the shifter trafficking ring with his group of mercenaries by night. His hunt for vengeance leads to one raid that changes his life. 

Tropes:
Touch her and die/Slow burn romance/Fated Mates/Found family twist/Close circle betrayal/Cinnamon roll for only her/Traumatized heroine/Rare wolf/Hidden powers/Knotting/Nesting/Heats/Luna/Attempted assassination
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother

Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother

2.7m Views · Ongoing · Harper Rivers
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother.

"What is wrong with me?

Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?

It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.

He’s my boyfirend’s brother.

This is Tyler’s family.

I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.

**

As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.

Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.

When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.

I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.

**

I hate girls like her.

Entitled.

Delicate.

And still—

Still.

The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.

Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.

I shouldn’t care.

I don’t care.

It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.

It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.

I’m not here to rescue anyone.

Especially not her.

Especially not someone like her.

She’s not my problem.

And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.

But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
Alpha Nicholas's Little Mate

Alpha Nicholas's Little Mate

1.3m Views · Ongoing · Becky j
"Mate is here!"
What? No—wait… oh Moon Goddess, no.
Please tell me you're joking, Lex.
But she's not. I can feel her excitement bubbling under my skin, while all I feel is dread.
We turn the corner, and the scent hits me like a punch to the chest—cinnamon and something impossibly warm. My eyes scan the room until they land on him. Tall. Commanding. Beautiful.
And then, just as quickly… he sees me.
His expression twists.
"Fuck no."
He turns—and runs.
My mate sees me and runs.
Bonnie has spent her entire life being broken down and abused by the people closest to her including her very own twin sister. Alongside her best friend Lilly who also lives a life of hell, they plan to run away while attending the biggest ball of the year while it's being hosted by another pack, only things don't quite go to plan leaving both girls feeling lost and unsure about their futures.
Alpha Nicholas is 28, mateless, and has no plans to change that. It's his turn to host the annual Blue Moon Ball this year and the last thing he expects is to find his mate. What he expects even less is for his mate to be 10 years younger than him and how his body reacts to her. While he tries to refuse to acknowledge that he has met his mate his world is turned upside down after guards catch two she-wolves running through his lands.
Once they are brought to him he finds himself once again facing his mate and discovers that she's hiding secrets that will make him want to kill more than one person.
Can he overcome his feelings towards having a mate and one that is so much younger than him? Will his mate want him after already feeling the sting of his unofficial rejection? Can they both work on letting go of the past and moving forward together or will fate have different plans and keep them apart?
How Not To Fall For A Dragon

How Not To Fall For A Dragon

274.2k Views · Completed · Kit Bryan
I never applied to the Academy for Magical Beings and Creatures.

Which is why it was more than a little confusing when a letter arrived with my name already printed on a schedule, a dorm waiting, and classes picked out as if someone knew me better than I knew myself. Everyone knows the Academy, it’s where witches sharpen their spells, shifters master their forms, and every kind of magical creature learns to control their gifts.

Everyone except me.

I don’t even know what I am. No shifting, no magic tricks, nothing. Just a girl surrounded by people who can fly, conjure fire, or heal with a touch. So I sit through classes pretending I belong, and I listen hard for any clue that might tell me what’s hidden in my blood.

The only person more curious than me is Blake Nyvas, tall, golden-eyed, and very much a Dragon. People whisper that he’s dangerous, warn me to keep my distance. But Blake seems determined to solve the mystery of me, and somehow I trust him more than anyone else.

Maybe it’s reckless. Maybe it’s dangerous.

But when everyone else looks at me like I don’t belong, Blake looks at me like I’m a riddle worth solving.
Goddess Of The Underworld

Goddess Of The Underworld

767.3k Views · Completed · Sheridan Hartin
Left at a pack border with a name and a stubborn heartbeat, Envy grows into the sharpest kind of survivor, an orphaned warrior who knows how to hold a line and keep moving. Love isn’t in the plan…until four alpha wolves with playboy reputations and inconveniently soft hands decide the girl who won’t bow is the only queen they’ll ever take. Their mate. The one they have waited for. Xavier, Haiden, Levi, and Noah are gorgeous, lethal, and anything but perfect and Envy isn’t either. She’s changing. First into hell hound, Layah at her heels and fire in her veins. Then into what the realm has been waiting for, a Goddess of the Underworld, dragging her mates down to hell with her.

When the veil between the Divine, the Living, and the Dead begins to crack, Envy is thrust beneath with a job she can’t drop: keep the worlds from bleeding together, shepherd the lost, and make ordinary into armour, breakfasts, bedtime, battle plans. Peace lasts exactly one lullaby. This is the story of an orphan pup who became a goddess by choosing her family; of four imperfect alphas learning how to be better. Steamy, fierce, and full of heart, Goddess of the Underworld is a reverse harem, found-family paranormal romance where love writes the rules and keeps three realms from falling apart.
A pack of their own

A pack of their own

1.9m Views · Completed · dragonsbain22
Being the middle Child ignored and neglected, rejected by family and injured, She receives her wolf early and realizes she is a new type of hybrid but doesn't know how to control her power, she leaves her pack with her best friend and grandmother to go to her grandfather's clan to learn what she is and how to handle her power and then with her fated mate, her best friend and her fated mate little brother and grandmother start their own pack.
The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

2m Views · Ongoing · Jaylee
Soft hot lips find the shell of my ear and he whispers, "You think I don't want you?" He pushes his hips forward, grinding into the back of my ass and I groan. "Really?" He chuckles.

"Let me go," I whimper, my body trembling with need. "I don't want you touching me."

I fall forward onto the bed then turn around to stare at him. The dark tattoos of Domonic's chiseled shoulders, quiver and and expand with the heave of his chest. His deep dimpled smile is full of arrogance as he reaches behind himself to lock the door.

Biting his lip, he stalks toward me, his hand going to the seam of his pants and the thickening bulge there.

"Are you sure you don't want me to touch you?" He whispers, untying the knot and slipping a hand inside. "Because I swear to God, that is all I have been wanting to do. Every single day from the moment you stepped in our bar and I smelled your perfect flavor from across the room."


New to the world of shifters, Draven is human on the run. A beautiful girl who no one could protect. Domonic is the cold Alpha of the Red Wolf Pack. A brotherhood of twelve wolves that live by twelve rules. Rules which they vowed could NEVER be broken.

Especially - Rule Number One - No Mates

When Draven meets Domonic, he knows that she is his mate, but Draven has no idea what a mate is, only that she has fallen in love with a shifter. An Alpha that will break her heart to make her leave. Promising herself, she will never forgive him, she disappears.

But she doesn’t know about the child she’s carrying or that the moment she left, Domonic decided rules were made to be broken - and now will he ever find her again? Will she forgive him?
Rise of the Banished She-Wolf

Rise of the Banished She-Wolf

367.5k Views · Completed · Lily
"White wolf! Kill that monster!"
That roar stole my eighteenth birthday and shattered my world. My first shift should have been glory—blood turned blessing into shame. By dawn they'd branded me "cursed": cast out by my pack, abandoned by family, stripped of my nature. My father didn't defend me—he sent me to a forsaken island where wolfless outcasts were forged into weapons, forced to kill each other until only one could leave.
On that island I learned the darkest edges of humanity and how to bury terror in bone. Countless times I wanted to surrender—dive into the waves and never surface—but the accusing faces that haunted my dreams pushed me back toward something colder than survival: revenge. I escaped, and for three years I hid among humans, collecting secrets, learning to move like a shadow, sharpening patience into precision—becoming a blade.
Then, under a full moon, I touched a bleeding stranger—and my wolf returned with a violence that made me whole. Who was he? Why could he wake what I'd thought dead?
One thing I know: now is the time.
I have waited three years for this. I will make everyone who destroyed me pay—and take back everything that was stolen from me.
Invisible To Her Bully

Invisible To Her Bully

545.5k Views · Ongoing · sunsationaldee
Unlike her twin brother, Jackson, Jessa struggled with her weight and very few friends. Jackson was an athlete and the epitome of popularity, while Jessa felt invisible. Noah was the quintessential “It” guy at school—charismatic, well-liked, and undeniably handsome. To make matters worse, he was Jackson’s best friend and Jessa’s biggest bully. During their senior year, Jessa decides it was time for her to gain some self-confidence, find her true beauty and not be the invisible twin. As Jessa transformed, she begins to catch the eye of everyone around her, especially Noah. Noah, initially blinded by his perception of Jessa as merely Jackson’s sister, started to see her in a new light. How did she become the captivating woman invading his thoughts? When did she become the object of his fantasies? Join Jessa on her journey from being the class joke to a confident, desirable young woman, surprising even Noah as she reveals the incredible person she has always been inside.
The Lycan Prince’s Puppy

The Lycan Prince’s Puppy

3.2m Views · Ongoing · chavontheauthor
“You’re mine, little puppy,” Kylan growled against my neck.
“Soon enough, you’ll be begging for me. And when you do—I’ll use you as I see fit, and then I’ll reject you.”


When Violet Hastings begins her freshman year at Starlight Shifters Academy, she only wants two things—honor her mother’s legacy by becoming a skilled healer for her pack and get through the academy without anyone calling her a freak for her strange eye condition.

Things take a dramatic turn when she discovers that Kylan, the arrogant heir to the Lycan throne who has made her life miserable from the moment they met, is her mate.

Kylan, known for his cold personality and cruel ways, is far from thrilled. He refuses to accept Violet as his mate, yet he doesn’t want to reject her either. Instead, he sees her as his puppy, and is determined to make her life even more of a living hell.

As if dealing with Kylan’s torment isn’t enough, Violet begins to uncover secrets about her past that change everything she thought she knew. Where does she truly come from? What is the secret behind her eyes? And has her whole life been a lie?
Falling For The Biker: The Vice President's Girl

Falling For The Biker: The Vice President's Girl

307.9k Views · Completed · Lily S.W
"Do you feel that, Wren? That pull between us?"
His eyes darken, flicking to my mouth.
"It's wrong. Your brother would slit my throat for just standing this close. But tell me, little bird" his breath ghosts my skin, "are you trembling because you hate me… or because you've wanted this just as much as I have?"
Wren thought she'd buried the chaos of New Orleans for good—the clubs, the blood-soaked loyalties, the men who lived and died by their kuttes. Seattle gave her everything she ever wanted: freedom, love, a future.
But one betrayal shatters it all.
Dragged home by tragedy, Wren finds herself under the watchful eye of Ezra Jax—the Raven Reapers MC's vice president and her brother's best friend. He's infuriating, dangerous, and far too tempting for a man she should never touch.
And the deeper Wren is pulled back into his world, the more she realizes nothing about her past—or about Ezra—is what she believed.
In the chaos of gang wars, mounting debts, and old betrayals, he becomes the one constant. The more she fights him, the harder she falls. And the more he pushes her away, the more lethal his pull becomes.
Because in this world, love isn't sweet.
It's brutal. Bloody.
And it's bound to break them both.
When loyalty is everything and love can cost your life, will Wren risk her heart on the one man she was never meant to love?
My Vampire Professor

My Vampire Professor

202.6k Views · Completed · Eve Above Story
When your bf cheated and dumped you on your birthday
You ordered a skilled call boy for yourself to take your v-card
He was indeed skilled and crazy hot. You left cash and run away the next morning.
Later, you run into the "call boy" in your classroom and found he's in fact your new Professor
“You forgot your stuff”
He gave you a grocery bag in front of everyone with a poker face
"What...?"
It was the cash you left...and your bra