Chapter 2 THE NAME IN THE ROYAL ARCHIVE

The castle was nothing like Elena had imagined.

It stood on top of a mountain, surrounded by enormous stone walls and dark forests. Tall towers stretched towards the night sky, while silver torches illuminated the entrance.

Elena stepped out of the black vehicle and stared at the building.

"Is this where you bring everyone you kidnap?" she asked.

The man standing beside her didn't respond.

Alexander Blackthorn stepped out of the vehicle behind them.

"Do you ever stop talking?"

Elena turned towards him.

"Do you ever stop giving orders?"

One of the guards lowered his head, hiding his expression.

Alexander looked at Elena for several seconds.

"Be careful with your words."

"Then give me a reason to be polite."

His jaw tightened.

He turned towards the entrance.

"Bring her inside."

Elena followed the guards reluctantly.

The moment she entered the castle, conversations stopped.

People standing along the enormous hallway turned to look at her. Some appeared curious, others confused, but a few looked genuinely frightened.

She noticed their eyes moving towards her wrist.

The silver mark was still there.

"Why is everyone staring at me?" she whispered.

"Because you don't belong here," one of the guards replied.

"Then perhaps someone should take me home."

Nobody answered.

They led her into a large room with a long table, enormous windows and several portraits of previous rulers.

At the far end stood an elderly man wearing a dark royal uniform.

"Your Majesty," he greeted Alexander.

"Where is the royal archive report?"

The elderly man glanced at Elena.

"Is she the girl?"

"Yes."

The man studied her wrist.

His expression changed.

"That mark..."

"Tell me what it means," Alexander ordered.

The elderly man hesitated.

"Your Majesty, I believe we should discuss this privately."

"No. Speak."

The man swallowed.

"That symbol belongs to the House of Valemont."

Elena frowned.

"What's the House of Valemont?"

Nobody answered immediately.

The elderly man looked at Alexander before continuing.

"It was one of the oldest royal bloodlines in our history. Its members were believed to have disappeared after the massacre twenty years ago."

Elena stared at him.

"Wait. You're saying my family is dead?"

"Not necessarily," the man replied.

Alexander moved towards the table.

"Bring the records."

A young servant hurried away.

Elena crossed her arms.

"I would appreciate it if someone explained what is happening."

Alexander looked at her.

"You are in my kingdom, standing in front of my council, wearing the mark of a bloodline that was supposedly destroyed twenty years ago. I have every reason to question you."

"I didn't ask to be here!"

"And yet here you are."

Before Elena could respond, the servant returned carrying an old leather book.

The elderly man opened it carefully.

Several pages were covered with handwritten names, dates and royal symbols.

He searched for a moment before stopping.

His fingers became still.

"What is it?" Alexander asked.

The elderly man looked up.

"Your Majesty, there is something strange."

"What?"

"The records say the Valemont bloodline had only one surviving child."

He turned the book towards Alexander.

A name was written beneath an old royal symbol.

ELENA VALEMONT.

Elena stared at the page.

"That's not my name."

The elderly man nodded slowly.

"Your birth name may have been hidden."

Alexander studied her face.

"Who were your parents?"

"My mother is Rebecca Bennett. My father died when I was young."

"Your father's name?"

Elena hesitated.

"Daniel Bennett."

The elderly man suddenly closed the book.

Alexander noticed.

"What?"

The man looked genuinely disturbed.

"Daniel Bennett was the name of the man accused of betraying the royal family twenty years ago."

Elena felt her stomach tighten.

"My father?"

"That is what the records say."

She shook her head.

"No. My father wasn't a traitor."

Alexander remained expressionless.

"Then perhaps your mother knows more than she has told you."

Elena looked away.

Her mother had always refused to discuss her father's family. She had never understood why.

Now she was beginning to wonder whether the silence had been protecting her from something.

Alexander walked towards the windows.

"Have someone bring the royal physician. I want her examined."

Elena immediately objected.

"I'm not allowing anyone to examine me."

"You are not in a position to make demands."

"I am not your prisoner!"

Alexander turned.

"Until I know who you are and why your mark has appeared, you will remain here."

Elena stared at him.

"I hate this place."

"That makes two of us."

He left the room.

The elderly man waited until the doors closed before approaching her.

"Miss Bennett, there is something you need to understand."

Elena looked at him.

"What?"

He lowered his voice.

"Your father wasn't the only person accused of betraying the royal family."

"Who else?"

The man glanced towards the closed doors.

"King Alexander's father."

Elena's eyes widened.

Before she could ask another question, a scream echoed through the hallway.

The guards rushed towards the entrance.

Alexander returned almost immediately.

"What happened?"

A young guard stood outside, breathing heavily.

"Your Majesty, the royal archive..."

"What about it?"

"The second page has appeared."

Alexander's expression hardened.

"Read it."

The guard swallowed.

Then he spoke.

"One child was hidden. One king was deceived. And the bloodline that was buried will return to claim what belongs to it."

Silence filled the room.

Elena looked at Alexander.

For the first time, she noticed something unfamiliar in his eyes.

Fear.

Not for himself.

But for what her arrival might mean.

Alexander slowly turned towards her.

"Lock every entrance to this castle."

"Your Majesty?"

He didn't look away from Elena.

"Nobody leaves until I discover who brought her here."

Then he gave an order that made every person in the room freeze.

"Find her mother. I want Rebecca Bennett brought before me."

Elena stepped forward.

"You leave my mother out of this!"

Alexander's voice remained cold.

"Your mother has twenty years of secrets to explain."

Elena stared at him, her heart pounding.

She had come looking for a way home.

Instead, she had discovered that her entire life might have been built on a lie.

And the most frightening part was that the Savage King seemed to know something about her past that even she didn't.