Ruby’s POV

I watched Sophie leave my room, her retreating figure lit by the soft glow of the hallway light, and felt a pang of loneliness creep in. As soon as the door clicked shut, silence settled around me, thick and suffocating. It was moments like this when the reality of my situation hit me the hardest—that I was the last of my bloodline, the only remaining member of the Romanov legacy, and the next in line to take a throne that felt more like a cage than a privilege.

I ran my fingers along the spine of the book Tatiana had brought me earlier that week. It was a history of our royal family, a tradition passed down from one generation to the next. The pages held stories of bravery, sacrifice, and power, all meant to inspire me as the future queen. But now, all I could see were reminders of what I’d lost, what I was expected to live up to, and the impossible task of rebuilding everything that had been shattered.

I stood and walked over to my vanity, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The girl who looked back at me was different from the one I’d known before. Her eyes were duller, haunted by shadows of the past, and her cheeks were paler, no longer flush with the carefree innocence that once lived there. My once long dark hair was now in a pixie cut, and I noticed the faintest hint of red in the strands. My mother used to say that the ruby-red highlights were a symbol of our family’s bloodline, a mark of our royal lineage. Now, it felt like a reminder of all the blood that had been spilled.

I reached up to touch the delicate ruby pendant that hung around my neck. It was the last piece of my mother’s jewelry, the only thing that survived the crash. I couldn’t remember the impact itself—just the screech of tires, the world tilting, and then darkness. When I woke up in the hospital, they told me I was lucky to be alive. But what they didn’t understand was that surviving didn’t feel like luck. It felt like a punishment.

I was pulled from my thoughts by a light tapping on my window. Startled, I turned to see a small raven perched on the windowsill, its beady eyes watching me with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. Ravens had always been an omen in our family, messengers of both good and bad news.

Cautiously, I unlatched the window and let it swing open. The bird hopped inside and tilted its head, as if assessing me. That’s when I noticed the tiny piece of parchment tied to its leg. With trembling fingers, I untied it, unraveling the small piece of paper. Written in elegant, looping handwriting were words that made my heart skip a beat:

The throne is more than a title, Princess. Beware of those who would take it from you. Trust no one, not even your own shadow.

The warning hung heavy in the air, as cold as the night breeze that slipped into the room. My eyes darted around, searching for any sign that I was being watched, but the raven just stared at me, unblinking, as if waiting for me to acknowledge its message.

“Who sent you?” I whispered, but of course, the bird didn’t answer. Instead, it gave a sharp caw and flew back out the window, disappearing into the darkness. I watched it go, my mind racing with questions. Was this a threat? A warning? And if so, who would want to see me fall?

I shivered, pulling my robe tighter around my shoulders. Ever since the accident, my life had been filled with whispers—rumors about how I’d survived when my family hadn’t, speculation about whether I was strong enough to lead, and doubts about whether I was worthy of the crown. But this was different. This was personal.

Determined not to let fear get the better of me, I pulled out a small notebook from my nightstand and jotted down the message, along with the date and time. If there was one thing my father had taught me, it was that knowledge was power. And right now, I needed all the power I could get.

I couldn’t sleep after that. My mind wouldn’t let me rest, replaying the accident over and over in my head. I’d never told anyone this, but there was a moment before I lost consciousness when I felt something… a force. It was as if some invisible hand had wrapped around me, protecting me from the impact. When I opened my eyes, Sophie was the first thing I saw, her face streaked with blood, her arms wrapped around me as if shielding me from the world.

“Sophie,” I murmured to myself, the memory as vivid as if it had just happened. How did she survive? How did we survive? It wasn’t luck, I knew that much. There was something more, something we didn’t understand yet. And if I was going to protect myself, if I was going to protect her, I needed to find out what it was.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. “Ruby? Are you awake?” Sophie’s voice filtered through, and I felt a surge of relief wash over me. I hurried to the door, throwing it open.

“Sophie,” I breathed, feeling the tension leave my shoulders the moment I saw her. “I thought you’d gone back to your dorm.”

“I couldn’t sleep,” she said, giving me a sheepish smile. “I figured you probably couldn’t either.”

She was right, as always. “Come in,” I said, stepping aside to let her pass. As soon as she entered, I noticed the stiffness in her movements, the way she favored her left side, and the faint bruise forming along her jaw.

“You were pushing yourself too hard again,” I said, reaching out to brush my fingers against the bruise. “You need to take it easy.”

“I’m fine,” she insisted, though her eyes softened at my touch. “You know I can’t afford to take it easy, not when you’re in danger.”

“But you’re in danger too, Sophie,” I whispered, feeling the weight of those words settle between us. “I’m not the only one who matters.”

“You’re the princess,” she said simply. “It’s my job to protect you.”

I hated how easily she said it, how willing she was to put herself in harm’s way for me. “You’re not just my guardian,” I said, my voice trembling. “You’re my best friend. I don’t want to lose you too.”

Sophie’s expression softened, and she took my hand in hers. “You won’t,” she promised, and for a moment, I almost believed her.

I sighed, moving back to the window and staring out at the darkness. “Someone sent me a message,” I said, handing her the small piece of parchment. She read it, her eyes narrowing as she took in the words.

“This isn’t good,” she murmured, her protective instincts kicking in. “We need to tell Dimitri.”

“No,” I said quickly. “Not yet. I want to figure out who sent this first.”

“Ruby, this could be dangerous. We don’t know who’s watching you—”

“I’m tired of being watched,” I snapped, surprising even myself. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me. “I’m tired of everyone deciding what’s best for me. I need to do this, Sophie. I need to be the one in control for once.”

She studied me for a long moment, and then finally, she nodded. “Okay,” she said. “But you’re not doing this alone.”

I smiled, the first genuine smile I’d felt in days. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

And for the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of hope. Because as long as I had Sophie by my side, maybe—just maybe—I could figure out how to be the queen my family always believed I could be.