The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 96

Sonia-2

Her cheeks flushed delicately.

A shy smile appeared on her lips.

Caleb noticed immediately.

He had seen this before.

Many times.

After brief introductions from the council members, the conversation began flowing easily again.

Yet Caleb found his attention drifting.

Because Sonia kept glancing at him.

Subtle.

Polite.

But unmistakable.

Her posture shifted slightly closer whenever he spoke.

Her smile deepened when their eyes met.

And during one moment when the others were discussing something among themselves, she leaned slightly toward him and spoke in a softer tone.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Your Highness.”

Her voice carried a hint of admiration.

Caleb maintained his neutral expression.

“Have you?”

She nodded gently, lowering her gaze briefly in what appeared to be modesty.

“Of course. Everyone knows about the future King.”

There it was.

That familiar undertone.

Flirtation.

Careful.

Delicate.

But unmistakable.

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< Sonia-2

Calcb had encountered it countless times over the years.

Daughters of powerful alphas.

Ambitious noblewomen.

Pack leaders eager to strengthen alliances.

Women who looked at him and saw the crown long before they saw the man.

He was used to it.

He had grown almost numb to it.

And yet…

A strange thought flickered through his mind again.

Because the girl sitting in his penthouse had never once looked at him like that.

Iva had looked terrified of him half the time.

And the other half-

She looked at him like she didn’t know whether to run or breathe.

Caleb pushed the thought away again.

Because none of that mattered now.

Sonia was here.

The Council had confirmed her.

Which meant the matter was settled.

Still…

The conversation continued around him-Sonia responding with polite composure whenever someone addressed her-but Caleb’s mind was elsewhere.

Watching.

Listening.

Analyzing.

And the more he watched the girl, the more something deep inside him refused to settle.

It wasn’t anything obvious.

Sonia behaved exactly how one would expect from someone suddenly elevated to such an important position. She was respectful, soft-spoken, elegant in her responses, careful not to interrupt the elders, always smiling politely.

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< Somia-2

Yet Caleb noticed the way her attention kept drifting back to him.

Again.

And again.

And again.

It was subtle.

But persistent.

His father noticed.

Of course he did.

King William Adama missed very little.

After a few minutes the king’s sharp eyes flickered toward his son, studying him briefly before he rose smoothly from his seat.

“Son,” William said casually, brushing invisible dust from his sleeve. “Walk with me for a moment.”

Caleb immediately stood.

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The council members continued their discussion without interruption, and Sonia watched them leave with that same quiet smile still resting on her lips.

The king led Caleb out onto the adjacent terrace.

The doors closed behind them, muting the voices inside.

For a few moments they walked side by side along the stone balcony overlooking the palace gardens below.

Then William spoke.

“You are unusually silent today.”

His tone was calm.

But direct.

Caleb’s heart beat slightly harder in his chest.

Because there was no avoiding the conversation he had been replaying in his head since arriving.

“Father,” he said slowly.

William glanced at him.

Caleb stopped walking.

The king followed suit, folding his hands behind his back as he waited.

Caleb took a breath.

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< Sonia-2

Then said something he hadn’t expected to say aloud.

“Are we absolutely certain she is the Messenger?”

The question hung in the air.

William frowned immediately.

“Caleb.”

The king’s voice held a note of mild disapproval.

“The council confirmed her.”

Caleb nodded slightly.

“Yes.”

But his brow furrowed faintly.

“The full moon is not here yet.”

William studied him carefully.

“What are you implying?”

Caleb chose his words with care.

六

Claim

“The full moon ritual has always been the final confirmation from what I read. Yet Sonia was declared the Messenger before that test occurred. I’m simply curious how the council reached their conclusion so quickly.”

For a moment William said nothing.

Then his expression relaxed slightly.

“The full moon test is an old tradition,” the king replied calmly. “A symbolic one, mostly.”

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