All Chapters of THE FORGOTTEN SON-IN-LAW : Chapter 361
- Chapter 370
456 chapters
390: The Shadow’s Reckoning
The city lay in a tense, fragile calm. Smoke still drifted from the ruined streets, ash falling like a quiet warning from the sky. Soldiers patched barricades, citizens whispered prayers, and in the palace courtyard, Adrian and Selene stood side by side — battered, bruised, but unbroken.Yet neither dared to celebrate. Julian’s presence lingered like a heartbeat in the shadows, a dark pulse that reminded them that the war was far from over.Kael approached, armor scorched and eyes grim. “Majesty… reports are coming in. The remaining shadow army is converging. They’ve regrouped, stronger than before. And… it’s not just soldiers this time. The civilians — they’re being drawn into the shadows, turning against each other.”Adrian’s fists clenched. “He’s going to try to break everything — every bond, every heart, every ounce of hope. But he won’t touch her. He won’t touch anyone I care for.”Selene’s hand found his, scar faintly pulsing as if acknowledging the bond between them. “He’s test
391: The Shadow’s Last Gambit
The city’s heart quaked as Julian’s shadows surged once more, denser, sharper, more relentless than ever. Smoke and ash swirled in the air, twisting in unnatural spirals, as if the very sky was warping under his power.Adrian stood at the forefront of the plaza, silver blade drawn, eyes fixed on the monstrous figure emerging from the shadows. Julian towered there, crown of black thorns blazing violet fire, every movement radiating menace and control. His army of shadows writhed behind him, a living, breathing extension of his will.“Selene,” Adrian said, voice steady despite the chaos. “Stay close. Remember — together.”Selene’s hands flared with silver-black energy, scar glowing in rhythm with the Shadow King’s pulsing aura. “I’m with you,” she said, her voice trembling but resolute. “He won’t take me. Not now. Not ever.”Julian’s eyes flickered between them, a cruel, knowing smile tugging at his lips. “How touching,” he hissed. “The lovers unite… but love is weakness. And I will use
392: The Gathering Storm
The city lay in fragile silence. Smoke still curled from the ruined districts, and shadows clung to every corner like a living thing. Citizens emerged cautiously, peering at the shattered streets, whispering prayers and fears alike. But amidst the chaos, one truth was undeniable: Julian’s presence lingered, a pulse of malice threading through every shadow.Adrian stood atop the palace walls, silver sword drawn, eyes scanning the horizon. He had fought Julian twice now, each encounter harder than the last, each a test of strength, skill, and endurance. And still, Julian remained, a storm gathering, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.Selene stepped beside him, scar faintly glowing beneath her sleeve. Her hands trembled slightly, but her eyes were sharp, filled with resolve. “He’s not finished,” she said quietly, voice firm despite the exhaustion lingering in her bones. “He’s gathering. Waiting for the moment he can truly break us… or take me completely.”Adrian’s jaw tightened. “
393: The Shadow King’s Wrath
The horizon burned with violet light as Julian’s army surged toward the city like a living storm. Shadows coiled over the walls, snapping, writhing, reaching for anything and anyone in their path. The ground trembled beneath the weight of his power.Adrian stood at the forefront of the palace gates, silver blade alight, every sinew tensed for the fight. Behind him, soldiers steadied their weapons, trembling yet determined. But their eyes kept darting toward the scarred queen standing beside him.Selene’s hands glowed with black and silver fire, veins pulsing along her arms. Her breathing was ragged, chest tight with exhaustion and fear, but her gaze was locked on the approaching storm. Every shadowed figure that moved toward her was a threat — and every tendril of Julian’s essence still pressing against her mind was a knife twisting in her soul.“You will bow, vessel… the crown will rise through you…” Julian’s voice hissed directly into her thoughts.Selene’s scar flared violently. He
394: The Shadow King’s Fall
The city trembled under a sky swollen with shadows, violet lightning cracking across clouds as if the heavens themselves were tearing apart. Julian had returned, stronger, faster, more terrifying than ever. His crown of black thorns burned with malevolent fire, his eyes glowing with unnatural violet light. The air pulsed with his essence, suffocating, corrupting, and daring anyone to stand against him.Adrian stood at the city gates, sword ignited in silver flame, shoulders squared. Beside him, Selene’s hands flared with silver-black energy, scar glowing violently as Julian’s presence pressed against her mind, trying to claim her fully. The whispers were relentless.“You will bow… the crown will rise… you belong to me…”Selene’s knees shook, but she straightened, her gaze meeting Adrian’s. “I… I will not… I cannot…”Adrian took her hands, anchoring her with his presence. “Together, Selene. Whatever happens, we fight as one. You are not alone.”Her energy surged in response, intertwini
395: After the Storm
The city breathed again. Smoke and dust still clung to streets, buildings bore the scars of battle, but the shadows that had haunted every corner were gone — dissipated by the combined strength of Adrian and Selene.Adrian walked through the central plaza, sword sheathed, eyes scanning the ruins. Soldiers repaired barricades, citizens returned to their homes cautiously, and the air was filled with murmurs of gratitude, relief, and awe.Selene walked beside him, scar faintly glowing, but her energy was steady, controlled. The darkness that had once pulsed through her veins was now tempered, subdued by her will and the bond she shared with Adrian. Her hands occasionally flickered with silver-black light, a reminder of the power she had mastered — and of the Shadow King’s lingering threat, though weakened.“Look at them,” she said softly, voice filled with wonder, as a group of children ran past, laughing despite the destruction. “They’re alive… they survived.”Adrian placed a protective
396: The Crown That Was Never Broken
Three years later.The kingdom no longer whispered Adrian’s name in fear.They spoke it with reverence.Stone towers had risen where rubble once lay. Trade routes stretched farther than they ever had before. The scars of shadowfire remained etched into the land, but they were monuments now—reminders of survival, not omens of doom.King Adrian stood upon the western battlements at dawn, watching the banners ripple in the morning wind. Black and silver. No crown of thorns. No symbols of terror. Only strength earned through blood and sacrifice.Peace had weight.And he carried it carefully.Behind him, measured footsteps approached. Adrian did not turn.“You’re awake early again,” Selene said softly.He smiled without looking back. “Old habits.”She joined him at the wall, her presence warm, grounding. Time had changed her—but not in the way people had feared. The scar remained faintly visible along her wrist, no longer pulsing, no longer hungry. She had learned to live with it, master i
397: A World That Learned the Wrong
History would later claim the war ended with Julian’s fall.That the Shadow King was destroyed. That the darkness receded. That the world was saved.History, as always, was wrong.The truth was quieter.It crept into treaties and sermons, into rebuilt streets and polished statues. It lived in the way people spoke of the past—not as a warning, but as a victory.The world had learned the wrong lesson.The eastern port city of Rhevan woke beneath a sky the color of dull steel. Ships docked in neat rows. Merchants shouted prices. Children ran laughing along the piers.Peace looked convincing here.Captain Mara Voss thought so too—until the screaming began.It came from the water.Not a single cry, but dozens, echoing across the harbor as sailors staggered back from the docks, clutching their heads, blood trickling from ears and noses.Mara drew her blade. “Clear the pier! Now!”The sea itself rippled.Not with waves.With shapes.Dark silhouettes passed beneath the surface, too large, too
398: The Man Who Spoke Without Shadows
Selene was awake when it happened.There was no scream. No fire. No pain.That was how she knew it was wrong.She sat by the tall window of her private chamber, the city laid out below her in quiet lamplight. Adrian slept behind her, one arm flung carelessly across the sheets, breathing steady. Peace had given him that. Or the illusion of it.Selene closed her eyes.And the world tilted.Not collapsing—aligning.The air grew thin, like the moment before a thought becomes a decision. Her scar did not flare. Instead, it cooled, a strange numb clarity spreading through her chest.You feel it too, a voice said.Selene’s eyes snapped open.She was no longer in her chamber.She stood in a vast hall of white stone, open to the sky. No shadows clung to the walls. No darkness pooled at her feet. Light poured in from everywhere, soft and even, without a single source.At the center stood a man.Young. Perhaps her age. Dark-haired, plainly dressed, hands clasped behind his back as if awaiting a
399: The Gentle Unmaking of Kings
Edrin Vale did not believe in conquest.Conquest required resistance, and resistance created martyrs. Martyrs became stories, and stories hardened into legends that outlived empires.No—Edrin believed in reframing.The council chamber of Lysport was circular, designed so no single voice could dominate the room. The architects had believed that shape alone could prevent tyranny.They had underestimated persuasion.Edrin stood at the center, hands empty, posture relaxed. Around him sat envoys from seven allied territories—lords, trade-masters, faithwardens. Men and women who had signed blood-pacts during the Shadow War. Survivors.Suspicious. Proud. Tired.“You’ve all heard the rumors,” said Lord Kareth of the North Shoals. “Cities surrendering without a fight. Ports opening their gates to… nothing.”“To peace,” Edrin corrected gently.A ripple of irritation passed through the chamber.“You arrive without banners,” another envoy snapped. “Without armies. And yet cities kneel.”“They kne