The air in the throne room shifted the moment Queen Elena stepped closer. If King Aldric was a broken soul, then Elena was a spear, ready to strike at the slightest mistake. She didn't possess the raw, physical strength of a warrior, but her eyes held a different kind of power, a cold and calculating intelligence that made Kael’s skin tremble.She circled him slowly, her red dress trailing behind her like a pool of blood across the floor. Her heels clicked with a soft sound that echoed in the silent room and disturbed the peace.“So,” she began, her voice low and smooth. “Lord Duskborne.”Kael turned with her, making sure never to turn his back on her completely. He kept his hands folded behind his back, his posture straight but ready. He knew she was studying him. She wasn't looking at his clothes or his expensive jejewelleryShe was looking at the way he stood.“You stand very... still,” she noted, stopping right in front of him. “Most nobles tremble. They shift their right. They are

The wind howled through the jagged rocks of the Narrow Pass, carrying with it the scent of dust and old wood It was a forgotten place, an old side of a road that cut through the mountains, surrounded by high cliffs that blocked out most of the sunlight. It was the perfect choke point, a place where an army could be stopped by a handful of men if they knew what they were doing. And Kael knew exactly what he was doing.He stopped on the edge of the high cliff, looking down at the road below. His black cloak blew around him in the wind, but he remained calm, like a statue carved from the mountain itself. His aura was calm, hidden deep within him, but his eyes burned with that fury, patiently watching and waiting.Elira, on the other othe,r hand, was pacing back and forth behind him, kicking at small stones with her boot. She was restless, her hand constantly reaching for her blade.“They are late,” she muttered, a frown tugged across the corners of her lips. “The intel said they would be

The explosion was not just a sound, it was a heavy force that tore through the reality in the Narrow Pass. The blue dust from the shattered Mana Crystals didn't just settle, it hovered violently, mixing with Kael’s shadows to create a horrifying storm of magic that destroyed the very setting of the place.The rocks shook, and we were taken from our positions. The cliffs shifted forcefully as the raw energy forced its way into the stone. The narrow road was no longer a road, it was a raw area of dirt and crystal, a permanent reminder to the destruction Kael had just unleashed.Kael stood in the centre of the swirling dust, his heart beating softly. The use of such high-level sorcery took a toll on him; his body ached, and his veins burned as if fire was running through them, but his face remained perfectly calm. He refused to show weakness, not here, not now.He looked down at his hands, and smoke was still rising from his knuckles where he had struck the crates. The power he had relea

The room was filled with the soft, golden glow of the magical lamps, but to Lyanna, it felt more like the flickering light of a dying candle in a tomb. She paced back and forth across the carpet, her expensive and very cherished silk sleeping gown flowing around her like water. It was the finest silk money could buy, imported from the far East, but tonight it felt heavy, dragging against her skin like chains.She hadn't slept in three days.Every time she closed her eyes, she saw them. The violet eyes. Burning in the darkness. Watching her. Judging her.She stopped by the large window that was opposite the palace gardens. The moon was full, casting long, eerie shadows across the corners. Her vision was blurry now already.The trees looked like hands that wanted to grab her and the fountains looked like tears from the people she had wronged.Lyanna rubbed her temples, trying to massage away the headache that had been pounding behind her eyes for hours. She was safe here. That's what s

The journey to Marcus’ palace was silent and filled with a heavy air that could choke a normal man. Kael walked in front, his steps heavy and full of rage, while Elira followed behind him, her heart beating fast against her chest. She looked at his back, seeing the shadow magic that still danced around his skin like another skin, darker than the night itself. The prophecy he had read was still burning hot in his mind, fueling the fire and wrath that was already consuming his soul. He didn't say a word; he didn't look back; he just walked with pure determination, which was terrifying to watch.They arrived at the great iron gates of the palace, the place where Marcus slept, the place where his father plotted his death. The guards stood there, wearing their armour and holding their spears with pride. They looked strong, they looked ready for anything, but they were not ready for Kael.“Halt!” One of the guards screamed, stepping forward with his hand raised. “This is a restricted area