2026-10-07 00:55:37Kael landed between Lyra and the man with the silver pin. Dust rose around his boots.
The man took one step back, surprised. “The stable boy? This is not your fight.”
Kael did not answer. He just looked at him the way he used to look at enemies on the battlefield.
Lyra’s voice shook. “He’s one of Varian’s men. He was waiting for me.”
Before the man could speak again, more footsteps came from the main doors. Charles appeared, face pale. Behind him walked a tall man in a black coat with gold edges—Lord Varian himself. A crowd of rich guests followed, whispering.
Varian’s eyes moved from Lyra to Kael and narrowed.
“So this is where the little princess ran,” Varian said, voice smooth and cold. “And she brought a servant to protect her? How sweet.”
Lyra’s hands curled into fists. Kael could see she was terrified, but she did not step back.
Charles tried to speak. “Brother, let us return inside. The ceremony—”
“The ceremony is a joke,” Varian cut in. “Everyone knows she will choose me. Or her people will pay the price.”
Lyra’s head lifted. Something hard settled in her eyes. She grabbed Kael’s wrist so tight it hurt.
“I already chose,” she said, loud enough for the whole crowd to hear. “I choose him. Luis. I love him. He is the father of my child.”
Silence fell like a blade.
Kael’s mind went blank for half a second. Child? He had never even spoken to her alone for more than a minute.
Charles’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
Varian laughed. It was an ugly sound. “A slave? You expect us to believe you let a dirty stable boy touch you?”
The guests started whispering louder. Some laughed. Some looked disgusted.
Kael felt every eye on him. The old anger rose fast. These people looked at him the same way they looked at dirt under their shoes.
Lyra’s hand was still on his wrist. She was shaking, but she did not let go.
Charles finally found his voice. He grabbed Kael’s shirt and shoved him. “How dare you touch my sister!”
It looked real. But Kael saw the quick look Charles gave him—help us.
Kael understood. This was the only way out Charles and Lyra had left.
He straightened his back.
“I love her,” he said clearly. The lie tasted strange, but he said it anyway. “And she chose me. That is the law of your family, is it not?”
Varian’s face turned red. He stepped forward. “You low-born trash. I will cut your tongue out.”
One of Varian’s men moved toward Kael. Kael did not wait. He stepped in, twisted the man’s arm, and dropped him to the ground in one clean move. Gasps rose from the crowd.
Varian’s eyes widened just a little.
Lyra suddenly pulled Kael close and kissed him.
It was clumsy and desperate. Kael froze for a second, then kissed her back hard enough to make the whole courtyard go quiet. The warm power in his blood flared bright and hot, stronger than it had ever been. For a moment he felt like he could break the stone under his feet.
When they broke apart, Lyra’s cheeks were red. She looked as shocked as he felt.
Varian’s hand went to the sword at his side.
“This is not over,” he said, voice low and full of hate. “A slave cannot take what belongs to me. I will return with the full weight of my army if I must.”
He turned and walked away. His men followed. The rich guests stared at Kael like he had grown horns.
Charles let out a long breath. “The law is the law. She chose. The wedding will happen tonight.”
Lyra looked at Kael, eyes full of fear and something else he could not name.
“This is only for one year,” she whispered so only he could hear. “After that we end it. Do you understand?”
Kael gave a small nod. “One year.”
But deep inside, the power in his blood was still burning. It did not feel like something that would wait quietly for a year.
And across the courtyard, hidden behind a pillar, the man with the silver pin smiled and slipped a small message bird into the sky—straight toward Valoria.
The game had just become much bigger than one fake marriage.
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Chapter 13 – The Second Bird
Riven did not sleep that night.He sat on the floor with the old book open under the lamp. Page after page showed the same red fire. Some people learned to hold it. Most did not. The last pages were the worst. Drawings of bodies turned to ash while the fire still danced in the air.He closed the book and stared at his hands.“I will not burn,” he said out loud.The power answered with a low heat under his skin, like it was listening.Morning came gray and cold. Riven went straight to the old training yard. He did not wait for Theo this time. He pulled the fire the moment his feet touched the cracked stone.Red light filled his hands. He held it longer than before. Three minutes. Four. His arms shook, but the glow stayed steady. He punched the broken posts until three of them split. Wood flew. Sweat ran down his back.When the light finally faded he dropped to one knee, breathing hard. The cost was still there. Every time he used more, the tiredness hit harder. But the control was grow
Chapter 12 – The Man on the Stairs
Riven moved first.He stepped in front of Serena and pulled the power up hard. Red light filled both hands. The heat burned under his skin, but he held it steady.Silas stayed by the door, still holding the black bird. His eyes never left the stair.The footsteps came closer. Slow. Careful. One pair of boots.A shadow stretched across the stone wall. Then a man stepped into the lamp light.He was taller than the last one Kane sent. Broad shoulders. Dark coat. A long knife in each hand. His eyes went straight to the glowing red on Riven’s hands and stayed there.“Lord Kane was right,” the man said. His voice was flat. “The stable boy really does carry fire.”Riven did not answer. He watched the man’s feet, the way he held the knives, the small space between them.Serena whispered behind him, “There are only three of us.”“I know,” Riven said.The man smiled and rushed forward.Riven met him halfway. He swung his right fist. The red light hit the first knife and knocked it sideways. Spa
Chapter 11 – Eyes in the Dark
Riven did not sleep after the black bird left.He sat by the window until the sky turned pale. Every time he closed his eyes he saw the silver band on its leg. Kane knew. Kane was watching. And someone else might be watching too.When the first light came he went straight to the old training yard. No more waiting.He pulled the power the moment his feet hit the cracked stone. Heat rushed up from his chest. His hands glowed red longer than yesterday. He punched the broken post until it split in half. Wood chips flew. His arms shook, but he did not stop.Ten breaths. Twenty. The glow stayed.Better. Still not enough.A soft sound came from the wall. Soft boots again.Riven turned fast. “Silas. I told you—”It was not Silas.A thin man in dark clothes stood there. Not a servant. Not a guard. He held a short knife low at his side. His eyes locked on Riven’s glowing hands.“Lord Kane sends a message,” the man said. “Stop training. Or the next letter will have blood on it.”Riven let the po
Chapter 10 – The Full Moon Warning
Riven sat on the thick branch until the sky turned gray. The letter from Lord Kane stayed in his pocket like a hot coal. Every time he touched it the power in his blood pushed harder, like it wanted to fight right now.He climbed down when the first servants started moving. No more sleeping in trees. He needed a real plan.He walked straight to the small room near the stables that Serena had agreed to give him. It was plain—a bed, a table, one window that looked at the horse yard. Better than nothing.He locked the door, sat on the floor, and closed his eyes.The power sat under his skin like warm water ready to boil. He tried to pull it up slow. Just a little. Enough to feel it without losing control.It answered faster than he expected. Heat ran down his arms. His hands glowed faint red for a second, then faded. Sweat broke out on his forehead. His heart beat too hard.Too strong. Too hungry. He still could not hold it long.A soft knock came at the door.“Riven? It’s Theo.”Riven o
Chapter 9 – Voices Behind the Door
Riven stopped dead outside the door. The words hit him harder than any punch.Serena’s voice was low and sharp. “He cannot stay here. Find a way to make him leave before the month ends. If Lord Kane learns too much about him… we are all dead.”A man’s voice answered. Smooth. Cold. One Riven had never heard before.“Do not worry, Princess. I already have a plan.”Riven’s hand tightened on the door frame. The warm power in his blood woke up at once. It pushed against his ribs like it wanted out. He forced it down. This was not the time to lose control.He pushed the door open.Serena spun around. Her face went white. The man beside her took one step back. He was thin, with sharp eyes and a small silver pin on his coat. Not a servant. Not family either.“You left the room,” Serena said. Her voice shook a little. “I told them to keep you inside.”Riven looked straight at the stranger. “Who is he?”The man smiled too fast. “Just a helper, my lord. Nothing more.”“I’m not your lord,” Riven
Chapter 8 – One Year of Lies
Kael stood under the tree long after Varian left. The night air was cold, but the power in his blood still burned hot.Charles found him there.“Walk with me,” Charles said.They went to the same quiet hill where Charles had drunk himself sick days before. This time neither of them carried wine.Charles spoke first. “The marriage is only for show. One year. That is all I ask. After that we end it cleanly. Lyra stays safe from Varian, and you walk away free. I will even give you gold if you want it.”Kael shook his head. “I don’t need gold. I need the story to hold. If Varian finds out it’s fake, he will come harder.”“Then we make a real contract,” Charles said. “No touching. No shared bed. No claims on each other when the year ends. Both of you sign. That way no one can force anything later.”Kael thought about it. A clear end. A way to keep his secret safe. And a place to stay while the five-year exile still had three years left.“I’ll sign,” he said.They returned to the palace. Ch
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