2026-10-07 00:56:28Lyra’s heart hammered so hard she thought everyone could hear it.
Varian stood too close. His breath smelled like wine and something bitter. The crowd watched like it was a show.
“You are lying,” Varian said. “A princess does not choose a stable boy.”
Lyra forced her voice to stay steady. “I am not lying. I am pregnant. The child is his.”
The hall went dead quiet.
Charles’s face was white, but he played his part. He grabbed Kael’s shirt and shoved him. “You dare touch my sister!”
Kael did not fight back. He just stood there, calm, like the shouting did not touch him.
Varian laughed. “Prove it. Who will believe this trash is the father?”
One of Varian’s men stepped forward and grabbed Lyra’s arm. She flinched.
That was when Kael moved.
He pulled her behind him in one smooth step and looked at the man like he was already planning how to break him.
“Let her go,” Kael said. His voice was low and cold.
The man sneered. “Or what, beggar?”
Kael did not answer with words. He twisted the man’s wrist until the man dropped to his knees with a sharp cry. The whole hall gasped.
Varian’s eyes narrowed. For the first time he looked unsure.
Lyra’s mind raced. She needed something bigger. Something that would shut every mouth in the room.
She grabbed Kael’s face and kissed him.
It was messy and full of fear, but she put everything into it. Kael froze for half a second, then kissed her back. The warm power under his skin flared so hard he almost lost control. For a moment the air around them felt heavier.
When they broke apart, the hall was silent.
Charles cleared his throat. “The law is clear. She chose. The wedding happens tonight.”
Varian’s face turned dark with rage. “This is not finished. I will return. And when I do, your little slave will not save you.”
He turned and left with his men. The rich guests whispered and stared at Kael like he was a strange animal.
Later that night the wedding was held fast and quiet. No big feast. No happy music. Just the words spoken in front of the family and a few witnesses.
Lyra stood stiff in a simple white dress. Kael wore clean clothes Charles had given him. They did not look at each other while the old priest spoke.
When it was over, Charles pulled them both aside.
“One year,” he said. “That is all. After one year we end this and Lyra is free. Varian will not dare move while she is married. That is the only protection I can give her right now.”
Lyra nodded once. Her eyes stayed on the floor.
Kael said nothing. He already knew the deal.
After the last guest left, Kael walked out to the big tree in the courtyard. The same tree he had slept in for two years. The moon was bright. He climbed up and sat on the thick branch, finally alone.
The power in his blood still burned from the kiss. It felt stronger. Hungrier. Like it wanted more.
He closed his eyes and tried to calm it.
A soft clap of hands came from below.
Kael opened his eyes.
Lord Varian stood under the tree, smiling like a wolf.
“You played the part well, stable boy,” Varian said. “But I do not like people who take what is mine.”
Kael dropped down lightly and landed in front of him. “She was never yours.”
Varian walked in a slow circle around him, studying him. “You move like a trained killer. You speak too well for a servant. Who are you really?”
Kael stayed quiet.
Varian’s smile widened. “I will find out. And when I do, I will hang you in front of the whole kingdom. Slowly.”
He turned to leave, then looked back one more time.
“Enjoy your wedding night, slave. It will be your last peaceful one.”
Kael watched him go.
The warm power in his blood pushed hard against his ribs, almost begging to be let out.
He looked up at the palace windows. In one of them, Lyra stood watching. When she saw him looking, she stepped back and closed the curtain.
Kael clenched his fists.
One year.
He had survived worse.
But something told him this year would not be quiet.
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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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