Chapter 13

The next morning, the palace felt colder than usual. The winter sun cut sharp across the stone courtyards, but even its light seemed to falter against the shadow that had settled over the court. Whispers trailed me wherever I went, ghostly echoes of curiosity, jealousy, and fear. Kael’s warning from the previous night rang in my ears like a constant hum: “Stay where it’s safe.” But safety had become a flexible term.

I had learned quickly that the palace offered very little of it anymore.

I wrapped my shawl tighter around my shoulders as I moved through the corridors, my footsteps echoing softly over polished stone. Servants curtsied and murmured as I passed, eyes flicking nervously toward the windows. They had already begun noticing the subtle tension between the two men who followed me like shadows—Kael, protective and raw with fire barely restrained, and Lucien, whose gaze lingered too long and burned too brightly in a way that made me shiver even now.

I was halfway down the hall when Kael stepped out from a side corridor, his tall frame almost blocking the light.

“You’re awake early,” he said, voice low, still hoarse from the previous night’s confrontation.

“I didn’t sleep,” I admitted, glancing at him. “Not really.”

He studied me for a long moment, amber eyes unreadable. Then his jaw tightened, and he gestured toward the breakfast hall. “Come. Eat something before the court notices you wandering alone again. You’ll need your strength.”

I followed, but my mind wasn’t on food. It was on Veyris, on the shadowed forest and the attackers whose eyes had glowed like fire in the night. I wondered what kind of person—or creature—could command such lethal loyalty.

By the time we entered the dining hall, the court was already gathering. Nobles whispered in clusters, occasionally shooting curious glances toward the empty seat at the head of the table where Lucien would eventually appear. Kael guided me to a seat near the center, where I would be visible but not isolated.

“Careful,” he muttered under his breath. “Eyes are on you.”

I caught the flicker of tension in his gaze as he scanned the room, noting each whisper, each sideways glance. My stomach twisted. I hated that my presence alone was enough to draw intrigue—and danger.

Lucien arrived a moment later, entering with his usual composure, like a painting come to life. His crimson eyes swept the room, lingering on me just long enough to make my pulse catch. He smiled faintly, as if he’d noticed something only he could understand.

Kael’s hand brushed mine beneath the table, a subtle reminder: I’m here. I’ve got you.

I gave him a small nod, though my heart still raced.

Breakfast passed in tense silence. The usual clatter of cutlery and the soft murmur of conversation seemed muffled, overshadowed by the quiet threat that had infiltrated the palace. It wasn’t until Lucien finally spoke that the tension snapped.

“The blood trail last night was only the beginning,” he said, voice soft but deliberate. “Veyris does not make mistakes. Whoever he sends is trained to observe, to test, and to report. And now he knows you’re awake, Astrid.”

I froze. The room seemed to tilt, the chatter of the court fading into a distant hum.

Kael’s hand tightened around mine beneath the table. “Then we keep moving,” he said firmly. “We don’t wait for him to strike first.”

Lucien’s crimson gaze flicked between us, a ghost of amusement in his eyes. “Oh, we’ll move. But know this: Veyris doesn’t just hunt. He plays, tests, manipulates. Every step we take, he’s already considered.”

I swallowed hard. “Why me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not important. I—”

“You are,” Lucien interrupted, voice cold but unwavering. “You are the key piece. The one both sides need. And whether you like it or not, you’ve stepped into a game far larger than either of you realize.”

Kael and I left shortly after breakfast, moving through the palace’s lesser-used corridors. I kept close, aware of every shadow, every flicker of movement. Kael’s presence was a shield, a wall of heat and strength that followed me like a second skin.

As we rounded a corner, Lucien appeared again, emerging from the shadows with his typical grace. “You really do insist on walking straight into danger,” he said softly.

“Someone has to,” I muttered. “Sitting in my room doesn’t make me safer.”

Lucien tilted his head, studying me. “I suppose that’s true. But bravery without caution can be… costly.”

Kael’s amber eyes flicked toward him, sharp as a blade. “And you, stay out of her decisions. She’s with me.”

Lucien smiled faintly, but there was a shadow behind it, one I couldn’t quite read. “Of course,” he said, voice even. “For now.”

By midday, news arrived of another disturbance near the northern wall of the palace—a guard had spotted movement in the tree line, fleeting shadows that vanished as soon as they were seen.

Kael and Lucien exchanged a glance that spoke volumes. I followed them, tension tightening in my chest like a vice. We moved quickly, every step deliberate, alert to the faintest whisper of movement.

The northern wall was quieter than expected. Only the wind rustled through the high grass, carrying whispers of leaves and the distant call of birds.

And then I saw it—a glimmer of movement. Shadows danced across the far side of the wall.

Kael’s hand went to the hilt of his sword. Lucien moved beside him, silent as a cat, eyes narrowed. My pulse spiked.

Before I could react, a figure leapt from the trees, landing between us. Another followed immediately, moving with the same lethal grace as the last intruders.

Kael was on them instantly, steel singing as it met their weapons. Lucien’s movements were fluid, precise, cutting off angles, controlling their motion like a chess master.

I found myself frozen at first, but instinct pushed me forward. I grabbed a long branch lying nearby and swung, connecting with one attacker. They staggered, hissing. Kael grunted as he disarmed another, while Lucien’s blade pressed against the second, forcing them into submission.

For a moment, time slowed. The clash of steel, the hiss of breath, the metallic tang of blood—it all became a symphony of chaos. And yet, through it all, Kael’s presence remained a constant anchor.

The intruders yielded under Kael’s strength and Lucien’s precision. Their faces twisted with anger, fear, and defiance.

“Veyris,” one spat, barely able to form the word.

My stomach dropped. That name had been whispered with dread before, and now it was spoken aloud, like a warning ringing in my ears.

Kael’s jaw flexed. “He shouldn’t be alive.”

Lucien’s crimson eyes narrowed. “Clearly, he is. And he wants you.”

After the fight, we returned to the palace, exhaustion pressing down like lead. Guards escorted the intruders for questioning, while Kael and Lucien lingered near the main hall, talking in low, urgent tones I couldn’t fully hear.

I leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. The adrenaline still coursing through me made my hands shake. I felt both exhilarated and terrified.

Kael turned toward me, amber eyes softening for the first time that day. “You’re alright,” he said, voice low. “That’s what matters.”

I swallowed, nodding. “I’m… okay.”

He stepped closer, the heat of him radiating through the layers of my shawl. “You’re not just brave,” he said, voice dropping into a murmur. “You’re remarkable. But don’t mistake that for invincibility. You can’t keep stepping into danger without—”

“I know,” I interrupted, my voice trembling, “but I won’t sit still either.”

Lucien appeared at the far end of the hall, silent as always. His gaze found mine, lingering just long enough to make my pulse skip. “The board is set,” he said, voice smooth. “And the game has only begun.”

That night, I stood at my window once again, the moon casting silver across the courtyard. The palace seemed calm, but the wind whispered of threats unseen.

Kael sat just behind me, arms crossed, amber eyes scanning the shadows. Lucien’s presence lingered at the edge of my thoughts, a phantom that refused to leave.

Somewhere out there, Veyris was moving, plotting. His reach was long, his patience deadly. And I knew, deep down, that nothing would stop him from coming for me.

Kael’s hand brushed mine, firm and grounding. “No matter what happens,” he murmured, voice low and sure, “I’ll keep you safe.”

I nodded, though the fear twisting in my chest refused to dissipate. And as I looked out over the moonlit palace, I understood the truth: the game was far from over. And in it, I was the prize.

Because Kael and Lucien weren’t just circling each other anymore. They were circling me.

And Veyris was already one step ahead.

---