Chapter 15

The morning sunlight was cruel that day. It poured through the tall windows of my chambers, casting long, sharp shadows across the floor, and yet it brought no warmth. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the quiet hum of the palace as though it were holding its breath.

Kael had been restless since yesterday’s encounter with Veyris’s hounds. I could see it in the way he moved—like a predator on edge, constantly scanning, constantly calculating. Lucien, meanwhile, had been unusually silent, his presence both comforting and infuriating in its ambiguity. He didn’t hover, but the intensity in his crimson gaze followed me wherever I went, making me hyperaware of every movement.

I dressed quickly, pulling on the simplest of gowns, my mind churning. Today, Kael and I were supposed to meet with the council to discuss the security breaches, but I knew this wasn’t just about paperwork. Veyris was more than a threat—he was a storm, and I was caught in its center.

As I stepped into the hallway, Kael was already there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His amber eyes softened for a brief moment when he saw me, but the weight of the night hung on him.

“You look like hell,” he muttered, attempting humor. It fell flat.

“I feel like hell,” I admitted, brushing past him. “Do we even know what we’re up against?”

Kael’s jaw tightened. “Enough to know Veyris is patient, calculating, and ruthless. He’s not coming at us with swords and fire. He’s coming at us with strategy. And you… you’re the key.”

The words made my stomach twist. “The key? I’m supposed to be safe, not essential to some war I don’t even understand.”

Kael’s gaze softened, a flicker of something tender in his amber eyes. “Safe is a luxury you don’t get right now, Astrid. But I’ll do everything in my power to keep you alive.”

Before I could respond, the sound of Lucien’s footsteps echoed behind us. He emerged from the shadows with that casual, effortless grace that always made my pulse quicken. “Planning a meeting without me?” he asked, voice light but dangerous. “I’d hate to be left out of… strategy.”

Kael’s fists clenched, but he didn’t answer. Lucien’s crimson eyes met mine, and I couldn’t help the shiver that ran down my spine. “We leave in ten,” he added, as though reading my thoughts.

The council chamber was a grand, imposing room, filled with nobles, guards, and a handful of advisors. I followed Kael and Lucien inside, acutely aware of every gaze. Whispers rose like a tide, brushing against my ears. I could feel the tension, the curiosity, the silent questions.

The council began, papers shuffled, maps spread across the long oak table, and I took my place beside Kael. Lucien lingered at the edge of the table, hands folded, his presence a silent warning to anyone who dared challenge him.

“The outer walls were breached twice last night,” Kael began, voice steady but sharp. “Two of Veyris’s half-bloods infiltrated the palace grounds. They were intercepted, but we cannot underestimate him.”

An advisor raised a thin, skeptical eyebrow. “And what makes you think this Veyris is still alive? Last we heard—”

Kael cut him off, voice like steel. “Last we heard, he was dead. That doesn’t make it true. And if he’s alive, he’s not just looking for power—he’s looking for her.” His gaze landed on me, and my pulse quickened.

The room fell silent, whispers dying instantly. I could feel the weight of everyone’s eyes.

Lucien finally spoke, his tone smooth and controlled. “He’s underestimated if he thinks he can find her so easily. Kael and I have both… handled his kind before. But patience will only take us so far. He’s clever. He’s dangerous. And he’s focused.”

Kael’s eyes flashed at Lucien, a silent warning, but he didn’t interrupt. Instead, he turned back to the council. “We need to double patrols, secure every entry point, and train our shadows to respond without hesitation. This isn’t just about brute force; it’s about anticipating him.”

The meeting dragged on, each minute heavy with strategy, caution, and the unspoken threat hovering like smoke. By the time we left, my head was spinning with maps, patrol routes, and contingency plans.

Back in my chambers, I tried to rest, but the memory of last night’s encounter with Veyris’s hounds refused to fade. I couldn’t stop thinking about their amber eyes, the unnatural grace in their movement, and the way Kael had thrown himself in front of me without hesitation.

A soft knock drew my attention. Kael entered without waiting, and I noticed the faint smear of dried blood on his forearm.

“You didn’t sleep,” I said softly.

“I slept enough to know we’re not safe,” he replied, moving closer. “And neither are you.”

I stood, crossing my arms. “So what now? Hide forever in the inner wing?”

Kael shook his head. “No. We fight back. We find out who’s helping Veyris. And we keep you alive.” His gaze lingered on me, softer this time, but no less intense. “I can’t do it alone.”

Before I could respond, Lucien appeared in the doorway, as though materializing from the shadows themselves. “Alone?” he murmured. “Kael’s never been alone when it comes to protecting you. But you…” His eyes flicked to me, and the air between us thickened. “You’re stronger than he gives you credit for.”

Kael’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue.

Lucien stepped inside, moving closer until he was just a few feet from me. “And braver than he knows. I’ve seen it. Even last night, when you—” He paused, eyes darkening. “You didn’t flinch.”

I swallowed, suddenly aware of how exposed I felt. “I… didn’t have time to think.”

“Exactly,” Lucien said softly. “You act. And that makes you dangerous—to them, and… to me.”

The tension between Kael and Lucien was palpable. I felt like the eye of a storm, both terrifying and intoxicating.

Hours later, I found myself wandering the gardens again, unable to shake the restlessness. The sun was low, casting golden streaks across the hedges, and the air was fragrant with the scent of roses and something darker, something lurking.

I hadn’t gone far when I noticed a shadow flicker at the edge of my vision. My pulse quickened. I wasn’t imagining it. Someone was watching.

“Not again,” I muttered.

Kael appeared silently, hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “Stay close,” he warned. “And don’t let your guard down.”

Lucien emerged from the opposite side, his steps as silent as the shadow itself. “Or you’ll regret it,” he added, voice a smooth threat.

Before I could respond, the figure stepped forward. A hooded stranger, moving with that familiar fluid grace, stepped into the light. Amber eyes gleamed beneath the hood, and a cruel smile tugged at their lips.

Kael moved instantly, placing himself between me and the intruder, sword drawn. Lucien mirrored him, daggers gleaming in the fading sunlight.

The fight was swift, brutal, and precise. The intruder lunged, and Kael met them head-on, striking with a combination of strength and skill that made my stomach clench. Lucien struck from the shadows, his movements silent but deadly.

I stayed behind Kael, clutching a fallen branch for defense. But when the intruder aimed for me, instinct took over. I swung the branch with all my strength, catching them off guard. The clash of wood and steel echoed in the garden.

Kael’s eyes met mine briefly. “Not bad,” he growled, then returned to the fight with a renewed fury.

Lucien’s crimson gaze never left me. “You’re learning,” he murmured, voice low. “Faster than I expected.”

The intruder fell back, snarling, before disappearing into the shadows. The air was thick with the scent of iron and the faint smoke of fear.

Kael turned to me, chest heaving, sweat dripping from his brow. He didn’t say anything at first, just reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You’re mine to protect,” he said softly, eyes blazing. “Always.”

Lucien stepped closer, his presence both menacing and alluring. “And you,” he murmured, “are a prize no one should underestimate.”

I realized then that the danger wasn’t just from Veyris or his hounds. It was in the space between them, in the tension, the protection, the desire, and the storm that raged around me.

For the first time, I understood: surviving Veyris wouldn’t be enough. I had to be stronger. Smarter. Fierce. And somehow, I had to navigate the delicate, dangerous lines drawn by Kael and Lucien—lines that could protect me, but just as easily destroy me.

The sun dipped below the horizon, leaving a wash of crimson light across the palace. Shadows stretched and twisted, mirroring the uncertainty of what was to come. Somewhere out there, Veyris was watching, waiting. And I knew, with a cold certainty, that this was only the beginning.

Because in the game of shadows, there were no safe players—only pieces, and I had just realized I was at the very center.

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