The Earlobe Stain

Kael's gaze was full of agony, and the hand holding hers trembled. His wrecked heartbeat drummed in her ears, his pulse transferring into hers. He was broken. Elira could clearly feel his desperation through it all—and it pained her.

No. She didn't care about his emotions. She shouldn't care.

Kael was just a wolf hunter who would seize any chance to slit her throat if he could... But he never did, even when he had plenty of chances.

Instead, he would do things like this in front of her—begging for something she was sure he didn't even understand himself.

And she had no obligation to understand him.No reason to accept any plea he offered her through his silence.

"Did you forget? Or are you pretending to forget?" Her voice dripped with coldness.

"You knew exactly what kind of monster lives inside me, Kael. And you knew how this society would treat someone like me. So tell me—do you prefer I let the wolf loose in front of the assassins, risk being sold and caged in the dark once the public discovers what I am? Or should I desperately hold it back to protect myself, even if that means risking being found by the very assassins who hunt me down?"

Her eyes burned with hatred as the image formed in her mind.

Kael's expression shifted as he heard her words. Part of what she said was a lie, meant to hide the truth—that Thane really had come back to save her. She couldn't risk Kael noticing. She couldn't let him doubt the "right thing."

"You can be so ridiculous sometimes. Such a fool," she said coldly, yanking her hand away from his grip.

"Then I'll make the princess regret ever trying to touch you," Kael replied, his tone firm and unshakable.

Before Elira could respond, Kael had already turned and walked away in a rush. She heard the sound of hooves as he mounted his horse and rode straight toward the palace.

Once he disappeared from sight, Elira wasn't sure why, but something heavy dropped into her chest. A weight. Uncomfortable. She dismissed it quickly. Turning away, she ordered a servant to prepare her bath.

"The Lord hasn't slept a single second since last night. He returned from the palace at midnight, then left again straight away to look for you, my lady," the head servant informed her just as she reached her chamber.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes—cold and sharp—making it clear she didn't appreciate the unnecessary information. She knew there was a hidden message in what he was saying.

"And now, he's returned to the palace right away. I just thought you should be aware," the servant added softly, bowing before disappearing down the hall.

Elira sank into the hot bath, trying to wash away all thoughts of Kael. But his words kept playing in her head - every shaky breath he took, every unsteady movement of his hands, that devastated look in his eyes like his whole world was falling apart. Worst of all, his final threat echoed endlessly:

"I'll make the princess regret ever trying to touch you."

The memory of his eyes - filled with murderous rage where there had once been desperate longing - sent chills down her spine despite the steaming water.

What would he actually do to the princess? He couldn't possibly hurt royalty... could he? Not just to get revenge for her. Not when everyone knew about his history with Ilyana. Kael wouldn't go that far.

But then she remembered his expression - that cold, dangerous look like he was ready to tear someone apart with his bare hands.

Not willing to take the chance, Elira quickly stepped out of the bath and threw on her clothes in a hurry.

Kael didn't waste a second getting to the palace. He practically leaped off his horse and stormed toward the princess's quarters. Dawn had barely broken - normally servants would be bowing and guards saluting as he passed. But today? Everyone scrambled out of his way like he was carrying the plague.

BANG!

He kicked the princess's door open so hard the wood splintered. Inside, Ilyana stood half-dressed, still pulling on her morning gown.

"Well..." Her sugary voice made his teeth grind. "Miss me already, Kael? It's only been a few hours since you left my bed."

She flicked her fingers at the wide-eyed maid, who hesitated - the princess wasn't properly dressed, and this situation reeked of scandal. But Ilyana clearly didn't care. The servant fled.

"Care to help me finish dressing?" Ilyana turned, presenting her unlaced gown. "Or would you prefer me undressed?" She knew exactly how to push his buttons.

Kael answered by slamming the bloody Rennar crest onto her table hard enough to crack the wood. The metallic clang echoed through the chamber.

"Why did you try to kill my wife?" Kael's voice shook with barely-contained rage.

Ilyana barely glanced at the crest before smirking.

"What a shame. She survived professional assassins?" Her laugh was cold. "I made sure you'd be too busy with me to play the hero."

No denial. No excuses. She admitted it outright.

"Princess!" His roar made the windows rattle.

"Ilyana." She stepped closer, unfazed. "That's what you used to call me. Or have you forgotten?" His jaw clenched so tight she heard his teeth grind.

"I should be Lady Rennar - the Commander's wife." Ilyana's voice dripped venom. "That bitch stole you from me. I want her dead."

Kael moved faster than thought. One hand locked around her throat, slamming her against the wall. Ilyana's eyes bulged as his grip cut off her air.

"Hire assassins again, I dare you," he warned her firmly.

Ilyana held his strong hand at her neck with hers, then smirked.

"You think I fear you? My father will—"

"Your father ordered to execute mine. Tell me, Princess—" he leaned in, voice deadly soft "—how many graves do you want to dig today?"

The princess frowned, her face turning paler as she gasped for air. Kael's hand strangled her even more—then released her. Ilyana coughed badly after that.

Kael had warned her enough, so he turned away to leave before her voice stopped him again.

"Tell me, Kael—how long will you obsess over a woman who back away from your touch? Years? Decades?" She stepped closer, voice dripping venom.

"Marriage hasn't blinded me. I see how she looks at you—like you're the knife at her throat."

Her venomous words froze him on the spot, each one twisting a knife into his chest.

"I know you." She traced a finger down his arm.

"I was there when you cried over your first dead hound. When you broke your sword practicing for your father's approval. This—" she gestured to the pendant "—isn't devotion. It's sickness." Her smile turned cruel.

"I saw how you observed her from the shadows during our academy time. You love the chase because you thought she was impossible to reach. And when she finally surrenders? You'll discard her like you did that broken sword." She tiptoed beside him and let her soft lips reach his ear.

"In the end, you will come back to me again. As always. Because the only love offered to you and the only one you can receive is mine." She smiled, then bit his earlobe passionately.

Kael immediately pushed her away, then left the chamber with a heavy heart. But when he was just outside the chamber, Elira stood there, breathing heavily as if she had just run there. It shocked him—she shouldn't be there. Why did she come there at this moment?

She frowned as she caught his expression, and he knew why. He must have seemed like a complete fool who had lost his way. A faint smudge of Ilyana's lipstick lingered on his earlobe.  He didn't want her to find him like this, so he walked past her without a word.

And Elira? She caught sight of the princess's figure inside the chamber through the crack of the door, smiling meaningfully while half-dressed.