Beyond Silver Valley

The voice disappeared with the closing Moon Gate.

Kael remained still.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

His mother's voice.

He knew it.

He didn't know how he could possibly know it after eighteen years, but something deep inside him recognized it.

Not from memory.

From blood.

“She said my uncle will find me first,” Kael whispered.

Rowan's face tightened.

“Then we don't have much time.”

Lucien turned toward him.

“You know where Silver Valley is?”

Rowan nodded.

“I've been there.”

Darius stepped forward.

“Isn't Silver Valley beyond the northern border?”

“It is.”

“And beyond that?”

Rowan looked toward the distant mountains.

“Territory that hasn't belonged to any kingdom for centuries.”

Kael looked at the ancient king.

“Can you open the gate again?”

The king shook his head.

“Not yet.”

“Why?”

“The Moon Gate opens according to the Moon's will. It cannot be forced.”

Kael's frustration rose.

“My father is there.”

“I know.”

“And my mother is somewhere beyond it.”

“I know.”

“Then tell me how to get there.”

The ancient king studied him.

“On foot.”

Kael blinked.

“What?”

“The gate may be closed, but the old road to Silver Valley remains.”

Azrael gave a quiet laugh.

“You'll need more than an old road.”

Kael looked at him.

“What?”

“Your uncle.”

The name seemed to darken the air.

“Elyon doesn't want the throne because he wants power.”

Kael frowned.

“Then why?”

“Because he believes the throne belongs to him by right.”

“And he thinks I'm stealing it?”

“He believes you should never have been born.”

Kael's expression hardened.

“Then he'll have to live with disappointment.”

Lucien's mouth twitched.

Kael caught it.

“You're smiling.”

“I am not.”

“You are.”

“Perhaps I like your confidence.”

Kael looked away before Lucien could see the warmth rising in his face.

Rowan noticed.

Darius noticed too.

Neither said anything.

By sunset, the ancient kingdom had begun to change.

The silver castle slowly faded.

The marble beneath their feet turned back into black stone.

The strange forest disappeared.

One by one, the ancient wolves returned to the world.

Some stayed.

Others vanished into the shadows.

Kael watched them leave.

“Where will they go?”

“Wherever they choose,” the ancient king answered.

Kael smiled faintly.

Choice.

It seemed to be the one thing the Moon wanted him to understand.

The ancient king approached him.

“You cannot remain here.”

Kael looked at him.

“Why?”

“Because the kingdom is awakening, but it is not fully restored.”

He placed a hand over Kael's Moon Seal without touching his skin.

“Your power has awakened the first layer of the Moon Throne.”

“What happens next?”

“The second layer will awaken when you reach Silver Valley.”

Kael frowned.

“And the third?”

The king's expression became unreadable.

“You will know when the time comes.”

Kael sighed.

“Everyone keeps saying things like that.”

The king smiled.

“You have inherited your mother's impatience.”

Kael froze.

“You knew her well?”

“Your mother came here many times before your birth.”

Kael's heart tightened.

“What was she like?”

The ancient king smiled.

“Brave.”

His eyes softened.

“Stubborn.”

Kael almost smiled.

“That sounds like me.”

“Very much.”

For the first time since learning his mother was alive, Kael felt something other than fear.

Hope.

They left before dawn.

Kael rode beside Rowan while Lucien and Darius led the group.

Azrael disappeared before they departed.

Kael had expected him to come with them.

Instead, he had simply said:

“I walk a different road.”

Then he vanished into the silver forest.

The journey toward Silver Valley was quiet at first.

Too quiet.

Kael finally broke the silence.

“Rowan.”

“Yes?”

“You knew my father was alive.”

Rowan closed his eyes briefly.

“Yes.”

“And you never told me.”

“I thought he was dead.”

“But you just admitted you knew he was captured.”

Rowan looked at him.

“I knew he was taken by the Alpha Council.”

“And you still said nothing.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

Kael's voice hardened.

“You don't get to decide what I deserve to know.”

Rowan lowered his head.

“I know.”

Kael stared ahead.

“I spent my entire life believing I had been abandoned.”

“You were never abandoned.”

“Then why was I alone?”

Rowan was silent.

Finally, he said,

“Because your parents chose your freedom over their own.”

Kael looked at him.

“They wanted you to grow up without a crown.”

He swallowed.

“Your father believed that if you were raised as a prince, someone would eventually use you.”

Kael's expression softened.

“And my mother?”

“She agreed.”

“Why?”

“Because she knew what the Moon Kingdom had become.”

Kael looked down.

“So they hid me.”

“Yes.”

“From everyone.”

“Yes.”

“Even from me.”

Rowan's voice became quiet.

“Especially from you.”

Kael looked at him.

“Why?”

“Because you were a child.”

The answer hurt.

But Kael understood it.

At least partly.

He looked toward the mountains.

“I still wish they had trusted me.”

Rowan nodded.

“So do I.”

By midday, they reached the edge of Silver Valley.

The landscape changed immediately.

The trees became thinner.

The air colder.

Snow covered the distant mountains.

Lucien stopped his horse.

“Something's wrong.”

Everyone halted.

Darius looked around.

“What do you sense?”

Lucien's eyes narrowed.

“Nothing.”

Kael's stomach tightened.

“That's the problem.”

A forest full of wolves should never be silent.

No birds.

No insects.

No wind.

Nothing.

Kael closed his eyes.

His wolf stirred.

Someone is here.

He opened them.

“Get down!”

An arrow flew through the air.

Lucien knocked it aside with his sword.

Another came.

Then another.

Darius shouted,

“Ambush!”

Black-armored warriors appeared between the trees.

Not Valerion.

Not Blackfang.

Their armor carried a symbol Kael had never seen before.

A silver crown split down the middle.

Rowan drew his sword.

“Elyon's soldiers.”

Kael's heart dropped.

A figure stepped from the trees.

A man with long silver-black hair.

Golden eyes.

A scar across his jaw.

He looked remarkably like Kael.

Too remarkably.

Kael stared.

The stranger smiled.

“Hello, nephew.”

Everything stopped.

Lucien moved in front of Kael.

The stranger laughed.

“Still protecting him?”

Lucien's eyes narrowed.

“Who are you?”

The stranger looked directly at Kael.

“Elyon.”

Kael's heart hammered.

His uncle.

His father's brother.

The man who believed the throne belonged to him.

Elyon stepped closer.

“You've grown.”

Kael's hand tightened around his sword.

“You've been hunting me since I was born.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Elyon's expression changed.

For the first time, Kael saw something beneath the anger.

Pain.

“You were supposed to die that night.”

Kael froze.

“My father”

“Your father saved you.”

Elyon looked away.

“He chose you over the kingdom.”

Kael's voice shook.

“What happened to him?”

Elyon looked back at him.

“He is alive.”

Kael took a step forward.

“Where?”

Elyon smiled.

“Come with me.”

Lucien's voice became cold.

“He isn't going anywhere with you.”

Elyon looked at him.

“You're the Alpha King.”

“Yes.”

“The one bound to him by the Moon.”

Lucien's jaw tightened.

“We aren't bound by ownership.”

Elyon smiled.

“Interesting.”

He looked at Kael.

“Then perhaps you should ask your beloved King what he hasn't told you.”

Kael turned toward Lucien.

Lucien's expression changed.

“Kael”

“What hasn't he told me?”

Silence.

Elyon laughed softly.

“That expression tells you everything.”

Kael's heart sank.

Lucien stepped closer.

“I was going to tell you.”

“When?”

“I don't know.”

Kael's eyes hardened.

“What is it?”

Lucien looked at him.

Then finally said,

“My father knew your mother.”

Kael's breath caught.

Elyon smiled.

“And that's not all.”

The mountains behind them suddenly shook.

A deep roar echoed through Silver Valley.

Everyone turned.

Snow fell from the peaks.

Then a second roar answered.

Elyon's smile disappeared.

“That's impossible.”

Kael stared toward the mountains.

“What?”

Elyon whispered,

“The Moon Dragon.”

Lucien's expression hardened.

“There's no such thing.”

Elyon looked at Kael.

“There is now.”

From behind the mountain, two enormous silver wings emerged.

The entire valley fell into shadow.

And a pair of ancient golden eyes opened beneath the clouds.