The Guardian's Curse

Kael stared at Lucien.

The words his mother had spoken seemed to hang in the air.

The Guardian becomes the only person capable of destroying the Moon Throne.

Lucien looked down at the silver mark on his wrist.

For the first time since it appeared, he didn't seem to know what to do with it.

Kael's voice was barely a whisper.

“Why would the Moon choose someone who can destroy it?”

Elara stepped closer.

“Because the Moon never wanted a throne to exist forever.”

Kael frowned.

“But the ancient king said the Moon Throne was created to protect the kingdom.”

“It was.”

Elara looked toward the temple's enormous silver altar.

“But protection became control.”

Her eyes darkened.

“The first Moon King believed that if he possessed enough power, he could prevent another war. He created laws that placed Alphas above Betas and Omegas. Then he used the Moon Bond to enforce obedience.”

Kael clenched his fists.

“So the throne became a weapon.”

“Yes.”

“And the Guardian?”

“The Guardian was created to stop the ruler if the ruler became what the first king had become.”

Lucien finally spoke.

“So the Guardian isn't meant to protect the throne.”

Elara shook her head.

“No.”

She looked at him.

“The Guardian protects the people from the throne.”

Silence filled the temple.

Kael looked at Lucien.

“That means you could destroy it.”

“If I had to,” Lucien said.

Kael's heart tightened.

“And if destroying it meant destroying you?”

Lucien's eyes met his.

“Then I'd still choose you.”

Kael looked away.

He couldn't let those words settle too deeply inside him.

Not yet.

Elara led them deeper into the temple.

Behind the altar was a circular chamber covered in ancient paintings.

Kael stopped.

One painting showed a silver-haired king standing beneath an Eclipse Moon.

Another showed an Alpha kneeling beside him.

A third showed the two of them holding hands.

Kael moved closer.

“Is that the first Moon King?”

Elara nodded.

“And the Alpha?”

“The first Guardian.”

Kael studied the image.

“They look…”

“Close?”

Kael nodded.

Elara smiled faintly.

“They were.”

“Were they mates?”

“No.”

Kael looked surprised.

“Then why are they holding hands?”

“Because they loved each other.”

Lucien's eyes shifted toward Kael.

Elara continued.

“The first Moon King and the first Guardian were not lovers because the Moon told them to be. They chose each other.”

Kael's heart beat faster.

“But something went wrong.”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“The King became afraid of losing the Guardian.”

Elara's voice became quiet.

“Fear turned into control. Control turned into possession. And possession destroyed their bond.”

Kael looked at Lucien.

“That's what the prophecy means.”

Elara nodded.

“Love freely chosen shall save the world. Love taken by force shall destroy it.”

Kael whispered the final words.

“So the prophecy isn't really about the throne.”

“No.”

Elara looked at him.

“It's about you.”

Kael's brow furrowed.

“Me?”

“You are the first Moon-born since the fall of the kingdom. The Moon gave you the power to restore what was broken.”

She looked at Lucien.

“And he has been given the power to stop you if you become what the first king became.”

Kael stared at the Guardian Seal.

“What if I become dangerous?”

Lucien answered immediately.

“Then I'll stop you.”

Kael looked at him.

“You'd really do it?”

Lucien didn't hesitate.

“If you ever became someone who wanted to control people, I would.”

Kael nodded slowly.

“And if I never do?”

Lucien stepped closer.

“Then I'll stand beside you.”

The tension between them softened.

Kael smiled.

“Fair.”

A sudden noise came from outside.

Rowan drew his sword.

“Someone's coming.”

Darius moved toward the temple doors.

“How many?”

Rowan closed his eyes.

“Too many.”

Elara's face changed.

“They found us.”

Cassian stepped forward.

“Who?”

Elara looked toward the entrance.

“The Council.”

Kael's body tensed.

Varek.

Again.

Cassian shook his head.

“They shouldn't have been able to cross the valley.”

Elara looked at him.

“They didn't.”

She pointed toward the ceiling.

“They came through the old Moon roads.”

Kael frowned.

“What are Moon roads?”

“Paths between kingdoms that existed before borders.”

Elara looked at Lucien.

“And someone gave them the key.”

Lucien's face hardened.

“Elyon.”

Elara nodded.

“He has been working with them.”

Kael's jaw tightened.

“But why?”

“Because he believes the only way to prevent another Moon King from ruling is to destroy the bloodline.”

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“He wants me dead.”

“Yes.”

A horn sounded outside.

Then another.

Darius looked through the temple doorway.

“Thousands.”

Lucien stepped forward.

“Then we fight.”

Elara grabbed his arm.

“No.”

Lucien turned.

“Why?”

“Because that's exactly what they want.”

Kael looked at his mother.

“What do they want?”

“They want you to awaken the Moon Throne.”

Kael's expression changed.

“Why?”

“Because once you awaken it completely, the Council can use the Guardian Seal to destroy it.”

Lucien looked at his wrist.

“They want me to kill the throne.”

“Yes.”

“And what happens to Kael?”

Elara hesitated.

“He becomes connected to it.”

Lucien's face hardened.

“So destroying the throne could kill him.”

“Yes.”

Silence.

Kael slowly understood.

The Council wasn't simply attacking them.

They were forcing them toward a choice.

Either Kael claimed the throne and became its ruler—

or Lucien destroyed it and possibly killed Kael.

A perfect trap.

Kael looked at Lucien.

“They're trying to make us choose between each other.”

Lucien shook his head.

“No.”

His voice was firm.

“They don't get to decide our choices.”

Kael's eyes met his.

A faint smile appeared.

“That's becoming your favorite sentence.”

“Because you need to hear it.”

Kael laughed softly.

For one brief moment, the fear disappeared.

Then the temple doors exploded inward.

Soldiers flooded the entrance.

At their center stood Varek.

But he wasn't alone.

A man walked beside him.

Long silver-black hair.

Golden eyes.

Elyon.

Kael's expression hardened.

“You betrayed us.”

Elyon looked at him.

“No.”

He glanced at the Moon Temple.

“I betrayed the throne.”

Kael stepped forward.

“What's the difference?”

Elyon's eyes became cold.

“The throne killed your family once.”

He looked at Lucien.

“And now it will kill you too.”

Lucien drew his sword.

“You're wrong.”

Elyon smiled.

“Am I?”

The Guardian Seal on Lucien's wrist suddenly ignited.

Kael's Moon Seal answered.

The temple began to shake.

Elyon's smile disappeared.

“Oh.”

He looked at Kael.

“You've already awakened it.”

A deep voice echoed beneath the temple.

THE MOON THRONE CALLS.

Kael looked toward the floor.

Silver cracks spread beneath his feet.

Elara grabbed his hand.

“Kael, don't listen.”

But the voice continued.

MOON-BORN.

Kael's eyes began to glow.

CHOOSE YOUR GUARDIAN.

The entire temple fell silent.

Lucien stared at Kael.

Elyon watched with bated breath.

Varek raised his weapon.

And Kael realized the Moon wasn't asking who should protect him.

It was asking him to choose who would share his fate.

He looked at Lucien.

Lucien didn't move.

He didn't command.

He didn't ask.

He simply waited.

Kael took one step toward him.

Then another.

And placed his hand over Lucien's glowing Guardian Seal.

The temple erupted in silver light.