The Hollow King

The creature's smile widened.

Kael could barely breathe.

The Hollow King stood in the center of the shattered library, towering over them. Black fur covered most of his body, but beneath it were silver scars that glowed faintly like cracks in the moon.

His golden eyes never left Kael.

Lucien stepped forward.

“Stay behind me.”

Kael immediately shook his head.

“No.”

Lucien glanced at him.

“Kael”

“You said I don't have to face anything alone.”

Kael's eyes hardened.

“That doesn't mean you have to face everything for me.”

For a moment, Lucien said nothing.

Then he lowered his sword slightly.

“Fine.”

Kael smiled faintly.

“Thank you.”

The Hollow King laughed.

“You sound like them.”

Kael looked at him.

“Who?”

“The first Moon-born and his Guardian.”

The creature's voice echoed through the library.

“They believed they could change the Moon's laws.”

Kael took a step forward.

“And they were right.”

The Hollow King's expression darkened.

“They died.”

“Because the king chose control.”

“No.”

The creature's claws scraped against the stone.

“They died because the Moon demanded sacrifice.”

Kael's Moon Seal suddenly burned.

He grabbed his chest.

The Hollow King smiled.

“There.”

Lucien moved closer.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing.”

Kael struggled to breathe.

The silver light beneath his skin spread toward his heart.

The Hollow King whispered:

“The Moon remembers every sacrifice.”

Kael's wolf snarled.

Don't listen.

But another voice answered.

Remember.

Kael froze.

Images flooded his mind.

A silver palace.

A battlefield.

Hundreds of wolves kneeling.

A throne covered in blood.

A young Guardian standing before it.

And a Moon King screaming his name.

Kael stumbled.

Lucien caught him.

“Kael!”

Kael gripped Lucien's shirt.

“I saw them.”

“Who?”

“The first King.”

His breathing became uneven.

“And the Guardian.”

Lucien looked toward the Hollow King.

“What did you see?”

Kael looked at him.

“They weren't killed by the throne.”

The Hollow King's smile disappeared.

Kael whispered:

“They were betrayed.”

Silence.

Aeron's face went pale.

“How could you know that?”

Kael looked toward him.

“The Moon showed me.”

The Hollow King suddenly roared.

The sound shattered every remaining window.

Books flew from the shelves.

Lucien shifted instantly.

Black fur covered his body as his wolf emerged, massive and powerful, crimson eyes burning.

Kael followed.

His own body transformed.

Dark silver fur.

Amber eyes.

The two wolves stood side by side.

The Hollow King charged.

Lucien met him first.

The impact shook the entire library.

Kael lunged from the side, sinking his teeth into the creature's shoulder.

The Hollow King threw him against a stone wall.

Kael crashed hard.

“Kael!”

Lucien turned.

The Hollow King struck him across the chest.

Lucien flew backward.

Kael forced himself up.

His wolf growled.

Together.

Kael looked at Lucien.

Their eyes met.

They moved at the same time.

Lucien attacked high.

Kael attacked low.

The Hollow King blocked Lucien's claws, but Kael slammed into his legs.

The creature stumbled.

Silver energy erupted from Kael's body.

The Hollow King screamed.

Not in pain.

In recognition.

“Moonblood!”

Kael shifted back into human form.

“What?”

The creature stared at him.

“You don't know what you are.”

Kael wiped blood from his lip.

“Then tell me.”

The Hollow King slowly stood.

“You are not the heir to the Moon Throne.”

Kael's heart stopped.

Lucien shifted back.

“Then what is he?”

The Hollow King looked directly at Lucien.

“He is the reason the throne was created.”

Kael stared.

“What does that mean?”

The creature smiled.

“The first Moon King did not build the throne to rule the world.”

He pointed toward Kael's chest.

“He built it to protect the Moon-born.”

Kael frowned.

“Protect me from what?”

The Hollow King answered:

“From the Guardian.”

Lucien went still.

Kael looked at him.

The Hollow King continued.

“Every Moon-born carries power capable of reshaping the wolf-blooded world. Every Guardian carries the power to destroy that Moon-born if he becomes dangerous.”

Kael's stomach tightened.

“So the Guardian was created to kill me?”

“No.”

The Hollow King shook his head.

“To stop you.”

“What's the difference?”

“The Guardian can destroy your power.”

Kael looked at Lucien's silver mark.

“But not me?”

“Not unless you force him to.”

Lucien's expression hardened.

“I would never.”

The Hollow King laughed.

“Neither did the first Guardian.”

He stepped closer.

“Until the Moon King forced him.”

Kael suddenly understood.

The prophecy.

The throne.

The Guardian Seal.

The Moon Bond.

Everything was connected.

The danger wasn't that Lucien would betray him.

The danger was that the Moon Throne could force them into repeating history.

Kael looked at Lucien.

“We can't let that happen.”

Lucien nodded.

“We won't.”

The Hollow King watched them.

Then something unexpected happened.

He bowed.

Not deeply.

But enough.

Aeron stared.

“What are you doing?”

The Hollow King looked at Kael.

“Recognizing the true Moon-born.”

Kael's eyes widened.

“You're not here to kill me?”

“No.”

“Then why did you attack?”

“To test the Guardian.”

Lucien frowned.

“And?”

The Hollow King looked at Kael.

“He chose you.”

Kael glanced at Lucien.

“He always does.”

The Hollow King smiled.

“Then perhaps this age will be different.”

Aeron stepped forward.

“Why should we trust you?”

“You shouldn't.”

The answer came immediately.

“I am Hollow.”

His golden eyes flashed.

“My kind were created by the Moon Throne and abandoned when the first king lost control.”

He looked at Kael.

“We remember what the kingdom refuses to remember.”

Kael stepped closer.

“Then help me.”

The Hollow King studied him.

“Help you do what?”

“End the throne.”

The creature's expression changed.

“You would destroy your own inheritance?”

Kael shook his head.

“No.”

He looked at Lucien.

“I would destroy the part of it that turns people into prisoners.”

The Hollow King stared at him for a long time.

Then he smiled.

“Perhaps you really are different.”

A deep tremor moved through the ground.

Aeron suddenly looked toward the library doors.

“We have another problem.”

Kael turned.

“What?”

Aeron pointed toward the distant palace.

A column of black smoke had appeared above the Moon Kingdom.

Then another.

Then another.

Hundreds of black banners rose over the city.

Lucien's face hardened.

“The Council.”

Aeron shook his head.

“No.”

He looked terrified.

“They've opened the outer gates.”

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“Who?”

Aeron whispered:

“The Alpha Council brought an army.”

Lucien raised his sword.

“Then we fight.”

The Hollow King looked toward the city.

“No.”

Everyone turned toward him.

He smiled.

“Let them come.”

Kael frowned.

“Why?”

The Hollow King looked directly into his eyes.

“Because they believe they came here to capture the Moon-born.”

His golden eyes glowed.

“They don't know they've walked into a kingdom where the dead remember their names.”

A distant howl answered him.

Then another.

Then hundreds.

The entire Moon Kingdom began to howl.

Kael's wolf rose inside him.

And for the first time, Kael didn't hear fear in those voices.

He heard allegiance.

He looked at Lucien.

“Are you ready?”

Lucien smiled.

“Always.”

Kael reached for his hand.

Their fingers intertwined.

The Moon Bond pulsed.

And above them, the Eclipse Moon appeared in the sky.

The war for the Moon Kingdom had begun.