The Price of Blood

The first horn sounded again.

This time, Kael felt it in his chest.

Blackfang was under attack.

He stood in the center of the throne room, staring at Darius.

“The Valerion army?”

Darius nodded.

“Thousands of soldiers. They entered through the eastern valley less than an hour ago.”

Kael's stomach tightened.

Varek.

After eighteen years, the man who had hunted him since birth had finally found him.

Rowan moved toward the window.

“How did they get through the outer defenses?”

“They didn't.”

Darius's answer made everyone stop.

“What do you mean?” Lucien asked.

“The army is outside the walls. They haven't attacked yet.”

Lucien's eyes narrowed.

“Then what are they waiting for?”

Darius looked toward Kael.

“They sent a messenger.”

The doors opened.

A guard entered carrying a sealed letter.

He approached Lucien and bowed.

“From General Varek of Valerion.”

Lucien took the letter.

Kael watched his fingers break the seal.

The king read silently.

His expression changed.

“What does it say?” Kael asked.

Lucien looked at him.

“Varek demands your surrender.”

Kael laughed once.

Not because it was funny.

Because it was almost unbelievable.

“Of course he does.”

Lucien continued reading.

“He says if you surrender peacefully, Blackfang will be spared.”

Kael's expression hardened.

“And if I refuse?”

Lucien's eyes became cold.

“He threatens to burn the city.”

Silence filled the throne room.

Kael walked toward the window.

Below, Blackfang was preparing for war.

Guards filled the walls.

Civilians were being moved toward the inner districts.

The streets that had seemed so peaceful that morning were now filled with fear.

Kael's hands trembled.

Not for himself.

For them.

“They're doing this because of me.”

Lucien came beside him.

“They're doing this because of what they believe you represent.”

“That's the same thing.”

“No.”

Kael looked at him.

Lucien's voice was firm.

“You didn't ask them to come.”

“But if I surrender”

“No.”

Kael frowned.

“You didn't even let me finish.”

“I know what you're going to say.”

“And?”

“You're not surrendering yourself to save my kingdom.”

Kael stared at him.

“Why not?”

“Because you are not a sacrifice.”

The words struck harder than Kael expected.

Lucien looked toward the city.

“If Valerion wants a war, they will answer to Blackfang.”

Kael shook his head.

“You can't fight thousands of soldiers.”

“I don't intend to fight them alone.”

Darius stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, the eastern forces are ready.”

Lucien nodded.

“Keep the civilians away from the walls.”

“Yes.”

“Don't attack first.”

Darius hesitated.

“Understood.”

He left.

Kael turned toward Rowan.

“You fought Varek before.”

Rowan's face darkened.

“Yes.”

“Tell me about him.”

Rowan was quiet for a moment.

“Varek was one of the strongest Alphas in Valerion.”

“Was?”

“He still is.”

“What does he want?”

Rowan looked at Kael.

“Power.”

“That isn't enough.”

“No.”

Rowan sighed.

“He believes the Moon-Chosen can control the Alpha bloodlines.”

Kael frowned.

“Control them?”

“He believes whoever possesses the Moon-Chosen can command the ancient Moon power.”

Kael looked at his hands.

“So he doesn't understand it.”

“No.”

“Then what happens if he gets me?”

Rowan's voice became low.

“He'll try to make you submit.”

Kael's eyes hardened.

“He'll fail.”

A horn sounded outside.

Then another.

Lucien walked toward the throne room doors.

“Stay here.”

Kael followed.

“No.”

Lucien turned.

“Kael.”

“You said fight beside you.”

“I meant it.”

“Then stop trying to leave me behind.”

Lucien stared at him.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Finally, Lucien nodded.

“Stay beside me.”

Kael smiled faintly.

“That's better.”

They climbed the western tower.

From the battlements, Kael could see the Valerion army stretching across the valley.

Thousands of soldiers.

Banners bearing the crest of Valerion.

At the front stood a single man.

Even from a distance, Kael recognized him.

General Varek.

He wore black armor.

A long sword hung at his side.

His Alpha presence was powerful enough that Kael could feel it across the valley.

Varek raised his hand.

The army fell silent.

Then his voice carried through the air.

“King Lucien!”

Lucien stepped forward.

“You have entered my territory without permission.”

Varek laughed.

“I came for something that belongs to Valerion.”

Kael's blood boiled.

Lucien's voice became colder.

“Nothing here belongs to you.”

Varek looked toward the battlements.

His eyes found Kael.

The moment their gazes met, Kael felt something strange.

His Moon Seal burned.

Varek smiled.

“There you are.”

Kael stepped forward.

Lucien immediately moved beside him.

Varek noticed.

“So it is true.”

“What?”

“The Moon Bond.”

His smile disappeared.

“You bonded with the King.”

Kael answered before Lucien could.

“We are not property.”

Varek laughed.

“You still don't understand what you are.”

Kael's voice was steady.

“I understand enough.”

“You are the last Moon heir.”

The soldiers below murmured.

Kael froze.

Varek continued.

“Your parents hid you from the world because they knew what would happen when your blood was discovered.”

Kael's heart pounded.

“Where are they?”

Varek's smile returned.

“Ask the King.”

Kael turned toward Lucien.

Lucien's expression had changed.

“Don't listen to him.”

Varek laughed.

“You don't know, do you?”

Kael looked back.

“Know what?”

“Your father didn't disappear after the fall of Valerion.”

Varek paused.

“He was captured.”

Kael's heart stopped.

“By whom?”

Varek looked directly at him.

“By the Alpha Council.”

Rowan stepped forward.

“Liar.”

Varek's eyes shifted toward him.

“Still protecting him after all these years, Rowan?”

Rowan's face hardened.

“You should have died that night.”

“And yet here I am.”

Kael looked between them.

“You know each other.”

Varek smiled.

“Rowan was there when your father was taken.”

Kael's heart sank.

“Rowan?”

Rowan couldn't meet his eyes.

“It's true.”

Kael stepped backward.

“You knew?”

“I knew Cassian was captured.”

“And you never told me?”

“I thought he was dead.”

“You thought?”

Rowan's voice broke.

“I searched for him.”

Varek laughed.

“You searched the wrong places.”

Kael's breathing became uneven.

“Where is he?”

Varek pointed his sword toward Kael.

“Come with me, and I'll take you to him.”

Lucien immediately stepped forward.

“No.”

Varek's eyes narrowed.

“This doesn't concern you.”

“It concerns my kingdom.”

“No.”

Varek's gaze shifted between Lucien and Kael.

“This concerns the prophecy.”

The false eclipse darkened the sky above them.

Kael looked up.

The Moon Seal began glowing.

Varek smiled.

“Look at the moon, Moon-Chosen.”

Kael did.

The dark shadow had spread across almost half its surface.

Varek raised his sword.

“Tonight, the old kingdom wakes.”

A deafening roar came from beneath Blackfang.

The battlements shook.

Everyone froze.

Kael felt the Moon Gate.

It was responding.

Not to him.

To something outside.

Varek's expression became triumphant.

“You thought the gate was closed.”

Kael stared at him.

“But you opened it.”

Varek nodded.

“The moment you entered Blackfang.”

Lucien's eyes flashed.

“What did you do?”

Varek's smile widened.

“I didn't come to invade your kingdom.”

He looked directly at Kael.

“I came to make sure the Moon Gate opened.”

The ground split.

A silver beam erupted from beneath Blackfang Palace and shot into the sky.

The entire valley lit up.

And from somewhere beyond the mountains came thousands of wolf howls.

Kael's wolf whispered inside him.

They are coming.

Varek lowered his sword.

“Choose carefully, Moon-Chosen.”

“Your king…”

He pointed toward Lucien.

“Or your blood.”

Then the Valerion army charged.