Chapter 35: The Brother in the Shadows

The underground chamber shook again.

Dust drifted from the ceiling as another distant crash echoed through the tunnels.

Karl tightened his grip on his sword.

“How many are coming?”

Caelan looked toward the entrance.

“Enough to bury us here.”

Lyra stepped forward.

“You said you know who betrayed my father.”

Caelan’s eyes met hers.

“I do.”

“Then tell me.”

Caelan shook his head.

“Not here.”

Lyra frowned.

“You expect me to trust you?”

“No.”

His answer surprised her.

“You shouldn’t trust anyone simply because they claim to know the truth.”

Lucien stepped between them.

“Then give us a reason to believe you.”

Caelan looked at him.

“You are Lucien Draven.”

Lucien’s expression hardened.

“How do you know me?”

“Your father served my brother.”

Lucien went still.

“My father died before I was old enough to remember him.”

“I know.”

Caelan walked toward the wall and pressed his palm against an ancient symbol.

A hidden passage opened.

“This way.”

Karl glanced at Lyra.

“We stay together.”

Lyra nodded.

They entered the passage just as the chamber doors above them burst open.

Voices echoed through the tunnels.

“Search every room!”

“She must be here!”

The Shadow King’s hunters had arrived.

The passage descended deeper beneath the ruins.

Caelan moved quickly.

Lyra followed close behind him.

After several minutes, she finally asked:

“Why did everyone think you were dead?”

Caelan didn’t stop walking.

“Because someone wanted me to disappear.”

“Who?”

“The same person who destroyed your family.”

Lyra’s heartbeat quickened.

“Adrian?”

Caelan stopped.

“No.”

He turned toward her.

“Adrian was blamed because he vanished after the palace fell.”

“Then why did he disappear?”

Caelan’s face darkened.

“Because he was protecting you.”

Lyra stared at him.

“From what?”

Caelan hesitated.

“From the person sitting on the throne.”

Lyra’s blood ran cold.

“My father?”

“No.”

Caelan shook his head.

“Your father was already dead.”

“Then who?”

Caelan looked at the ancient symbol on the wall.

“The throne had already chosen someone else.”

A loud growl echoed from behind them.

Everyone turned.

Two Shadow Beasts emerged from the darkness.

Karl stepped forward.

“Lyra, stay back.”

The beasts charged.

Karl and Lucien moved together, blocking their path.

Arnold joined them.

The narrow tunnel filled with the sound of steel striking claws.

Lyra watched carefully.

The creatures weren’t ordinary Shadow Beasts.

Their eyes carried a strange blue glow.

“Wait!”

Everyone paused.

Lyra noticed a symbol carved into one beast’s collar.

The same crescent moon.

“The Royal Guardians,” she whispered.

Caelan stared.

“Impossible.”

Lyra stepped closer.

“They were guardians of Lunaris.”

Caelan’s expression changed.

“Then someone has been controlling them.”

Lyra raised her hand.

The Ring of Unity began to glow.

The creatures suddenly stopped.

Their growls faded.

One lowered its head.

The second followed.

Lyra slowly approached.

“I won’t hurt you.”

A strange warmth spread through the tunnel.

The blue glow disappeared from their eyes.

The creatures turned toward the darkness behind them.

Then they ran.

Caelan watched them disappear.

“The Moon Throne is awakening.”

Lyra looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

Caelan answered quietly.

“It means Lunaris knows its heir has returned.”

They continued deeper until they reached an enormous stone staircase.

At the top stood a pair of ancient doors.

The doors were covered with carvings of four rulers.

The Human King.

The Alpha King.

The Lycan Emperor.

And the ruler of Lunaris.

Lyra touched the final carving.

A voice echoed through the chamber.

“Blood remembers what history forgets.”

Everyone froze.

The doors opened.

Beyond them was a massive underground hall.

At its center stood an ancient throne.

The Moon Throne.

Lyra’s breath caught.

But she noticed something else.

There were three empty spaces carved into the floor before it.

Caelan approached them.

“The throne was never meant to stand alone.”

Master Thorne studied the markings.

“The four relics.”

Caelan nodded.

“The Ring of Unity.”

“The Crown of Winter.”

“The Tide Crystal.”

“And the Heart of the Moon.”

Lyra looked at the throne.

“Where is the Heart?”

Caelan pointed beneath it.

“Exactly where your father hid it.”

A deep rumble shook the chamber.

The floor beneath the throne began to crack.

A pale silver light emerged.

Lyra stepped forward.

But before she could reach it—

A voice echoed from the entrance.

“Don’t.”

Everyone turned.

A figure stood in the doorway.

Black cloak.

Dark armor.

A familiar face.

Lyra’s eyes widened.

“Adrian…”

The Shadow King looked at her.

But unlike before, there was no anger in his eyes.

Only fear.

“Lyra,” he whispered.

“Do not awaken the Heart.”

Lyra stared at him.

“Why?”

Adrian looked toward Caelan.

Then toward the throne.

“Because the Heart isn’t a weapon.”

His voice trembled.

“It’s a prison.”

The entire chamber fell silent.

Adrian took one step forward.

“And something has been trapped inside it for twenty-one years.”