Chapter 19: The Queen’s Call

“Kael.”

The voice echoed through the sanctuary.

Soft.

Familiar.

Impossible.

Kael stopped breathing.

His mother.

For twenty years, he had imagined what her voice sounded like.

Now it was calling his name.

Again.

“Kael…”

He stepped toward the entrance.

Lucien caught his wrist.

“Wait.”

Kael looked at him.

“That’s my mother.”

“I know.”

“You heard her.”

“Yes.”

“Then let me go.”

Lucien didn’t release him.

“Malachi said she’s trying to kill you.”

Kael’s eyes hardened.

“And everyone has lied to me.”

Lucien slowly released his hand.

“I won’t stop you.”

Kael walked toward the doorway.

Rowan immediately followed.

“I’m coming.”

Kael turned.

“No.”

“Kael—”

“You’ve hidden enough from me.”

Rowan stopped.

Kael’s voice softened.

“But if you know anything else about my mother, tell me now.”

Rowan hesitated.

Then he reached beneath his armor and pulled out a small silver pendant.

Kael recognized it immediately.

His mother’s pendant.

“You kept it?”

“She gave it to me the night I took you away.”

Kael stared at it.

“What did she say?”

Rowan swallowed.

“She said, ‘When he is old enough, give him this. Tell him I never stopped loving him.’”

Kael took the pendant.

The moment it touched his palm, the Moon Crown flashed.

A pathway appeared outside the sanctuary.

Silver light stretched through the forest toward the Black Mountains.

Lysander stared at it.

“The Moon Path.”

Darius stepped forward.

“It hasn’t appeared in twenty years.”

Kael looked at the glowing path.

“Then we’re going.”

Malachi laughed.

“You’re walking directly into her kingdom.”

Kael turned.

“I know.”

“You may never return.”

Kael’s expression remained calm.

“I’ve already lost my kingdom.”

His fingers tightened around the pendant.

“I’m not losing my mother too.”

Lucien stepped beside him.

“Then I’m coming.”

Kael looked at him.

“You don’t have to.”

“I know.”

Lucien glanced toward the mountains.

“But I choose to.”

Darius stepped forward next.

“So do I.”

Kael frowned.

“You hate my family.”

“I hated what I believed your family did.”

Darius looked down.

“Now I want the truth.”

The Crimson Beast lowered its massive head.

“I will guide you.”

Lysander lifted his sword.

“And I will protect the heir.”

Kael looked at the unlikely group standing before him.

An Alpha who had rejected him.

A man who hated his bloodline.

A former royal captain carrying twenty years of secrets.

An ancient guardian.

And a creature created by his father.

This was no army.

But it was the closest thing to a family he had ever had.

Kael stepped onto the Moon Path.

The others followed.

Behind them, Malachi remained in the ruined sanctuary.

Kael stopped.

“You aren’t coming?”

Malachi smiled.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because the Crimson Queen didn’t summon me.”

His smile disappeared.

“She summoned you.”

Kael turned back toward the mountains.

They walked for hours.

The farther they traveled, the colder the air became.

Eventually, the forest disappeared.

A massive black fortress appeared beyond the mountains.

Its towers pierced the clouds.

Red flames burned along its walls.

Kael stared.

“That is the Crimson Court?”

Darius nodded.

“Yes.”

The gates slowly opened.

No guards.

No soldiers.

Nothing.

Just darkness.

Lucien moved closer to Kael.

“This feels like a trap.”

“It is.”

A woman’s voice came from inside.

Everyone froze.

“Let them enter.”

Kael’s heart pounded.

The voice continued.

“But only my son.”

The gates began closing.

Kael looked at Lucien.

Then at Rowan.

His mother spoke again.

“Come to me, Kael.”

The gates opened just wide enough for one person.

Kael took a breath.

And walked inside alone.