THE BLOOD OATH'S PRICE

CHAPTER 13

THE BLOOD OATH'S PRICE

The floor was bleeding.

Silver liquid crawled through the cracks beneath Lucian's boots, spreading in thin, glowing veins across the ancient chamber.

Nobody moved.

Even the warriors who had entered with him seemed suddenly uncertain of their loyalty.

Lucian stared at the mark on his neck.

“What is this?”

Alaric stumbled backwards.

“No…”

Kael raised his weapon.

“Everyone away from him!”

“Don't touch me!” Lucian snapped.

The silver mark pulsed.

A sharp cry escaped his throat as he dropped to one knee. His hands pressed against the stone, and the silver liquid immediately surged towards his fingers.

Lyra rushed forward.

“Lucian!”

Kael caught her wrist.

“Don't!”

“Let me go!”

“Look at the floor!”

She glanced down.

The silver veins were moving towards her.

Not randomly.

They were following her blood.

The ancient wolf stepped away from the throne, its red eyes fixed on Lucian.

The oath has found its second heir.

Lyra's heart hammered.

“What oath?”

Alaric looked at the glowing mark.

“The Blood Oath.”

Ronan turned sharply.

“I thought the oath was created to protect the royal bloodline.”

“It was,” Alaric replied. “But protection was never its only purpose.”

Kael's expression darkened.

“Explain.”

The old guardian looked at Lyra and Lucian.

“Your mother discovered that the Draven kings had altered the original oath. What was meant to bind the packs in peace became a weapon. Every generation, the royal blood was used to strengthen the ruling family.”

Lyra's stomach twisted.

“You mean they have been draining our power?”

Alaric nodded.

“Your mother's power was too great to control. That's why they wanted her dead. But the oath could not be completed without both heirs.”

Lucian lifted his head.

“Both heirs?”

The old man looked at him.

“You and your sister.”

A bitter laugh escaped Lucian.

“So that's why they kept me alive.”

Lyra moved closer.

“Who kept you alive?”

Lucian's eyes met hers.

“The Dravens.”

Kael's grip tightened around his weapon.

“My family never had custody of you.”

“Perhaps not you personally,” Lucian replied. “But your family controlled the people who raised me.”

Kael took a step forward.

“Who?”

Lucian hesitated.

Then he looked towards the chamber entrance.

“My guardian.”

A chill passed through Lyra.

“Your guardian?”

“He raised me after the attack. He taught me how to fight, how to command, and how to survive. He told me our mother was murdered by enemies who wanted to destroy our bloodline.”

“And you believed him?”

“I had no reason not to.”

Lucian looked at the glowing mark on his neck.

“Until tonight.”

The silver liquid suddenly rose from the floor.

It wrapped around his wrist.

Lucian screamed.

Lyra instinctively reached for him.

The moment her fingers touched his arm, a violent wave of energy exploded through the chamber.

The silver flames went out.

Darkness swallowed everything.

Then Lyra saw a different place.

A narrow room.

A child sat on a cold stone floor, his knees pulled against his chest.

He was perhaps six years old.

A man stood before him, wearing a black cloak.

“You have a sister,” the man said.

The boy looked up.

“Where is she?”

“Hidden.”

“Will I see her?”

The man crouched.

“One day. But you must become strong first.”

The boy nodded eagerly.

“Will she know me?”

The man's face remained hidden.

“She will know you when the time comes.”

The vision changed.

The boy was older now.

Twelve.

He stood inside a circular chamber while strange symbols were carved into his skin.

He was crying.

“Please stop!”

A voice answered.

“Pain is the price of power.”

The boy collapsed.

The vision changed again.

Seventeen.

Lucian stood before a mirror, staring at the silver mark on his neck.

A woman entered.

Her face was hidden beneath a veil.

“You are almost ready,” she whispered.

“Ready for what?”

“To reclaim what belongs to your blood.”

Then she placed a hand on his shoulder.

“And when you find your sister, do not let her stand in your way.”

The vision shattered.

Lyra gasped.

She stumbled backwards, her head throbbing.

Kael caught her before she fell.

“Lyra!”

She pushed against his chest.

“I saw him.”

Lucian was breathing heavily.

“What did you see?”

Lyra stared at him.

“Your childhood.”

His expression changed.

She swallowed.

“You were trained. Someone marked you. Someone has been preparing you for this moment since you were a child.”

Lucian shook his head.

“No.”

“I saw it.”

“No!”

His voice echoed through the chamber.

“I was raised to protect our family!”

“Then why were you taught to stand against me?”

Lucian froze.

For the first time, he had no answer.

Alaric lowered himself against a pillar.

“The oath has been feeding on him for years.”

Ronan looked at the old guardian.

“Can it be broken?”

Alaric shook his head.

“Not by ordinary means.”

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“What does it require?”

“The First Luna's power.”

Lyra looked down at her glowing hands.

“Mine?”

“Yours,” Alaric confirmed. “But breaking the oath could kill the person carrying it.”

Everyone turned towards Lucian.

His breathing became shallow.

“No,” Lyra whispered.

Alaric lowered his eyes.

“The oath has been woven into his blood. If you sever it, his body may not survive.”

Lyra stared at her brother.

She had found him only minutes ago.

She had spent twenty-two years not knowing he existed.

And now the first choice placed before her was whether to risk his life.

“There must be another way.”

Alaric said nothing.

Kael stepped beside her.

“We'll find one.”

Lyra looked at him.

“Don't make promises you cannot keep.”

His expression tightened, but he did not argue.

A sudden sound came from the entrance.

Footsteps.

Several warriors appeared, carrying the black banners of Nightfall.

At their centre stood a woman dressed in a silver gown.

Selene Draven.

Her hair was perfectly arranged, her expression calm, and a small smile rested on her lips.

Kael's face hardened.

“Mother.”

Selene glanced at him.

“My son.”

Then her gaze moved to Lucian.

“So the lost child has finally returned.”

Lucian struggled to stand.

“You know who I am?”

Selene smiled.

“I knew who you were before you could speak.”

Lyra's blood turned cold.

“You knew he was alive?”

“Of course.”

“Then why didn't you tell me?”

Selene tilted her head.

“Would you have believed me?”

Kael stepped forward.

“What have you done to him?”

Selene ignored him.

She looked directly at Lyra.

“Your mother made a terrible mistake hiding both children. One was supposed to inherit the throne. The other was supposed to complete the oath.”

Lyra's eyes narrowed.

“Which one?”

Selene's smile disappeared.

“The boy.”

Lucian staggered.

“What?”

Selene approached him.

“You were never meant to rule, Lucian. You were meant to open the door.”

The chamber fell silent.

Lyra felt the ancient wolf move behind her.

The enemy has entered.

Selene lifted her hand.

The silver mark on Lucian's neck ignited.

He dropped to his knees, choking.

Lyra screamed his name.

“STOP!”

Her power burst through the chamber.

Every warrior was thrown backwards.

The silver flames returned, brighter than before.

Selene staggered, but she did not fall.

Instead, she laughed.

“Oh, Elara. You really did give your daughter everything.”

Lyra's hands trembled.

“What door?”

Selene looked towards the throne.

“The one your mother spent her final breath trying to keep closed.”

A deep vibration shook the castle.

Somewhere beneath them, something enormous began to move.

The ancient wolf lowered its head.

For the first time, its voice carried unmistakable fear.

The prison is opening.

Selene stepped backwards.

Her smile returned.

“And now, little Queen, you must choose.”

She pointed towards Lucian.

“Save your brother…”

Then she pointed towards the throne.

“Or save the world that made you.”

The floor split open.

And from the darkness beneath the throne, a hand covered in black scales reached towards the light.