THE SECRET HE CARRIED

CHAPTER 15

THE SECRET HE CARRIED

“Don't move.”

Kael's voice cut through the silence.

Everyone turned towards him.

His attention was fixed on Lucian.

“What did you just put in your pocket?”

Lucian's expression remained calm.

“Nothing.”

Kael took a step forward.

“I saw you pick something up.”

“Then perhaps your eyes are not as reliable as you think.”

Ronan raised his blade.

“Empty your pockets.”

Lucian looked at him with open contempt.

“You command no authority over me.”

“Neither do you,” Ronan replied. “Not in this chamber.”

Lyra slowly rose from beside the fallen wolf.

“Lucian.”

Her brother turned towards her.

“Tell me what you took.”

For the first time, something uncertain crossed his face.

He looked at her pendant, then at the throne.

“It's nothing you need to worry about.”

Lyra's expression hardened.

“You have known me for less than an hour. Don't start deciding what I need to know.”

Lucian lowered his eyes.

Then he reached into his coat.

He brought out the black shard.

The moment it appeared, the remaining silver flames flickered.

Alaric stumbled backwards.

“Put that down!”

Lucian frowned.

“What is it?”

Alaric stared at the object.

“The prison seal.”

Ronan's blade shifted towards Lucian.

“You stole part of the seal?”

“I found it beside the throne.”

“You were told to leave it alone.”

Lucian's jaw tightened.

“I didn't know what it was.”

Lyra approached.

“Give it to me.”

Lucian hesitated.

“Lyra—”

“Now.”

He placed the shard in her palm.

It was colder than ice.

A thin black line immediately spread across her skin.

Lyra gasped.

The ancient markings on her wrist began to glow.

Then she heard a whisper.

The first door is closed.

She froze.

Another whisper followed.

The second is already open.

The shard cracked.

A tiny drop of black liquid fell onto the floor.

It moved like a living thing, crawling towards the throne.

Alaric raised his staff.

“Don't let it reach the altar!”

Ronan lunged forward and struck the liquid with his silver blade.

The blade shattered.

Everyone stared.

Ronan stepped backwards, his hand trembling.

“What kind of magic is that?”

Alaric looked horrified.

“Not magic.”

He swallowed.

“Memory.”

Kael turned sharply.

“Explain.”

“The shard contains the blood memory of the first king. It carries everything he knew before he was imprisoned.”

Lyra looked at the black stain.

“Why would Lucian take it?”

Lucian's face darkened.

“I told you. I didn't know what it was.”

“Then why did you hide it?”

He did not answer.

Kael moved between them.

“Enough. We are leaving.”

A loud crash interrupted him.

The chamber doors slammed shut.

Black markings appeared across their surface.

Mira screamed.

The torches extinguished one after another.

Then a familiar voice filled the darkness.

“Leaving so soon?”

Selene.

Kael immediately drew his weapon.

“Show yourself!”

A pale light appeared above the throne.

Selene's image materialized within it.

She was no longer smiling.

“You have all made this considerably more difficult than necessary.”

Lyra stepped forward.

“What have you done?”

Selene ignored her.

Her eyes settled on Lucian.

“You were supposed to bring me the shard.”

Lucian's expression changed.

Lyra felt something inside her go cold.

“You knew about it?”

Lucian turned towards her.

“I can explain.”

Selene laughed.

“Can you, darling?”

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“Lucian, what arrangement did you make with my mother?”

Lucian clenched his fists.

“She promised to help me find my sister.”

Lyra stared at him.

“And what did she ask in return?”

His silence answered.

Selene smiled.

“The boy has always been more sensible than his sister.”

Lyra's hands trembled.

“What did you promise her?”

Lucian finally looked at her.

“I promised to bring you to the throne.”

The words struck harder than any physical blow.

Lyra stepped backwards.

“You used me?”

“No.”

“You came here knowing what she wanted.”

“I didn't know about the Hollow King!”

“But you knew you were bringing me to her.”

Lucian's expression tightened.

“I wanted to find you. I wanted us to reclaim what belonged to our family.”

“And you thought handing me over to Selene would help?”

“I thought she could explain what happened to our mother.”

Lyra laughed bitterly.

“You could have asked me.”

“You would never have trusted me!”

“You gave me no reason to!”

A heavy silence followed.

Then Selene spoke again.

“Enough family drama.”

Her image flickered.

“The shard is not the only thing that was recovered tonight.”

Alaric slowly raised his head.

“What do you mean?”

Selene smiled.

“The prison has begun to remember its master. And the bloodline has begun to awaken.”

She looked directly at Kael.

“Especially yours.”

Kael's expression changed.

“What are you talking about?”

Selene tilted her head.

“Have you never wondered why your wolf reacts so violently whenever the First Luna's power awakens?”

Kael said nothing.

“Have you never wondered why the rejection of Lyra caused pain in your own chest?”

His jaw tightened.

Lyra turned towards him.

“What does she mean?”

Selene's voice became almost gentle.

“Your family has been hiding something from you, my son.”

Kael took a step towards the projection.

“Stop speaking in riddles.”

“Your blood does not merely carry the oath.”

The projection began to fade.

“It carries the first king.”

A terrible silence followed.

Then the image disappeared.

Kael stood motionless.

Lyra studied his face.

“Kael?”

He did not respond.

Alaric lowered himself onto a broken stone step.

“Now I understand.”

Ronan turned towards him.

“Understand what?”

Alaric looked at Kael.

“The Draven bloodline was never simply chosen to rule. The first king created it as a vessel.”

“A vessel for what?” Mira asked.

Alaric closed his eyes.

“For his return.”

Lyra felt the chamber tilt.

Kael shook his head.

“No.”

“The blood oath was designed to keep the Hollow King imprisoned. But every generation of Dravens inherited a fragment of his power. The Alpha throne became stronger because the prison was feeding through the ruling bloodline.”

Kael's hands curled into fists.

“You're telling me my family has been carrying that thing for generations?”

“Not just carrying it.”

Alaric looked at the dark mark slowly appearing beneath Kael's collar.

“Keeping it alive.”

Lyra stared at the mark.

It was the same symbol she had seen on Lucian's neck.

But Kael's was different.

It was darker.

Older.

And it was spreading towards his heart.

“Kael,” she whispered.

He looked down.

A sudden growl escaped his throat.

His body stiffened.

Then he dropped to one knee.

“Stay away!”

Lyra rushed towards him.

He raised one trembling hand.

“Don't come near me!”

His eyes flashed icy blue.

Then black.

The chamber shook.

Alaric grabbed his staff.

“His wolf is fighting the blood memory!”

Lyra knelt several feet away.

“Kael, look at me.”

He struggled to lift his head.

“Run, Lyra.”

“I won't leave you.”

“RUN!”

A deep voice emerged from his throat.

It was not Kael's.

It was older.

Colder.

And filled with an ancient hunger.

“I have found my vessel.”

The black markings spread across Kael's neck.

His eyes turned completely dark.

Then he looked at Lyra.

And smiled.

“Little Luna,” the creature whispered through his lips.

“Did you really believe your brother was the only one I had been preparing?”