Chapter Two: The Beasts King’s Interest

The bindings around Emeriel’s chest tightened painfully.

And beneath her skin—

Something ancient stirred.

Not fully awake.

Just enough to terrify her.

Emeriel stepped back instinctively.

The Beast King watched her with frightening stillness.

The entire tribute hall had gone silent around them. Even the nobles seemed too afraid to breathe as Kaelthar Draven stood before the supposed crown prince like he had discovered something impossible.

His glowing eyes narrowed slightly.

Not with recognition.

With confusion.

Which was somehow worse.

“What did you say?” King Edric demanded sharply from the throne.

Kaelthar didn’t answer immediately.

His gaze remained fixed on Emeriel.

The black flames dancing across the torches reflected strangely in his golden eyes, making him look less like a king and more like some ancient predator deciding whether something was threat… or treasure.

Finally, he spoke.

“That scent,” he murmured.

Emeriel’s stomach dropped.

Scent?

No.

No, no, no.

The suppressants were supposed to hide everything.

Every month since childhood, royal healers forced bitter silver elixirs down her throat to weaken whatever cursed thing lived inside her blood. The enchanted bracelet hidden beneath her sleeve was meant to suppress the rest.

Nothing was supposed to slip past immortal beasts.

Yet Kaelthar looked almost irritated by her existence.

Like he could sense something just beyond his reach.

One of the Urekai warriors stepped closer to him carefully. “Your Majesty?”

Kaelthar ignored him.

His eyes never left Emeriel.

“Come here,” he ordered.

The command hit the room like thunder.

Several nobles immediately lowered their heads.

Even the palace guards looked shaken.

Emeriel forced herself not to react.

“I stand perfectly well where I am,” she replied evenly.

A dangerous smile touched the Beast King’s mouth.

Not warm.

Interested.

That was somehow more unsettling.

“You speak boldly for a human prince.”

“And you invade kingdoms boldly for a guest.”

A few nobles gasped quietly.

Lyra looked moments away from fainting.

But Kaelthar only stared at her harder.

Then slowly—

Very slowly—

He began walking toward her again.

The sound of his boots against marble echoed through the hall.

One step.

Another.

Emeriel’s heartbeat quickened despite herself.

Gods, he was huge.

Every instinct inside her screamed danger.

Run.

Hide.

Survive.

Yet her feet refused to move.

Kaelthar stopped directly before her once more.

Close enough that she could feel unnatural heat radiating from his body.

Close enough to notice faint silver scars across his throat and jawline.

Battle scars.

Ancient ones.

The Beast King tilted his head slightly, studying her face.

“You don’t smell afraid,” he said quietly.

Emeriel forced herself to hold his gaze. “Should I?”

“Yes.”

The answer came instantly.

And strangely—

Honestly.

For one brief moment, something shifted in his expression.

Not softness.

Something darker.

Recognition, perhaps.

As if she reminded him of something he had lost centuries ago.

Then it vanished.

Kaelthar reached toward her suddenly.

Emeriel grabbed his wrist before she could stop herself.

The room froze.

No human touched the Beast King.

No one.

The Urekai warriors moved instantly, claws unsheathing with violent metallic sounds.

Guards raised swords.

Tension exploded through the hall.

But Kaelthar looked down at her hand gripping his wrist with unreadable eyes.

Then—

The strange glowing marks beneath his skin flickered again.

A pulse.

Sharp.

Painful.

The Beast King’s jaw tightened.

Emeriel immediately released him.

What was that?

For the first time since entering the palace, Kaelthar seemed genuinely unsettled.

Interesting.

One of the older Urekai stepped forward carefully. His long white hair hung down black armor etched with beast symbols.

“Your Majesty,” he warned quietly, “we should leave.”

Kaelthar ignored him.

Still staring at Emeriel.

Then suddenly—

He smiled.

It was small.

Cold.

Predatory.

“Very well,” he said. “The tribute has been accepted.”

Relief swept through the hall instantly.

Too quickly.

Because Kaelthar continued:

“But I will take the prince as well.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

King Edric rose violently from his throne. “Absolutely not.”

Kaelthar finally looked away from Emeriel.

The temperature in the room dropped instantly.

“You refuse me?” he asked softly.

Every noble in the hall paled.

Because everyone knew the stories.

Kingdoms had burned for less.

Edric visibly swallowed before forcing calm into his voice. “The crown prince is heir to Asterith.”

“And yet,” Kaelthar replied, “I find myself… curious.”

His gaze slid back to Emeriel.

That word settled heavily in her stomach.

Curious.

Not desire.

Not recognition.

Worse.

Interest.

The kind predators developed before tearing things apart to see how they worked.

Emeriel kept her face expressionless even as panic clawed at her ribs.

If she went with him—

How long before he discovered the truth?

Kaelthar took one final look at her before turning toward the palace doors.

“Prepare him,” the Beast King ordered calmly.

“He leaves with us at dawn.”

Then he walked away.

The Urekai followed immediately behind him like shadows.

But just before Kaelthar disappeared beyond the doors—

He paused.

Without turning around, he said quietly:

“Try not to run, little prince.”

The black flames extinguished instantly.

And for the first time in years—

Emeriel felt truly afraid.