The Shadow King's Alpha : The Cursed Bond

[Imperial Palace — Celebration Hall — Continuation]

Music echoed throughout the magnificent banquet hall. Crystal chandeliers bathed the celebration in warm golden light. Nobles laughed elegantly as they danced across the polished marble floor.

Goblets clinked, musicians played and servants moved gracefully between tables carrying extravagant feasts worthy of an emperor’s coronation.

Yet none of it reached Kael. Seated upon the Imperial Throne overlooking the grand celebration, his amber eyes silently observed the hall below.

Every smile, every bow and every raised glass, to an ordinary person...it looked like loyalty. To an emperor...it looked like masks.

Behind him... Captain Cedric Ardan stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His sharp eyes continuously swept across the hall.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Your Majesty...we will find whoever poisoned the ceremonial wine."

Kael’s gaze remained fixed upon the celebrating nobles. "I know."

Cedric lowered his voice. "If Your Majesty permits...I would like to begin questioning every servant, priest, and noble who came near the altar."

Kael nodded once. "You may."

Cedric bowed deeply. "As Your Majesty commands."

Then he asked the question, weighing heavily upon him. "Does Your Majesty...suspect anyone?"

Silence.

Kael slowly leaned back against the throne, his eyes swept across the countless noble families gathered beneath him, house after house, smile after smile and mask after mask. A faint smile appeared upon his lips; his voice remained calm.

"Tell me, Cedric. Which Great House...doesn’t have a reason to want me dead?"

Cedric froze; he couldn’t answer because there wasn’t one. The War of Succession had never been merciful. Every noble kneeling today...had once dreamed of placing someone from their own bloodline upon this throne.

Every congratulation, every toast and every smile could easily conceal a dagger. Kael let out a quiet sigh. "It seems becoming Emperor has made me rather popular."

Cedric allowed himself the faintest smile. "Unfortunately...not for the right reasons."

Another silence settled between them.

Kael glanced once more toward the endless celebration below. The music suddenly felt exhausting. "Do I truly have to remain here...watching everyone pretend to be happy?"

Cedric immediately bowed. "No, Your Majesty. The formal ceremony has concluded. If you wish...you may retire to your chambers."

Kael slowly rose from the Imperial Throne; the orchestra continued playing. Hardly anyone noticed; he adjusted the mantle resting across his shoulders. "Then let’s go...I’m tired."

Cedric stepped forward. "As you command."

The two quietly left the celebration behind. Neither musicians nor dancing nobles noticed their emperor disappearing into the palace corridors.

***

[Imperial Palace — Eastern Corridor]

The celebration gradually faded into the distance; only the sound of their footsteps remained. The long marble corridor stood almost empty. Moonlight spilt through towering windows overlooking the Imperial Gardens.

Kael had barely taken another step—

"...Your Majesty."

A familiar voice stopped him. Cedric instinctively placed a hand upon the hilt of his sword. Kael turned; standing quietly in the middle of the corridor was Lady Nora Voss.

Once she had been his fiancée. Now she was the daughter-in-law of House Voss; her elegant silver gown shimmered beneath the moonlight, and her face remained composed, cold and unreadable.

She lowered herself into a flawless curtsy.

"Congratulations...your Imperial Majesty." Her lips curved into a polite smile. "At last...the Red Wolf has claimed the throne of Qashmar."

The words sounded respectful. Yet the tone carried no warmth, only ice. Kael regarded her calmly; his expression revealed nothing.

"Is there something you wish to discuss...Lady Nora?"

She slowly lifted her head; their eyes met. "If Your Majesty permits...may I speak honestly?"

Cedric glanced toward Kael, receiving only a slight nod. "You may."

Silence filled the corridor.

Nora took a slow breath. Then she asked the one question she had carried for days.

"Why? Why did you choose the throne?" Her voice became quieter. "You once told me...you would never become Emperor. You said the throne only devoured the people who sat upon it. You said you have no desire to be an emperor, since you have been abandoned."

"Am I abandoned, Lady Nora?" Kael asked.

She did not say anything, and Kael continued saying, "Did you not see my mate during the ceremony? Or were you absent during that time?"

She looked directly into his eyes and gulped, asking, "I just want to know what changed for you to have desire for Throne, which you never wanted?"

The corridor fell silent.

Kael looked at her for several long moments, then his voice finally broke the silence. "And why do you believe you are entitled...to that answer?"

Nora’s expression stiffened, her fingers slowly tightening against the fabric of her gown, and her voice rose despite herself.

"You weren’t like this before. You would have answered me. You—"

"...Lady Nora."

Kael interrupted, his tone never changing. It remained calm and measured. Yet...it carried an authority that made the air itself feel heavier.

"I do not understand the reason for you to pitch your voice high, as if...you want everyone to hear it. So...lower your voice."

The command was quiet but absolute as Cedric said, "You stand before the Emperor of Qashmar, Ladu Nora Voss; lower your voice."

Silence.

Nora instinctively lowered her gaze. Kael continued. "You speak as though I stole something that belonged to House Voss. I did not. The Sacred Spirits made their choice; they did not choose me because I desired a crown. They chose me because the Empire required an Emperor."

His amber eyes remained unwavering.

"If your husband was not acknowledged...that is neither my triumph nor my crime." Each word landed with quiet precision. "I owe no one an apology for accepting the burden placed upon my shoulders."

Nora bit her lip; her fists trembled. Kael stepped forward, just enough for his shadow to fall across the marble floor before her; his voice became softer yet somehow...even more commanding.

"Do not mistake kindness for weakness. The man you once knew...still exists. I never permitted you to walk all over me and make me feel guilty for something I did not do. The man standing before you...belongs to an Empire."

Another silence.

Then he stepped past her, without another glance. "Enjoy the banquet, Lady Nora; your mate must be looking for you. I shall retire for the evening."

Cedric followed silently behind his emperor; the sound of their footsteps gradually disappeared into the endless corridor. Nora remained standing exactly where she was; her eyes followed Kael until he vanished beyond the palace doors.

Only then did Nora whisper to herself.

"He has changed."

Her eyes lingered upon the distant Throne Hall, where music and laughter still echoed beneath the vaulted ceilings.

"Or perhaps...the crown has already begun to change him."

Far ahead Kael never looked back. The celebration gradually faded behind him. The palace corridors were quiet once again. Moonlight streamed through the towering windows, spilling silver across the polished marble floor.

Kael rounded another corner. Then he stopped as he saw Lytharion casually against one of the marble pillars...one shoulder rested lazily against the wall, his arms loosely folded across his chest. The dim light caught the silver embroidery of his black robes, making them shimmer like stars scattered across the night sky.

His long midnight hair framed a face that remained impossibly calm. As though he had been standing there for centuries...simply waiting.

A faint smile curved upon his lips.

Kael blinked.

"...What are you doing here?"

Captain Cedric immediately lowered himself onto one knee. "I greet the Lord of Darkness."

Lytharion’s golden eyes never left Kael; he pushed himself away from the pillar, and he closed the distance between them with slow, effortless steps. "I was watching my queen’s first day as emperor, and I found it...rather fascinating."

Kael felt heat rise to his face despite himself; his expression remained composed. "...You were watching the entire time?"

"I rarely miss anything worth seeing." Lytharion’s gaze shifted briefly toward Cedric.

"You have served your emperor well." His voice remained calm. "Leave us."

Cedric glanced toward Kael; receiving the slightest nod, he bowed deeply. "As His Majesty commands."

Within moments the captain disappeared into the corridor. Silence settled between them. Lytharion stepped closer, close enough that Kael could see the faint golden flecks dancing within those ancient eyes as his eyes softened.

"Now. Who was the woman?"

Kael looked away. "Lady Nora, she is the daughter-in-law of House Voss and..."

"And?"

"Once..." Kael’s voice became quieter. "...our families intended for us to become mates."

The corridor fell silent. Lytharion regarded him for several long moments. Then he smiled, not mocking, simply certain.

"Yet fate had other plans." He reached up and gently straightened the slightly crooked imperial mantle resting upon Kael’s shoulder; his fingertips lingered only for a heartbeat as his gaze met Kael’s.

"Now...you are mine."

The words were spoken so matter-of-factly that Kael found himself unable to answer. Lytharion studied his face, then a quiet chuckle escaped him.

"You’re blushing."

"I am not."

His hand fell away from the mantle. ". Alright, but since today marks your coronation...perhaps your husband deserves a reward."

Kael looked up. "A reward?"

"The promise." Lytharion answered simply. "Our agreement. You have not forgotten it."

It wasn’t a question. Kael slowly shook his head. "I remember every word."

A shadow crossed Lytharion’s eyes. "That’s right, I have promised you that once our agreement has been fulfilled...I will leave."

Those words lingered between them like an unspoken farewell. Kael felt an unexpected tightness settle in his chest; he couldn’t explain it.

That promise had once been exactly what he wanted, a life without the Lord of Darkness. So why...did hearing it spoken aloud feel strangely painful?

He lowered his gaze. "I haven’t forgotten. When the time comes...I’ll keep my word. No matter how difficult that path may be."

For a long moment Lytharion simply looked at him. Then he gave the faintest nod. "Then...let’s start from today. We need to build a nest inside you before you conceive my child."

Kael looked at him, asking, "A nest? But how..."

"It will be extremely painful. For an Alpha who nature is to dominate, I have to form a nest inside you...so my child can grow. And as I promised, once you give me my child...I shall leave your side, forever."

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