The Shadow King's Alpha : The Cursed Bond

[Later—Throne Room Corridor—The Next Day]

The Imperial Palace was unusually peaceful that afternoon.

Golden sunlight poured through the high stone windows, spilling across the polished marble floors and illuminating the ancient carvings of wolves, kings, and forgotten gods that lined the corridor.

The distant sound of bells echoed softly through the palace.

CLANG...

CLANG...

Kael walked slowly down the corridor, his crimson imperial robes trailing behind him.

Veyrith was perched comfortably upon his shoulders, his black feathers gleaming beneath the afternoon light as though he had claimed the Emperor himself as his personal throne.

Kael, however, did not look nearly as comfortable as his steps were noticeably slower than usual. He shifted slightly, one hand moving toward his lower back as he muttered beneath his breath,

"I rested for an entire day...and it still hurts."

Behind him, Captain Cedric nearly stopped walking, his eyes lowered for the briefest moment as he noticed the slight stiffness in Kael’s stride.

The hand against his back, the faint redness still lingering across the emperor’s ears, and red marks on his neck.

Cedric immediately looked toward the opposite wall, very carefully, very respectfully, and most importantly...very silently.

A tiny smile threatened the corner of his mouth.

’So that’s why His Majesty did not step out his chamber yesterday.’

He cleared his throat and continued walking as though he had witnessed absolutely nothing.

Kael continued walking toward the throne room, yet before he could reach the enormous bronze doors, he stopped as his footsteps fell silent and his amber eyes lifted. Someone was approaching from the opposite end of the corridor. Long black hair, dark robes, and an unmistakable golden gaze.

Lytharion.

The Lord of Darkness walked through the corridor with the effortless confidence of someone who had never once questioned whether the world belonged beneath his feet.

The imperial servants immediately lowered their heads as he passed; even the guards stepped aside. No one dared obstruct him, but Lytharion’s attention wasn’t on them.

It was on Kael, and the moment their eyes met, something in the deity’s expression softened as a faint smile appeared upon his lips.

He approached without haste. "My beloved."

Kael’s cheeks immediately warmed. "You’re here."

Lytharion stopped before him, his golden eyes quietly examining Kael from head to toe, then his gaze lowered toward Kael’s slightly stiff posture as his eyebrow rose.

"You are walking rather slowly."

Kael’s face became pink. "I’m fine."

Lytharion’s lips twitched. "That wasn’t what I asked."

Kael looked away. "I have an audience."

"I know."

"Then don’t look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"You already know exactly why I’m walking slowly."

Lytharion’s smile widened. "My queen...I am your husband; of course I know."

Kael’s ears turned red. "Lytharion."

"Yes, beloved?"

"Stop smiling."

"I cannot."

"Why?"

"Because you’re adorable."

Kael gave him an annoyed look, but there was no real anger behind it. Lytharion lifted his hand and gently brushed his fingers across Kael’s cheek. "Are you certain you are well enough to attend the council?"

Kael nodded. "I rested."

Lytharion looked entirely pleased with himself, then he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against Kael’s forehead.

"Take care of yourself."

The words were simple, but the tenderness behind them made Kael’s expression soften. "I will."

Lytharion’s thumb brushed lightly across his cheek; for a moment, neither moved, and the corridor around them seemed to disappear. There was only Kael’s quiet gaze and Lytharion’s warm golden eyes.

Then Kael finally asked, "Are you going somewhere?"

Lytharion’s expression became slightly more serious. "I have something to attend to. I shall return by nightfall."

Kael nodded. "Take care."

Something softened in Lytharion’s expression again. "You too."

He kissed Kael’s forehead a second time, then, before stepping away, his fingers briefly intertwined with Kael’s.

"Wait for me."

Kael’s heart gave a small flutter as he nodded. Lytharion released his hand and walked away, his dark robes disappearing slowly around the distant corner.

Kael remained where he was for several seconds; a faint smile lingered on his lips. Veyrith tilted his head from Kael’s shoulder.

"Cawww..."

Kael glanced at him as the raven gave him a suspicious little chirp, and behind him came a quiet cough.

"Ahem."

Kael turned. Cedric stood several steps away, wearing the most professionally neutral expression he could possibly manage.

"Your Majesty, the nobles are waiting."

Kael glanced toward the enormous throne-room doors. He straightened his shoulders, his expression slowly returning to that of the Emperor of Qashmar.

Kael took a step, then another as he winced faintly. Cedric immediately looked away as his lips twitched, and together, the emperor, captain, and raven continued toward the throne room.

Behind them, far beyond the palace walls, the shadows quietly moved. Something was waiting. Something ancient.

Something that had not forgotten the golden crystal, and while Kael walked toward his council...the Lord of Darkness had already begun walking toward his own answer.

***

[Imperial Palace — Throne Room — Afternoon]

The enormous bronze doors of the throne room opened.

GROOOOOOAN...

The sound rolled through the vast chamber. Kael stepped inside, and the moment the Emperor crossed the threshold, every conversation ceased.

Grand Duke Lior was already standing beside the council table, with Duke Lucein at his side. Captain Cedric followed several paces behind Kael, his hand resting near the hilt of his sword.

But they were not alone; two figures stood before the imperial throne. The first was a man Kael already knew.

White robes, ancient eyes.

High Priest Azrakan.

The same man who had crowned Kael Emperor of Qashmar now stood silently beneath the golden light of the throne room.

Beside him stood another man.

Someone Kael had never seen before.

The stranger was tall and slender, dressed in layered robes of deep blue and ivory, embroidered with ancient golden symbols. His long white hair fell past his shoulders, held loosely at the back by a bronze clasp shaped like a crescent moon.

His eyes were unusual; one was deep violet. The other was a pale, almost luminous gold.

A collection of crystal beads hung around his neck, each one containing a faint swirl of mana. The moment Kael entered, both men stepped forward.

Then—

THUD.

They lowered themselves into a deep bow. "Your Majesty."

Kael stopped before them.

"Rise."

The two men straightened. Azrakan bowed again. "May the spirits continue to guide the Emperor of Qashmar."

Kael nodded politely. "And you are?"

The white-haired man stepped forward as his voice was calm, deep, and measured. "High Mage Azharel Enki, Your Majesty. I serve as the Imperial High Mage and keeper of the ancient archives."

Kael studied him for a moment. "Keeper of the ancient archives?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Azharel’s fingers tightened slightly around his staff. "I have spent forty years studying ancient magical texts, divine relics, beast curses, and the remnants of civilizations that existed long before Qashmar."

Duke Lucein’s expression became serious. "That is precisely why we summoned him."

Kael’s gaze shifted toward him. Lucein stepped forward. "Your Majesty, the fragments recovered from the Grimfang King cannot be examined by ordinary mages. Their mana is unlike anything recorded in the Imperial Library."

Grand Duke Lior nodded. "We thought it best to bring someone who has studied ancient magic."

Kael’s expression hardened slightly. "And High Priest Azrakan?"

Azrakan clasped his hands within his sleeves.

"The crystal carried a strange energy, Your Majesty. I wished to determine whether it possessed any connection to the divine realm."

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

The divine realm...those words immediately reminded him of Lytharion. Of the golden fragment. Of the way the Shadow King had looked at it.

Kael walked toward the throne. "Then you have both come for the same reason."

Azharel nodded. "Yes, we were informed to determine what controlled the Grimfang king and queen."

Kael stopped as his gaze slowly shifted between the two men. "And whether the power behind them was mortal...or divine."

Silence.

The flames within the bronze braziers flickered.

FWOOSH...

Azrakan’s expression remained composed, but for the briefest moment his fingers twitched. Kael noticed, as did Cedric, but neither said anything.

Grand Duke Lior stepped toward the table and gestured toward a sealed black container resting upon it.

"The fragments are inside."

Kael looked toward the container as a faint golden glow escaped through the tiny gaps in its seal.

THUM.

THUM.

THUM.

Azharel stepped closer to the sealed container, and his expression changed, his mismatched eyes fixed upon the faint golden glow leaking through the cracks.

"What is it?" Kael asked.

The High Mage did not answer immediately. Instead, he slowly extended his hand toward the container, and the moment his fingers hovered above it, the crystal pulsed.

THUM.

Azharel’s lips curved into a faint, almost intrigued smile.

"I...shall find out, Your Majesty." His gaze remained fixed upon the crystal. "I have encountered many ancient relics throughout my years of study, but I have never seen mana behaving in quite this manner."

Kael’s brows furrowed. "Is it truly that rare?"

Azharel finally looked toward him. "Rare?"

A quiet smile touched his lips. "Your Majesty...I believe the word rare may not be sufficient."

The chamber fell silent.

Azharel carefully lowered his hand without touching the container.

"This is not an ordinary crystal. Its composition, its mana, even the way it reacted to your presence...none of it resembles anything recorded in the Imperial archives."

Kael’s expression hardened. "Then what exactly are you saying?"

"I am saying that I need time." Azharel turned back toward the container. "If Your Majesty permits me to study it, I may be able to determine what kind of crystal this is...and, more importantly..."

His eyes narrowed.

"...who possesses enough power to use it to control a Grimfang."

Kael studied him silently, as the High Mage remained perfectly composed beneath the Emperor’s gaze.

"Very well."

Azharel bowed.

Kael’s voice became firmer. "I am placing my trust in you, High Mage. Do not disappoint me."

Azharel lowered his head. "You have my word, Your Majesty."

Behind him—

CRACK.

High Priest Azrakan’s fist clenched inside his sleeve as his teeth pressed together. His expression remained hidden beneath the calm mask of a holy servant, but his eyes had darkened dangerously.

He stared at the sealed container, at the golden glow. At the crystal that should never have fallen into the hands of the emperor. And deep within the silent temple of his mind, one thought screamed louder than anything else—

He must not discover the truth.

The chamber remained silent as Kael turned away. Azharel continued studying the crystal, and behind them... High Priest Azrakan’s clenched fist trembled with restrained fury.

The Emperor had placed his trust in the High Mage.

But neither Kael nor anyone else in the throne room knew that the greatest danger was already standing beside the very crystal they were trying to understand.

And the man who knew its true origin...was already terrified.

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