The Shadow King's Alpha : The Cursed Bond

[Imperial Palace — Emperor’s Chamber — Evening]

The evening sun had already begun to descend beyond the western towers of the Imperial Palace.

Its final rays slipped through the tall lattice windows of the emperor’s chamber, spilling across the marble floor in long bands of amber light; the chamber was quiet.

Kael sat alone behind the large cedarwood desk, several ancient parchments spread before him. One hand rested against his temple while the other slowly turned the pages of an old manuscript.

The parchment was centuries old. Its edges were worn, its surface yellowed with age, and several lines had faded so badly that Kael had to lean closer to decipher them.

He frowned.

"The sacred crystal... possesses the ability to bind the will of ancient beasts..." Kael’s finger followed the faded writing.

"...but only when awakened through the blood of one touched by—"

The sentence was damaged; a piece of the parchment had been torn away. Kael sighed as he leaned back in his chair.

"Why is every important answer in this empire written on a parchment with half the words missing?"

From above came a familiar sound.

"Caw."

Kael glanced upward. Veyrith was perched upon the chandelier, staring down at him with his head tilted as Kael’s gaze drifted toward the enormous doors of the chamber as his voice came barely audibly.

Veyrith tilted his head. Kael immediately looked down at the parchment as though he had been caught doing something embarrassing.

The raven stared and said, "Caw?"

Kael’s cheeks warmed as he recalled Lytharion’s soft kiss; he placed the parchment down as his cheeks went pink and a smile touched his lips before he could stop it.

"Where is he?"

The words escaped so naturally that Kael himself paused; there had been a time when the presence of the Shadow King had made his entire body tense.

Now...he found himself listening for his footsteps, waiting for the sound of the doors opening and waiting to see those golden eyes again.

The thought of waiting for Lytharion still felt strange but no longer unpleasant...quite the opposite. His lips curved faintly as he reached for another parchment.

CREAAAAK...

The enormous chamber doors slowly opened. Kael’s hand stopped halfway across the parchment; the smile disappeared from his face for only a heartbeat before returning, softer this time. He didn’t even need to look.

He knew as the darkness slipped quietly through the opening, and then came the familiar sound of footsteps, slow, measured, and unhurried.

Lytharion stepped into the chamber; his long black hair fell loosely around his shoulders, and the darkness clinging to his robes slowly faded as he entered the warmth of the room.

His golden eyes immediately found Kael and stopped. The ancient deity stood there silently for several seconds. Kael was still seated behind the desk, surrounded by parchments and books, his hair slightly disheveled from hours of work.

A single candle burned beside him. Lytharion’s expression softened. "Beloved, why are you still awake?"

"I was working."

There was something so simple about the words, yet Lytharion heard what Kael did not say.

I was waiting for you.

A faint smile touched the deity’s lips.

"I am."

He walked closer. Kael watched him approach, his eyes following every step. "You took longer than I expected."

Lytharion stopped beside the desk, and Kael’s cheeks immediately warmed; he leaned down slightly, his hand resting against the edge of the desk.

His golden eyes searched Kael’s face.

"Did I make my beloved wait longer than I should?"

Kael looked away.

"...Perhaps."

Lytharion’s smile deepened; he reached down and gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from Kael’s forehead. His fingers lingered against his temple for a moment, warm and unhurried.

"You should have rested, beloved."

His hand slowly descended until his fingers found Kael’s.

"Come." Kael looked up. "You’ve done enough for today."

Lytharion gently closed his fingers around Kael’s hand. He rose from his chair, allowing Lytharion to guide him away from the desk. The moment they stood together, their hands remained intertwined.

For a brief moment, neither moved; they simply looked at one another.

The evening light had almost disappeared from the chamber, leaving only the golden glow of the candles around them. Lytharion lifted Kael’s hand and gently brushed his thumb across his knuckles.

"You really waited for me."

Kael’s heart fluttered. "I do not mind...waiting for you."

"I know." Lytharion leaned closer. "But hearing you say it...pleases me more than you realize."

Kael’s cheeks turned pink; before he could answer, Lytharion lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss against his lips.

It wasn’t demanding. It wasn’t the overwhelming kiss Kael had become accustomed to from the Shadow King. It was simply warm, slow, and tender.

A husband’s kiss after returning home. When Lytharion finally pulled away, his forehead remained against Kael’s.

"I apologize for making you wait, beloved."

Kael blinked.

"You don’t have to apologize; you had something important to handle."

Lytharion’s golden eyes softened.

"But that does not mean I should make my beautiful mate wait alone."

Kael’s heart gave a quiet flutter. "I told you...I didn’t mind waiting for you."

Lytharion smiled; his fingers gently brushed Kael’s cheek. "Then perhaps I shall become selfish and start expecting you to wait for me every evening...because my wife looks more beautiful while waiting."

Kael gave him a little shy look. Then Lytharion’s hand slipped around Kael’s waist as his voice became quieter.

"Now...shall we sleep?"

Kael nodded.

"Yes."

The answer had barely left his lips when—

WHOOSSSHHH—!

Lytharion effortlessly swept Kael into his arms. Kael’s eyes widened as the deity carried him toward the bed without the slightest difficulty. "L—Lytharion...we cannot do it today. My body—"

Lytharion chukled, saying, "Do not worry, beloved; I know your body cannot take me inside you tonight...so do not worry, I will not do anything."

Kael’s cheeks warmed as a Lytharion’s mischievous glimmer appeared in the deity’s golden eyes. "But I must say that my beloved has developed an impressive ability to accuse me without evidence."

"Please...do not say like that."

The Shadow King chuckled, then, to Kael’s surprise, his expression softened completely as he carefully lowered Kael onto the bed.

"I know you are tired." Lytharion pulled the blankets over him, making sure Kael was comfortably covered before sitting beside him. "I am not here to ask anything from you tonight; I just wanted to hold my mate."

Kael’s expression softened. Lytharion brushed his fingers through Kael’s hair. "That is all."

Kael looked away, his cheeks faintly pink.

"...You could have simply said that."

"I would have missed that surprised expression of yours."

Kael couldn’t help smiling. Lytharion lay beside him and opened his arms.

"Come here."

Kael hesitated for only a moment, then he moved closer as Lytharion immediately wrapped his arms around him, drawing him against his chest. Kael rested his head beneath Lytharion’s chin.

The warmth of his body slowly eased the last tension from Kael’s muscles; neither spoke.

The chamber became quiet; only the gentle crackle of the candles remained. Above them, Veyrith shifted upon the chandelier.

The raven gave an enormous yawn.

"Cawww..."

He tucked his head beneath one wing and settled his feathers.

Meanwhile, Kael nestled closer into Lytharion’s arms; the deity looked down at him, and the amusement in his eyes slowly disappeared, replaced by something quieter.

Something deeply affectionate as his fingers traced gently through Kael’s hair.

"Sleep, beloved."

Kael’s eyes began to close. "Lytharion?"

"Hm?"

"I...can wait for you..."

For a moment, the Shadow King said nothing, then his arms tightened around Kael as he pressed a lingering kiss against Kael’s forehead.

"We shall not wait for each other anymore...beloved."

Kael smiled sleepily against Lytharion’s chest.

The steady rhythm of the Shadow King’s heartbeat slowly lulled him into silence. Lytharion’s arm remained wrapped securely around his waist, holding him close as though even in sleep, he refused to allow the distance between them to exist.

Above them, the candles burned quietly.

Veyrith had already curled himself upon the chandelier, his feathers puffed up against the cool night air as he gave one final sleepy—

"Caw..."

—and closed his eyes.

For once, there was no war, no throne, no bloodshed, no ancient beasts lurking beyond the northern mountains, and no divine enemy waiting in the darkness.

Only a husband holding the person he loved...and an emperor who had finally discovered a place where he no longer needed to carry the weight of the world alone.

Lytharion lowered his gaze. Kael was already asleep, as his breathing was soft, his face peaceful, and one hand resting loosely against Lytharion’s chest.

The Lord of Darkness gently brushed his fingers through Kael’s hair, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"So...beautiful."

Kael shifted closer in his sleep, instinctively seeking more of his warmth. Lytharion’s smile deepened as he lowered his head and pressed a tender kiss against Kael’s forehead.

Outside the enormous windows, the moon continued its silent journey across the heavens.

The Empire of Qashmar slept peacefully beneath its light, for on this one night...everything was quiet, everything was warm, and everything was perfect.

But fate had never been kind to those who found happiness too easily because somewhere beyond the palace walls...someone else was watching, someone who did not rejoice in their happiness and someone who wished to tear it apart.

***

[Temple of Wolf God Vaelthor — High Priest’s Chamber — Same Night]

The temple was silent; no priests walked the corridors, and no bells rang from the sacred towers. Only the faint flickering of golden candles illuminated the chamber of High Priest Azrakan.

He stood alone before his enormous wooden desk. Upon it rested the crystal fragment recovered from the Grimfang King.

Azrakan stared at it, as his expression was unusually troubled. He reached toward the crystal.

THUM.

The moment his fingers touched it...a faint golden light pulsed beneath its surface.

Azrakan’s eyes narrowed. He immediately withdrew his hand.

"...This is strange."

He stared at the fragment for several moments before slowly picking it up again. The golden radiance remained.

But this time...something else was there.

A presence, a trace of power he did not recognize. Azrakan’s breathing became slower as his eyes narrowed further.

"This..." He turned the crystal beneath the candlelight.

"...isn’t my power."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

His fingers tightened around the fragment.

"If this was created by me, then I should be able to sense every trace of its origin."

His expression gradually changed as confusion became suspicion.

Suspicion became fear.

"That means..."

The candle flames suddenly trembled. Azrakan looked toward the darkened window.

"...there is someone else."

Someone who had interfered with his ritual. Someone who possessed a power beyond his understanding. Someone who had placed their own will into the Grimfang King’s body.

Azrakan’s lips slowly parted.

"Someone other than me..." His grip tightened around the crystal, and then he whispered the words that chilled even himself.

"...wants the Shadow King’s mate dead?"

The crystal suddenly pulsed.

THUM.

Azrakan froze, for the briefest moment...a second presence seemed to move within the golden light, watching, waiting, and smiling.

And somewhere deep within the temple...something ancient seemed to awaken.

THUM.

THUM.

THUM.

Azrakan slowly lowered the crystal as his eyes filled with uncertainty because perhaps...other than him, there was someone who wanted Kael dead for reasons even the High Priest could not understand.

And for the first time...

Azrakan realized something terrifying.

He was not the only one hunting the Queen of Shadows.

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