Chapter 26
994 Words
The entrance beneath Draven Ridge was hidden behind a sealed iron door three levels below the estate.
Midnight hated it immediately.
The deeper they descended underground, the colder the air became. Ancient stone walls narrowed around them while old crimson symbols glowed faintly beneath layers of dust and dried blood.
The mountain felt alive down here.
Breathing.
Waiting.
Kael walked slightly ahead of her through the tunnels, one hand resting near the blade strapped across his back while silver eyes scanned every shadow.
He looked even more dangerous underground.
Like something built for war.
Lucien followed behind them carrying a lantern infused with silver fire. The golden-eyed male had been unusually quiet ever since Kael announced they were going below the mountain.
Midnight understood why.
This place terrified him.
Which meant she should probably be running in the opposite direction.
Unfortunately, the pull inside her chest only grew stronger with every step downward.
The Hollow King was close.
Very close.
The demon inside her stirred eagerly.
Home.
Midnight clenched her jaw hard.
Not home.
Never home.
Kael glanced back at her instantly.
“You’re spiraling again.”
She frowned. “Can you stop sensing every emotional crisis I have?”
“No.”
Lucien snorted softly behind them. “Honestly, you should get used to that. Mate bonds are invasive.”
Midnight looked horrified.
Kael looked unimpressed.
“Helpful.”
Lucien shrugged lightly. “You’re welcome.”
The tunnel suddenly widened into an enormous underground chamber.
Midnight stopped breathing.
Ancient pillars towered toward the ceiling, covered in glowing abyss symbols and claw marks carved deep into black stone. Massive chains stretched across the cavern walls like the ribs of some dead god.
And at the center—
the pit.
The same one from beneath the estate.
Only now she could fully see it.
The Hollow King wasn’t buried beneath the mountain.
It was chained inside it.
Massive black restraints wrapped around the creature’s chest, arms, throat, and wings while crimson runes pulsed across every inch of the cavern.
The Hollow King slowly lifted its head.
Crimson eyes locked onto Midnight instantly.
And smiled.
“Little shadow.”
The voice rolled through the cavern like thunder.
Midnight’s pulse stumbled.
Kael immediately stepped in front of her.
The Hollow King’s smile widened.
“Still guarding her.”
Kael’s silver eyes glowed sharply.
“You’ll get used to disappointment.”
The creature laughed softly.
The chains rattled with the movement.
Midnight swallowed hard.
Being this close to it felt wrong.
The air itself warped around the Hollow King. Shadows bent unnaturally toward its body while the abyss energy pouring from the pit made her skin burn.
The demon inside her surged harder.
Recognizing.
Calling back.
Kael sensed it immediately.
His hand found Midnight’s wrist instantly.
Grounding her.
The pull weakened slightly.
The Hollow King noticed.
Again.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Its crimson gaze sharpened on Kael.
“You interfere with ancient laws in ways you do not understand, wolf.”
Kael looked completely unbothered.
“Then explain them.”
The Hollow King leaned slightly against its chains.
“The abyss consumes through desire. Through fear. Through attachment.”
Its gaze shifted toward Midnight slowly.
“But she becomes quieter around you.”
Lucien moved closer to one of the glowing symbols carved into the walls.
“That shouldn’t happen,” he muttered.
Kael’s expression darkened.
“We know.”
Midnight looked between them.
“You both keep saying that like I’m supposed to understand what’s happening.”
Lucien turned toward her carefully.
“Abyss blood grows stronger through emotional instability.”
Midnight crossed her arms tightly.
“Yeah. I got that part.”
“But your bond with Kael is creating emotional stability instead.”
The cavern fell silent.
Midnight blinked slowly.
“So… the alpha who growls at everyone and solves problems through violence is somehow emotionally stabilizing me?”
Kael looked mildly offended.
Lucien laughed outright.
Even the Hollow King seemed amused.
Midnight rubbed a hand over her face.
“This is my life now.”
Kael’s hand slid briefly against the small of her back.
The contact sent warmth through her instantly.
The demon quieted.
The Hollow King’s expression slowly darkened.
“There it is again.”
Kael’s silver eyes narrowed.
“What?”
The creature’s gaze fixed on their point of contact.
“The bond is rejecting abyss corruption.”
Silence.
Lucien froze.
Midnight’s stomach tightened.
Kael looked deadly calm.
“Explain.”
The Hollow King’s chains groaned softly as it shifted.
“Abyss blood is fueled by destruction.”
Its crimson eyes locked onto Midnight.
“But hers responds to protection.”
The entire cavern went still.
Midnight stared.
“What?”
The Hollow King smiled slowly.
“She was created to rule through fear.”
Its gaze slid toward Kael.
“And you are teaching her loyalty instead.”
The demon inside Midnight reacted strangely to those words.
Not anger.
Conflict.
Kael’s hand remained steady against her back.
Protective. Certain. Grounding.
The Hollow King noticed every second of it.
Then suddenly—
its smile vanished completely.
The chains around the creature began glowing violently.
The cavern shook.
Lucien’s head snapped toward the far wall.
“Oh no.”
Midnight frowned sharply.
“What?”
A loud crack echoed through the chamber.
One of the ancient chains snapped.
The sound that followed was not relief.
It was hunger.
The Hollow King slowly rose higher from the pit.
Much higher than before.
Crimson eyes burning.
Kael shoved Midnight behind him instantly.
“Back.”
The creature’s gaze never left Midnight.
“You should not have come below, little shadow.”
Another chain cracked.
The entire mountain trembled.
Lucien stepped backward slowly.
“Kael…”
The alpha’s claws extended instantly.
“I know.”
The Hollow King smiled again.
Only this time—
there was nothing restrained about it anymore.
“Now,” it said softly, “the abyss can finally smell its Queen.”
- Writer
