Chapter 11
819 Words
Kael’s entire body went rigid.
Midnight felt it instantly through the bond.
Not fear.
Something darker.
History.
The chained creature beneath the estate slowly lifted its head higher from the pit, ancient crimson eyes glowing through drifting dust and falling debris.
It was enormous.
Not fully free yet—but even restrained, its presence smothered the room like pressure before a storm.
The chains wrapped around its body burned with runes that looked painfully old. Some were cracked already.
Breaking.
The Hollow King’s gaze never left Kael.
“I know your scent,” it rumbled.
Kael stepped forward slightly.
Shielding Midnight again.
Always shielding her.
“My ancestors sealed you.”
The creature smiled wider.
“And now their blood kneels before mine.”
Kael’s wolf snapped hard inside the bond.
Midnight felt the violent territorial rage instantly.
The alpha hated this thing.
Deeply.
Personally.
The Hollow King noticed too.
“You carry the same arrogance.” Its glowing gaze sharpened. “The same weakness.”
Kael’s expression went cold enough to freeze blood.
“And you still talk too much.”
The chains suddenly jerked violently.
Every rune across the pit flashed crimson.
The entire estate shook.
Wolves backed away instinctively.
Lucien swore quietly. “The seal’s failing faster.”
Midnight’s chest tightened.
Because every tremor beneath the mountain answered her heartbeat.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
The chains pulsed when her heart did.
The Hollow King slowly turned his attention toward her again.
And immediately softened.
It was somehow worse than the violence.
“There you are,” it said quietly.
Midnight’s stomach twisted.
The thing sounded… relieved.
Kael noticed.
The growl that tore from his chest shook the ruined hall.
“You do not speak to her.”
The Hollow King laughed.
The sound cracked stone.
“You believe she belongs to you because fate scented a bond?”
Its crimson eyes slid toward Midnight again.
“She belongs to blood.”
The demon inside Midnight stirred violently.
Not angrily.
Recognizing.
Midnight staggered slightly.
Kael caught her immediately.
“Stay out of her head,” he snarled.
The Hollow King ignored him.
“Come closer, little shadow.”
“No,” Kael said instantly.
Midnight’s pulse pounded.
Because some part of her—
some ancient buried instinct—
wanted to obey.
The creature felt familiar in the worst possible way.
Not safe.
Never safe.
But connected.
Like staring at something she was made from.
Lucien noticed her expression immediately.
“She’s reacting to him.”
Kael’s arm tightened around her waist.
“Midnight.”
She looked up at him quickly.
And the second their eyes met—
the pull changed.
The Hollow King’s influence weakened.
Not disappeared.
But weakened.
Kael realized it too.
So did Lucien.
The golden-eyed male went still.
“Oh… that’s interesting.”
Kael ignored him completely.
His focus remained entirely on Midnight.
“Look at me,” he said quietly.
The alpha command in his voice wrapped around her mind like steel.
The whispers beneath the mountain dulled instantly.
Midnight exhaled shakily.
Kael’s thumb brushed lightly against her wrist.
Grounding her.
The Hollow King watched the interaction carefully.
Then smiled slowly.
“Ah.”
Midnight’s stomach dropped.
The creature leaned slightly against its chains.
“The bond is not stabilizing her.”
Lucien looked miserable.
Kael’s jaw tightened.
The Hollow King’s smile deepened.
“It is anchoring her transformation.”
Silence.
Pure silence.
Midnight felt cold all over.
“What does that mean?”
No one answered immediately.
Because they all already knew.
The Hollow King finally spoke again.
“It means every moment she loves you…” its glowing eyes locked onto Kael, “…she becomes less human.”
The words hit like knives.
Midnight physically flinched.
Kael didn’t move.
Didn’t blink.
But his heartbeat changed.
One sharp, painful stutter.
The Hollow King noticed instantly.
“Oh yes,” it purred. “That hurt.”
Midnight pulled slightly away from Kael without thinking.
Bad idea.
The second distance formed between them, the darkness around the room deepened violently.
Shadows climbed the walls.
The chains below rattled harder.
Kael grabbed her wrist immediately.
“Don’t.”
Midnight stared at him.
“You heard what it said.”
“Yes.”
“And you still want me near you?”
Kael looked genuinely offended by the question.
His silver eyes locked onto hers with terrifying intensity.
“There is nothing in this world,” he said quietly, “that could make me willingly let you go.”
The mate bond surged violently.
The wolf inside her melted toward him instantly.
The demon surged too.
Hungry.
Powerful.
The Hollow King laughed softly.
“There it is.”
Kael’s expression turned murderous.
“Enjoy your chains while you still have them.”
The creature’s crimson eyes gleamed.
“Oh, little alpha.”
Its gaze slid toward Midnight again.
“You still think those chains are mine.”
- Writer
