A Court of Teeth
1257 Words
“You’re coming with me.”
I stared at Kael.
“No.”
The answer came faster this time.
Stronger.
Because I was starting to understand something—
Every time I said no…
It didn’t matter.
His gaze didn’t shift.
“You don’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice.”
“Not in this.”
I crossed my arms. “Then make me understand why.”
A pause.
Then—
“You need to be seen.”
My stomach tightened.
“That doesn’t sound like protection.”
“It is,” he said calmly. “In my world.”
“I’m not part of your world.”
His eyes held mine.
“You are now.”
The words settled heavy in my chest.
Before I could respond—
He turned.
Just like that.
Conversation over.
Decision made.
“Wait—” I started.
He didn’t stop.
Of course he didn’t.
“Are you just going to walk away every time I—”
“Follow.”
The command cut through the room.
Not loud.
Not harsh.
But impossible to ignore.
My jaw tightened.
“I’m not—”
The mark burned.
Sharp.
Immediate.
I sucked in a breath, grabbing my wrist as the pain pulsed through me again.
Kael didn’t turn.
“Or don’t,” he said calmly. “And stay here.”
The meaning was clear.
Follow—or suffer.
I hated that.
I hated him.
And I hated the way my body was already moving before my pride could stop it.
“Fine,” I muttered, stepping after him. “But this doesn’t mean I’m agreeing to anything.”
“It doesn’t have to.”
Of course it didn’t.
The door opened the moment we approached it.
The same man from before—dark suit, unreadable expression—stood waiting.
He stepped aside immediately.
“My king.”
Kael didn’t acknowledge it.
He walked past him like it was expected.
Like everything here existed for him.
I followed.
Because I didn’t have a choice.
The hallway beyond was just as cold as the room—black marble floors, high ceilings, dim lighting that seemed to glow without a source.
It was beautiful.
In a way that didn’t feel safe.
Guards lined the walls.
Still.
Silent.
Watching.
Their eyes followed me as I passed.
Not curious.
Not surprised.
Knowing.
That was worse.
“What are they looking at?” I whispered.
Kael didn’t slow.
“You.”
“I figured that part out. Why?”
“They’ve already been told what you are.”
My chest tightened.
“And what exactly is that?”
Silence.
Again.
Of course.
I clenched my jaw.
“I’m getting really tired of you not answering that.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“I won’t.”
“We’ll see.”
We turned a corner.
Then another.
The deeper we went—
The heavier the air felt.
Like something was waiting.
Like I was being led somewhere important.
Dangerous.
“What is this place?” I asked quietly.
“My court.”
The words sent a chill through me.
Court.
As in—
People.
Power.
Eyes.
Judgment.
“I’m not ready for that,” I said immediately.
“You don’t need to be.”
“That’s not how this works.”
“It is here.”
Of course it was.
We stopped in front of massive double doors.
Black.
Carved.
Intricate patterns twisting across the surface like something alive.
My stomach twisted.
“What’s behind that?”
Kael glanced at me.
And for the first time—
There was something almost… amused in his expression.
“Everyone who matters.”
My breath caught.
“No.”
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
“I’m not going in there.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I said no.”
The mark pulsed again.
Not painful this time.
But strong.
Insistent.
Like it was reacting to what was on the other side.
Like it knew.
Like it was pulling me forward.
Kael stepped closer.
Too close.
“You don’t understand,” he said quietly.
“I don’t want to,” I shot back.
“You need to.”
“Why?”
His gaze dropped briefly to my wrist.
Then back to me.
“Because the moment you walk through those doors—”
He paused.
Just long enough to make my heart race.
“—everything changes.”
My throat went dry.
“Then maybe I shouldn’t.”
His eyes darkened slightly.
“You already have.”
Before I could respond—
The doors opened.
Slow.
Heavy.
And suddenly—
I wasn’t standing in a hallway anymore.
I was standing in a room full of power.
The court.
It stretched out in front of me—vast, dark, lit by low golden light that reflected off polished black stone.
Rows of figures lined the sides.
Men.
Women.
All dressed in dark elegance.
All watching.
Waiting.
The moment we stepped inside—
Silence fell.
Complete.
Every eye turned to me.
Not Kael.
Not the king they clearly respected.
Me.
My pulse slammed against my ribs.
“What are they doing?” I whispered.
“Watching,” Kael replied.
“I can see that. Why?”
“Because you’re the reason they’re here.”
That didn’t help.
If anything, it made it worse.
We moved forward.
And the silence followed.
Heavy.
Pressing.
Unforgiving.
I could feel it—
Their attention.
Sharp.
Measuring.
Like they were trying to understand what I was.
Like they were trying to decide something.
My hands curled into fists.
I refused to look away.
Refused to show fear.
Even though it was there.
Everywhere.
We reached the center.
Kael stopped.
So did I.
A figure stepped forward from the crowd.
Older.
Composed.
His presence carried weight.
Not like Kael’s.
Different.
Respected.
“My king,” he said, bowing his head slightly.
Kael didn’t respond.
His attention stayed forward.
Unmoving.
“You’ve brought her,” the man continued.
“I have.”
The man’s gaze shifted to me.
And for a second—
Something flickered in his eyes.
Recognition.
My stomach dropped.
“You feel it too,” he said quietly.
I swallowed hard.
“Feel what?”
“The mark.”
My hand instinctively moved to my wrist.
It pulsed again.
Faint.
But present.
“That’s not normal,” I said.
“No,” he agreed. “It isn’t.”
The room remained silent.
Waiting.
For what?
I didn’t know.
But I didn’t like it.
“What is this?” I demanded, my voice stronger now. “Why am I here?”
No one answered.
Then—
Kael spoke.
“This is your introduction.”
My breath caught.
“To what?”
His gaze shifted to me.
Steady.
Unavoidable.
“To the world that’s about to change because of you.”
Silence fell again.
Heavier this time.
Because this time—
It wasn’t just tension.
It was realization.
And suddenly—
I wasn’t just standing in a room full of strangers.
I was standing in front of people who already knew something I didn’t.
Something big enough—
To make a king bring me here.
To make kingdoms move.
To make war feel close.
And for the first time since this started—
I felt it clearly.
Not confusion.
Not fear.
Something else.
Something sharper.
Something dangerous.
Because whatever they thought I was—
Whatever they believed I could become—
I was going to find out.
Even if it destroyed everything
- Writer
