Chapter 6 – The King Returns
720 Words
The news spread through Blackthorn Keep like wildfire.
The Lycan King was missing.
Soldiers whispered in the corridors. Servants lowered their voices whenever Selene passed. No one dared speak the fear growing inside the castle.
Selene stood alone on the balcony overlooking the cliffs.
The cold wind whipped through her dark hair as her eyes searched the distant mountains.
Days ago, Lucian Draven had been nothing more than a stranger.
Now the thought of never seeing him again left an emptiness she couldn't explain.
"You haven't slept."
Lady Evelyne approached quietly, placing a warm cloak over Selene's shoulders.
"I keep thinking..." Selene said softly.
"What if he doesn't come back?"
Lady Evelyne smiled gently.
"I have served King Lucian for over twenty years."
"He has survived wars, betrayals, and assassins."
"He always comes back."
Before Selene could answer, the castle bells rang loudly.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
Every guard rushed toward the front gate.
Lady Evelyne's eyes widened.
"The King..."
Selene didn't wait.
She gathered her dress and ran through the castle corridors, her heart pounding with every step.
By the time she reached the courtyard, hundreds of soldiers had gathered.
The massive gates slowly opened.
A lone black horse entered.
Its rider wore a torn black cloak stained with blood.
Lucian.
A deep wound crossed his shoulder, and dried blood covered one side of his face, but he sat tall in the saddle like nothing could break him.
The soldiers immediately knelt.
"Long live the King!"
Lucian barely acknowledged them.
His silver eyes searched the crowd until they found Selene.
For a single moment...
The noise disappeared.
He was looking only at her.
Relief flooded her chest before she could stop it.
Without thinking, she hurried toward him.
"You came back."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I gave you my word."
Only then did she notice how pale he looked.
"You're hurt."
"It isn't serious."
"It doesn't look that way."
Lucian dismounted, though the movement made him wince.
Lady Evelyne frowned.
"Your Majesty, the royal physician is waiting."
Lucian nodded.
Then he looked at Selene.
"Walk with me."
She followed him through the castle in silence.
The servants quickly stepped aside as they passed.
Inside the royal chambers, the physician cleaned Lucian's wounds.
Deep claw marks covered his shoulder.
Selene stared at them.
"Who did this?"
Lucian's expression darkened.
"The man in the black cloak."
"The one from the fortress?"
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
The room fell silent.
Finally, Lucian answered.
"His name is Malachar."
Selene repeated it quietly.
"Malachar..."
"He was once my brother."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
Lucian dismissed the physician before walking toward the window.
"We were raised together."
"We fought together."
"And one night..."
"He betrayed our entire kingdom."
Rain began falling outside.
"He wanted the throne."
"When he failed, he turned to forbidden magic."
Selene slowly understood.
"The prophecy..."
"He wants it because of me."
Lucian nodded.
"He believes your blood can make him unstoppable."
A chill ran through her body.
"So everyone wants to use me."
Lucian turned to face her.
"Not everyone."
She looked into his silver eyes.
"And you?"
He stepped closer.
"So long as I breathe..."
"No one will force your destiny."
His words settled deep inside her.
For the first time since leaving her pack...
Someone had offered her a choice instead of making one for her.
Suddenly, the chamber doors burst open.
A guard stumbled inside, breathing hard.
"Your Majesty!"
Lucian's expression sharpened.
"What is it?"
"The dungeons..."
"The prisoner escaped."
"What prisoner?"
"The rogue we captured after the battle."
The guard swallowed nervously.
"He left a message."
Lucian's jaw tightened.
"What message?"
The guard looked directly at Selene.
"He said..."
"'Tell the last princess that the Blood Moon rises in seven nights.'"
Silence filled the room.
Selene's fingers instinctively tightened around the silver pendant hanging from her neck.
It began to glow.
Once again.
Lucian's face grew grave.
"The countdown has begun."
Outside, thunder rolled across the kingdom.
Far beyond Blackthorn Keep, hidden in the ruins of an ancient temple, Malachar stood before a stone altar stained with old blood.
He smiled as the Blood Moon symbol burned beneath his hand.
"Prepare yourself, Princess."
"When the seventh night arrives..."
"You will come to me."
And somewhere deep within the darkness...
Something ancient awakened.
- Writer
