Seized by the Lycan Zillionaire

The Silver Mark

Elara’s POV

The words barely left Kael’s lips. But I heard them. Clear as day.

I looked from his face to my trembling hand. “What happened?” He didn’t answer. The silver mark had vanished as suddenly as it appeared, leaving my skin flawless. Yet I could still feel it. A faint warmth pulsed beneath my palm. “What did you do to me?” I demanded, taking a step back.

“I did nothing.”

“You expect me to believe that?” His eyes remained fixed on my hand.

“No.” That single word unsettled me even more. Because it meant he couldn’t explain it either. Behind him, the man who had brought me the contract hurried forward.

“My Sovereign…” He lowered his voice. “Did she…?” Kael silenced him with a glance. The man immediately bowed his head.

“My apologies.”

I caught that. They were hiding something, again. “I’m tired of everyone talking around me!” My voice echoed across the quiet driveway. “If this has anything to do with me, then stop treating me like I don’t deserve the truth!”

Kael finally looked at me. “The truth has consequences.”

“So does ignorance.”

For the first time… A flicker of approval crossed his face. Gone before I could be certain I’d seen it.

“You’ll learn.” There it was again. Another answer that wasn’t an answer. I folded my arms. “I hate those two words.”

“I know.”

My eyes narrowed. “You know almost nothing about me.”

“I know enough.”

Before I could argue, the limousine door opened by itself. A soft voice drifted from inside. “My Sovereign, everything is prepared.”

Prepared? For what?

Kael gestured toward the vehicle. “Get in.”

“No.”

His expression remained unchanged. “No?”

“I’ve already signed your ridiculous contract.” I lifted my chin.

“You don’t get to order me around.” Several members of his security exchanged nervous glances. As if no one had ever spoken to him that way before.

The silence stretched. Then… Kael walked toward me. One step. Two. Three. He stopped so close I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. “I wasn’t asking.” Every instinct screamed at me to move. Instead… I stood my ground. “If you think I’m going to spend the rest of my life obeying you…” I met his gaze without blinking. “you’re about to be disappointed.”

For one heartbeat… Nothing happened. Then… The corner of Kael’s mouth lifted. Not a smile. Not quite. Just the faintest hint of amusement.

The security team looked absolutely horrified. Had they never seen him react like that? “Interesting,” he murmured.

“What is?”

“You.”

Before I could respond, a sharp vibration buzzed from inside his coat. One of his men answered the call.

His face drained of color.

“My Sovereign…” He swallowed hard. “They’ve breached the eastern border.”

Kael’s eyes turned glacial. “Who?”

“The Ivory Circle.”

Every person around us went rigid. Even without knowing who they were… I understood one thing. That name terrified them. “They’ve issued a formal demand.” The guard hesitated. “They’re requesting the immediate surrender of Miss Elara Vale.”

Silence, the wind itself seemed to stop. Kael slowly turned toward me. There was no hesitation in his voice.

“No.”

“My Sovereign…”

“They’re invoking the Ancient Accord.”

Another pause. “If we refuse…” The guard couldn’t finish. Kael didn’t need him to. His answer came without a second’s thought.

“They can bring every House.” His silver eyes locked onto mine. “They’ll still leave empty handed.”

Before anyone could speak again… The sky darkened. Not with clouds. With helicopters. At least a dozen black aircraft roared over the hospital, circling like predators. Doctors and nurses poured outside, pointing upward in panic. One helicopter descended lower than the others. Its side bore the same silver crescent wrapped around a crown… Except someone had slashed a crimson line through the symbol.

An enemy.

The cabin door slid open. A hooded figure stepped into view. Even from that distance… I could feel their eyes on me. Then the figure raised one hand… And pointed directly at me. A voice thundered through the helicopter’s speakers.

“Surrender the Blood Heir… or this city falls before sunset.”