RAVETHORNE🐺

Chapter Fourteen

When Crimson Turned to Ruin

Lady Consort Elissa Duskmere.....

"Lady Consort, the dress is ready."

Yena entered with careful steps, carrying a large ebony chest. The moment she lifted the lid, a smile spread across my face.

It was perfect.

Every stitch, every fold, every shimmering thread had been crafted exactly as I had envisioned. It was elegant enough to honor House Ravenor, yet dark enough to command attention without a single word.

Crest had spent the previous day explaining the Crimson Hunt. In truth, his lesson could be summarized in one sentence.

Smile. Sit. Watch.

Our presence alone was meant to show that House Ravenor stood beside the Crown.

Two Days Later....

The day of the Crimson Hunt arrived.

I had expected Theoren to return the night before. When he didn't, I convinced myself he would surely arrive this morning.

He never did.

So I dressed alone.

Upon my head rested a raven crown forged from blackened silver. Delicate wings curved upward from either side, meeting above my forehead in a nest of midnight branches. Tiny obsidian feathers spread across the circlet, each tipped with black diamonds that caught the light like stars trapped beneath smoke. At its center sat a single blood-red garnet carved into the shape of a raven's eye.

Matching earrings of dangling obsidian feathers brushed my neck whenever I moved.

Around my throat rested a lace choker woven with black gemstones, from which hung a polished onyx raven.

My wrists were adorned with slender silver cuffs shaped like entwined raven talons clutching dark crystals, while several rings of black diamonds glittered across my fingers.

Even my shoes had been embroidered with black feathers and tiny jet beads.

I was Ravenor from head to toe.

I stood waiting.

And waiting.

Minutes stretched into nearly an hour.

"Lady Consort," Crest announced with a bow. "It is time for the Crimson Hunt."

I released a quiet sigh.

If the General wished to miss his own appearance, that was hardly my concern.

I reached for the Ravenor Token resting inside its velvet box.

Turning it over in my fingers, I smiled.

I understood its worth now.

More importantly...

...I knew exactly how to use it.

I slipped it into my sleeve before leaving my chambers.

Each step through Ravenor Fortress felt strangely heavy.

For the first time since arriving, I found myself missing home.

I missed Mother's gentle laughter.

Father's endless lectures.

Zephar's unbearable teasing.

Home had been simple.

Home had been safe.

"Lady Consort," Crest suddenly called.

"The General has arrived."

I frowned.

"The General?"

"It's Young Master Theoren," Yena whispered. "He commands the Ravenor Knights."

Right.

His father was the Grand General.

Theoren himself was simply...

The General.

A ridiculous amount of relief settled in my chest.

At least I wouldn't arrive alone.

I rounded the corner—

—and nearly screamed.

Before me stood not a carriage...

...but a monster.

Its body resembled an enormous serpent draped in scales darker than polished obsidian. Four muscular legs ended in curved ivory claws capable of shredding stone. Its neck arched proudly, while two black horns swept backward along its skull.

Its forked tongue flickered through the air.

Golden eyes fixed upon me.

The beast slowly circled me.

Once.

Twice.

It sniffed.

Its scales shimmered like sharpened armor beneath the morning sun.

Every instinct begged me to run.

Then memory answered before panic could.

A Dreadwyrm.

One of the ancient war-beasts said to have existed before dragons filled the skies.

The mounts of conquerors.

Kings.

Warlords.

The creature continued circling me.

I was beginning to feel dizzy.

"Enough."

The single command came from behind.

Instantly, the Dreadwyrm stopped.

It lowered itself obediently onto the stone courtyard.

I turned.

There he stood.

Theoren Ravenor.

He wore black armor forged from layered steel so dark it swallowed the sunlight. Silver engravings resembling raven wings stretched across the breastplate, while a long cloak of midnight rested over one shoulder.

Leather gauntlets covered scarred hands that looked more suited to breaking bones than shaking them.

His black hair had been brushed away from his face, exposing sharp features carved with almost unnatural perfection.

Cold grey eyes observed everything...

...and revealed nothing.

A silver Ravenor ring gleamed upon one finger.

Power clung to him like a shadow.

His gaze briefly dropped to the Ravenor Token hidden in my sleeve.

"When will you return that?"

I smiled innocently.

"It belongs to me now."

One brow lifted.

He said nothing.

Instead, he stepped onto the Dreadwyrm in one effortless motion.

"Are you planning to walk to the palace?"

I blinked.

Surely...

No.

He couldn't possibly mean—

This creature?

My ride?

My legs refused to cooperate.

Theoren sighed with the patience of someone enduring a difficult child.

The Dreadwyrm lowered itself again.

Without asking permission, he wrapped one arm around my waist and lifted me onto the creature as though I weighed nothing.

Heat rushed to my face.

Before I could protest, he climbed behind me.

The Dreadwyrm rose.

My heart nearly escaped my chest.

Then—

It ran.

The wind tore through my hair as the ancient beast glided over roads faster than any horse I had ever seen.

Mountains blurred.

Forests disappeared behind us.

Along the highways marched the provinces of Kharrow and Veyrfall, each escorting terrifying chained beasts toward the palace.

None looked remotely as magnificent as ours.

The journey ended astonishingly quickly.

Theoren slid off first.

He had already begun walking away when I called after him.

"Wait."

He looked back.

"I did not wear this masterpiece simply to enter alone."

He remained silent.

I cleared my throat.

"Would you... walk beside me?"

"Just for a few moments."

"People will talk if we arrive separately."

That much was true.

Though...

I also wanted everyone to see my dress.

He stared another second before offering his arm.

Wordlessly.

Victory.

I slipped my hand around his arm.

Together...

...we entered the Crimson Hunt Arena.

Every conversation stopped.

Every head turned.

Whispers swept through the stands like wildfire.

"Is that Ravenor?"

"Look at her..."

"That dress..."

I nearly laughed.

Of course they stared.

Layers of flowing black silk cascaded behind me like liquid midnight. Thousands of hand-sewn obsidian feathers shimmered across the skirt, giving the illusion that ravens were taking flight whenever I moved. Black crystals scattered among the embroidery caught every ray of sunlight, causing the gown to glitter like a moonlit night sky. A dramatic feathered train swept across the stone floor behind me, while sheer embroidered sleeves wrapped my arms in delicate shadows.

Perfect.

Absolutely perfect.

We greeted the Crown before taking our seats.

King Vaelor.

The Night Consort.

Princess Nyxa.

The Princess of Veyrfall.

Curiously...

The Queen and her two children were nowhere to be seen.

Nyxa caught my eye.

She smiled.

Be careful, she mouthed.

I nodded.

Below us, rulers from every province displayed treasures they intended to wager—gold, enchanted weapons, relics, gemstones.

Everything would belong to whichever province's beast claimed victory.

No wonder these creatures were trained so mercilessly.

"Release the beasts."

Sir Orion's command echoed through the arena.

The cages opened.

Nothing emerged.

Silence.

"Release them from their chains."

Again...

Nothing.

The atmosphere shifted.

"My King," the ruler of Navaryn snapped, rising from his seat, "have you slaughtered our beasts?"

"I warned everyone," the King of Grimvale scoffed. "The Hunt should have remained in Grimvale. King Vaelor grows weaker every passing year."

Insults spread through the arena.

Yet King Vaelor never answered.

He simply stared.

Watching.

Waiting.

I glanced beside me.

Theoren...

...was gone.

I hadn't even noticed him leave.

A heavy bell rang.

Every voice fell silent.

"My King," Sir Orion began, "how shall we pro—"

His head flew from his shoulders.

Blood erupted into the air.

For one impossible heartbeat...

No one moved.

Then another body split apart.

Another.

And another.

Heads rolled.

Hearts were torn free.

Bodies collapsed without warning.

The killer moved far too quickly to be seen.

The arena exploded into screams.

People climbed over one another in desperate panic.

Nobles abandoned dignity.

Guards abandoned formation.

Children cried.

Blood painted the stone crimson.

I ran.

I caught only flashes—

Steel-like claws.

Shadows.

Bodies collapsing.

Nothing more.

My dress tangled beneath my feet.

I stumbled.

A hand seized my arm.

"Stop dressing so vain!" Nyxa shouted, dragging me upright.

Despite everything...

I almost laughed.

Trust Nyxa to scold me while death chased us.

"I need to find Father!"

She tore free before I could stop her.

"Nyxa!"

She vanished into the chaos.

A spray of warm blood struck my gown.

Someone had been ripped apart only feet away.

Then—

A deafening roar shook the courtyard.

The Dreadrym

The Dreadwyrm battled something invisible beyond the smoke.

Massive claws struck stone.

The beast was losing.

Think.

Think, Elissa!

Blood.

It wanted blood.

I drove one of my jeweled hairpins into my palm.

Pain exploded through my hand.

Ignoring it, I tore a strip from my gown and soaked it with my blood.

Using a fallen spear, I tied the crimson cloth to its tip.

Then I hurled it across the palace grounds.

Instantly—

Whatever hunted us abandoned Morvane.

The Dreadwyrm staggered upright.

Good.

I threw the spear even farther.

Morvane limped toward me and nudged my shoulder urgently.

"I know..."

I climbed onto his back.

He burst through the palace gates at astonishing speed.

Only after we reached the deserted streets beyond did he finally collapse.

His breathing had become ragged.

I slid down immediately.

Nearby stood an abandoned apothecary.

No people.

Only silence.

I found herbs, bandages, and medicine to slow bleeding.

Returning outside, I gently cleaned the deep wound across Morvane's foreleg before wrapping it tightly with fresh cloth.

Only then did I notice the engraved collar around his neck.

Morvane.

"So that's your name."

He nudged my shoulder.

A tiny smile escaped me.

"You have a handsome name."

Carefully, I stroked the side of his face.

His scales felt surprisingly warm.

Smooth.

Nothing like I had imagined.

"Come on, Morv."

Another distant scream echoed through the streets.

Fear tightened around my heart.

"We're leaving before that monster finds us."

Morvane lowered himself once more.

This time...

I climbed onto his back without hesitation.