The cursed throne

Chapter six:The price of power

I stood on the edge of the war chamber, my body rigid as I tried to make sense of what was happening. The air crackled with the weight of impending doom, and I could feel it—the pull of Kael’s darkness and the urgency of the situation sinking deep into my bones.

“You don’t understand, Princess,” Kael said, his voice calm but tinged with something darker. “This kingdom was never yours to claim. It’s mine. And I will fight for it. No one is taking it from me. Not even Valtoria.”

The Valtorian forces—thousands strong—were marching on Isolde as we spoke. It was a direct challenge, a test of Kael’s strength, and it didn’t matter if I was tied to this kingdom or not. I was now a pawn in a game I didn’t understand.

I could feel his eyes on me, heavy and full of unspoken intent. His words were sharp, his gaze colder than the winter winds outside the castle walls. But there was something else there too—something darkly possessive.

I didn’t trust him, but part of me wondered if I had any choice in the matter.

“What do you expect me to do?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “You’ve bound me to this place, to your kingdom. You’ve made me a part of this—part of you.”

Kael’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “I expect you to survive, Princess. And in this world, survival requires power. Power you’ll never find in Valtoria’s throne. But here, in the shadows, you have a chance to shape your destiny.”

A chance.

I wasn’t sure whether that was a promise or a threat, but I wasn’t in a position to argue. I was bound to this place, this cursed kingdom, and to Kael’s dark magic. And no matter how much I hated it, the shadows were now a part of me.

Kael’s expression shifted, and for the briefest moment, I saw something almost… human in his eyes. His lips parted, but he stopped himself, his gaze flicking to the soldier still standing at the door.

“Gather the captains,” Kael ordered, his tone turning cold again. “Prepare for battle. We leave by dawn.”

The soldier nodded, his face pale, and quickly exited the room.

“You’ve already decided,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “What happens to me when you go to war? Am I just left to wait here like a trophy?”

Kael didn’t answer right away. Instead, he moved toward the window, his silhouette framed by the harsh light of the waning day. “I won’t leave you unprotected. But I can’t guarantee you’ll be safe here, either. Not with Valtoria so close.”

His words sent a chill through me. The war was no longer a distant possibility—it was real, and it was here. And I was caught in the middle of it.

“I’m not your pawn, Kael,” I said, trying to steady my breathing, though my heart raced. “I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for you.”

He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he locked onto mine. “You may not have asked for this, Princess, but you’re here now. And your bloodline runs through this kingdom, whether you like it or not. You’re not just the prize of a war—you’re the key to Isolde’s future.”

The weight of his words settled over me like a curse. I wanted to scream, to break free of his control, but something in his gaze held me captive.

“I don’t care about your kingdom,” I spat, though the words felt hollow as they left my lips. “I care about getting out of here alive.”

Kael’s smirk deepened, but there was no humor in it. “Then you’d better learn how to fight, Princess.”

Without waiting for my response, he turned back to the table, his fingers tracing over the maps and scattered plans. “I’ve already sent scouts to intercept the Valtorians. We need to make a move before they reach the gates. But this won’t be a simple battle. It’s not just soldiers we’re dealing with. They have magic—power that could tear this kingdom apart if we’re not careful.”

Magic.

The word sent a shiver down my spine. Magic was something I knew of, but only in theory. Isolde’s magic was something darker, older, and far more dangerous than anything I had learned in Valtoria. And now, I was bound to it, to Kael’s power.

“You’ll need to learn how to wield your magic,” Kael continued, his voice low and commanding. “Otherwise, you’ll be nothing but a liability. And I don’t have time for liabilities.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. “I’m not a weapon for your war, Kael.”

“You are now,” he replied coldly. “And if you’re not careful, you’ll find that the shadows will consume you just as they’ve consumed everyone else who’s come before you.”

His words were like a slap in the face, and yet they carried an undeniable truth.

I wasn’t just here to fight a war. I was here to survive it—and survive the darkness that clung to this kingdom, to him.

Kael’s eyes softened for a fraction of a second, but the moment passed quickly, his expression returning to its usual unreadable mask. “Come with me,” he ordered. “I’ll show you what you’re truly capable of.”

Against my better judgment, I followed him as he led me out of the war chamber, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear.

I didn’t trust him. But I had no choice but to follow.