CHAPTER TWO
453 Words
THE UNWANTED BOND
The bond was not supposed to hurt.
Aurelia knew that much.
Yet the moment the silver thread connected her to Kael, pain shot through her chest.
She stumbled back.
The courtyard went silent.
Kael's hand went to his chest at the exact same moment.
Aurelia stared at him.
“You felt that too.”
His expression had changed. The calm, unreadable king was gone.
“Yes.”
The silver thread between them suddenly darkened.
For one terrifying second, black veins spread through the glowing light.
The High Priestess went pale.
“No…”
Aurelia looked at her. “What?”
The High Priestess stepped closer to the Moonstone, staring at the cracks left behind by the explosion.
“This isn't a normal mate bond.”
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
The High Priestess didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she looked at Aurelia.
Then at Kael.
“The last time the Moonstone reacted like this was three hundred years ago.”
Aurelia's stomach dropped.
“And what happened?”
The High Priestess lowered her voice.
“An entire kingdom disappeared.”
Silence.
Aurelia glanced at Kael.
He was already watching her.
“This has to be a mistake,” she said.
“The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes,” the High Priestess replied.
“Then she has terrible judgment.”
Lyra made a nervous sound behind her.
Kael's mouth almost curved into a smile.
Almost.
Aurelia noticed.
“Don't.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was thinking.”
“That's worse.”
The High Priestess stepped between them.
“The Seven Realms must be warned before sunrise.”
Aurelia's expression hardened.
“No.”
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked directly at the High Priestess.
“I don't care what the Moon chose. I won't become someone's queen because a glowing stone decided it.”
Her mother's warning returned to her mind.
Never let anyone choose your life for you.
Kael finally spoke.
“You don't want the bond.”
“No.”
“Good.”
Aurelia blinked.
He continued calmly, “Neither do I.”
She studied him, surprised.
For the first time that night, they agreed on something.
But before Aurelia could answer, the silver thread between them pulsed again.
Far beneath the Moon Palace, something answered.
A deep sound rolled through the stone beneath their feet.
Once.
Twice.
Then a voice whispered from somewhere in the darkness.
“The Queen has returned.”
Aurelia froze.
Kael's face went cold.
Neither of them spoke.
Because they both knew the same thing.
Whatever had just awakened...
It knew who Aurelia was.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD