CHAPTER 11 THE BLOOD OATH
694 Words
Kael screamed.
The sound ripped through the chamber.
Black veins spread across his chest, twisting outward from the mark that had appeared beneath his skin.
I rushed toward him.
“Kael!”
My mother grabbed my arm.
“Don’t touch him.”
“Why?”
“The oath is active.”
Kael fell to his knees.
His hands clawed against the floor.
“It burns.”
I could barely breathe.
“What do we do?”
My mother looked at the mark.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“If we try to remove it now, it will kill him.”
I stared at Kael.
His silver eyes met mine.
For the first time, I saw genuine fear in them.
“Elara…”
“I’m here.”
“Run.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“The oath is connected to you.”
My mother closed her eyes.
“He is right.”
I turned toward her.
“What does that mean?”
“The blood oath was never designed to kill Kael.”
My heart stopped.
“Then what was it designed to do?”
She looked at me.
“To lead the Council to you.”
Silence.
Kael’s breathing became ragged.
My mother continued.
“The moment your Lunar power reached its full awakening, the oath became a beacon.”
“So they can find us?”
“Yes.”
Ryder entered the room.
“Then we have a problem.”
Everyone turned.
He was covered in blood.
“Council soldiers are approaching.”
“How many?”
Ryder’s expression was grim.
“Thousands.”
My stomach dropped.
“How long?”
“Less than an hour.”
My mother looked toward the window.
“The Lunar Gate.”
I shook my head.
“You said we couldn’t open it.”
“I said we couldn’t control what comes through.”
“Then what happens if the Council opens it?”
She looked at me.
“They will control the ancient army.”
Kael forced himself to stand.
“Then we open it first.”
I stared at him.
“Are you insane?”
“Probably.”
He took a step toward me.
“But if they control the army, every kingdom falls.”
My mother shook her head.
“Opening the Gate requires Lunar blood.”
I looked at my hands.
“You mean mine.”
She nodded.
Kael immediately said:
“No.”
I looked at him.
“No?”
“You won’t do it.”
“It’s my kingdom.”
“It’s your life.”
“And what about everyone else’s?”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“I already sacrificed you once.”
He stepped closer.
“I won’t sacrifice you again.”
My heart tightened.
Before I could answer, the mountain shook.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Ryder drew his sword.
“They’re here.”
A horn sounded outside.
Then another.
Then hundreds.
The Council had arrived.
My mother looked at me.
“Elara.”
I raised my head.
“Open the Gate.”
Kael grabbed my wrist.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“Trust me.”
His eyes searched mine.
“I don’t know how to do that anymore.”
“Then learn.”
I pulled away.
And walked toward the Lunar Gate.
Behind me, Kael whispered:
“If you die…”
I stopped.
“You’ll what?”
His voice broke.
“I’ll follow you.”
I turned.
“Then don’t let me die.”
His eyes hardened.
“I won’t.”
The Gate began to glow.
I placed my palm against it.
The ancient symbols awakened.
One by one.
Silver light filled the chamber.
Then a voice spoke from beyond the Gate.
WHO AWAKENS THE BLOOD OF THE MOON?
I swallowed.
“I do.”
WHO CLAIMS THE THRONE?
I raised my head.
“I do.”
WHO COMMANDS THE ARMY?
My heart pounded.
I looked at Kael.
Then Ryder.
Then my mother.
Finally, I looked at the Gate.
“I do.”
The mountain exploded with silver light.
And the Gate opened.
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