Broken Chains (Book Two of The Black Alder Series) COMPLETED

The Realm

Kayla's POV

I woke up on the ground and sat up quickly. I looked around. It looked as though I was in the middle of some vast mountain range — volcanoes on all sides, pouring rivers of lava that all seemed to lead toward a castle in the distance. The sky was a swirl of colors: brown, gold, orange, and red, all churning together. Multiple suns hung in the sky, and I could feel the energy they poured into this place. It was hot. Intensely hot. I knew I should have been afraid, but this place felt familiar to me in a way I couldn't explain.

My sun necklace glowed red, heat radiating from it in waves.

I was not in any pain. I felt at peace — emotionally, physically, mentally. What was this place? Why did the heat feel like home? I began walking toward the rock castle. Everything here was breathtakingly beautiful. I looked down at my body. My skin was unblemished. I felt no scars. My eyesight was sharp, and my hair felt clean and full and healthy.

"Katiana," a deep voice said behind me.

I turned around. Lava was moving toward me, flowing out from one of the volcanoes. It went around me as I stood still, forming a wide circle. Then it retreated and shaped itself into a man — tall, broad, and muscular, with green eyes like mine and brown hair. Like me, I could feel power radiating off him and into the land around him, as if he were its very source. I felt a pull toward him — not romantic, but something deep and intimate, like the feeling of knowing someone your whole life.

"Who are you?" I asked, studying him carefully.

"You don't know me?" he asked, a confused look crossing his face. I shook my head.

"Then how did you get here? You shouldn't have been able to reach this place unless you channeled your power," he said.

"Who are you?" I asked again, my patience thinning.

"I am Solem, sworn protector of all sun magic," he said simply, as though that answered everything.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"All will be explained in time," he said. "Come." He held out his hand. I hesitated — I didn't know this man — but something in me moved anyway, and I took it. He led me toward the rock castle, lava flowing alongside us. At the gate stood what looked like soldiers forged from fire, carrying spears. Solem walked past them without stopping, and I followed. Inside, the shadows cast by lava danced across the rock walls in patterns that were almost hypnotic.

He brought me to what I assumed was the main hall — a vast room with marble floors threaded through with drifting mists of galaxies and stars. The ceiling soared high above us, and near the top, a swirling ball of red, yellow, and orange energy turned slowly in a circle. Solem pulled out a chair from the long table, and I sat. He took the seat across from me and stared. It made me uncomfortable. I felt a blush rising and found myself twisting my fingers in my lap.

"I'm sorry for staring, Princess. It has been a very long time since I last saw you, and you were only a baby then. You have grown into a beautiful woman."

"Princess," I repeated, and a dry laugh escaped me. "I'm sorry, sir, but I'm not a princess. My name is Kayla. You called me Katiana."

Now it was his turn to laugh. "You don't know anything, do you?" he said. I just looked at him.

"Let me show you," he said, waving his hand. Lava appeared out of thin air, and a scene began to play out before me like a living painting.

"Twenty-two years ago, war broke out between all light and dark magic. The dark wizards attempted to extinguish all light and transform our celestial realm into a land of pure darkness. If the light of the suns ever goes out, all power here ceases to exist. You were born here in the middle of that c*****e. Your parents — King Henry and Queen Isabelle — led our side against the dark forces, and together, we drove them back. Your father is the only son of the sun god Laru. Your mother was the daughter of the phoenix spirit. Together, they defeated the dark forces and cast them out of this realm into a spiritual prison, to be executed on sight if they ever escaped."

"The black magic, however, still exists. We were not strong enough to destroy it entirely, so we had to contain it. I have been keeping watch over this realm ever since, ensuring it does not break through, and keeping the dark realm sealed."

"When you were only a few months old, a young seer traveled to your father's kingdom and delivered a prophecy about you and your family. When your parents heard it, they knew they had to let you go — and they knew that one day, because of the prophecy, you would return. They all loved you very much. Your father blessed a crystal and had it shaped into a necklace, so that it would bring you peace in times of sorrow. It will continue to work as long as you keep goodness in your heart." He paused. "You were sent away with someone your father trusted. I had no idea where you had gone — it was as if you had vanished entirely. We only learned later, through the young seer, that she had placed a protective spell on your spirit to keep you safe and to keep you human."

I reached up and wrapped my fingers around my necklace. So that's where it came from, I thought.

"Where are my parents now?" I asked, looking around. Fire servants moved quietly through the halls. I turned back to Solem. His eyes had gone sad.

"The day after you were sent away, your father came to me and told me about the prophecy and his plan. The prophecy had foretold his death. By the time I understood what was happening, it was already too late — it had been set into motion by Lord Alverez, leader of the dark rebellion. I wanted to stop it. But your father used his own power to put me into a deep sleep and make me invisible to everyone until his plan was complete."

"When I finally woke, the entire realm was empty. I have searched for years and found nothing. Only your father knew where everyone had gone." He paused. "Lord Alverez had slipped into the palace and assassinated the king and queen. After that, he went looking for both of us — knowing that if he extinguished the last of the sun's bloodline, all light magic would fade forever. But your father had already sent you away and hidden me. When I woke, I found Alverez and came close to ending him — but he escaped. It has been seven years since I last sensed him in this realm. Wherever he is, I have no doubt he is planning something."

"I have remained here ever since, keeping guard, waiting for the day the prophecy said you would return and reclaim the power of the sun. That day is coming, and I will help you when it does."

"You said the magic would end if both of us were wiped out," I said slowly. "So why are you still here? Who exactly are you to the king?" I asked, watching him carefully.

"The magic wouldn't end if I died — only if you did. But I thought by now it would have been obvious who I am to you." He waited, watching my face. I stared back, completely lost, and shook my head.

"I'm your brother."