The Brother From the Shadows
1005 Words
The courtyard fell into a suffocating silence.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Nysera stared at the silver-haired man standing beyond the shattered barrier, her heartbeat pounding so loudly she could barely hear anything else.
His sapphire-blue eyes…
They were identical to hers.
The Moonborn crest burned on the back of his hand.
Impossible.
Her father had sworn she was the last.
She remembered his final words.
“Protect your blood… because when they discover you still live, they will never stop hunting you.”
Never once had he mentioned another child.
The stranger smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
It was the smile of someone who had waited years for this moment.
“My little sister,” he repeated softly.
“I’ve searched for you for a very long time.”
Nysera took an involuntary step backward.
“I don’t have a brother.”
His smile widened.
“That’s what they wanted you to believe.”
Draven’s sword remained raised.
“State your name.”
The man looked at him lazily.
“So the great Beast King speaks.”
“I expected more.”
“I asked your name,” Draven repeated.
“My name…”
He slowly removed the crimson cloak from his shoulders.
“…is Cassian Moonborn.”
A collective gasp swept through both armies.
Even Kael stiffened.
“Cassian?” one elder whispered.
“No…”
“He’s dead.”
“He died twenty years ago.”
Cassian laughed.
“History has always been written by cowards.”
Nysera couldn’t stop staring at him.
Fragments of strange memories flashed across her mind.
A little boy laughing beneath a silver tree.
Tiny hands reaching toward her.
A lullaby.
Then…
Fire.
Blood.
Screams.
She grabbed her head.
“No…”
The memories vanished as quickly as they had appeared.
Cassian noticed.
“You remember.”
“I…”
Nysera shook her head.
“No.”
“You do.”
His voice softened.
“You just don’t know it yet.”
Draven stepped forward.
“Enough games.”
“If you came for war…”
He pointed his sword toward Cassian’s throat.
“…then you’ll leave in pieces.”
The black-armored wolves immediately lowered their weapons.
Thousands of glowing eyes fixed on the Lycan King.
Cassian simply smiled.
“You really think I’m your enemy?”
Draven didn’t answer.
Cassian sighed dramatically.
“I suppose that’s understandable.”
He looked back at Nysera.
“The people who destroyed our family…”
“…are already inside your kingdom.”
Every face turned toward him.
“What?” Nysera whispered.
“You heard me.”
Cassian’s eyes swept across the gathered nobles.
“The traitors who murdered our parents never disappeared.”
“They merely changed names.”
Fear spread through the crowd.
Several council members exchanged uneasy glances.
Kael frowned.
“You’re lying.”
Cassian chuckled.
“Am I?”
He reached into his cloak and produced an ancient silver scroll.
Its edges glowed with Moonborn magic.
“I recovered this from the ruins beneath the First Palace.”
Draven narrowed his eyes.
“The Royal Archives…”
Cassian nodded.
“It contains the names of everyone who betrayed the Moonborn family.”
Nysera’s breathing quickened.
“My father told me everyone involved was executed.”
“He lied.”
Cassian’s voice became ice cold.
“He spared them.”
The courtyard exploded into whispers.
One elderly council member suddenly turned pale.
His hands trembled.
Cassian noticed immediately.
“There.”
He pointed directly at the old noble.
“Ask Lord Cedric why he suddenly looks frightened.”
The old man staggered backward.
“I…”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Cassian laughed.
“Liar.”
Without warning..
WHOOSH!
A silver dagger flew through the air.
Before anyone could react.
THUD!
It buried itself beside Lord Cedric’s foot.
The old noble screamed and collapsed.
Hidden beneath his robe…
Everyone saw it.
A black tattoo.
A serpent wrapped around a crescent moon.
Draven’s expression hardened.
“The Shadow Fang.”
Kael’s eyes widened.
“Impossible…”
One by one…
More nobles instinctively covered their wrists.
Cassian smiled.
“There they are.”
“The real enemies.”
Nysera looked around in horror.
These people…
They had lived inside the palace.
Eaten beside them.
Advised kings.
Protected the throne.
Or so everyone believed.
She suddenly realized…
They had been surrounded by traitors all along.
Lord Cedric bolted.
“Run!”
Half a dozen nobles fled toward the palace doors.
Draven moved first.
“Stop them!”
Lycan guards rushed forward.
Steel clashed.
Several traitors drew hidden blades.
The peaceful courtyard instantly descended into chaos.
Kael fought beside Draven without hesitation.
Their swords moved as one against the assassins.
For the first time…
Former enemies fought shoulder to shoulder.
Nysera watched in stunned silence.
Cassian remained perfectly still.
Watching.
Waiting.
Almost…
Amused.
She frowned.
“If you wanted to expose them…”
“Why bring an army?”
Cassian looked at her with unreadable eyes.
“Because this…”
He gestured toward the fighting.
“…was only the beginning.”
Her stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?”
His smile disappeared.
“The Shadow Fang serves someone far more dangerous.”
The sky suddenly darkened.
Clouds swallowed the moon.
A freezing wind swept through the battlefield.
Every wolf froze.
Even Draven.
He knew that feeling.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
A voice echoed across the heavens.
“So…”
“…the Moonborn heirs have finally reunited.”
A massive crack split the clouds.
Dark energy poured from the sky like liquid night.
Something enormous began descending.
Not a wolf.
Not a human.
Something far older.
Cassian slowly lifted his eyes.
For the first time…
Fear crossed his face.
He whispered only two words.
“He’s awake.”
As the creature emerged from the darkness, Nysera’s Moonborn mark ignited with unbearable heat.
Then a voice echoed inside her mind—
“Run, my daughter…”
”…because the first Moon King has come to claim your soul.”
- Writer
