Chapter 6: A Target
781 Words
The palace felt different now.
Colder.
Heavier.
Like something unseen had settled over it.
Alina walked through the corridor, her steps slow, her mind racing. The mark on her neck pulsed faintly, a constant reminder of what had been forced onto her.
A bond.
A chain she couldn’t break.
“You should be resting.”
Alina stopped.
Kael stood at the end of the corridor, watching her.
“I’m not tired,” she said.
“That’s not what I meant.”
His gaze dropped briefly to her neck.
Alina crossed her arms. “Then what did you mean?”
He walked toward her slowly.
“You’re not safe.”
A small, bitter laugh escaped her.
“I figured that out when you said someone came to kill me.”
“They will come again.”
Her chest tightened.
“So what? I just hide here forever?”
Kael stopped in front of her.
“No.”
“Then what do I do?”
His answer came without hesitation.
“You stay close to me.”
Alina blinked.
“That’s your solution?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head. “You’re the reason I’m a target.”
“And also the reason you’re still alive.”
That shut her up.
For a moment.
Then she looked away.
“I didn’t ask for any of this.”
Kael’s voice lowered.
“Neither did I.”
Her eyes snapped back to his.
Something in his tone felt… different.
But before she could question it—
Footsteps echoed.
Fast.
Urgent.
A guard rushed into the corridor.
“Your Majesty!”
Kael turned instantly. “Report.”
“We found another one.”
Alina’s stomach dropped.
“Another…?”
“Spy,” the guard said. “Near the outer wall.”
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Bring him.”
The guard nodded and disappeared.
Alina felt a chill run through her.
“They’re already inside your territory…”
“They’ve been watching,” Kael replied.
“For what?” she asked.
His eyes shifted to her.
“You.”
Her heart skipped.
Moments later, two guards dragged a man into the corridor. His clothes were torn, his face bruised, but his eyes—
His eyes were filled with hatred.
They locked onto Alina immediately.
“There she is,” he spat.
Alina took a step back.
“You shouldn’t be here,” the man continued. “You don’t belong in this world.”
Kael stepped forward.
“Who sent you?”
The man laughed weakly.
“You already know.”
“Magnus.”
The man didn’t deny it.
“He won’t let this happen,” he said. “A human tied to the throne? It’s an insult.”
Alina felt the words hit harder than she expected.
Kael’s voice dropped.
“You came to kill her.”
“Yes.”
The answer was immediate.
No hesitation.
“If she dies, the bond weakens you,” the man added. “That’s all that matters.”
Alina’s breath caught.
Kael’s expression didn’t change.
But the air around him did.
Dangerous.
Cold.
“Take him away,” Kael ordered.
The guards dragged the man back.
But his voice echoed down the corridor.
“This isn’t over! She will die—”
His voice faded.
Silence returned.
Alina stood frozen.
Her heart racing.
“They’re not going to stop…” she whispered.
“No.”
Kael turned to her.
“And now you understand.”
Her hands trembled slightly.
“I’m not just involved in this war…”
“No,” he said quietly.
“You’re the reason for it.”
The truth hit hard.
Too hard.
Alina looked down, her thoughts spinning.
“I can’t do this.”
Kael stepped closer.
“You don’t have a choice.”
Her chest tightened.
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
His answer was calm.
Cold.
“Get stronger.”
Alina frowned. “I’m human. I don’t have your strength.”
Kael’s gaze lingered on her.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
Her heart skipped.
“What do you mean?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, his eyes moved to the mark on her neck.
“That bond,” he said slowly, “is changing you.”
A chill ran down her spine.
“I don’t feel any different.”
“You will.”
The way he said it—
It didn’t sound like a guess.
It sounded like a promise.
Alina swallowed.
Fear creeping in.
Because deep down—
She was starting to feel it.
Something subtle.
Something new.
Something… not human.
And that terrified her more than anything else.
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