Chapter 48: Shadow at the Balcony
777 Words
Aria’s heart pounded violently in her chest.
For a moment she wondered if she was still dreaming.
But the cold night air drifting through the open balcony door told her this was real.
Very real.
Darius stood outside.
The silver moonlight illuminated his tall figure as he leaned casually against the stone railing, as if he had been standing there for quite some time.
Watching.
Waiting.
Aria quickly pulled the blanket around herself as she climbed out of bed.
“How long have you been there?” she asked cautiously.
Darius didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he stepped inside the chamber slowly.
His boots echoed softly against the marble floor.
“You talk in your sleep,” he said calmly.
Aria froze.
“What?”
He tilted his head slightly, studying her like a puzzle.
“I heard you speaking,” he continued. “Something about the Moon Goddess… and the Devourer.”
A chill ran down Aria’s spine.
Had he heard everything?
Her dream felt too real now.
Too dangerous.
Darius stopped a few steps away from her.
His blue eyes dropped to her wrist.
The glowing crescent mark was faint—but still visible.
“Interesting,” he murmured.
Aria quickly pulled her sleeve down.
“You shouldn’t be in my room.”
A small smile appeared on his lips.
“And you shouldn’t be carrying ancient magic you don’t understand.”
Silence filled the room.
The tension between them was sharp.
“Why are you really here?” Aria asked.
Darius sighed softly.
“To satisfy my curiosity.”
He began walking around the room slowly, his fingers brushing across the furniture like he owned everything he touched.
“In one night, a girl appears… heals the king… and suddenly carries the mark of prophecy.”
He stopped in front of her again.
“That kind of story would make anyone curious.”
Aria crossed her arms.
“You think I’m lying?”
“Oh no,” Darius said smoothly.
“I think you’re telling the truth.”
His eyes darkened slightly.
“And that’s what worries me.”
Before Aria could reply—
The chamber door suddenly burst open.
“Aria!”
Kael’s deep voice filled the room.
His golden eyes immediately locked onto the scene before him.
Aria standing near the bed.
And Darius standing far too close.
Kael’s expression hardened instantly.
“What are you doing here?”
Darius didn’t look surprised.
In fact, he looked amused.
“Relax, brother,” he said casually. “I was simply checking on our kingdom’s newest legend.”
Kael stepped into the room slowly.
The air seemed to grow heavier with each step.
“You entered her chamber in the middle of the night.”
Darius shrugged.
“I knocked.”
Aria blinked.
He absolutely did not.
But Kael’s attention had already shifted.
His eyes fell briefly to Aria’s wrist.
The faint glow of the crescent mark caught the moonlight.
His jaw tightened.
“You should leave,” Kael said coldly.
For a moment it looked like Darius might argue.
Then he raised his hands with mock surrender.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
As he walked toward the door, he paused beside Aria.
His voice dropped to a quiet whisper only she could hear.
“Be careful, Moon’s Chosen.”
His smile returned.
“Power like yours attracts monsters.”
Then he left the room.
The door closed behind him.
Silence filled the chamber again.
Kael stood there for a long moment, staring at the door.
Then he turned to Aria.
His voice was quieter now.
“Did he hurt you?”
Aria shook her head.
“No.”
But something about the encounter still felt wrong.
Kael stepped closer.
His sharp gaze softened slightly as he looked at her.
“I don’t trust him,” he admitted.
“That’s your brother.”
“Yes.”
His eyes darkened.
“And that’s exactly the problem.”
Aria hesitated.
“There’s something else…”
Kael frowned slightly.
“What?”
She took a deep breath.
“I had a dream.”
“The Moon Goddess spoke to me.”
Kael went completely still.
“And?” he asked carefully.
Aria swallowed.
“She said the Devourer is coming.”
The room seemed to grow colder.
Kael slowly moved closer until he stood right in front of her.
“If that’s true,” he said quietly, “then everything is about to change.”
Outside the castle walls…
Far beyond the forest…
Two burning golden eyes suddenly opened in the darkness.
Dravoryx had awakened.
And he had finally found the scent of the Moon’s Chosen.
- Writer
