Chapter 58: Following the Shadow
737 Words
Night slowly covered the Lycan kingdom.
The castle that had been full of voices during the day was now quiet. Torches burned along the stone walls, and guards patrolled the corridors with slow, steady footsteps.
But inside her chamber, Aria was wide awake.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the crescent mark glowing faintly on her wrist.
Darius’s words from the council meeting kept repeating in her mind.
"Be careful in the forest."
How could he know she would go there?
Unless…
He already knew something.
Aria stood up suddenly.
“I need answers,” she whispered.
She grabbed her dark cloak and quietly stepped out of her room.
The castle halls were dimly lit, making it easier for her to move unseen.
As she reached the main corridor leading toward the courtyard, she heard footsteps ahead.
Aria quickly hid behind one of the stone pillars.
A tall figure walked past.
Darius.
He was dressed in dark clothes instead of his usual noble attire, moving silently toward the castle gate.
Aria frowned.
“Where are you going?” she murmured under her breath.
When he disappeared through the gate, Aria waited a moment before following him.
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Outside the castle walls, the night air was cold.
The moon hung high above the forest, casting pale light across the narrow path.
Darius walked ahead calmly, as if he knew exactly where he was going.
Aria stayed several steps behind, keeping to the shadows of the trees.
Her heart beat faster the deeper they moved into the forest.
After several minutes, Darius finally stopped.
They had reached a small clearing.
Aria quickly hid behind a thick tree trunk.
She carefully peeked around the side.
Darius stood in the center of the clearing, his hands behind his back.
“You’re late,” he said calmly.
Aria’s breath caught.
A second figure stepped out from the darkness between the trees.
The hooded man.
The same one from the ritual site.
His glowing red eyes shone beneath the hood.
“Forgive me,” the man said mockingly. “The Moon’s Chosen is becoming more troublesome than expected.”
Aria’s stomach tightened.
So it was true.
Darius crossed his arms.
“The ritual in the forest was reckless.”
The hooded man laughed quietly.
“It was necessary.”
“To summon that beast?” Darius asked.
“To test her power,” the hooded man replied.
Aria felt her pulse racing.
They were talking about her.
Darius looked up at the moon.
“And what was the result?”
The hooded man’s voice darkened.
“She is stronger than we predicted.”
A cold smile slowly appeared on Darius’s face.
“Good.”
Aria’s eyes widened.
Good?
The hooded man tilted his head.
“You don’t sound worried.”
Darius shook his head.
“On the contrary.”
He looked back toward the forest.
“The stronger she becomes… the more valuable she will be to our master.”
Aria nearly gasped.
Master.
There was only one person they could mean.
The Devourer.
Dravoryx.
The hooded man stepped closer to Darius.
“Dravoryx will awaken soon.”
Darius’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“I’ve been waiting for that moment.”
Aria slowly stepped back, realizing she had heard enough.
She needed to tell Kael immediately.
But as she turned—
CRACK.
A small branch snapped beneath her foot.
The sound echoed through the clearing.
Darius’s head turned instantly.
His sharp blue eyes locked directly onto her hiding place.
“Well,” he said calmly.
“It seems we have a spy.”
Aria slowly stepped out from behind the tree.
Moonlight illuminated her face.
“You’re betraying your kingdom,” she said angrily.
The hooded man chuckled darkly.
“Should I kill her?”
Aria’s crescent mark began glowing again.
Silver light flickered around her hands.
But Darius raised his hand slightly.
“No.”
His gaze remained fixed on Aria.
“That would upset my dear brother.”
His smile returned, calm and dangerous.
“And I prefer to keep this game interesting.”
Aria glared at him.
“This isn’t a game.”
Darius tilted his head.
“Everything is a game.”
The forest wind rustled the trees around them.
And for the first time, Aria realized something terrifying.
The war coming to the kingdom was not just about monsters.
It was also about betrayal.
- Writer
