Shadow of the Moon

Chapter 3

Kyros

I rolled across the scorching sand, the heat radiating through my bare chest and back, and narrowly avoided the sizzling bolt of lightning Atlas hurled at me. Damn, that was close! The air crackled with residual energy, making the hairs on my arms stand on end. I straightened to my full height, grinning at Atlas. A flash of defiance sparked in my eyes as I thrust my arms out, summoning a shimmering shield of flame to deflect his second bolt.

"Watch it, brother! This is my fortune!" I called out, gesturing to my face. I knew exactly how to tick off my older brother, and I relished each time I saw Atlas’s jaw tick.

Atlas, the ever-stoic warrior, merely grunted. Actually grunted. "Maybe if you spent less time preening and more time training, it wouldn't be such a close call." He stalked towards a weathered bench, his movements fluid and powerful, and grabbed his water skin.

"And for the love of Theia, put a shirt on! You're a prince, Ky. That means you have enemies. Which means..." He was invoking the name of our sun goddess; he must be very upset. For some reason, this only made me want to taunt him more.

"You wound me, brother," I interrupted, clutching my hand to my chest dramatically. "I am fully aware of my princely duties," I said, my voice laced with playful arrogance. "I know, I need to be on guard at all times."

I rose to my feet, stretching languidly, my muscles rippling beneath my tanned skin. A flicker of flame danced across my fingertips, a subtle reminder of the power I possessed, the power that made me both a target and a prize. I winked at Atlas. "But don't worry, brother. I can handle myself."

"And in case you haven't noticed," I said with a grin, "we live in a desert. It's freaking hot." My fingers waved in a circle, motioning to the dry expanse of the land surrounding us.

Atlas sighed, shaking his head. "Seriously though, you spend too much time with that beast of yours."

My grin widened. "Cara's not a beast. She's the fastest, fiercest Wrioron in all of Eloria." I puffed up my chest, proud of my bond with the impressive creature, even though she wasn't present. They demand respect. Offend one, and you'll likely lose a limb. I recalled a story I'd heard as a child, about a rider who had mistreated his Wrioron, only to be thrown from its back and left to die in the unforgiving desert.

“We've been through a lot together. She's more than just a mount to me. She is my partner." I said, my eyes drifting off to the distant breading pits where she lay on guard duty.

"Kyros," Atlas said, his voice taking on a sterner edge, "you should be spending more time in court, learning the art of diplomacy, not out here honing your fighting skills, or racing through the dunes."

"Diplomacy is a battlefield of its own, brother," I countered, a sly grin spreading across my face. I'd witnessed enough backstabbing and power plays among the courtiers to know that words could be just as sharp as any sword. I'd much rather face a Wrioron in open combat than navigate the treacherous currents of courtly intrigue.

"Plus, didn't you literally just gripe at me for not spending enough time training?" I raised an eyebrow at him, thoroughly enjoying this little back-and-forth.

Atlas chuckled, a low rumble in his chest that held a hint of both amusement and concern. He knew I had a point, but he also worried about my rebellious streak, my tendency to underestimate the dangers lurking in the shadows of power. "Just be careful, little brother," he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Those courtiers can be more vicious than any beast you'll find in the desert."

"Speaking of beasts," I said, a mischievous glint flickering in my eyes. I plucked a delicate sun veil from my pocket and dabbed at the sweat beading on my forehead. A souvenir from my third 'bride-to-be.' I'd rejected them all, of course, much to my mother's dismay. The thought of being shackled to some simpering princess for the rest of my days made my skin crawl.

I pulled my shirt over my head, the sun veil disappearing into the folds of the fabric. "How was father this morning?" I asked casually, as if inquiring about the weather.

"Kyros..." Atlas warned, his voice low. He fixed me with a hard stare. Our father, King Phoenix, was a volatile and unpredictable force, and Atlas knew that my flippant attitude towards him could have dangerous consequences. He didn't want me to become another casualty of our father's wrath.

"What? He is awful," I said, feigning innocence, though a mischievous glint in my eyes betrayed my true feelings. I knew my father's reputation, the tales of his ruthlessness and paranoia that circulated even within the palace walls. Atlas let out a frustrated sigh, his hand running through his sweat soaked hair.

I flashed Atlas a innocent smile. I didn’t miss how his eyes instantly darted down to my exposed canines. It was a quick flicker of attention, but it was enough for my smile to drop and my gaze shift back to the sands before us. I ran my tongue over the sharp edge of the canine, the point much more defined and evident than that of my brothers.

I was the only one of my siblings to inherit my mothers fae characteristics. My pointed ears and sharp elongated canines a stark contrast to the rounded ears and more subtle teeth they had inherited. It was a point of contention in my family, my father refusing to treat me as a son. Not only due to my physical appearance, but due to the fire that ran in my blood.

Atlas sighed, his shoulders slumping. "He's obsessed with Tenebris, as usual," he said, his voice heavy with frustration. "Apparently, some high ranking fae sorceress is arriving in their kingdom today, and His Majesty is convinced it's a prelude to an attack." He shifted his weight, his expression hardening. "He's ordered increased patrols along the border and doubled the guard at the palace."

I scoffed. "Seriously? He really thinks those shadow-dwellers are going to march across the desert and attack us?" I couldn't fathom why my father was so fixated on Tenebris. They were peaceful people, content to remain in their shadowy realm. It was our father who seemed intent on stirring up conflict, creating enemies where there were none.

Atlas's gaze drifted towards the horizon, where the shimmering barrier that separated Eloria from Tenebris stretched across the land. He shared my skepticism, but a nagging worry lingered in the back of his mind. He'd heard rumors of the power that resided in Tenebris, of the shifters who could transform into fearsome beasts, of the magic that could manipulate the very forces of nature. Perhaps our father's paranoia wasn't entirely unfounded.

"You're young, Kyros," Atlas said, his brow furrowed with concern. "Don't believe all the stories you've heard whispered in the palace. King Rigel and Queen Vega are ancient and powerful, their magic deeply rooted in the very essence of Tenebris. Their children are said to be even stronger."

I bristled at the reminder of my youth. Sixteen was hardly a child, especially in Eloria, where warriors were forged in the crucible of the desert. I was old enough to join the army, old enough to fight for my kingdom. Why did Atlas insist on treating me like a fledgling?

He paused, his gaze fixed on the shimmering black wall that separated our world from the shadowy realm of our enemies. "Their eldest son has the shifter gift. He can reportedly take out dozens of warriors with his bare hands."

"And his other children?" I pressed, my curiosity piqued. "Are they shifters too?" The shifter gift was more than just a physical ability; it was a symbol of divine favor, a mark of true royalty. Much like the fire that lives in my blood, my mother’s gift. Atlas is the eldest, but he is not the heir to the throne. I am, much to my dismay.

My youngest brother also has the gift, though it is nowhere near as strong as mine. Maybe I can convince my mother to skip me in succession. The shifters of Tenebris were revered, their power feared and respected in equal measure. If all of Rigel's children were shifters... I shuddered at the thought. Their goddess had gifted their blood line the power of gods eons ago.

Atlas hesitated; his expression grim. "We're not sure. My spies have confirmed the eldest is a shifter, and there are rumors of another. But the rest..." He trailed off, his gaze returning to the forbidding barrier. "We can only hope they take after their mother."

How he got spies into the impenetrable Tenebris without detection was a mystery to me.

“How many children are we talking about?” I asked, the sun was scorching this time of day. It was directly above us, bathing the training grounds in a oppressive dry heat.

“I don’t know for sure,” Atlas said, his gaze drifting up to the sky. He held out a hand to block out the sun as he watched a dark shape fly back towards the castle spires. “Either 3 or 4.” He finished watching the shape disappear into the tallest tower.

“Looks like Raedon is back,” I murmured, a sneer curling my lip.

“How do you not know the amount of children?” I asked, nudging his arm. “Have you lost your touch, spymaster?”

“No one can give me a clear picture on their children, other than the two eldest who have made themselves known, we can’t pinpoint exactly. Its as if the King and Queen are keeping them locked up until they are of age,” he said his hand rubbing the back of his neck.

“That’s actually what I was talking to father about this morning, but mother stormed in, interrupting the meeting." Atlas continued, his tone laced with disapproval. "She is very upset with you—"

His words were cut short by a sound that sent a shiver down my spine. A roar, a raw, guttural cry filled with fury, echoed across the training grounds. My blood ran cold. That was Cara. Something was terribly wrong.

I sprang to my feet, my flames itching to come out. "The breeding pits!" I shouted, my voice tight with fear. I didn't wait for Atlas, just sprinted towards the source of the sound, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Ky, wait!" Atlas called after me, but his words were lost in the wind.

I didn't look back. I ran as if the desert demons themselves were at my heels. The sand burned beneath my bare feet, and the hot wind whipped at my face, but I didn't slow down. Cara's roar echoed in my mind, a desperate cry that fueled my fear. I had to reach her. I had to make sure she was safe. I didn't have to turn to know my brother trailed behind.