Shadow of the Moon

Chapter 20

Kyros

I rolled my neck as I stepped through the imposing gates of the castle. The cold, gray stone seemed to suck the warmth from my bones, a stark contrast to the vibrant, life-giving desert of the East. I longed for the open skies, the endless sands, and the comforting presence of my grandfather. This place, this fortress, was a prison, a reminder of the darkness that had once threatened to consume me.

The walls were no longer adorned with the flame emblems of my mother's house, but rather bolts of lightning.

“It seems Pheonix was quick to redecorate in our absence,” I ground out through gritted teeth at the obvious disrespect.

My mother looped her arm in mine and squeezed my bicep, a silent warning to behave. We glided through the corridors with an effortless grace, her golden gown shimmering like liquid sunlight. Her crimson hair, a fiery halo around her head, seemed to defy gravity, each strand a perfect curve. Her pointed ears were adorned with various chains and gems.

Atop her head, a crown of sculpted golden flames rested, each flame intricately crafted, a symbol of her power and lineage. I followed in her footsteps, my own attire a stark contrast to her vibrant elegance.

My black and gold vest atop my black tunic and trousers, though finely crafted, seemed to absorb the dim light of the castle, making me appear even more somber. My own crown, a simple golden diadem, felt heavy on my brow, I loathed its weight and what I represented.

The throne room doors swung open, revealing a scene of opulent chaos. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the marble floor. Courtiers, clad in rich silks and velvets, milled about, their voices a cacophony of chatter and laughter. Guards, their faces stern and alert, stood at attention along the walls, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.

And upon the dais, King Phoenix lounged upon his throne, a goblet of wine in one hand, the other resting possessively on the bare waist of a scantily clad female servant who sat atop his knee. The sight was a grotesque display of power and decadence, a stark reminder of the corruption that festered within the heart of court.

My gaze swept across the assembled courtiers, my eyes narrowing as they landed on Raedon. My brother lounged in a settee off to the side, his face buried in the breasts of a female servant who looked scared out of her wits. She sat atop his lap, one hand was wrapped around her waist, the other disappeared under the fabric of her skirts as they were clumped at her thighs.

A low growl rumbled in my chest, my fists clenching at the sight of Raedon's blatant disregard for the young woman's discomfort. Five years had passed, yet his arrogance and cruelty remained unchanged. The sight of him brought back a flood of bitter memories, the sting of the knife on my flesh, the echoes of his mocking laughter.

The lanky boy I remembered had been replaced by a man. Raedon now possessed a physique that rivaled Atlas's, his shoulders broad, his muscles on display through the open buttons of his tunic. He looked every bit the warrior, the predator, a chilling reminder of the violence he was capable of. Yet, I knew I could still wipe the floor with him.

Atlas, as expected, was nowhere to be seen. I had always known my elder brother preferred the solitude of his training grounds to the stifling atmosphere of the court. I couldn't blame him.

My mother swept into the room, her golden gown shimmering like liquid fire in the sunlight. Her gaze, sharp and observant, took in the scene before her, lingering for a moment on the King and his companion.

A flicker of disgust crossed her face, but it was quickly masked by a serene smile. I knew her well enough to see the flicker of annoyance in her eyes, the subtle tightening of her jaw that betrayed her true feelings. She was a creature of the wild, a force of nature trapped within the confines of this gilded cage.

Her tongue clicked in her mouth, the sound echoing through the throne room. The room fell silent. The courtiers, as if struck by an invisible force, dropped to their knees in a swift, synchronized bow. The king, his face a mask of shock and barely concealed fury, sprang to his feet, the servant scrambling away from him as if burned. He bowed his head, his voice a strained murmur of greeting.

"My love," King Phoenix purred, his voice dripping with a mock sincerity that made my skin crawl. His eyes narrowed as they settled on me, lingering on my clenched jaw and the clenched fists at my side. A subtle challenge passed between us, a silent battle of wills that crackled in the tense atmosphere of the throne room.

The king, the man who had ordered my torture, who had condoned Raedon's cruelty, who had turned a blind eye to my suffering... I loathed him.

My mother, sensing the dangerous undercurrent, placed a calming hand on my arm. Her touch was firm, reminding me yet again to behave. "It would appear that someone has failed to inform you of our arrival, dear husband," she said, her voice smooth as silk, yet laced with a subtle edge that made the king stiffen. Her golden eyes, blazing with a quiet fire, fixed on the female servant, who cowered under her gaze, her face draining of all color.

My nails dug into my palms, the skin threatening to break. I longed to confront him, to challenge his authority, but I held myself back, breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth the way I had been shown.

Queen Celeste, though renowned for her kindness and compassion, was not a female to be trifled with. She was one of the most powerful beings in all of Eloria, her magic a force of nature, her wrath a tempest that could shatter mountains. My mother was the definition of fae. Her instincts and primal urges were a whirlwind that I knew all too well.

She had endured her husbands’ repeated infidelities and his attempts to undermine her authority with a patience that bordered on saintly. Since marrying the King, she had had to bottle up her fae nature to comfort his mortal tendencies. It was a constant source of frustration for her, a denial of her true self that I knew chafed at her spirit.

But I knew that her patience had its limits. And as her gaze swept across the throne room, a silent warning rippling through the air, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation. The storm was coming. Living apart from him these past few years, being amongst her parents and cousins, who were all full-blooded fae has allowed for that flame in her heart to flare to a roaring inferno.

And I, for one, welcomed it. It was time for my mother to unleash her true power, to remind everyone in this court, including the simpering King, who truly held the reins of power in Eloria. It was time for the flames to burn.

The power dynamic in the room was palpable. My mother, with her regal bearing and the subtle aura of magic that clung to her, commanded the room in a way that Pheonix, despite his imposing physique and his title, could not.

She was the true ruler, our bloodline carrying the ancient magic that granted her authority, her very presence a threat to Pheonix’s precarious hold on power. One word from her, one gesture of disapproval, and he would be nothing more than a half-mortal commoner, stripped of his throne and his authority.

"Where is my son?" Queen Celeste's voice, though calm and measured, resonated through the hall with an undeniable authority. Her golden eyes swept across the assembled courtiers, lingering on the empty space beside King Phoenix.

I stiffened at her side, my jaw tightening to a point of pain. I knew who she was looking for, and I knew the answer would ignite a firestorm.

Raedon, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, rose from his seat, carelessly shoving the female servant aside. He sauntered towards the dais, his movements a predatory dance, his eyes locking onto mine with a venomous glare. I met his gaze without flinching.

Pheonix shifted uncomfortably on his feet, his gaze darting between my mother and me, and then to Raedon. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple, and his hand clenched at his side. It was as if he could sense the change in me, the power that now radiated from me, a power that rivaled his own. And he could see the challenge in my mother's eyes, the silent accusation that hung heavy in the air.

"Which one, my love?" King Phoenix purred, stepping down from the dais with feigned concern. Raedon, followed close behind, his eyes locked on me with a predatory gleam. The King's movement seemed to be a cue for the remaining courtiers, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, to quickly melt away, leaving only the guards flanking the doors.

"Atlas is—" the King began, but his words were cut short by my mother's sharp interruption.

"Cut the act Pheonix. Kaelen," Queen Celeste's voice sliced through the tense silence, her golden eyes blazing with a cold fire. "Where is Kaelen?"

Pheonix’s smile faltered, and a flicker of unease crossed his face. He hesitated, his gaze darting towards Raedon.

"I assume this means you did not receive my letter," Raedon drawled, his face contorted in a mask of mock sadness. "How unfortunate." He picked at the buttons of his tunic as if this was boring him.

“What letter?” I growled, a low, menacing sound that reverberated through the hall. My teeth bared, revealing my elongated canines. I took a step forward, my hands clenching into fists, my body thrumming with barely contained fury.

"Easy, brother," Raedon sneered, his eyes glittering with malice. He placed a hand on his chest, feigning offense. "Blame the moon-born princess you so carelessly allowed into our lands. She and her family slaughtered our little brother."

My vision blurred with rage. I could feel the heat of my fire rising within me, a burning inferno threatening to erupt. "How dare you!" I roared, my voice echoing through the hall. I took another step towards him, but my mothers strong grip on my bicep halted me in my tracks.

"Calm down, Kyros," she whispered just loud enough for me to hear, her voice a calming presence in the storm of my fury. "We will have justice. But first, we must uncover the truth."

Her words, though spoken softly, held an undeniable authority. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to quell the flames that raged within me.

I gritted my teeth, my body trembling with barely contained rage. I glared at Raedon and by his reaction I knew that my eyes were glowing slightly with the rise of magic that was itching my skin. Raedon, took a step back, his smirk faltering.

"That temper is utterly fae of you, brother," Raedon said, tilting his head, taking in the increased dominance in my eyes. He was trying to goad me, to provoke me into losing control. But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

The air in the throne room crackled with tension, the silence punctuated only by my mother's steady breathing and the crackling of my barely contained magic. I could feel the heat radiating from my skin, the flames licking at my fingertips, eager to be unleashed.

But I held them back, my jaw clenched, my fists tight. I would not let him push me over the edge. I wouldn’t play my hand.