THE KING'S. TEST
1100 Words
The wind swept across the summit cliff.
Below, the valley remained filled with silent armies.
Wolves waited among the trees.
Vampires stood along the rocky ridge.
And the hybrids watched from the open hills like shadows that had finally stepped into the light.
But every eye had shifted to one place.
The summit.
To the Alpha King.
King Darius Draven stood at the center of the cliff, his presence commanding the attention of the entire valley.
His golden eyes rested on Kaelen.
“You claim the bond is real.”
Kaelen didn’t hesitate.
“It is.”
The King’s gaze shifted briefly to Lucien.
“And you agree.”
Lucien inclined his head slightly.
“Yes.”
The King folded his arms behind his back.
“For centuries our people have fought vampires.”
Rhys nodded stiffly below.
The wolves murmured in agreement.
Darius continued calmly.
“Thousands died during the last war.”
His voice hardened slightly.
“The Crimson Moon Accord was meant to prevent that from happening again.”
Lucien spoke quietly.
“And yet here we are.”
A few vampires on the ridge shifted uncomfortably.
Cassian’s expression darkened.
The King looked at Lucien again.
“You speak boldly for someone standing among enemies.”
Lucien smiled faintly.
“I have been among enemies for most of my life.”
Aria muttered quietly behind them.
“I’m starting to like him.”
Kaelen ignored her.
His attention was locked on his father.
“What exactly is this test?”
The King’s eyes sharpened.
“Simple.”
He stepped closer.
“You claim this bond means something.”
Kaelen’s wolf stirred.
“Yes.”
“Then prove it.”
Kaelen frowned slightly.
“How?”
The King’s gaze flicked briefly to Lucien.
“Instinct.”
Lucien understood immediately.
“Ah.”
Aria blinked.
“Can someone explain?”
The King’s voice carried across the valley.
“An Alpha’s instincts cannot lie.”
A ripple moved through the wolf ranks.
Rhys nodded slowly.
Kaelen’s expression darkened.
“You want to provoke the bond.”
“Yes.”
Lucien tilted his head thoughtfully.
“That could be dangerous.”
The King shrugged slightly.
“If the bond is weak, it will break.”
Lucien’s crimson eyes flicked to Kaelen.
“And if it is not?”
The King answered calmly.
“Then the entire valley will see it.”
Silence fell again.
Seris watched with interest.
“That’s actually clever.”
Aria groaned.
“This is a terrible idea.”
Kaelen looked at Lucien.
“You don’t have to do this.”
Lucien’s expression remained calm.
“On the contrary.”
He stepped forward.
“I believe I do.”
The bond pulsed immediately as the distance between them shifted.
Stronger.
Hotter.
The King noticed.
“Good.”
He raised his voice so the entire valley could hear.
“Everyone will witness this.”
The wolves fell silent.
The vampires watched closely.
Even the hybrids leaned forward slightly.
The King gestured toward the open space at the center of the summit.
“Stand there.”
Kaelen and Lucien moved slowly into the clearing.
The wind howled softly around them.
The bond pulsed again.
Aria whispered to Seris.
“What exactly is he going to do?”
Seris smiled faintly.
“He’s going to push the Alpha’s instincts.”
“How?”
Seris shrugged.
“You’ll see.”
The King stepped forward.
“Kaelen.”
“Yes.”
“Focus on your instincts.”
Kaelen nodded.
Then the King turned to Lucien.
“And you.”
Lucien waited.
The King’s voice lowered slightly.
“You will walk away.”
Kaelen’s head snapped toward him.
“What?”
Lucien raised a brow.
“That seems… dramatic.”
The King ignored the comment.
“You will walk down the path toward the valley.”
Lucien glanced toward the steep mountain trail.
“And he?”
The King looked at Kaelen.
“He will stay here.”
The bond pulsed sharply.
Kaelen already hated the idea.
Lucien studied the King for a moment.
“You want to see how far I can go before the bond reacts.”
“Exactly.”
Aria muttered.
“Oh this is going to be messy.”
Lucien sighed softly.
“Very well.”
He turned toward the narrow path leading down the cliff.
The moment he took the first step—
The bond flared.
Kaelen inhaled sharply.
Heat surged through his chest.
Lucien paused halfway down the first stone step.
“Already?”
The King’s voice was calm.
“Continue.”
Lucien walked farther.
Ten steps.
Twenty.
The bond burned.
Kaelen clenched his fists.
His wolf paced violently beneath his skin.
Lucien reached the halfway point down the path.
Then the bond snapped tighter.
Pain lanced through Kaelen’s chest.
His eyes flashed gold.
Aria winced.
“Okay that looks bad.”
Lucien stopped again.
He felt it too.
A sharp pull dragging him back toward the summit.
The King watched closely.
“Keep going.”
Lucien took another step.
Kaelen’s wolf exploded.
A deep growl ripped from his throat.
The sound echoed across the valley like thunder.
Lucien froze.
The bond surged violently now.
Not just pain.
Possession.
Protect.
Return.
Kaelen’s control cracked.
“Enough.”
Lucien turned slowly.
Their eyes met across the cliff path.
The connection between them pulsed like a living thing.
The King’s voice cut through the moment.
“Interesting.”
He looked at the valley.
“Did everyone see that?”
Even Cassian looked uneasy now.
Rhys stared at Kaelen in shock.
Seris smiled slowly.
“Well.”
Aria crossed her arms.
“I think that answers the question.”
Kaelen exhaled slowly, forcing his wolf back under control.
Lucien walked back toward the summit.
Each step closer eased the burning bond.
When he finally reached the top again—
The tension settled.
Lucien looked at Kaelen.
“That was unpleasant.”
Kaelen muttered.
“You think?”
The King studied them both carefully.
Then he turned toward the valley.
His voice carried like a command.
“The bond is real.”
Murmurs erupted among wolves and vampires alike.
The King looked back at his son.
“This changes everything.”
Lucien folded his arms lightly.
“Yes.”
The King’s gaze darkened slightly.
“Which means the next question is even more important.”
Kaelen frowned.
“What question?”
The King’s golden eyes burned.
“Whether the world is ready to survive it.”
The wind howled across the valley.
And far below—
The three armies began shifting again..
- Writer
