Chapter 10: The King's Anchor
1094 Words
The ride back to the fortress was silent, save for the steady rhythm of hooves striking the earth. Serena’s mind spun like a storm, Queen Aveline’s words echoing in her bones.
“Choose your tether wisely, or the power will eat through everything you are.”
When they reached the gates, Lucien was already waiting. He stood on the stone steps with his arms crossed, a shadow among shadows, but his golden eyes gleamed in the morning light.
“You’re late,” he said, his tone rougher than usual.
Serena slid off her horse and met his gaze evenly. “I needed answers. I found them.”
Lucien’s nostrils flared, and he descended the steps with the silent grace of a predator. “What kind of answers?”
She didn’t hesitate. “Queen Aveline came to me. A vision. Maybe a spirit. I don’t know. But she warned me—the fire inside me isn’t just random power. It’s ancient. Moonblood. And it’s waking up.”
Lucien stopped just inches away, his expression unreadable. “Moonblood,” he repeated quietly. “That bloodline was wiped out centuries ago. Burned from the records by my ancestors.”
“She said I’m the last,” Serena said, her voice softer now. “And if I don’t anchor the fire, I’ll lose myself. Maybe hurt the people I care about.”
Lucien’s brows knit together. Then he did something unexpected—he reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“You’re not losing anything,” he said firmly. “Not on my watch.”
“I can’t afford to be reckless,” she whispered. “I need to be tethered. Trained. Controlled.”
Lucien’s voice dropped to a growl. “Then I’ll be your tether.”
Serena blinked. “You?”
“I’ve seen what you’re capable of. I know how your power moves—wild, raw, but tied to emotion. You need someone who can ground you. Someone who can match your strength and still hold you steady.”
“Why would you take that risk?” she asked, searching his face.
Lucien leaned closer, his eyes locked on hers. “Because I would burn with you before I ever let you burn alone.”
---
Later that afternoon, in the fortress’s lower courtyard…
Lucien stood opposite her in the training arena, stripped to the waist, his muscles gleaming with sweat and control. Serena tried not to stare, but it was difficult when he looked like he’d been carved by war itself.
“I’m not holding back,” she warned.
“Good,” he said. “Neither am I.”
He lunged first—fast, brutal, calculated. She ducked under his arm, spinning to create distance, but already her hands burned with golden fire. She thrust her palms outward, sending a blast of heat toward him.
Lucien braced himself. The flames licked his chest, but he barely flinched.
“You’ll have to do better than that.”
Serena grit her teeth and charged. Their movements became a dance—one of instinct and fury. For every strike Lucien delivered, Serena responded with fire, light, or speed. But the more she unleashed, the hotter the magic burned beneath her skin.
Finally, she lost control.
A wave of power exploded from her chest, throwing Lucien backward across the arena. He crashed into the wall with a dull thud but pushed himself upright, coughing smoke.
Serena dropped to her knees, gasping. “I—I didn’t mean—”
“You’re holding too much in,” Lucien said, brushing ash from his shoulders as he stalked toward her again. “You’re afraid to hurt. That fear makes your fire rebel.”
“Of course I’m afraid,” she snapped. “I don’t want to lose control.”
“Then stop trying to fight it alone.”
Lucien knelt in front of her. “Let me in. Let me carry the weight with you.”
Tears welled in her eyes, unbidden. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.” His hand cupped her cheek, warm despite the battle. “I’ve faced monsters, Serena. But you’re not one of them. You’re the only thing in this world that feels real.”
Her breath caught. The closeness between them was dangerous—not just physically, but emotionally. Her heart beat too loudly in her ears, and her fire pulsed in rhythm with it.
“I don’t know how to let someone help me,” she admitted, voice shaking.
Lucien pressed his forehead against hers. “Start by trusting me. Just a little.”
She nodded.
---
That night, in the war chamber...
A map of the realm stretched across the table, marked with red ink and ancient glyphs. Nyra, Jace, and Ronan stood around it with tense faces. Serena entered with Lucien close behind.
“Report,” Lucien barked.
Ronan stepped forward. “The eastern packs are restless. Some are whispering rebellion.”
Nyra added, “And there’s been movement near the ruins of Ellador. A place sacred to the Moonbloods. There’s a witch there—older than even the forest, some say. If Aveline was real, that witch may be the only one alive who knows how to bind Moonblood safely.”
Serena’s fingers curled. “Then we need to find her.”
Lucien looked between his generals, then back to Serena. “We leave at dawn.”
---
Later that evening, outside the fortress walls…
Serena stood beneath the stars, watching the moon rise. Lucien approached in silence and stood beside her.
“Are you afraid?” he asked.
“Yes,” she admitted. “But not of the power anymore.”
He looked down at her. “Then what?”
She met his gaze. “Of what happens if I trust you too much. Of needing you.”
Lucien stepped closer, his voice low. “Need is not weakness. It’s strength. Knowing you don’t have to carry everything alone? That’s what makes you powerful.”
He leaned in, slowly, deliberately.
Serena’s heart thudded, but she didn’t move away.
Their lips met—soft at first, then with the heat of suppressed fire. Her flames surged inside her, but this time, they didn’t lash out. They curled around her heart, warm and steady, as if recognizing him as her tether.
When they broke apart, Lucien rested his forehead against hers once more.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
And for the first time in years, Serena believed someone.
——
- Writer
