The Brother Of The King
629 Words
The hall went silent.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Even the frightened warriors froze where they stood.
Aria stared at Kael.
“Your… brother?”
Kael nodded once.
His expression was unreadable.
But there was tension in his shoulders now.
The kind of tension that came from facing an enemy you knew too well.
“Lucien Draven was once the Crown Prince of the Lycans,” Kael said.
The room listened carefully.
“Years ago, he betrayed our kingdom.”
An elder gasped.
“The Blood War…”
Kael’s gaze hardened.
“Yes.”
Aria noticed something strange.
Whenever Lucien was mentioned, even the strongest warriors looked nervous.
Who exactly was this man?
Kael continued.
“He wanted power above everything else.”
“He started a civil war.”
“He slaughtered anyone who stood in his way.”
Aria felt a chill crawl down her spine.
“And now?”
Kael’s silver eyes darkened.
“Now he leads the Northern Rogues.”
The room fell silent again.
Then another explosion shook the castle.
BOOM!
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Screams echoed outside.
The rogues were getting closer.
A warrior rushed inside.
“Your Majesty!”
Kael turned immediately.
“The western wall has fallen!”
Panic spread through the crowd.
“They’re breaking through!”
“We need to evacuate!”
Children began crying.
Several pack members rushed toward the exits.
Aria felt her heart pounding.
This was happening because of her.
If the rogues hadn’t learned about the Blood Moon Princess…
None of this would be happening.
As if reading her thoughts, Kael looked at her.
“This is not your fault.”
Aria frowned.
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Because I’d be thinking the same thing.”
For a moment, the fear inside her eased.
Only a little.
But enough.
Suddenly—
A powerful howl echoed through the night.
The sound was unlike anything Aria had ever heard.
Ancient.
Wild.
Terrifying.
The entire castle seemed to tremble.
Every wolf in the room stiffened.
Kael’s face darkened.
“Lucien.”
Another howl followed.
Closer this time.
Then came a deep voice.
A voice so powerful it carried through the broken walls.
“Brother.”
The crowd froze.
“I know you’re here.”
Aria’s blood ran cold.
The voice continued.
“Give me the girl.”
Kael stepped toward the shattered entrance.
His eyes glowed silver.
“No.”
The answer echoed through the hall.
For several seconds, there was silence.
Then laughter.
Dark.
Cruel laughter.
“Still protecting people who don’t deserve it?”
Lucien’s voice mocked.
“You’ve always had that weakness.”
Kael’s hand tightened around his sword.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Aria could feel the hatred between the two brothers.
Years of hatred.
Years of betrayal.
Then Lucien spoke again.
This time directly to Aria.
“Blood Moon Princess.”
Her breath caught.
“I know you’re listening.”
The hall was silent.
“Ask your king why your family died.”
Aria froze.
What?
Her family?
Kael’s expression changed instantly.
For the first time…
He looked worried.
Lucien laughed again.
“That’s right, little princess.”
“Ask him what really happened twenty years ago.”
Aria turned toward Kael.
Questions filled her mind.
What was Lucien talking about?
What did Kael know?
Before she could ask—
A deafening crash exploded through the castle.
The massive front gates collapsed.
Warriors screamed.
The rogues had broken through.
A dark figure appeared in the entrance.
Tall.
Powerful.
With silver eyes identical to Kael’s.
Lucien Draven had arrived.
And his gaze locked directly onto Aria.
A slow smile spread across his face.
“There you are.
- Writer
