Kael's POV
I woke to the taste of Aria's terror.
It flooded through our bond like poison—sharp and metallic and desperate. She was in danger. Captured. Being dragged somewhere against her will.
I tried to manifest. Couldn't. My consciousness was still scattered, regenerating from using too much power.
But I could feel everything she felt.
The bite of silver chains on her wrists. The rough wooden floor of the prison transport beneath her. The storm's cold rain seeping through the cage bars.
And worse—the certainty that she was going to die.
No, I growled into the void. You don't get to die. I forbid it.
My power surged, forcing me toward consciousness faster than was safe. Pain ripped through me, but I didn't care.
She needed me.
I clawed my way back to awareness, using the bond as an anchor. Our connection burned bright in the darkness—her heartbeat calling mine.
Finally, I broke through.
Aria's POV
The bond mark suddenly flared hot.
I gasped, pressing my chained hands against my chest. The cold, dead feeling that had settled there when Kael disappeared was warming up.
Aria. His voice whispered in my mind. Weak but there. I'm here.
Relief crashed through me so hard I nearly sobbed. Kael! They caught me. They're taking me back to the Alpha Citadel.
I know. I can feel it. Anger burned through his words. How many guards?
I counted through the bars. Ten outside the cage. More riding ahead and behind.
Too many for you to fight alone. Not yet. Frustration leaked through the bond. I'm still too weak to fully manifest. Used too much power in the crypt.
So what do I do?
Silence for a moment. Then: Survive. Play weak. Let them think you're helpless. And when the moment comes—when I'm strong enough to help—we'll show them exactly what we are.
What are we?
Dangerous.
The transport jerked to a halt. Voices shouted outside.
We're stopping, I whispered mentally.
I hear it. Be careful.
The cage door opened. The scarred lead guard stood there with that cruel smile.
Out. Councilor Matthias wants to see you immediately.
They dragged me out into rain and mud. We were at some kind of checkpoint—a fortified building on the border between Forsaken Lands and Council territory.
Inside, Matthias waited.
He looked exactly as I remembered. Ancient and terrifying, with silver hair and eyes like chips of ice. The Supreme Councilor who'd sentenced me to exile.
The man who'd poisoned Kael.
Through our bond, I felt Kael's rage explode.
That's him, Kael snarled in my mind. Matthias Ironjaw. The one who served me poisoned wine. Who smiled while I choked. Who buried me alive.
I forced myself to stay calm. To not react.
Matthias studied me like a bug under glass. Aria Silverthorn. You continue to surprise me. Three months in the Forsaken Lands should have killed you. Instead, you somehow activated the Moonfall Crypt's seal. He stepped closer. How?
I don't know what you're talking about.
His fist cracked across my face. Pain exploded through my jaw. Blood filled my mouth.
Don't lie to me, girl. His voice stayed calm. Pleasant. That tomb was sealed with magic that should only respond to royal bloodline or True Keeper blood. Since the royal line died out and we eliminated all the True Keepers decades ago, you shouldn't exist.
Through the bond, Kael's presence wrapped around me. Supporting. Steadying.
Yet here you are, Matthias continued. Standing before me with a bond mark glowing on your chest. A mark that looks remarkably like the ancient True Keeper symbols.
He grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes.
Who were your real parents? What bloodline are you hiding?
I don't know. True answer. You exiled me for being Omega-born, remember? I'm nobody.
Nobody doesn't activate dead kings' tombs. His grip tightened. And that mark on your chest—did something come out of the tomb? Did you bond with something?
Fear spiked through me. If he knew Kael was alive
Tell him nothing, Kael commanded. He suspects, but he doesn't know.
I touched the tomb and light exploded, I said. That's all. The mark appeared, and then guards came. I don't know what it means.
Matthias stared at me for a long moment. Then he smiled.
You're lying. But that's alright. We have ways of extracting truth. He nodded to the guards. Take her to the Research Facility. Tell them to prepare for a deep extraction.
My blood went cold. The Research Facility was where the Council experimented on wolves with unusual abilities. People went in. They didn't come out.
No! I struggled as guards grabbed me. You can't!
I can do whatever I want, Matthias said calmly. You're an exile. A fraud. No one will question what happens to you.
Raven! What about Raven?!
Your friend? Matthias waved dismissively. She's Omega. Worthless. We'll execute her tomorrow and throw her body back into the waste.
Rage exploded through me. Blue light sparked around my chained hands.
There it is, Matthias breathed, excited. Unstable Alpha manifestation. You really are awakening. He leaned close. Whatever bloodline you're hiding, we'll cut it out of you. Study it. Learn how you activated that tomb. And then we'll make sure no one like you ever threatens us again.
He turned to leave.
Matthias. My voice came out cold. Deadly. Not quite my own.
Kael was speaking through me. Using our bond to lend me his strength, his presence, his absolute authority.
Matthias froze.
You should have made sure I was truly dead, Kael's voice came from my lips, layered with power. Five years you kept me in that tomb. Five years I planned exactly how I'd destroy you.
Matthias spun around, face white. Impossible.
Is it? I smiled with Kael's cold amusement. You poisoned me. Buried me. Told everyone I died a hero. But you made one mistake.
What mistake? Matthias whispered.
You left me conscious. Kael's presence surged through our bond, making the mark on my chest blaze gold. Five years to think. To plan. To wait for the right anchor. My eyes—our eyes—locked onto Matthias. And she found me. Woke me. Bound herself to me. Now we're connected. Her life sustains mine. Her power channels mine.
The True Keeper bond, Matthias breathed. You actually formed a True Keeper bond.
Yes. Kael's satisfaction filled me. Something you thought you'd eliminated forever. But you missed one. One last True Keeper with royal bloodline. And now she's mine. My anchor. My weapon. My revenge.
Matthias's hands shook. Actual fear crossed his face.
Kill her, he ordered the guards. Now! Before the bond fully
Kael's power exploded through me. The silver chains shattered. Blue and gold light erupted from my body in a wave that sent everyone flying backward.
I stood in the center of the chaos, power crackling around me, feeling Kael's consciousness merged with mine.
You can't kill her without killing me, Kael said through my voice. And you can't kill me. You already tried.
Guards rushed forward with silver weapons.
I'm still too weak to maintain this, Kael warned in my mind. We need to run. Now!
I blasted power at the nearest wall. Stone exploded outward. Rain and wind howled through the opening.
I ran.
Arrows whistled past. Shouts followed. But I ran faster than I'd ever run, powered by Kael's strength and my own desperate will to survive.
Where am I going?! I screamed mentally.
Away from them! Into the storm! I'll guide you!
I burst out into the wasteland. Rain pounded down. Lightning split the sky.
Behind me, Matthias's voice rose in fury: FIND HER! She can't have gone far! Bring me that True Keeper or bring me her corpse!
I ran blindly, following Kael's mental directions. Left. Right. Straight. Through ravines and over rocks.
Finally, I collapsed in a cave, gasping.
Kael's presence receded. The power drained away, leaving me shaking and exhausted.
But he manifested beside me—translucent but visible.
That was insane, I gasped.
That was necessary. He knelt beside me, his ghostly hand on my shoulder. Now Matthias knows I'm alive. Knows we're bonded. The hunt will intensify.
Great. Just great. I laughed bitterly. So what now?
Now? His golden eyes blazed. Now we stop hiding. We find allies. Build power. Train you properly. His smile turned sharp. And we show the Council exactly why they should have killed us both properly the first time.
Thunder crashed overhead. Through our bond, I felt his determination. His absolute certainty that we would win.
And despite everything—the capture, the torture threat, Matthias's face when he realized Kael lived—I felt hope.
Dark, violent hope.
Raven, I said suddenly. They're going to execute her tomorrow.
Then we have until tomorrow to get strong enough to save her. Kael's form flickered. I'm fading again. Need rest. But when I wake... His eyes met mine. When I wake, your real training begins.
He dissolved into golden light that sank into my bond mark.
I sat alone in the dark cave, listening to the storm rage outside.
Somewhere out there, Raven was in a cell waiting to die.
Somewhere out there, Lyanna was planning her wedding.
Somewhere out there, Matthias was mobilizing his forces to hunt me down.
And somewhere inside me, a dead king slept, gathering strength.
I pressed my hand against the bond mark over my heart.
Wake up fast, I whispered. Because we've got people to save and a Council to burn.
The mark pulsed once in response.
Tomorrow, everything would change.
Tonight, I just had to survive.