Chapter 5 - THE HEART OF BLACKWOODDraven woke beneath the ruins.

Dust filled his lungs.

His ears rang.

“Ren?”

No answer.

Panic hit him.

He pushed against the stone.

“REN!”

A hand touched his face.

“I'm here.”

He exhaled.

She was beside him.

Alive.

Barely.

Draven pulled her close.

“You're hurt.”

“Only a little.”

“Don't lie.”

“Neither should you.”

He almost smiled.

Then the ground beneath them moved.

A low heartbeat echoed through the chamber.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Ren stared into the darkness.

“What is that?”

Draven lifted the torch.

There was a massive chamber beneath the palace.

At its center floated a black crystal.

Chains wrapped around it.

Hundreds of chains.

Ren whispered,

“It feels familiar.”

Draven took one step closer.

The crystal pulsed.

The room filled with whispers.

Children.

Women.

Kings.

Then a voice spoke directly into Ren's mind.

Daughter.

Ren collapsed.

Draven caught her.

“Ren!”

She opened her eyes.

But they were glowing silver.

She stared at him.

“I remember.”

“What?”

“The fire.”

Draven froze.

Ren's tears fell.

“Your father came to my village.”

“Why?”

“He wasn't alone.”

She closed her eyes.

“I saw Vesper.”

Draven whispered,

“Vesper?”

“They were trying to take me.”

“Who stopped them?”

“My mother.”

“And my father?”

Ren swallowed.

“He helped her.”

Draven stared.

“He helped?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did they become enemies?”

Ren looked toward the crystal.

“They didn't.”

Silence.

“Your father and my mother were allies.”

Draven's entire world shifted.

“Then why did Blackwood burn?”

“Because someone wanted them to.”

A sound came from behind.

Applause.

Slow.

Mocking.

Vesper stepped from the shadows.

Draven drew his sword.

“You.”

Vesper smiled.

“I've waited a long time for this.”

Ren stood.

“You killed the guards.”

“I did many things.”

Draven attacked.

Their blades collided.

The impact shook the chamber.

Vesper was stronger than he looked.

Far stronger.

Draven swung again.

Vesper caught the blade with one hand.

His eyes turned gold.

“I warned you.”

Draven kicked him backward.

“Talk.”

Vesper smiled.

“The crystal is the Heart of Blackwood.”

Ren stared.

“It chooses kings.”

Draven looked toward it.

“What does it want?”

“Blood.”

Vesper's gaze shifted to Ren.

“Yours.”

Ren stepped back.

Draven moved between them.

“You will not touch her.”

Vesper laughed.

“Do you know why twenty-three women rejected you?”

Draven went still.

Vesper's smile sharpened.

“Because your blood is unstable.”

Ren stared at Draven.

“What?”

“Your father's blood was altered.”

Vesper spoke slowly.

“He tried to merge the Blackwood line with the ancient Vael bloodline.”

Draven's face changed.

“You're lying.”

“Am I?”

Vesper stepped closer.

“You were never born to be king.”

“What was I born to be?”

Vesper whispered,

“The vessel.”

The crystal pulsed.

Draven suddenly fell to his knees.

Pain tore through his body.

Black lines appeared beneath his skin.

Ren rushed toward him.

“Draven!”

He screamed.

The chamber shook.

Vesper smiled.

“The king is waking.”

Ren grabbed Draven's hand.

“Look at me!”

Draven struggled to breathe.

“Run.”

“No.”

“Ren, run!”

She refused.

Instead, she pressed her forehead against his.

“You told me you were a weapon.”

His breathing slowed.

“I know.”

“Then listen to me.”

She held his face.

“You are not their weapon.”

The black veins stopped spreading.

The crystal cracked.

Vesper's smile disappeared.

“No.”

A fracture ran across the Heart of Blackwood.

Ren gasped.

“What did I do?”

Vesper stared at her.

“You activated the blood bond.”

Draven looked up.

“What bond?”

Vesper backed away.

“The one your parents died trying to create.”

A deafening explosion shattered the chamber.

The crystal broke.

Light flooded the room.

And somewhere beneath the palace, something ancient opened its eyes.

Vesper whispered,

“It's awake.”

Then the palace above them shook.

A roar echoed through the kingdom.

People screamed.

Windows shattered.

Every wolf in Blackwood began howling.

Ren looked at Draven.

“What is happening?”

Draven rose slowly.

His eyes were no longer amber.

They had turned silver.

He looked toward the ceiling.

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And said,

“I think the kingdom just found its real king.”