Chapter 1 - THE KING THEY BURIED“What are you?”
Alora could barely force the words out.
The five wolves remained kneeling.
Kael stood in front of them with his head slightly bowed, the morning mist curling around his boots.
His golden eyes did not leave hers.
“I am the last king of the North.”
Alora stared.
Then she laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was impossible.
“You’re a prisoner.”
“I was.”
“You were sold for one copper coin.”
“Yes.”
“You were chained to a wooden platform.”
“Yes.”
“You had a sack over your head.”
A faint smile touched his mouth.
“That part was humiliating.”
Alora looked at the wolves.
They were still bowing.
Her stomach tightened.
“Kings don't get sold at slave auctions.”
“This one did.”
Kael turned toward the forest.
“Because my kingdom wanted me dead.”
A wind moved through the trees.
Alora hugged herself.
“Who attacked you?”
“The Crimson Court.”
She had heard the name.
Everyone had.
The Crimson Court controlled the southern kingdoms, the largest armies, the richest mines, and half the black-market trade in the region.
“They said the Northern King died three winters ago,” Alora whispered.
“He did.”
She blinked.
“What?”
Kael looked back at her.
“The king they buried was my brother.”
The forest seemed to go silent.
“My brother wore my crown. He sat on my throne. He died in my place.”
Alora slowly stepped closer.
“Then why were you captured?”
“Because the enemy wanted the real king.”
A branch cracked.
Kael's head snapped toward the trees.
His entire expression changed.
The warmth vanished.
His hand went to his side, though he had no weapon.
The wolves rose.
Alora's heart jumped.
“What is it?”
Kael didn't answer.
A sharp whistle came from the woods.
Then another.
Then three more.
Kael grabbed Alora by the waist and pulled her behind him.
A crossbow bolt slammed into the tree beside her head.
She screamed.
“Run!”
They moved.
Kael tore through the underbrush with impossible speed.
Alora struggled to keep up.
Behind them, men shouted.
“THE KING!”
“DON'T LET HIM REACH THE RIVER!”
Kael stopped.
His head turned slowly.
Alora could hear the fear in his breathing.
Not fear for himself.
For her.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Alora.”
“I said no.”
He looked at her as though no one had ever refused him before.
Another bolt sliced through the branches.
Kael stepped forward.
The wolves surrounded them.
Six.
Then ten.
Then twenty.
Alora's mouth fell open as gray shapes emerged between the trees.
Kael lifted his hand.
Every wolf stopped.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Then Kael spoke one word.
“Kill.”
The forest exploded.
Wolves launched themselves through the trees.
Men screamed.
Metal clanged.
Branches snapped.
Alora stumbled backward.
Kael stood motionless in the center of the chaos.
A soldier broke through the trees and charged toward him.
Kael didn't move.
The soldier lifted his sword.
Then a wolf hit him from the side.
He disappeared into the brush.
Minutes later, silence returned.
Kael walked back toward Alora.
There was blood on his shirt.
She flinched.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“You're bleeding.”
“Not mine.”
Alora looked down.
The answer somehow frightened her more.
Kael noticed.
“I didn't want you to see that.”
“You ordered them to kill.”
“They came to take you.”
His voice hardened.
“That is why they died.”
Alora stared at him.
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“How?”
He looked at her.
The golden glow in his eyes softened.
“You spent your last coin on a stranger.”
Alora swallowed.
Kael reached into his torn shirt.
He pulled out a small silver pendant.
It was shaped like a wolf's head.
The moment Alora saw it, his expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“Your grandmother.”
Alora froze.
“What?”
Kael stepped closer.
“She gave it to me.”
“My grandmother has never seen you.”
“She has.”
“No.”
“She saw me twelve years ago.”
Alora stared at him.
Twelve years.
Her grandmother had told her almost nothing about her parents, her childhood, or the years before they moved to the village.
Kael opened his hand.
Inside the pendant was a tiny symbol.
A crown.
Hidden beneath it was a second mark.
A black crescent.
Alora's face went pale.
“My grandmother has one exactly like that.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Kael's voice became quieter.
“Because she was the woman who saved my life the night your parents died.”
Alora stopped breathing.
“What did you say?”
Kael looked toward the distant hills.
“Your parents didn't abandon you.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“They were murdered.”
The ground seemed to disappear beneath her.
“Who killed them?”
Kael's jaw tightened.
“The same man who is hunting me now.”
“Who?”
Kael looked directly at her.
“The Emperor.”
And before Alora could ask another question, the largest wolf suddenly growled.
Kael turned.
A second later, an arrow flew from the trees.
It struck one of the wolves in the chest.
The animal collapsed.
Kael's face went cold.
From somewhere deep in the forest, a voice shouted:
“TAKE THE GIRL ALIVE!”
Alora looked at Kael.
He looked at her.
May you like
And for the first time since she met him, the king sounded afraid.
“They know who you are.”
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