Chapter 2 - THE GIRL WITH THE ROYAL BLOODThey ran until Alora's lungs burned.
Kael never let her fall behind.
Two wolves stayed beside them while the others scattered through the forest to mislead their pursuers.
By noon, they reached an abandoned stone cabin hidden beneath a cliff.
Kael pushed the door open.
Inside was nothing but a table, a fireplace, and a rotting chair.
“This is where you live?”
“When I need to disappear.”
Alora turned toward him.
“You said my parents were murdered.”
“Yes.”
“By the Emperor?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Kael was silent.
She stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
“You're not ready.”
“My parents died. Someone hunted me. Someone tried to kill you. I think I'm ready.”
Kael looked at her for a long time.
Then he pulled a loose floorboard aside.
Underneath was a wooden chest.
He opened it.
Inside was a folded black cloak.
A broken sword.
And a portrait.
Alora picked it up.
Her hands began to shake.
A younger woman stared back at her.
Dark hair.
Gray eyes.
The same small scar on her left cheek.
Her mother.
Alora covered her mouth.
Beside her stood a man wearing northern armor.
Her father.
Behind them was a little boy.
Kael.
Alora looked up sharply.
“You knew my parents.”
“I loved them.”
The words struck harder than a knife.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You loved my mother?”
Kael shook his head.
“I loved your father like a brother.”
He pointed to the child in the painting.
“That boy was the prince.”
Alora stared.
“And your mother was his protector.”
“My mother?”
Kael nodded.
“She wasn't only a healer.”
He pulled another piece of paper from the chest.
It carried a symbol she recognized.
The wolf crown.
“She was a royal guardian.”
Alora's voice cracked.
“Then why did they hide me?”
“Because you were the reason the Emperor wanted them dead.”
She stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
Kael placed the paper on the table.
There was a bloodline chart drawn in faded ink.
Several names had been crossed out.
At the bottom was one untouched name.
ALORA VALE.
Below it were four words.
LAST DAUGHTER OF THE FIRST BLOOD.
Alora felt cold all over.
“I don't understand.”
Kael sat across from her.
“The northern crown passes by blood. Not marriage. Not conquest. Blood.”
He pointed to her name.
“Your father wasn't just a guardian.”
Silence.
“He was the true heir to the Northern throne.”
Alora stepped back.
“No.”
“He refused the crown.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew the court was corrupt. He wanted peace.”
“And you?”
“I accepted the crown.”
“Then why did my father give up his claim?”
Kael looked away.
“Because he believed I was stronger.”
Alora's eyes filled with tears.
“So I'm royalty?”
“Yes.”
“You're telling me I am…”
“The last legitimate heir after me.”
She laughed bitterly.
“I bought a fever tonic with my last coin yesterday.”
Kael almost smiled.
“You also bought a king.”
The smile disappeared when a wolf appeared outside.
It was the one wounded by the arrow.
Kael rushed out.
The animal's fur was soaked in blood.
He knelt beside it.
Alora followed.
The wolf's breathing was weak.
Kael placed one hand against its neck.
A strange silver light moved from his fingers into the animal's body.
The wound closed.
Alora stared.
“What was that?”
Kael looked at her.
“Why are you surprised?”
“You told me you were a king.”
He exhaled.
“I am also something your people were taught to fear.”
His eyes changed.
The gold became brighter.
A dark line appeared across his neck.
Then his shoulders shifted.
The wolf beside him lowered its head.
Kael transformed.
Not completely.
Bones cracked.
Black fur spread across his arms.
Claws emerged.
His face remained human, but his eyes were those of a predator.
Alora stumbled backward.
“You're a wolf.”
Kael's voice came out deeper.
“Half.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means the king cannot be killed by ordinary men.”
Before she could react, the cabin door exploded inward.
Three armored soldiers rushed inside.
Kael moved faster than her eyes could follow.
One man hit the wall.
Another lost his sword.
The third lifted a dagger toward Alora.
Kael caught his wrist.
The man's face turned white.
“You should not have touched her.”
He twisted.
Bone cracked.
The soldier screamed.
Then silence.
Kael dragged the body outside.
Alora stood frozen.
The final soldier, badly wounded, was still alive.
She knelt beside him.
“Who sent you?”
He smiled.
“You don't know what you are.”
“Tell me.”
The man's gaze moved to Kael.
Then back to her.
“The Emperor doesn't want the king.”
A pause.
“He wants the queen.”
Alora's heart stopped.
“Queen?”
The soldier laughed weakly.
“Your blood woke the old prophecy.”
He coughed.
“The moment the king touched you…”
His eyes widened.
“…the bond was sealed.”
Kael's face went completely still.
“What bond?” Alora whispered.
The soldier smiled.
“The Moon Bond.”
Then he died.
Alora looked at Kael.
“What is the Moon Bond?”
Kael didn't answer.
“Kael.”
He looked at her.
May you like
For the first time, fear was visible in his eyes.
“It means you're mine.”
Related Stories
