Chapter 7 - THE BROTHER WHO WANTED THE THRONEDarius didn't attack immediately.
He walked into the throne room as if he had never left.
The wolves surrounding him watched in silence.
Alora stood beside Kael.
“You said your brother was dead.”
“He was.”
Darius laughed.
“You never were good at funerals.”
Kael's hand tightened around his sword.
“You were burned.”
“No.”
“You were stabbed.”
“Not deep enough.”
“You fell into the river.”
Darius smiled.
“You pushed me.”
Silence.
Alora looked at Kael.
“Did you?”
Kael didn't answer.
Darius's smile widened.
“He never told you?”
“Told me what?”
Darius stepped closer.
“The reason the kingdom fell.”
Kael's voice was cold.
“Don't.”
Darius ignored him.
“Your precious king didn't lose the war.”
He pointed at Kael.
“He started it.”
Alora stared.
Kael closed his eyes.
Darius laughed.
“Tell her.”
Kael remained silent.
“I will.”
Alora stepped between them.
“Tell me everything.”
Kael finally spoke.
“The emperor offered peace.”
Darius scoffed.
“He offered surrender.”
“He offered trade.”
“He offered slavery.”
Kael's jaw tightened.
“I refused.”
“And then you ordered the first attack.”
Kael looked at Alora.
“Yes.”
Her stomach twisted.
“My father died because of you.”
“Yes.”
“You killed him?”
“No.”
“But your decision caused it.”
Kael looked down.
“Yes.”
Darius lifted his sword.
“And now you want to be king again.”
Kael said:
“I don't.”
Darius blinked.
“Then give me the crown.”
Kael shook his head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the crown no longer belongs to me.”
His gaze moved to Alora.
Darius followed.
His expression changed.
“The girl.”
“Yes.”
Darius's eyes narrowed.
“She carries the first blood.”
Alora felt a cold breeze move through the hall.
Darius smiled.
“The prophecy has changed.”
“What prophecy?” she asked.
Darius answered.
“The one that says the Blood Moon will either save the wolf kingdom…”
He paused.
“…or destroy it.”
The elder snarled.
Darius lifted his sword.
“Which one will you be?”
He lunged.
Kael blocked the strike.
Their swords collided.
The sound shook the room.
Alora watched as the brothers fought.
They were evenly matched.
Every movement was familiar.
Every strike was answered.
Darius finally whispered something.
Kael froze.
Alora couldn't hear it.
Then Darius stepped back.
He smiled.
“You still won't tell her.”
Kael's breathing was hard.
“Tell me what?”
Darius looked at Alora.
“Ask him why the Emperor never killed you.”
Alora turned to Kael.
“Why?”
Kael went silent.
Darius laughed.
“Because the Emperor needed your blood.”
“For what?”
“To open the Moon Gate.”
Alora felt sick.
“And why does he need me alive?”
Darius said quietly:
“Because only a queen can give birth to the heir that unlocks it forever.”
The room went silent.
Kael's face went cold.
Darius looked at the bond on Alora's wrist.
“And now that the Moon Bond is sealed…”
He smiled.
“The Emperor no longer needs to keep you alive.”
A horn sounded.
Far above them.
Then another.
Then another.
Kael looked toward the ceiling.
“He's here.”
Darius lowered his weapon.
“Three armies.”
Alora whispered:
“How long?”
Kael looked at her.
“An hour.”
She swallowed.
“And what happens then?”
The ancient wolf answered.
“War.”
Kael turned toward the windows.
Across the mountain horizon, thousands of torchlights had appeared.
The Emperor had come.
And at the center of the army flew a banner Alora knew from the vision.
A black sun surrounded by a red crown.
Kael looked at her.
“You have one hour to decide.”
“Decide what?”
He pointed at the two thrones.
“Whether you run…”
May you like
His eyes hardened.
“…or become the queen they are all afraid of.”
