Lucius's POVAfter she had collapsed, Kiara knelt beside her, holding her hand gently, an expression of pity softening her features. Perhaps she felt the weight of her pain, the anguish that had brought the woman to this state. I stood silently, my gaze flickering with frustration and uncertainty.Turning to Maidservant Tae and Maidservant Raya, I ordered, "Take her to one of the chambers. Make sure she doesn't wake up, not for a while."The maids exchanged a brief glance before nodding, moving swiftly to lift the unconscious figure from the ground."Be careful," I added, my voice firm. "Right now, we can't afford to deal with this."The truth was that the palace was already drowning in chaos. Veryon's looming presence was a threat to my kingship, a shadow circling my throne. He had always been cunning, but now his ambitions were glaring, and my patience with him was wearing thin. On top of that, there was the growing menace of the spirits.Spirits. The very thought of them made my bl
Kiara's povAs we descended the grand staircase, the hall was a sea of murmurs and whispers, the sound swelling like a tide as all eyes turned to us. I tried to keep my gaze steady, but it was impossible not to notice the aura of dominance that filled the room. These people are so full of grace.The men were dressed in ancient, regal clothing that seemed to hum with an air of history, and the women were adorned in exquisite ball gowns that shimmered under the golden lights. The beauty of it all was mesmerizing.Lucius held out his hand, a silent invitation I couldn't refuse. I placed my hand in his, and we stepped onto the dance floor as the music began a slow, haunting tune that was as foreign to me as everything else in this place.As we started to dance, I quickly realized how out of place I was. The rhythm was unlike anything I'd ever encountered, and my feet moved clumsily, stepping on his more than once. Every time I faltered, Lucius would flash a reassuring smile, his dimple ap
Lucius's POVI had held every ounce of energy in check, every bit of self-control I had to stop myself from marching over there and tearing Veyron away from Kiara. The sight of his hand on her waist, his smug expression—it was almost too much. My patience was razor-thin, and I was about to lose it entirely when a small voice interrupted my thoughts."Father, can I have this dance?"I turned to see Ariel, my sweet daughter, her wide eyes full of hope and mischief. Her request was enough to melt the fire burning inside me, if only for a moment. I took her small hand in mine, forcing myself to focus on her and not the infuriating scene across the room.Her laugh was light and genuine, a sound that somehow managed to soothe the storm brewing within me. "I can't believe a day like this has come. Our family will be complete soon, Father," she said, her smile beaming up at me.I nodded, my lips curving into a rare smile. "Yes, my daughter. And what else have you been practicing?""Oh, Father
I hit him square in the chest, my glare as sharp as my words. "What are you doing here, Veryon?"He didn't flinch, maintaining that infuriating smirk. "I've told you already," he said, his voice calm yet laced with malice. "I came to take back what is mine.""And what exactly is that?" I demanded, though the answer was clear from the way his gaze drifted to the palace throne."That," he said, tilting his chin toward the throne bathed in golden light, "and her."I stiffened. "Her?""Yes, Athena," he said, his smirk widening, daring me to lash out. "You stole everything from me. My throne, my pride, and now I'm here to reclaim it all."My fists clenched at his audacity. "Why?" I snapped. "Why now? You left! You willingly abandoned the throne. You have no right to come back and demand it like some entitled brat."His expression darkened, and for a moment, I caught a flicker of something raw in his eyes. "Because," he said, his voice dropping an octave, "you got stronger than me. I couldn
I was accompanied by a maid, my head still spinning after my dance with Lucius. My head ached, and I could feel the weight of the conversation pressing down on me. They led me to where the wines and water were kept, and I drank a couple of glasses of wine to try to steady myself. But then, I asked for something stronger. The sharp, bitter taste of alcohol burned down my throat, and for a moment, I felt my body loosen, my head growing unsteady."I need water," I mumbled, but the truth was, I didn't need water. Not really. I needed something to numb the chaos swirling in my mind.The alcohol seemed to do the trick, dulling everything, and a sense of calm began to seep in. It was such a relief, even if only temporary.Still, the overwhelming haze in my mind pushed me to seek some air, something to clear the fog."I'm going outside," I told the maid beside me, my words slurring slightly.She hesitated, her grip tightening on my hand. "The majesty will be angry if I let you go, my lady."I
My eyes felt heavy, my life force slipping away from my body, and I could feel myself sinking to the floor. The weight of exhaustion and energy loss was overwhelming. Just as I thought I would collapse completely, a sudden surge of power exploded beneath me, sending the two spirits flying away and causing me to fall to my knees.I managed to open my eyes just slightly, and there, standing before me, were the brightest yellow eyes and dark, black hair. My heart skipped a beat. It was Veryon! How had he found me?A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, though his eyes were filled with fury. There was no mistaking it—his anger was burning like a fire. But was he angry at me, or was it the spirit that enraged him? Either way, I knew one thing for certain: whatever he was angry about, this wasn't going to end well.Behind him stood Lucius, his presence commanding, a cold, icy-blue energy swirling around him. The surge of power that came from him was unmistakable. Lucius' anger was also
Lucius fell to the ground with a heavy thud, his body limp and lifeless. The red aura that had engulfed him moments ago began to fade, retreating into a faint blue glow that hovered weakly around him. His energy had subsided, but it left him drained and fragile."Lucius!" I gasped, dragging myself toward him despite my weakened state. Blood trickled from his nose, painting his pale skin with streaks of crimson. My hands trembled as I shook him gently, desperate to wake him up. "Lucius, please… wake up."Before I could do much else, General Kael and the rest rushed to my side, their faces etched with concern. Kael crouched down, inspecting Lucius briefly before lifting him effortlessly onto his back. "We need to get him out of here," Kael said firmly, his voice steady despite the chaos still lingering in the air.As they carried Lucius away, Veryon approached me, his hand resting on my shoulder. His grip was firm yet comforting, his gaze searching mine. "He'll be fine," he reassured me
When I woke up, I was in a room I immediately recognized as one of the palace chambers. My body felt heavy, as if weighed down by exhaustion and the remnants of whatever power had overtaken me. The first sounds I heard were the hushed voices of the healers."It will be fine. His condition is stable," one of them said softly. "He just needs time to rest."The voice faded as the healer left the room, and I turned my head slightly, my vision blurry. I could make out a figure standing nearby, their gaze fixed on me."Father? Are you alright?"It was Ciara. Her voice trembled with worry, and the sight of her anxious face stirred something in me. I managed to muster a weak smile. "I'm fine, my dear," I said, though my voice sounded far weaker than I intended.As my vision cleared further, I noticed the other person standing next to her. Of course, it had to be him—Veryon. His smirk was as infuriating as ever, and just the sight of him made my head ache.Seeing him standing there, smug as al
Kiara's POVMy lungs burned. My legs ached. But I didn't stop running.The trees loomed around me, their shadows twisting in the moonlight, casting eerie figures in the dark. The forest air was thick with damp earth and the sharp scent of pine, but beneath it all, I could feel them.Glutton and Envy were still behind me.I could hear Glutton's heavy footfalls—crushing everything in his path—the snap of twigs, the crunch of dead leaves. He wasn't trying to be quiet. He didn't need to be.Envy, on the other hand, was silent. Too silent. That was the part that terrified me.A low, cruel chuckle slithered through the trees.> "You're fast," Envy's voice came from somewhere behind me. "But not fast enough."Panic surged through me.I pushed forward, my body screaming in protest. My throat was dry, my breath ragged, but I knew what would happen if I stopped. They'd take me. And I didn't even want to think about what that meant.Then—Pain.A force slammed into my side, knocking me off my fe
Veryon' POVThe air shifted.It wasn't just the whispers anymore—it was something worse.A presence slithered through the trees, the shadows curling like smoke as a figure stepped forward, slow and languid, as if she had all the time in the world.Lust.She was exactly as I remembered her. Beautiful in a way that was unnatural, her body wrapped in the kind of shadowy silk that clung to her curves, her lips curled in amusement as she tilted her head at me."Hello, Veryon," she purred, her voice dripping with mock affection. "Long time no see."I stiffened, my grip on Kiara's hand tightening as more figures emerged from the darkness. Wrath. Pride. Gluttony. Envy.They were all here.Kiara tensed beside me, and I could feel the way her breath hitched—the way she understood, even without me saying a word, that this was bad.Very bad."Still playing hero, I see," Lust mused, taking a step forward. "I warned you what would happen if you got in our way again. And yet here you are… with her."
Veryon's POVShe didn't understand.Kiara sat there, watching the fire, her body exhausted but still tense, still defiant. She thought she could fight this—them. That she could stay in that palace, surrounded by guards, by mages, by walls that would crumble the moment the spirits decided to take them.She thought she was safe.I knew better.The spirits took everything from me. My throne. My people. Athena.And now they wanted her.I couldn't let that happen.My fists clenched at my sides, my body a storm of tension as I looked at her. She was still so full of fire, still fighting even after she had nearly collapsed from exhaustion. She was too stubborn for her own good. But I admired that stubbornness far more than I should.Far more than I had any right to.She turned her head slightly, her gaze catching mine. "You're staring."I didn't deny it."Sleep," I told her. It was more of an order than a request.She huffed, leaning back against the cold stone wall, rubbing her arms as if s
Kiara POV.I stood there, my breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps, my body trembling with exhaustion. My arms ached from the strain of pulling water from thin air, and my hands stung where the energy had burned against my skin. I had pushed myself too far, but I didn't care. I had done it. I had fought. I had proven, if only to myself, that I wasn't weak.But my victory was short-lived.Pain flared in my side, sharp and unrelenting, and I gritted my teeth, refusing to acknowledge it. I was fine. I had to be fine.Veryon, however, wasn't fooled."You're hurt," he said, stepping toward me."I'm fine," I snapped, trying to straighten, but the moment I moved, a fresh wave of pain shot through me. Damn it. I must have strained something—or worse.Veryon sighed, shaking his head. "You're as stubborn as ever."I tried to glare at him, but the effect was probably ruined by the way I was swaying on my feet. Before I could protest, he was already beside me, his hands firm but careful as he guid
Lucius stepped out of the bathroom, water still dripping from his hair, his eyes narrowing as he wiped his face with a towel. The warm glow of the early morning sun filtered through the thick curtains, but there was something off in the air, something that made the usual peace of the palace feel unsettling.Kiara should have been here by now.His thoughts immediately shifted to the training session. She was always prompt, always eager to push herself. But today, there was no sign of her.He tossed the towel aside and walked toward the door, his movements brisk, his mind already racing. Something wasn't right. He had felt it the moment he stepped out of the bathroom—the absence of her presence.He moved quickly, striding down the hallway, his boots clicking against the marble floor. His eyes scanned every corner, every empty room he passed, his heart starting to quicken with a sense of urgency."Kiara?"The name slipped from his lips almost involuntarily, but the silence that followed
Veryon's breathing was labored, his eyes darting around as though he expected an attack at any moment. His gaze finally landed on me, softening for a fleeting second before the sharp edge of distrust returned."Kiara," he rasped, his voice hoarse. "I don't have time to explain everything, but you need to listen to me."I stepped back, my fingers tightening around the hilt of my sword. "Veryon, you're hurt—what happened? Let me call Lucius, he can—""No!" he snapped, the desperation in his tone stopping me mid-sentence. He clenched his fists, his entire body trembling. "I don’t trust him. I don’t trust anyone here, Kiara. The only person I trust is you."His words struck me like a blow, and I struggled to process the weight of them. "Me? Veryon, what are you saying? Lucius and the others have been helping me—protecting me—""You don’t understand," he interrupted, his voice breaking slightly. "These walls, this place… they’re suffocating you. The spirits… they will come for you, Kiara.
The morning light filtered through the curtains, painting soft streaks of gold across the stone walls of my room. I lay still, staring at the ceiling, my body aching from the weight of emotions and responsibilities that had piled up over the past few days.Maidservant Tae's death still lingered in my thoughts, a dull ache in my chest that refused to fade. It wasn't just his loss—it was the ripple effect it caused, the reminder of how fragile everything was. I had been trying to find my footing, trying to recover, but it felt like every step forward was met with another obstacle.Lucius, ever the dutiful protector, had brought Yuva and Layla to my side. They were capable, sharp, and intimidating in their own right, but their constant vigilance only added to the tension surrounding me. They barely spoke, their focus always on their duties, and the awkwardness between us hung in the air like an invisible wall.Elena, on the other hand, was my saving grace. Her sarcastic jokes and infecti
The room was heavy with tension as the duke who spoke placed the lantern on the table. It sat there, unassuming yet brimming with the weight of history. I stared at the object, my green eyes narrowing as unease settled over me."This is one of the lanterns Athena used to trap spirits," the duke declared, his voice steady yet charged with excitement. "After her death, they were believed to be lost or destroyed. But here it is—an artifact of unimaginable power, Your Majesty."I reached forward, running my fingers over the intricate carvings etched into its surface. The faint glow emanating from it was almost imperceptible, like the dying embers of a once roaring fire."It's powerless," I said, placing the lantern back down with a decisive thud."Yes," the duke admitted reluctantly. "Its power has faded, but it can be reawakened—if the goddess, Athena, wills it."My jaw tightened at their words. "She's not ready," I replied flatly, meeting their expectant gazes with a firm, unyielding st
Lucuis POVAfter carefully tucking Kiara into bed, I quietly left her chambers. The hallway was still and dimly lit, the silence a welcome reprieve from her drunken ramblings. I shook my head, a small smile pulling at my lips as I thought about her antics. She'd be nursing quite the hangover in the morning.By the time I reached my own chamber, exhaustion tugged at me. The alcohol I'd consumed on the rooftop added a slight haze to my senses, though I'd been careful not to drink too much. As I closed the door behind me, ready to collapse into bed, I froze. Kael was standing in the middle of the room, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable."Don't you ever sleep?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.He smiled faintly, brushing off the remark. "Your Highness, the Dukes of Decresh have suddenly called for an impromptu meeting tomorrow morning," he said, his tone serious.I frowned, already uninterested. "Tell them to wait," I said dismissively, moving toward my bed.Before I could