Chapter Six – A King's Fury
The throne room felt like a cage.
Aria paced back and forth, her hands clenching at her sides. She could still feel the heat of Kael's touch, his voice whispering her name as if it meant something. But now, he was out there, facing gods-know-what, and she was trapped in here, useless.
Every few minutes, the castle shuddered with the distant sounds of battle—roars, screams, the clash of steel. The firelight flickered wildly, as if even the flames feared the Nightborn pressing closer.
"I can't just sit here," she muttered to herself.
Kael had told her to stay put. But what if he didn't come back? What if this time, the shadows swallowed him whole?
Her chest tightened at the thought.
Before she could second-guess herself, she bolted for the door.
---
The corridors were chaos. Warriors sprinted past her, shouting orders, their black armor glinting under torchlight. Some carried weapons drenched in the black ichor of Nightborn blood. No one stopped her—they were too focused on surviving.
Aria followed the sound of battle toward the southern courtyard. The air grew colder with every step, thick with smoke and the coppery tang of blood.
Then she saw it.
Through the shattered archway, the courtyard stretched out like a nightmare. Nightborn swarmed over the walls—shifting, smoke-like creatures with glowing eyes and jagged teeth. The warriors fought desperately, but there were too many.
And at the center of it all was Kael.
---
He moved like a storm. His black-fire blade cut through the shadows, every swing graceful and brutal all at once. His silver hair was streaked with blood, his armor dented, but he stood unyielding, every strike sending ripples of dark energy through the creatures.
Aria froze, watching him. He was terrifying and beautiful all at once, like something carved from moonlight and wrath.
Then one of the Nightborn slipped past the warriors, slithering toward her.
Aria gasped, stumbling back. She grabbed a fallen spear from the ground, holding it awkwardly as the shadow lunged.
She jabbed blindly. The spear passed through it as if it were smoke.
"No, no, no—"
The creature's red eyes narrowed, its form twisting. Just as it leapt, a flash of black fire split it in two.
---
"Aria!"
Kael's voice was sharp enough to make her flinch. He was there, standing between her and the creature's dissolving remains, his chest rising and falling hard.
"What are you doing here?!"
"I—I wanted to help—"
"Help?" His voice thundered like distant storms. "You almost died!"
Before she could respond, another Nightborn lunged from behind. Kael caught it mid-air, his blade slicing it apart in a blaze of fire. His movements were furious now, his strikes harder, faster, as if her recklessness had ignited something dangerous inside him.
---
Within minutes, the courtyard fell silent. The last of the Nightborn vanished into smoke, leaving behind the stench of ash and blood.
Kael turned to her, his glowing eyes blazing—not with anger alone, but with something deeper.
"Do you have any idea what could've happened?" he demanded, his voice low and rough.
Aria swallowed. "I just… I couldn't sit there, waiting for you to die!"
Kael's jaw tightened. For a long moment, neither of them moved. Then, in two strides, he was in front of her, his hand gripping her chin—not harshly, but firmly enough that she had to meet his eyes.
"You are not to risk yourself like that again," he said, his voice a dangerous whisper.
Aria's heart hammered in her chest. His proximity was overwhelming—the heat of his body, the metallic scent of his blood mixed with something darker and intoxicating.
"And if I don't?" she whispered, surprising even herself.
Kael's breath hitched. His hand lingered against her jaw, his thumb brushing her skin as if by accident. For a moment, the fury in his gaze softened, replaced by something raw and unspoken.
"Then I will lose my mind," he murmured.
---
Aria's breath caught.
The words hung between them like fire, and suddenly the world seemed to shrink until there was nothing but the two of them. His face was inches from hers, his glowing eyes flicking to her lips, his breath warm against her skin.
She swore he was going to kiss her.
Her pulse raced so fast she thought her heart might burst.
But then, Kael pulled back.
"This is dangerous," he muttered, turning away.
Aria blinked. "What is?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he wiped the blood from his sword and sheathed it with a sharp click. "You. Me. Whatever this is. You don't understand the risk."
---
Aria's frustration flared. "Then explain it to me! Stop treating me like I'm fragile. You think I can't handle the truth?"
Kael turned to her, his expression unreadable. "The truth is, Aria, I've spent years shutting out everything that could make me feel… human. It's the only way to survive this curse. And then you appeared, and—" He broke off, his jaw tightening.
"And what?" she pressed, stepping closer.
His gaze burned into hers. "And now I can't stop thinking about you. I can't fight like I should because I'm worried about you."
Her breath hitched. "Kael…"
He shook his head, as if trying to push the words back, but it was too late. The air between them was charged, heavy, electric.
---
A low growl echoed in the distance, breaking the moment.
Kael's attention snapped back to the courtyard gates. "They're regrouping," he said sharply. "We need to get inside."
He grabbed her hand—his touch warm, almost too warm—and led her back through the corridors. She didn't resist. Her mind was spinning too fast, her heart still caught on what he'd just admitted.
---
When they reached her room, Kael finally let go. His fingers lingered for just a second before he stepped back.
"Stay here," he said, his voice low but firm. "No more wandering. Do you understand?"
Aria looked at him, her chest still tight. "Kael… I don't want you to keep pushing me away."
His eyes softened for a heartbeat. Then he turned, his silver hair catching the light as he walked out.
The door closed, and Aria collapsed onto the bed, her heart pounding.
She wasn't sure what scared her more—that Kael felt something for her… or that she was falling for him too.