A king's decree .(^•^)
Kyon's smirk never faltered. He knew what Cassian was doing. This wasn't about a bodyguard; it was about possession, about asserting dominance in the most public and humiliating way possible. The councilors were watching, their faces alight with anticipation.
"Sorry, brother," Kyon said, his voice a cool, collected purr. "But that one is mine."
The words hung in the air, a thinly veiled declaration of ownership. The King's frown deepened. "Kyon, this is not a marketplace. Who is this warrior? Speak his name, Cassian."
A triumphant smile, sharp and cruel, spread across Cassian's face. He looked directly at Kyon, enjoying the small, silent victory. "His name," Cassian stated, his voice ringing through the chamber, "is Arion. Arion, the Dragon-Slayer."
The chamber erupted in a murmur of approval. Arion's name was synonymous with valor and strength. He was a hero, a legend. To have him as a bodyguard would elevate any alpha's standing. Kyon's own victory in claiming Arion was now being twisted into a public spectacle, and his brother was stealing the prize right from under his nose.
The King's face broke into a broad smile. "Arion? The Dragon-Slayer? Excellent. He is precisely the kind of man we need. Loyal, disciplined, and with a reputation that will bolster your position. It is settled. Arion will serve as your personal bodyguard, Cassian."
Kyon's composure was a fragile thing, stretched to its breaking point. He watched his father, the man who had always favored Cassian, agree without a moment's hesitation. The counselors, who had laughed at his heritage, now nodded and whispered in agreement, a collective smile on their faces. They wanted to see the supposed 'perfect' heir humbled. They wanted to see him lose.
The King, in a final, damning motion, turned to a scribe. "Draw up the official assignment papers at once. A formal summons will be sent to the warrior Arion, effective immediately."
Kyon stood there, a prince with all the power in the kingdom, yet utterly powerless in this moment. He had claimed Arion as his own, a truth tattooed on Arion's skin and etched into his soul. But his brother, with a few well-chosen words, had just turned Arion into a pawn in their endless game of one-upmanship. The humiliation was a raw, burning fire in his gut. Arion was no longer just his shame, his secret. He was a prize to be won, a tool to be used, and now, he was on his way to his most dangerous prison yet: Cassian's personal guard.