(Damien's POV)
I woke to the weight of silence, heavy as stone pressing against my chest. My body was weak, the ache in my limbs sharp with every movement, but I was alive. That in itself was a miracle. My last memory before the darkness was pain, the searing poison burning through me and Adrian's face flashing in my mind, the betrayal carved into his smile.
When my eyes opened to Selene's teary face, Kael's sadness and Elara's presence at my side, I felt the weight of all I had lost and all I was about to reclaim.
Selene's hand trembled as she pressed it to mine. "Brother… you're awake." Her voice cracked with relief.
Elara, calm as always, nodded. "You've rested long enough, Damien. The kingdom needs to see its king."
The words should have comforted me, but instead they fanned the flames in my chest.
The kingdom needed a king and I had almost been robbed of being one. Adrian. Lucien. Every smile, every soft word we shared, it had all been a lie. A trap. A clever design to weaken me, to strip away the shield I carried for my people. And I had fallen for it like a fool.
I wanted to spit the memory out of me, but instead I swallowed the rage and forced myself to sit upright.
"Summon the council," I rasped, my voice raw but firm. "They must know their king is not dead."
Selene protested, eyes wide. "You're not strong enough to sit in court. You've just—"
"I said summon them," I cut her off, sharper than I intended. Her face fell, and guilt tugged at me, but the fury inside left no room for softness. I couldn't let it. Not anymore.
Elara's sharp eyes studied me, her silence heavy with meaning. She saw what Selene could not that this wasn't just about ruling. This was vengeance.
When they left me alone to prepare, the chamber was suffocating. I stood slowly, every joint screaming in protest, and dressed myself. Each piece of clothing felt heavier than armor, but I forced it on. My reflection in the mirror startled me. I looked like death returned to walk the earth, pale skin, tired eyes, but alive. Alive enough to hunt.
As I fastened the last clasp, I whispered to myself
"Adrian never loved me. He never cared. I were his game. His plan."
My fists clenched so tightly my nails bit into my palms. "And Lucien… I will tear his head from his shoulders with my own hands. He will pay for what he did."
I could almost hear their voices mocking me in my head. Adrian's smooth laughter, Lucien's sneering tone. They thought me weak. They thought me finished. They were wrong.
When I descended the great stairs toward the council chamber, murmurs rippled through the halls. People gasped, bowed, clutched at one another.
"It's the king—he's alive."
"By the gods, it's Damien…"
"They said he was dead…"
Their awe fed me, gave me strength where my body faltered. Yes. Let them see. Let them know their king cannot be killed so easily.
The heavy doors of the council chamber groaned open. I stepped inside. All conversation ceased instantly.
Every pair of eyes turned toward me, shock painted across every face. The elders stiffened in their seats, their mouths agape.
Some nobles rose, bowing deeply, others whispered in disbelief.
Kael, faithful as always, was the first to kneel. His eyes shone with something between pride and sorrow.
I let the silence stretch until it was nearly unbearable, then spoke, my voice carrying across the hall
"Tomorrow night, we march to war."
A collective gasp filled the chamber.
One elder, his voice trembling, stood. "Your Majesty, forgive me… but you've only just returned from the brink of death. Surely you must..."
"I will hear no excuses." I cut him off, my anger rising. "While I lay poisoned almost dying, Lucien plotted. Adrian attacked like a coward. And what did you do? We are going to attack them, just like they did us and my kingdom. No one dares to mess with me and get away with it."
The elder paled, lowering his head in shame.
Another councilor spoke hesitantly, "Majesty, if we rush into war unprepared, the people will suffer..."
"The people already suffer!" I thundered, slamming my hand against the table. Pain shot up my arm, but I didn't show it. "They nearly lost their king. Do you not care? Tomorrow night, we take back what was stolen. We make them bleed." "If you think you want to go against me, walk out of here immediately!" I growl, the air filled with my rage and their fear.
No one dared to argue further. The air was thick with fear and my fury.
"Council dismissed," I declared, turning away.
Selene approached quickly, her small frame trembling as she touched my arm. Her eyes brimmed with tears. "Brother, please… calm down. I just got you back. I can't lose you again."
Her voice cracked, and it pierced through my armor of rage for just a moment. I softened my tone. "You won't lose me, Selene. I promise."
Kael bowed deeply after her, his loyalty unwavering. "My king," he said, before following Selene out.
The chamber grew quieter, leaving only Elara and me.
She didn't speak at once. She watched me, eyes sharp, calculating. Finally, she said softly, "Your father would weep if he saw you like this. Blinded by rage."
I turned on her, my anger sparking again. "Do not speak of my father..."
"I will," she interrupted coolly. "Because I remember what he stood for. I remember when there was peace between the clans."
Her words caught me off guard. She stepped closer, her voice carrying the weight of memory.
"When I was a child, vampires and wolves lived in uneasy harmony. It wasn't perfect, but it was peace. Until greed and hatred poisoned it. Until laws forbade us from even speaking to one another. Do you know what it was like, Damien?"
I shook my head, unwilling to answer.
Her eyes softened, briefly. "I had a friend once. A vampire girl named Liora. She was no noble, just a commoner. But she was kind. Brave. We loved each other like sisters.
One day, the law caught us together. They called her traitor. They killed her burned her alive for daring to be my friend."
Her voice wavered, the rarest crack in her iron composure. "From that day, wolves and vampires became sworn enemies. Blood against blood. I lost her because of their hate."
Her words dug at something deep inside me, but I forced myself to remain hard. "And what would you have me do? Forgive them for what they did?"
"No," she said firmly. "I would have you be wise. Vengeance may burn bright, but it consumes everything."
I remained silent refusing to look at her.
"While you were unconscious," She continued
"I went to your private chamber, forgive me. I found notes and letters and one in particular caught my attention"
My blood froze.
She watched my face carefully, and the horror I felt betrayed me.
"Yes," she said quietly. "from King Adrian. And the look on your face tells me what i read is true."
My throat felt dry. I wanted to deny it, but the truth was etched on my expression.
"Damien," she said gently, almost motherly. "End it. Whatever it was. If the council, if the people knew…" She shook her head. "It would destroy you. Destroy everything."
I clenched my jaw. "There is nothing to end. He tried to kill me. Whatever there was, it's a lie. And now he will pay. They will all pay"
Her eyes searched mine for a moment, then she sighed, weary. "Very well. I will not push further. But be careful. You are still weak, whether you admit it or not. And this path you walk, it is dangerous."
"I am not weak, I am fine." I said, my voice like iron. "And I will not return tomorrow until half the vampire kingdom lies in ruins."
I turned from her, my cloak sweeping behind me as I strode toward the doors. Her voice followed me, soft but heavy
"Then may the gods have mercy on you, Damien. Because vengeance will not."
I did not look back.
And so, as the torches flickered along the stone walls and the kingdom buzzed with whispers of my return, I carried only one truth in my heart
I would not rest until Adrian and his people paid in blood.
Most especially that coward Lucien.
His head is mine.