C9 The Dark King

The entire kingdom fell silent.

Aria stood frozen in the middle of the palace courtyard.

The voice still echoed through the streets.

"My daughter has returned."

Her heart pounded.

"My daughter?"

She looked at Seraphina.

The woman's face had gone completely pale.

"You know who that is."

Seraphina swallowed.

"Yes."

"Who?"

Before Seraphina could answer, Kael stepped between them.

"Everyone inside."

His voice carried the authority of a king.

The surrounding warriors immediately moved.

But Aria didn't.

She stared toward the mountains.

The red eyes were gone.

Only darkness remained.

"Kael."

He turned toward her.

"What?"

"Who is the Dark King?"

His expression hardened.

"The most dangerous creature in our history."

Aria's stomach tightened.

"Creature?"

Kael hesitated.

"King."

"Then why did he call me his daughter?"

Kael didn't answer.

Aria stepped closer.

"Kael."

He looked at her.

"I don't know."

She stared at him.

"You don't know?"

"I know what the legends say."

"Then tell me."

Kael glanced toward Seraphina.

The older woman lowered her head.

Kael sighed.

"The Dark King ruled the First Kingdom before it fell."

Aria listened carefully.

"He was once a protector of the ancient bloodline."

"Then what happened?"

"He betrayed it."

"Why?"

"No one knows."

Seraphina finally spoke.

"That isn't true."

Kael looked at her.

She continued.

"We know why."

Aria turned toward her.

"Then tell me."

Seraphina's eyes filled with sorrow.

"He fell in love with your mother."

Aria's breath caught.

"My mother?"

Seraphina nodded.

"The Dark King believed your mother belonged to him."

Kael's expression darkened.

"But she rejected him."

"And that was when everything changed."

Aria stared toward the mountains.

"So he killed her?"

Seraphina shook her head.

"No."

"Then who did?"

The woman looked at Kael.

Aria followed her gaze.

Kael's face became unreadable.

"Tell me."

He remained silent.

"Kael."

Finally, he spoke.

"My father."

Aria froze.

"What?"

"My father ordered the attack."

"Why?"

"Because he believed your mother had become a threat."

Aria's chest tightened.

"And you knew this?"

"I knew the official story."

"That's not what I asked."

Kael stepped closer.

"I discovered the truth only after becoming King."

Aria shook her head.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't know how."

She looked away.

For the first time since meeting him, she felt something she didn't want to feel.

Doubt.

Then the ground shook.

A deafening roar erupted from the mountains.

Every warrior in the courtyard immediately drew their weapons.

Seraphina grabbed Aria's arm.

"We need to move."

Aria pulled free.

"No."

"Aria!"

"I need answers."

"You'll die if you stay here."

Aria stared at the mountains.

"Then I'll face whatever is coming."

Kael stepped beside her.

"Not alone."

The palace gates suddenly slammed shut.

A massive barrier of silver energy formed around the kingdom.

Kael's warriors rushed into position.

"Your Majesty!"

A commander ran toward them.

"The eastern wall is under attack."

Kael turned immediately.

"How many?"

"Too many to count."

"Who leads them?"

The commander hesitated.

"The Hollow Moon."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"They crossed the gate."

Seraphina looked at Aria.

"They followed you."

Aria's pendant began glowing.

"I know."

The commander looked at the pendant.

His expression changed.

"Your Majesty..."

Kael raised a hand.

"I know."

He turned toward Aria.

"Stay here."

"No."

"Aria."

"You need warriors."

"I have them."

"You need someone who can stop the gate."

Kael stared at her.

"What are you saying?"

Aria looked toward the mountains.

"The gate brought me here."

Her fingers tightened around the pendant.

"Maybe I can close it."

Seraphina shook her head.

"Not without knowing how."

"Then help me."

The woman hesitated.

"I don't know if you can survive it."

Aria's eyes hardened.

"I've survived eighteen years of being unwanted."

She looked at Kael.

"I can survive this."

Kael studied her for several seconds.

Then he nodded.

"Stay beside me."

Aria smiled faintly.

"I was planning to."

***

The eastern wall exploded.

Black smoke filled the sky.

Hundreds of Lycans rushed toward the battlefield.

Kael led them.

Aria remained close behind him.

The first wave of Hollow Moon soldiers crossed the wall.

They wore black armor.

Their weapons were covered in strange symbols.

Kael raised his sword.

"Protect the palace."

The warriors charged.

The battlefield erupted.

Steel clashed.

Claws tore through armor.

Roars shook the ground.

Aria stood frozen for half a second.

She had never seen a battle like this.

Then someone attacked her.

She ducked.

The blade passed over her head.

Aria spun and struck the attacker.

Silver energy exploded from her hand.

He crashed into the ground.

Another came.

Then another.

Aria fought.

She wasn't graceful.

She wasn't trained.

But Lyra guided every movement.

"Left."

Aria moved.

A blade missed her shoulder.

"Down."

She ducked.

Another attacker flew over her.

"Now."

Aria struck.

Silver energy burst outward.

The warrior collapsed.

Aria stared at her hands.

"I can do this."

"Yes."

Then a deep growl sounded behind her.

Aria turned.

A massive wolf stood several feet away.

Its eyes were completely black.

She froze.

The creature lunged.

Aria raised her hands.

Nothing happened.

The wolf was too close.

Suddenly—

Kael appeared.

He slammed into the creature.

Both wolves crashed into the ground.

Kael transformed partially.

His claws tore through the creature's armor.

The wolf snapped at him.

Kael caught its jaws.

With a roar, he threw it across the battlefield.

It crashed into a stone pillar.

Kael turned toward Aria.

"Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

"No."

His eyes searched her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He nodded.

"Stay behind me."

Aria frowned.

"You said that already."

"And I'll keep saying it."

Despite everything happening around them, she almost laughed.

Then a scream echoed from the palace.

Kael's expression changed.

"Seraphina."

Aria turned.

The woman was standing near the palace entrance.

Three Hollow Moon warriors surrounded her.

Aria started running.

"Seraphina!"

One warrior raised his weapon.

Aria's pendant burned.

A pulse of silver energy exploded outward.

The three attackers were thrown backward.

Seraphina stared at Aria.

"You did that without touching them."

Aria looked at her hands.

"I didn't know I could."

Seraphina stepped closer.

"You haven't even begun."

A strange sound suddenly came from the mountains.

A heartbeat.

Slow.

Powerful.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Every warrior on the battlefield stopped.

The Hollow Moon soldiers lowered their weapons.

The Lycans froze.

Even Kael looked toward the mountains.

Aria felt the heartbeat inside her chest.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Lyra whispered,

"He's awake."

Aria's blood ran cold.

"Who?"

"The Dark King."

A crack appeared across the sky.

Not lightning.

Something else.

A black tear opened above the mountains.

Dark energy poured through it.

Then a figure emerged.

He floated above the battlefield.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

His black hair moved in the wind.

His eyes burned crimson.

A black crown rested on his head.

Every Lycan dropped to one knee.

Kael remained standing.

The figure looked across the battlefield.

Then his eyes found Aria.

His expression changed.

For the first time...

The Dark King smiled.

"My little moon."

Aria couldn't move.

He slowly descended.

Kael stepped in front of her.

"Stay away from her."

The Dark King laughed.

"Still protecting what belongs to me?"

Kael's eyes flashed gold.

"She belongs to no one."

The Dark King looked past him.

"Ask her blood."

Aria's pendant suddenly flew from her chest.

It floated between them.

The silver crescent turned black.

Aria gasped.

The Dark King's smile widened.

"Now..."

He stretched out his hand.

"...come home."

The blackened pendant floated between Aria and the Dark King.

Its silver glow had disappeared.

Only darkness remained.

Aria stared at it in disbelief.

"What did you do?"

The Dark King smiled.

"I did nothing."

His crimson eyes remained fixed on her.

"Your blood recognized me."

Kael stepped forward.

"Enough."

The Dark King's gaze shifted toward him.

"You have always been protective."

Kael's claws emerged.

"Take one more step toward her."

The Dark King laughed.

"Still hiding behind your title?"

Kael's eyes flashed gold.

"I don't need a title to kill you."

The Dark King smiled.

"There is the King I remember."

A violent wave of energy exploded between them.

Kael was thrown backward.

Aria screamed.

"Kael!"

He crashed into the stone wall.

Several warriors rushed toward him.

The Dark King didn't even look at them.

His attention remained on Aria.

"Come to me."

Aria shook her head.

"No."

The Dark King's expression darkened.

"Do not make me force you."

"I said no."

The pendant suddenly dropped into Aria's hand.

The moment she touched it, pain tore through her body.

She cried out.

A flood of images entered her mind.

Her mother.

The ancient kingdom.

The first Lycan Queen.

A battlefield covered in blood.

Then the Dark King.

He stood beside Aria's mother.

They were younger.

He was smiling.

She was laughing.

They were happy.

Aria gasped.

Then the vision changed.

Her mother was crying.

"You can't keep doing this."

"I am protecting you."

"You're destroying everything."

"I will destroy anyone who tries to take you from me."

Her mother shook her head.

"You don't understand."

The Dark King's eyes became red.

"Then make me understand."

"You cannot possess love."

"I don't want love."

His voice became cold.

"I want you."

The vision shattered.

Aria returned to the battlefield.

She was on her knees.

Kael was beside her.

"Aria."

She looked at him.

"I saw them."

"Who?"

"My mother."

Kael's expression tightened.

"And him."

She pointed toward the Dark King.

"He loved her."

Kael stared at the Dark King.

"Yes."

Aria's heart pounded.

"But she rejected him."

Kael nodded.

"Yes."

"That's why he destroyed the kingdom."

"Partly."

Aria looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

Kael's expression became grim.

"The betrayal was bigger than that."

The Dark King laughed from across the battlefield.

"Tell her."

Kael turned toward him.

The Dark King slowly approached.

"Tell your precious mate what your father did."

Kael's jaw tightened.

Aria looked between them.

"What did his father do?"

The Dark King smiled.

"He killed the woman I loved."

Kael's eyes flashed.

"You killed thousands."

"They were standing between me and her."

"You destroyed an entire kingdom."

"Because your father ordered her execution."

Aria's breath caught.

Kael shook his head.

"He was trying to stop a war."

"He started one."

The Dark King lifted his hand.

Black energy gathered around his fingers.

Kael immediately stepped in front of Aria.

"Stay behind me."

The Dark King laughed.

"Always the protector."

Kael charged.

The two kings collided.

The impact shook the battlefield.

Kael's claws struck the Dark King's chest.

The Dark King caught his wrist.

Then he threw him across the field.

Kael crashed through a stone wall.

Aria's heart jumped.

"Kael!"

The Dark King turned toward her.

"Now."

He extended his hand.

"Come."

Aria stood.

She was afraid.

But she refused to show it.

"You killed my mother."

The Dark King shook his head.

"No."

"Then who did?"

"Your own blood."

Aria froze.

"What?"

The Dark King stepped closer.

"Your mother was killed by the people who claimed they were protecting you."

Aria's mind raced.

Kael's father.

The Council.

The First Blood.

Everything suddenly felt connected.

"Why was I hidden?"

"Because they knew what you were."

"What am I?"

The Dark King smiled.

"The last Moon Keeper."

Aria's pendant began glowing again.

This time, the light was neither silver nor black.

It was white.

The entire battlefield fell silent.

Seraphina stared at Aria.

"No..."

Aria looked at her.

"What?"

The woman stepped backward.

"Your mother wasn't the last Moon Keeper."

Aria's heart stopped.

"Then who was?"

Seraphina's eyes filled with tears.

"You."

The words echoed through Aria's mind.

"You?"

Seraphina nodded.

"Your mother carried the title until you were born."

Aria looked at her pendant.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Because the Moon Keeper is not simply a title."

"What is it?"

Seraphina's voice trembled.

"She is the one who controls the Moon Gate."

Kael looked toward Aria.

His expression changed.

"The gate..."

Seraphina nodded.

"Can only be opened or closed by the Moon Keeper."

Aria suddenly understood.

The pendant.

The symbols.

The vision.

The gate.

Everything had responded to her.

The Dark King smiled.

"Now you understand why I need you."

Aria looked at him.

"You don't need me."

His smile disappeared.

"You will."

"No."

She tightened her fingers around the pendant.

"You need my power."

"Yes."

"But you will never have it."

The Dark King's eyes turned crimson.

"Do you think you can resist me?"

Aria lifted her chin.

"I already have."

The Dark King raised his hand.

A black wave of energy rushed toward her.

Kael appeared between them.

His body transformed.

Golden fur spread across his arms.

His claws extended.

He slammed both hands into the ground.

A wall of golden energy rose between Aria and the attack.

The collision created a deafening explosion.

Kael was forced backward.

Aria caught him.

"Are you okay?"

He looked at her.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"I've looked worse."

Aria almost laughed.

Then she noticed blood running down the side of his face.

Her smile disappeared.

"You need healing."

"Later."

"No."

She placed her hand against his chest.

Silver light immediately spread from her palm.

Kael stiffened.

The wound on his face began closing.

His eyes widened.

"What did you do?"

"I don't know."

The healing light continued.

His wounds disappeared.

The surrounding warriors stared.

Seraphina whispered,

"The Moon Keeper."

The Dark King watched them.

His expression became furious.

"You dare use her power against me."

Aria looked at him.

"I will use it however I choose."

The Dark King roared.

Dark energy exploded across the battlefield.

The silver barrier around the kingdom shattered.

Warriors were thrown backward.

Buildings cracked.

The sky darkened.

Kael grabbed Aria.

"We have to get you inside."

"No."

"Aria."

"Look."

She pointed toward the mountains.

The black tear in the sky was expanding.

Kael's expression changed.

"He's opening another gate."

Seraphina ran toward them.

"We have to stop him."

"How?"

She looked at Aria.

"The Moon Gate."

Aria stared at her.

"You said I control it."

"You do."

"Then tell me how."

Seraphina took her hand.

"Follow the bond."

"What bond?"

"The one between you and the Moon."

Aria frowned.

"That makes no sense."

"It doesn't have to."

Seraphina pointed toward the sky.

"Close your eyes."

Aria did.

The battlefield disappeared.

She heard the wind.

Then the heartbeat.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

The same ancient heartbeat from beneath the mountain.

She followed it.

Deeper.

Further.

Until she felt something inside her chest.

A door.

Aria touched it.

The door opened.

Silver light flooded through her.

She could suddenly see the entire kingdom.

Every warrior.

Every enemy.

Every wall.

Every tree.

Every stone.

And above them...

The Moon Gate.

Aria understood.

She raised both hands.

Silver energy erupted from her body.

The clouds began moving.

The two moons appeared above the kingdom.

The battlefield fell silent.

The Dark King looked up.

"What are you doing?"

Aria opened her eyes.

They were completely silver.

"I am closing the gate."

The Dark King stared at her.

"No."

He raised both hands.

Black energy surged toward the sky.

Aria pushed forward.

Silver and black energy collided above them.

The entire kingdom shook.

Kael watched her in awe.

"Aria..."

Her body trembled.

She was losing control.

Lyra's voice echoed inside her mind.

"You are not alone."

Aria gasped.

"What?"

"Trust the bond."

She looked at Kael.

He immediately understood.

He stepped closer.

"Aria."

She reached toward him.

He took her hand.

The moment their fingers touched...

A golden light joined the silver energy.

The Moon Gate began closing.

The Dark King roared.

"No!"

He launched himself toward them.

Kael turned.

"Keep going!"

Aria focused.

The gate narrowed.

The Dark King was almost upon them.

Kael charged.

The two kings collided once more.

Aria screamed.

"Kael!"

He was thrown across the battlefield.

The Dark King turned toward her.

The gate was almost closed.

He smiled.

"You think this ends here?"

Aria's heart pounded.

The Dark King reached for her.

Then the gate slammed shut.

A massive explosion of silver light swept across the kingdom.

The Dark King disappeared.

Silence.

Aria collapsed.

Kael caught her.

For several seconds, she couldn't move.

"Is he gone?"

Kael looked toward the mountains.

The black tear had vanished.

"I don't know."

Aria closed her eyes.

Then a whisper entered her mind.

"You cannot kill what you have not yet remembered."

Her eyes opened.

"Kael."

"What?"

Aria stared toward the mountains.

"He said something."

"What?"

She swallowed.

"He said I haven't remembered everything."

Kael's expression became serious.

"Then we find the truth."

Aria looked at him.

"And if the truth is worse than we expect?"

Kael tightened his grip around her.

"Then we face it together."

For the first time since her life had begun changing...

Aria believed him.

But far beneath the kingdom...

Behind the seventh door...

Something moved.

Two red eyes opened in the darkness.

And a voice whispered,

"The Moon Keeper has awakened."

"Now the real war can begin."