Elena took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to run and never look back. Her muscles tensed as she gripped the sides of her gown. She took another step back, her shoulders stiffening, and then she saw it…how the look in his eyes shifted. The darkness in his orbs suddenly got replaced with something softer, as if he was making a silent promise to her. As if he were making a promise not to ever harm her. Although what she saw in his eyes disappeared almost immediately and was replaced with the familiar darkness, it was enough to make Elena move forward.
She totally ignored the crowd staring at her in awe and praising her silently as she focused her gaze ahead, walking toward her husband. "Oh, moon goddess, it feels like someone has pressed the fast-forward button in my life. Things are happening too fast." She complained in her head.
Elena soon reached her husband. He stretched his hand forward, and she took it. Both of them now stood side by side facing the Elder who was ever ready to bless the union.
"Long live the king!" The elder hailed, his voice loud and filled with pride. The people arose, following the elder as they hailed the King, their howls and claps reverberated through the hall. After a while, they sat down, allowing the elder to proceed.
"Now," the Elder began, his voice serious yet warm, "by the sacred laws of the moon and the bond that ties two souls as one, we shall begin the ceremony." He added as he grabbed King Killian's palm and tore through the middle with a silver knife. He did not flinch.
Then, the elder grabbed Elena's palm and repeated the action, she whimpered in pain. It was hurting her as if a fire was running through her palm, but the pain disappeared when the elder made her hold King Killian's hand.
Elder Pharoh cleared his throat before he continued. "Elena Miles, you have now been bound to your husband by the moon. You are now one with him." He paused, studying Elena for a while before he added, "Elena, do you promise to be with King Killian through thick and thin, take his people as your own, love and honor him as your husband till death do you both part?"
Elena gulped, her breath hitching. Of course, she could not easily make such promises. However, knowing that she had no choice and already belonged to King Killian, she voiced, "Yes, I do."
The people cheered, howling and whistling in pride.
The Elder smiled, poured a warm red liquid on Elena's forehead, before turning to King Killian and repeating the same question to which King Killian replied, "I do."
A few other traditional rights were done before the elder instructed the duo to face the crowd and announced. "All hail the King and Queen of KnightClaw City!"
Elena smiled, one of the true smiles she had allowed grace her face since she entered the palace, as she stared at the people clapping and cheering at her. They did not hate her. No one was cursing at her. They were genuinely happy that she was their Queen. Tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes as she fixed her eyes on them. Even though none of it was real, as she was only contracted to the King, it still felt good. For the first time in six years, Elena felt happy.
Well, not until all hell broke loose.
Elena was studying the crowd—her people, with so much pride and joy, when she saw him, the one warrior with a frown on his face, at the very front of the crowd. Before Elena could even make out the look on his face, he brought out the sword in his pocket and threw it at her with so much precision.
Elena's eyes widened in horror, and her breath caught in her throat as the sword whistled toward her with terrifying speed. She shut her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks as she accepted her fate. There was no time to move, no chance to evade. But in an instant, a strong hand gripped her waist, yanking her to safety.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she was met with the sight of a familiar, huge back.
King Killian.
Her blood ran cold as the reality of what had just happened hit her. Her legs buckled beneath her. King Killian had taken the sword. It was buried deep in his stomach.
"Arhh!" Screams filled the air as the people gasped in horror and disbelief.
However, the strangest thing happened almost immediately, and everyone stilled, including Elena.
King Killian simply pulled the knife that was shoved deep into his stomach and then tossed it to the side. He did this as if the huge sword were nothing but a little pin in which a little child had poked at him. Then, his heavy voice rang through the hall as he yelled, "Catch that fool!"
Some of the warriors sprinted into action, chasing after the fool who had dared try to harm the Queen, and then the other warriors began ushering the guest home.
King Killian did not even bother to ask Elena if she was okay because, well, he knew she definitely wasn't okay. He just scooped her into his arms, princess-style, as though she weighed nothing. He carried her all the way to their chamber, ignoring everything and everyone.
When he got to their room, he laid her gently on the bed. He used his thumb to wipe off her tears, then whispered, "Stop crying, princess, I'm going to handle this." he said, his gaze locked onto hers with a promise of vengeance burning in his eyes.
Elena's lips parted, but no words came out.
She was shaking. Not from the cold, not even from the near-death experience—but from him. From the way he looked at her. From the blood soaking through his clothes and the sword that had been in his stomach just moments ago. How could someone survive that? How could he still stand, still speak like nothing had happened?
She curled her fingers into the sheets beneath, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. "I.." She tried to speak, but her throat was dry. "W-why was he trying to kill me?" She managed to sputter out, tears streaming down her face. "And how are you okay right now?"
King Killian's expression softened, just slightly. He leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from Elena's face. "First of all, princess, I have no idea why someone in their right mind would dare harm my wife." His eyes darkened. "But I'll make sure to find out, then teach such fools a lesson."
"Secondly, I am the greatest king in the entire werewolf kingdom. I command death. A silly little sword can't possibly harm me."
Elena opened her mouth to speak, but King Killian stopped her as he placed a finger on her lips. "Hush my little wolf, rest up. As long as you're by my side, I won't let anything happen to you. So no thinking, no talks for now." He voiced, and Elena managed a shaky nod.
King Killian did not even notice it, but his actions were out of place. Out of the ordinary. He would normally not care about Elena's well-being after the incident, but he was there, trying to coax her. Yes, he could tell himself that he was following some sort of script, but was he truly following a script?
Could the cold Alpha King actually care? Or was he just protecting his most prized possession for his selfish gain?
****
After putting Elena to bed, King Killian strolled to the dungeon where the culprit was held. He wasn't surprised to see the fool crying and pleading for mercy. Well, he should. After crossing the Devil God's path, it was only normal for him to cry— because death was no longer the worst thing that could happen to him.
However, fortunately for him, King Killian was going to make it fast for the sake of his wife. He could still feel her fear, so he needed to go be with her.
The dungeon reeked of blood, mold, and the rot of old pain. The air was thick, heavy, and suffocating. Behind the man stood three strong warriors, silent as shadows, their faces expressionless, eyes trained on the pitiful figure wrapped in chains.
The man was a mess of torn flesh and trembling limbs. His clothes were soaked in filth and sweat, sticking to his body like a second skin. One eye was swollen shut, and blood trickled from his cracked lips as he sobbed uncontrollably, kneeling in a puddle of his own blood. Iron cuffs bounded his wrists and ankles, bolted to the wall behind him, restricting even the smallest movement.
King Killian stopped a few feet away, his piercing gaze never leaving the man's face. "You tried to touch what's mine," he said, his voice low, calm, and more terrifying than any scream. He crouched down to the man's level. "Now, I want to make this quick. So answer immediately."
"What prompted you to do what you did, warrior Louis?"
Warrior Louis stuttered, tears streaming down his face. "I-I….P-please..I-I."
Annoyed with how much stuttering was going on, King Killian slashed the warrior's face with his elongated claw. "Answer me in one sentence!"
The warrior yelled in excruciating pain, but he did not dare disobey the order. In one sentence, he said. "I did it for revenge. You killed my brother, the former head warrior for a simple mistake he made, and I wanted to avenge his death." Blood spluttered from his mouth as he finished.
King Killian rose slowly, brushing imaginary dust from his robe as he looked down at the man with disdain. "How foolish of you," he said coolly. "You risked your pathetic life for a petty grudge?"
"He was my brother!" Louis cried, his voice cracking. "He didn't deserve to die!"
Killian's expression didn't shift. "Perhaps he didn't. But I am the Death God. I do not tolerate mistakes. I do not give second chances." His eyes gleamed with ruthless certainty. "His death wasn't just a punishment. It was a necessary consequence."
He turned his back on the man, his voice echoing through the dungeon as he gave his final words. "Kill him. Make it slow and painful."
After giving his command, King Killian walked out of the dungeon. He reached his room, but to his surprise, Elena was gone. She wasn't sleeping on the bed like he had left her.