*This chapter contains intimate themes and explicit content. Reader discretion is advised.
Kairan stirred, reaching out instinctively, but his hand met empty sheets. The absence of warmth made him frown.
A sharp pang of disappointment settled in his chest.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. The servants entered, carrying breakfast and fresh linens.
"His Majesty has already left for the council briefing regarding the Grand Ball," one of them informed him with a bow.
Kairan sighed. Of course. The ball was tonight-an event that required Aldric's full attention.
"Did he leave a message?"
"No, Your Highness, but he asked us to ensure your morning runs smoothly."
Kairan hummed in acknowledgment as they set a steaming cup before him. The tea's aroma was faintly different from usual-herbal, slightly bitter.
He lifted the cup, taking a slow sip.
The moment the liquid touched his tongue, something felt off.
It wasn't just the bitterness-it was the way it lingered, an almost metallic aftertaste curling at the edges of his senses. His magic stirred uneasily beneath his skin.
He set the cup down. "This isn't my usual tea."
One of the servants quickly bowed. "Apologies, Your Highness. The head physician prescribed it. It's meant to be consumed hot in the mornings to enhance vitality and balance magic."
Kairan's fingers tapped lightly against the porcelain.
Something about it didn't sit right. But he pushed the thought aside.
Perhaps he was just imagining things, Because of what Selene said.
With a quiet exhale, he rose from his seat.
"I'll be taking my bath now."
Steam curled around him as he stepped out of the bath, water clinging to his sun-kissed skin. Droplets traced slow paths down his chest, the warmth lingering even as the cool air brushed against him.
He reached for a towel-only to halt as the door clicked open.
Aldric stood in the doorway.
The golden-haired king's blue eyes darkened as he took in the sight before him. His gaze dragged over Kairan's bare skin, slow and hungry.
Kairan swallowed. "You're back."
Aldric's response was a quiet hum. Then, without a word, he strode forward-closing the distance between them in mere seconds.
Strong, calloused hands gripped Kairan's waist, pulling him flush against Aldric's clothed body. Kairan's breath hitched as their bare skin and fabric met, heat radiating between them.
"You were gone when I woke up," Kairan murmured, fingers pressing into Aldric's shoulders.
Aldric smirked, lips brushing against Kairan's damp throat. "I had matters to attend to."
"Mm. And now?"
Aldric tilted Kairan's chin up, his breath fanning warm against his lips. "Now, I have a far more pressing matter."
Their mouths met-a slow, searing kiss.
Kairan melted into it, fingers tangling in Aldric's hair as their bodies pressed together. The heat between them ignited-a slow, deliberate burn.
Kairan exhaled sharply, melting into him
as Aldric's fingers tangled in his hair tilting
his head just enough to deepen the kiss.
Aldric's hands slipped beneath Kairan's tunic, calloused fingers gliding over bare skin. Kairan's breath hitched as strong hands wrapped around him, stroking slow.
"Aldric..." His voice wavered.
Aldric smirked, pressing closer. "Sensitive from yesterday?."
Their hips rocked together, the friction sending a sharp jolt of pleasure through Kairan. Aldric's strokes quickened, teasing him to the edge.Kairan exhaled sharply, melting into it as Aldric's fingers tangled in his hair, tilting his head just enough to deepen the kiss. The slide of their tongues was deliberate-slow, teasing, demanding.
Aldric's hands roamed lower, over the silk of Kairan's robes, then beneath, sliding up his bare thighs. Kairan sucked in a breath when rough, calloused fingers brushed against him, grazing over his growing arousal.
"Aldric..." His voice came out breathless, barely a plea, but Aldric caught it, savoring the way Kairan trembled beneath his touch.
He didn't rush-he never did. Instead, he pulled back slightly, studying Kairan's face as he pushed the fabric aside completely, wrapping his fingers around him.
Kairan gasped softly, his hips jerking into the touch. His hands gripped Aldric's shoulders, but the king only smirked, stroking him with a deliberate slowness that made Kairan's breath stutter.
"Patience," Aldric murmured.
Kairan's protests died in his throat when Aldric suddenly reached down, grasping himself as well, pressing their lengths together. The sensation was electric, the heat of their bodies intensifying as Aldric began to move, stroking them both in firm, languid motions.
Kairan's head fell against Aldric's shoulder, lips parting in a silent moan. The pressure, the friction-it was almost too much.
Aldric's breath was hot against his ear. "Look at you," he murmured. "So sensitive tonight."
Kairan bit his lip, barely holding back a sound as Aldric tightened his grip, stroking them both faster.
Their movements grew more desperate, hips grinding together, pleasure coiling hot and tight in their stomachs. Kairan could feel the tension building, every brush of Aldric's fingers pushing him closer to the edge.
Kairan's breath turned ragged, his fingers clutching at Aldric's shoulders. The slow, torturous pace built into something unbearable-until he finally shattered.
His release spilled over Aldric's fingers, and a heartbeat later, Aldric followed with a deep groan, body trembling against his.
For a long moment, they remained tangled together, breathless.
Kairan finally exhaled. "Now I need to bath again."
By the time Kairan stepped into the bedroom-clean, dressed, and composed-Aldric was already seated, waiting for him at the breakfast table.
"The meal was pleasant, the scent of warm bread and spiced tea filling the air. As they ate, Aldric discussed the final preparations for the Grand Ball.
The midday sun hung high as Kairan stepped onto the training grounds, the scent of damp earth thick in the air.
He exhaled deeply, extending a hand. A ribbon of water rose from the bowl, twisting with the motion of his fingers before merging with the vines he summoned from the earth.
For a moment, it was perfect.
Then, suddenly-the water froze.
The vines beneath his feet blackened, cracking apart.
A sharp pulse of unstable energy rippled through him, and Kairan staggered back. His heartbeat thundered. He tried again, but his magic lashed out instead of flowing smoothly.
The ground beneath him split open.
Kairan gasped, dropping to one knee. A sharp pain bloomed in his chest. The exhaustion from earlier returned tenfold, heavy and unnatural.
What the hell is happening to me?
Something was wrong. His magic had never been this unstable before.
His breathing turned uneven. He pressed a hand to his chest, willing his magic to settle.
Maybe it was overtraining.
Or maybe... it was something worse.
Night
The evening air was thick with the scent of burning incense as Kairan fastened the clasps on his emerald and gold tunic. He adjusted the cuffs, fingers trembling slightly.
He hadn't told Aldric about the instability in his magic. Not yet.
The door clicked open.
Warmth enveloped him as strong arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
A deep, familiar voice murmured, "I barely saw you today."
Kairan shivered as Aldric's lips brushed the side of his neck.
"Whose fault is that?" Kairan teased, tilting his head slightly.
You look beautiful, Aldric said pressing a kiss on Kairan's forehead.
The grand hall was bathed in the glow of enchanted chandeliers, the decorations embodying the essence of Light-Fae magic. Water fountains shimmered like liquid diamonds, while lush greenery intertwined with golden embellishments.
Kairan sat beside Aldric at the royal table, engaged in polite conversation with the elder council and the royal family.
Valeran, ever the opportunist, lifted his glass. "An occasion like this calls for good wine."
Aldric gave a nod, and servants poured the rich, crimson liquid into their goblets. Kairan took a sip and winced. The wine was stronger than usual. He wasn't a fan of strong liquor.
As the evening carried on, a deep chime echoed through the hall.
Conversations hushed. The music faded.
The High Priest stepped forward, his presence commanding. Dressed in ceremonial white and gold robes, he held an ancient crystal orb in his hands-a sacred artifact used to reveal the kingdom's fate.
The Annual Prediction was a tradition older than any ruler present. Each year, the High Priest would summon a vision, revealing what lay ahead for the kingdom.
A large ceremonial water basin had been placed at the center of the hall, its surface perfectly still, waiting to reflect whatever the crystal revealed.
The High Priest raised the orb, his voice deep and resonant as he began the chant. The ancient language wove through the air like a spell, each word reverberating through the walls.
Then-the crystal began to glow.
The light intensified, swirling and flickering. A whispering wind swept through the hall as the basin's water rippled- and then, suddenly, the vision appeared.
At first, it was a blur. Then-
Fire. Smoke. The Light-Fae Kingdom in ruins.
The crowd gasped.
The vision sharpened-disease spreading like wildfire, people collapsing in the streets, their skin marked with strange dark veins. Soldiers lay slaughtered, the palace gates torn open.
And in the very heart of the destruction, one figure stood.
A man with sun-kissed skin and hazel eyes.
Kairan.
The room erupted into whispers, shock, disbelief.
"No..." Kairan whispered, staring at his own reflection in the water.
The High Priest suddenly staggered, his eyes glowing silver. The crystal's glow intensified, and when he spoke again, his voice was not his own.
"The land shall suffer..."
"The rivers shall run dry..."
"And at the heart of it all-"
"The Mixed-Blood shall stand."
Then the High Priest collapsed the vision took a lot of mana from him.
Nobles gasped, some recoiling from Kairan, others murmuring amongst themselves in fear.
Kairan's pulse thundered. The words echoed in his head, sinking claws into his heart.
"The Mixed-Blood Consort."
"At the heart of the destruction."
He clenched his fists, his body tense, trembling.
Valeran stepped forward, seizing the moment like a predator sensing weakness.
"This is an omen!" he declared, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. "The kingdom's downfall, disease, ruin-all tied to him!"
Kairan's breath caught as all eyes turned to him.
"The prediction is clear," Valeran continued, his gaze sharp. "Perhaps the kingdom should have never placed its faith in a consort of mixed blood. His very existence could be a curse upon us all!"
Kairan's jaw clenched.
Before he could speak, Aldric's voice rang out-cold, authoritative.
"Enough."
The room fell silent again.
He turned to the head of the royal guards. "Amelia, escort Kairan to his chambers. He is unwell."
Kairan clenched his jaw. He had never made unreasonable requests, but this time, he did not want to be alone. He reached for Aldric's hand.
"Come with me, Aldric... I need you."
Aldric's gaze softened, but he hesitated. "Go with the guards for now. I'll come soon."
Just as Kairan turned to leave, a sudden, searing pain struck his chest.
His breath hitched. His knees buckled. He gasped as something within him clawed to be freed.
And then-he collapsed.
His fingers twitched, instinctively grasping at the cool surface. But where his hand touched-
The grass burned.
Gasps filled the room as his body hit the ground.
"Fire magic."
Then a shadow loomed over him.
Valeran.
He crouched down, his voice dropping into a low, poisonous whisper.
"Perhaps your mother was nothing but a whore," he murmured. "A woman who laid with a Dark-Fae,-who knows what else? Your very birth might be a stain upon this kingdom."
Kairan's breath shook. His body tensed.
Something inside him snapped.
The Unleashing
A wave of power exploded outward.
The pillars cracked. The chandeliers flickered. Wind tore through the hall as the flames from the torches stretched unnaturally.
Lyria and Amelia rushed to stop him- but the moment their hands touched him, a pulse of magic sent them flying back.
Kairan's vision blurred, his body overtaken by something raw, something uncontrollable.
His heartbeat pounded.
His fingers burned.
The whole hall erupted in fire.
And in the midst of it all-
He saw Aldric.
Standing there, staring at him in horror and confusion.
Then-darkness.