Chapter 47: The Shadow King’s Possession

[The Next Day—Emperor’s Tent—Northern Territory]

Morning had settled quietly over the Imperial camp.

The northern wind had weakened during the night, leaving only the occasional rustle of canvas and the distant footsteps of the guards stationed outside the emperor’s tent. Pale sunlight slipped through the opening of the tent, warming the thick blankets where Kael lay.

He was asleep or, at least, he had been as a quiet voice reached him through the haze of sleep. "The King and Queen are also being controlled, Sire."

Kael’s brows furrowed; the voice continued, calm but serious.

"I have followed their movements since last night, but I still haven’t discovered who is controlling them. The source remains completely unknown."

Kael slowly opened his eyes; for several seconds, his vision remained blurred, and then he realized something: he wasn’t alone.

His back was pressed comfortably against Lytharion’s chest, one of the deity’s arms wrapped securely around his waist. Lytharion was still half-reclined against the pillows, his long black hair falling loosely over his shoulders.

And standing several steps away a man with long silver hair and piercing silver eyes was kneeling on one knee. Kael’s eyes widened.

Zevran.

The silver fox servant of the Shadow King had returned. Kael immediately tried to sit up. Lytharion’s arm tightened around his waist.

"Don’t."

His voice was still rough with sleep as Kael froze. "Lytharion..."

"You’re injured."

"But Zevran is here."

"I know."

Kael glanced toward the kneeling figure, then back at Lytharion. "Then let me sit properly. I cannot stay like this."

Lytharion looked at him for a moment, and there was a faint amusement in those golden eyes. "Why?"

Kael’s cheeks immediately began to warm as he lowered his voice. "Because...there is someone else in the room."

Silence, and then Lytharion’s eyebrow lifted as he smirked. "Are you shy, my queen?"

Kael stared at him. "I am talking about manners."

A quiet chuckle escaped Lytharion. "You’re adorable when you’re embarrassed."

"Lytharion."

"Yes, my queen?"

"Please."

Lytharion smiled as he finally loosened his hold enough for Kael to adjust himself, but instead of allowing him to move away, he carefully pulled the blanket higher around his shoulders.

"Better?"

Kael sighed.

"...Yes."

Only then did he notice Zevran hadn’t moved. The silver-haired servant’s head remained lowered, his gaze fixed firmly upon the floor. Kael looked at him awkwardly. "You don’t have to kneel like that."

Zevran didn’t lift his head. "My apologies, Your Majesty."

Kael blinked. Lytharion’s fingers casually brushed through Kael’s hair. "Do not concern yourself with him. No servant of a deity is permitted to look directly upon my mate without permission, so being in the same room is the same as them not being, my queen.

"That’s...rather extreme."

"I’m the Lord of Darkness."

Lytharion said it so casually that Kael couldn’t help staring. "You make that sound like an excuse for everything."

"It usually is."

Kael almost smiled, then Zevran finally spoke. "I apologize, Your Majesty. I did not intend to intrude upon your private chambers. I came only because my Sovereign ordered me to report immediately."

Lytharion’s expression became more serious.

"Continue."

Zevran bowed his head slightly. "I followed the traces of the Grimfangs throughout the night."

Kael’s expression changed. Zevran’s silver eyes remained lowered. "The king and queen are not acting of their own will."

Kael’s fingers tightened around the blanket. "What do you mean?"

"There is something controlling them."

Silence settled over the tent.

Lytharion’s hand stopped moving through Kael’s hair. Zevran continued. "I attempted to trace the source several times. Every time I approached the trail, it disappeared."

"Disappeared?" Kael repeated.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zevran’s voice became quieter. "It is as though whoever is controlling them knows when they are being followed."

Kael’s amber eyes narrowed. "But...how can a beast be controlled? Is it possible to control them?"

"No mortal should be capable of controlling a Grimfang," Lytharion said.

A chill passed through the tent.

Kael looked toward Lytharion.

"Then the question isn’t whether the Grimfang King and Queen are being controlled." Lytharion’s golden eyes darkened. "It is who is controlling them...and why they want my queen dead."

Kael’s breath caught slightly. Zevran lowered his head. "My Sovereign...there is one more matter."

Lytharion looked at him. "I believe the force controlling them is not coming from the Grimfang territory."

Kael stiffened.

"Then where?"

Zevran hesitated. "I’m not certain, but the trail seems to lead...outside the northern territory."

Silence.

Lytharion’s fingers slowly curled against the blanket. Kael swallowed. "Then someone outside the Grimfang territory is controlling them."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Lytharion leaned back slightly; for several seconds, he said nothing, and then he looked at Zevran. "Leave and find the king and queen."

Zevran immediately bowed. Lytharion’s voice became colder.

"Do not engage them unless necessary. Follow them. Find where they go when they are not being watched and whoever is controlling them. We need to find them. I want to know who is foolish enough to reach for what belongs to me."

Zevran bowed deeply. "As my Sovereign commands."

His body began dissolving into thin wisps of shadow; before disappearing completely, he added quietly, "I shall return with an answer."

Then—

FWOOSH.

He vanished, and the tent became quiet again, and for several moments, Kael simply stared at the empty space where Zevran had disappeared. Then he felt Lytharion’s arm tighten gently around his waist.

"I have already summoned a healer from the Imperial Palace; he should arrive shortly."

Kael nodded, saying, "Thank you."

Lytharion brushed a loose strand of hair away from Kael’s forehead, his expression calm again.

"He will examine your wounds, make certain the Grimfang’s lightning left no lasting damage, and then..." His golden eyes shifted toward the tent entrance. "We leave this territory as soon as you defeat the grimfang king and queen."

Kael frowned as he studied his face for a moment. "Are you going somewhere?"

"No."

The answer came immediately. Kael blinked. Lytharion’s thumb moved slowly along his cheek.

"I am not leaving you."

Something in Kael’s chest softened, but then Lytharion’s expression became colder. "However, ending the Grimfang threat is not something I am permitted to do, since they are mortal creatures. I have already interfered with the affairs of this world more than I should have. I stopped the attack because they harmed my mate; that was enough."

His voice lowered.

"But destroying an entire species because it threatens your empire is the duty of its emperor."

Kael remained silent. Lytharion looked directly into his eyes. "You have the authority to do what I cannot. So...after the healer arrives...you will end the Grimfang threat."

The words were calm and absolute.

"There is only one way to stop the remaining Grimfangs from being controlled: ending their king and queen."

The tent fell silent.

Kael stared into those ancient golden eyes, searching for hesitation; there was none. Lytharion wasn’t encouraging him out of cruelty; he was simply stating what he believed had to be done.

After a moment, Kael slowly nodded. "Yes."

Lytharion’s expression softened again.

"Good."

For a brief moment, neither emperor nor deity thought about Grimfangs, assassins, or the unknown hand moving behind the shadows; there was only the quiet warmth of the morning...and the strange comfort of waking in each other’s arms.

Then Kael suddenly frowned and glanced around the tent. "Where is Veyrith?"

Silence.

Lytharion’s expression didn’t change. "He is receiving his punishment."

Kael stared. "What?"

"He failed to protect you; he was created from my power. I entrusted him with one purpose...to protect you while I was not beside you."

Kael’s eyes widened. "But he tried!"

"He failed."

"But—"

"My queen." The deity’s golden gaze locked onto his. "He was supposed to protect you."

For a moment, Kael could see it, not anger toward Veyrith, something far more dangerous.

Possessiveness.

The kind that came from a deity who considered Kael’s safety an absolute law. Kael softened. "He did everything he could; please release him."

Still nothing, then the Lord of Darkness finally sighed. "You truly want him back?"

"I do."

A long pause, then Lytharion closed his eyes. "You are far too merciful."

Kael smiled faintly.

"And you are far too cruel."

Lytharion’s eyes opened; for one heartbeat, the entire atmosphere changed. Kael had just called the Lord of Darkness cruel, yet instead of becoming angry... Lytharion simply stared at him.

Then his lips twitched. "Was I just scolded?"

Kael’s cheeks warmed as he said, "I...apologize."

Lytharion stared at him for another second, then he looked away with an irritated click of his tongue, and then his gaze lowered toward the shadows beneath the bed.

The darkness beneath them suddenly moved.

STIRRR...

Kael’s eyes widened. Lytharion’s shadow began to writhe across the floor as though something enormous were moving beneath its surface.

Then—

FWWOOOSHHH!

A black blur shot out of the darkness.

"CAWWWW—!!!"

Veyrith emerged and landed directly on Kael’s lap. Kael caught him instinctively. "Veyrith!"

The raven immediately buried his head against Kael’s palm; his feathers were trembling. "Caw..."

Kael’s expression softened as he carefully stroked the raven’s head with his thumb. "Oh, you poor thing, are you alright?"

Veyrith nudged his palm again. "Cawww... cawwwww..."

Kael’s heart tightened. "You’re still frightened."

Veyrith tucked himself closer against him. Kael gently rubbed his feathers. "I apologize; because of me, you were punished."

"Tch." Lytharion looked away. "He received his punishment for failing his duty."

Kael glanced toward him.

"You should show mercy sometimes."

Lytharion froze again as his golden eyes slowly moved toward Kael, then toward Veyrith. The raven was currently sitting comfortably on Kael’s lap, receiving gentle strokes beneath his chin.

Then back to Kael.

Lytharion stared at him, the Lord of Darkness...the deity who had erased an entire battlefield the previous night...looked genuinely offended by the discovery that his own mate had reprimanded him.

His gaze returned to Veyrith; the raven gave a satisfied little—"Cawww..."

Lytharion’s eye twitched. "You."

Veyrith immediately hid his face against Kael’s chest as he almost laughed. "Did you miss me?"

"CAWWW!~~~!!!"

Lytharion leaned back against the pillows, crossing his arms. His expression was that of a tyrant deity forced to tolerate an extremely annoying creature solely because his beloved mate had requested it.

Then Veyrith nudged Kael’s hand again. Kael smiled and began stroking his feathers. Lytharion watched as his gaze remained fixed on Veyrith. "I’m merely reconsidering whether resurrecting him was a wise decision."

And for the first time that morning, the Lord of Darkness looked almost annoyed by something, which was part of him.