Chapter 51: The Queen of Shadows and The Advice of Father

[Empire of Qashmar — Imperial Streets — Two Days Later]

"GLORY TO HIS MAJESTY!"

"GLORY TO THE EMPEROR!"

"LONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY, KAEL VAELRIC!"

The cry rolled through the streets like thunder.

The capital of Qashmar had awakened beneath banners of crimson and gold. Bells rang from the towers, merchants abandoned their stalls to join the crowds, and children climbed onto their fathers’ shoulders just to catch a glimpse of the Emperor returning from the north.

Flowers covered the streets: rose petals and white lilies. Even the sacred red flowers of the Wolf God were scattered beneath the hooves of the imperial horses.

CLIP—CLOP...

Kael rode at the center of the procession.

His crimson imperial cloak flowed behind him, the golden emblem of the Red Wolf embroidered across his chest. His sword rested at his side, while his expression remained composed despite the deafening celebration surrounding him.

"LONG LIVE KAEL VAELRIC!"

"THE EMPEROR HAS RETURNED!"

"THE GRIMFANG KING HAS FALLEN!"

The people cheered as though Kael had personally driven the ancient beasts from every corner of the northern mountains.

Yet beneath the cheers... Kael remained troubled; his amber eyes occasionally drifted toward the golden crystal fragment secured inside a small container hanging beneath his cloak.

The Grimfang King was dead, the Queens had fled, and the northern settlements were safe—for now.

But the mystery remained. Someone had placed that crystal inside the ancient beast. Someone had controlled it, and whatever power had done so was not ordinary mortal magic.

Grand Duke Lior noticed his son’s silence; he rode alongside him for several moments before finally speaking.

"You’re still thinking about those golden fragments, aren’t you?"

Kael’s eyes remained on the road ahead as Lior sighed. "You have barely spoken about them since we left the north."

"How could I?" Kael’s fingers tightened around the reins. "The Grimfang threat may have ended, Father, but the danger hasn’t."

Lior glanced at him. "You believe the person behind the crystal is still out there."

"I know they are." Kael’s voice became quieter. "The crystal didn’t feel like the work of a mortal mage. Whoever created it knew how to manipulate an ancient creature...and somehow that power carried a divine quality."

The celebration continued around them, but between father and son, the atmosphere had become considerably colder.

Lior was silent for a moment, then he said, "I have already decided what we shall do."

Kael looked at him.

"I will summon the High Mage and the High Priest Azrakan. They will examine the fragments when we return to the palace."

Kael’s expression changed slightly. "Azrakan?"

"Yes," Grand Duke Lior continued as he looked toward the palace rising in the distance. "Something about this entire matter feels wrong; I trust High mage and High priest are the olnly we can trust with the truth."

Kael was silent, and Lior studied him. "You distrust the high priest and high mage?"

"No, not yet."

The answer made Lior’s brows tighten. Kael looked down at the crowds; thousands of people were cheering for him, yet he felt strangely uneasy.

"I just don’t know who I can trust anymore."

Lior’s expression softened. "You have just returned from a battlefield where ancient beasts were controlled by an unknown power. It is natural to be cautious."

Kael shook his head as he said it as he looked toward his father.

"This feels different, Father. Do you think another deity could be behind this? Or am I thinking too much?"

Lior did not answer immediately; the horses continued forward.

Clip-clop...

Clip-clop...

The cheers became distant for a moment as they passed beneath an enormous stone archway. Finally, Lior spoke.

"Do you believe the Lord of Darkness has enemies?"

Kael’s fingers tightened around the reins. "Of course he does. Lytharion is not some ordinary deity; he is ancient, he is powerful, and he rules over the shadows. Which means there must be beings who oppose him."

Lior looked at his son.

"Or beings who fear what he may become."

Kael fell silent; that possibility had never occurred to him. Lior continued. "And perhaps...that is what you should be asking."

Kael looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"You keep asking why someone wants to kill the Emperor of Qashmar." Lior’s voice became quieter. "But perhaps that is the wrong question."

Kael’s eyes narrowed. Lior looked toward him as the words settled heavily between them.

"You are not merely the emperor anymore, son; you are the mate of the Lord of Darkness, and that makes you something far more dangerous to those who oppose him."

Kael’s expression hardened.

"I won’t let anyone use my position as his mate against Qashmar."

"I know." Lior’s gaze softened. "But that is precisely why you must understand what you have become."

Kael looked away. Lior’s voice lowered. "If another deity truly stands behind these attacks, then they may not care about your throne. They may care about your bond with Lytharion."

Kael’s heart tightened as Lior continued carefully. "Do not forget, my son...you are his mate and you are also the Queen of Shadows."

The title sounded different now, heavier. Lior looked toward the palace. "And if there truly is a deity behind this attack...then there is a reason they are reaching for you."

Kael swallowed. "You think I should ask Lytharion."

"I think you should."

Kael’s gaze dropped; for several moments, he didn’t answer. Lior noticed the hesitation. "Is something preventing you?"

Kael’s jaw tightened. "I don’t know how much I am supposed to interfere in his world."

Lior’s expression became serious. "You are already part of his world."

Kael looked at him as his father’s voice became firmer.

"You cannot keep drawing a line between your life and his. You are married to a deity, Kael."

The words struck harder than expected.

"You cannot be his mate only when it is convenient and then pretend the divine world has nothing to do with you when danger arrives."

Kael’s expression stiffened. "I never said that."

"I know." Lior’s tone softened. "But you keep trying to carry everything yourself."

Kael looked toward the palace; the golden towers were getting closer. Lior continued. "Perhaps this is the moment when you must allow your mate to carry something for you."

Kael’s fingers curled around the reins; he thought of Lytharion, his golden eyes and his quiet possessiveness.

The way he had said:

I will do whatever is necessary to protect you.

Kael’s chest tightened. "I don’t know if he’ll tell me anything."

Lior smiled faintly. "Then ask."

"And if he refuses?"

"Ask again."

Kael looked at him; for a moment, Grand Duke Lior’s expression softened, almost amused by his son’s hesitation. Then his gaze became serious again as he said quietly.

"You are the Emperor of Qashmar, Kael, but more importantly..." His eyes held his son’s. "...you are the mate of the Shadow King."

Kael’s fingers tightened around the reins. Lior continued, his voice carrying the gravity of an old truth.

"Do not forget what that means. Fulfill the duty that comes with the bond you have accepted."

Kael remained silent.

"I know you are strong enough to protect your empire. I have seen it with my own eyes. But, my son...there is something you must understand."

Lior’s gaze shifted briefly toward the distant palace.

"The Shadow King has abandoned the realm that belongs to him and remained here, in the mortal world, beside you."

Kael’s expression changed.

"That alone should tell you how deeply you matter to him."

Lior’s voice lowered.

"A deity does not willingly leave his own realm without reason. For one such as Lytharion to remain among mortals...to endure this world simply because his mate lives here...that is no small sacrifice."

Kael’s heart tightened. Lior looked at him again.

"You have spent so much time wondering how much of his world you are permitted to enter. Perhaps you should ask yourself a different question."

Kael’s eyes lifted.

"Have you truly allowed yourself to enter his world?"

Silence.

Lior gave a faint, knowing smile.

"You are his mate, Kael. Do not treat that bond as though it were merely another duty written upon a royal parchment. Accept him with all your heart."

Kael lowered his gaze.

"And when he reaches for you...do not always be afraid to reach back."

Lior’s expression softened.

"Your duty is not only to Qashmar, my son. Sometimes, your duty is also to the one who chose to stand beside you...even when he could have remained upon his divine throne."

Kael said nothing, but somewhere deep within his chest...something stirred.

"Yes, Father."

The procession continued toward the Imperial Palace, and the people continued shouting.

"LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!"

"GLORY TO KAEL VAELRIC!"

But Kael no longer heard the celebration clearly; his mind had already moved elsewhere, toward the Shadow King, toward the golden crystal, toward the unknown deity who had dared to reach into the mortal realm.

And toward one question he could no longer avoid. What kind of enemy did his mate have...that was powerful enough to reach him?