Chapter 59: The Queen of Shadows

[The Imperial Palace — Shadow Gate — Morning]

The morning sun had barely climbed above the golden towers of Qashmar when the Emperor’s Chamber fell strangely quiet. Kael stood before the enormous arched window, fastening the final clasp of his imperial coat.

His expression was composed, and behind him, Lytharion stood silently.

The Shadow King had dressed differently today.

His usual black robes remained, but silver patterns had appeared along the edges of the fabric—ancient markings that seemed to move whenever the light touched them. His long black hair fell freely down his back, and his golden eyes remained fixed upon Kael.

Veyrith perched comfortably upon Kael’s shoulder as the raven turned his head toward the enormous gates of the Shadow Temple.

"Caw."

Kael followed his gaze; the gates were unlike anything he had ever seen.

Two enormous slabs of black stone rose toward the heavens, carved with ancient wolves, crescent moons, and countless symbols that Kael couldn’t recognize. Thin streams of silver light ran through the carvings like veins beneath skin.

There was darkness here, but it wasn’t the darkness of death. It was quiet, sacred, and almost peaceful. Kael’s amber eyes narrowed as he studied the enormous sanctuary beyond the gates.

"This doesn’t look like what I imagined."

Lytharion glanced at him. "What did you imagine?"

"A place filled with dead."

A faint smile appeared upon Lytharion’s lips. "There are monsters and dead here, beloved."

Kael looked at him. Lytharion’s golden eyes gleamed. "They simply know better than to show themselves while their sovereign is present."

Kael nodded. "I see...but why are we here?"

Lytharion chuckled softly before extending his hand. "Come, you will find it soon."

Kael looked at his hand for a moment, then he placed his own within it. Their fingers intertwined. Lytharion stepped forward, and the moment Kael crossed the threshold beside him—

THUUUUUM.

The entire Shadow Temple awakened, and silver flames erupted from enormous black braziers lining the pathway.

FWOOSH—!

One after another.

Until hundreds of flames illuminated the sanctuary. Kael’s eyes widened as the temple stretched farther than he could see.

Obsidian pillars rose from the ground like enormous tree trunks, their surfaces covered in ancient inscriptions. Silver chains hung from the ceiling, each holding a small crescent-shaped lamp.

The floor was polished black stone, reflecting the silver flames like still water. At the center of the sanctuary stood enormous statues, not demons, not creatures of death.

Wolves.

Hundreds of them.

Some were carved, sitting beneath crescent moons; others were depicted guarding ancient doors, and at the very end of the sanctuary stood a colossal statue unlike all the others.

A figure wrapped in flowing robes of shadow, one hand held a crescent blade. The other rested upon the head of an enormous black wolf.

Its face was calm. Its eyes were closed, yet there was something overwhelming about its presence.

Kael stopped.

"Who is that?"

Lytharion’s expression changed, and for the first time since entering the temple, the arrogance disappeared from his face. Something resembling reverence entered his golden eyes.

He slowly lowered his head, and his voice became quieter. "That...is the one before whom even I bow."

Kael stared at the statue.

"The Shadow God?"

Lytharion nodded.

"Nethrazul."

The name echoed through the sanctuary. "Nethrazul, the First Shadow, he existed before the divine realms were divided."

Lytharion’s gaze remained upon the enormous statue.

"Before the gods claimed their domains, before mortals learned to worship the moon and stars, there was darkness." His fingers tightened slightly around Kael’s. "And within that darkness...Nethrazul was the one who first awakened."

Kael looked toward the statue again; the Shadow God did not look cruel, he looked...ancient, like a guardian who had watched civilizations rise and disappear without ever leaving his throne.

Kael whispered, "So this temple isn’t dedicated to you."

"No." Lytharion shook his head as his golden eyes lowered. "I am the Lord of Darkness, but I am not the First Shadow."

He stepped forward.

"Even a deity must remember where he came from."

Kael watched him carefully.

There was something strangely beautiful about seeing Lytharion—the tyrant whom entire realms feared—standing silently before another god.

Not as a ruler, not as an emperor but as a worshipper. Lytharion released Kael’s hand.

Then—

THUD.

He lowered himself onto one knee and his head bowed. The entire temple seemed to fall silent. Even the silver flames stopped moving.

Kael’s eyes widened as Lytharion placed one hand against his chest, and his voice echoed beneath the enormous stone ceiling.

"Great Nethrazul...I return to your sanctuary."

Silence.

Then Lytharion slowly raised his eyes toward the statue.

"I have brought someone with me."

Kael’s breath caught. Lytharion turned his head slightly as his golden gaze met Kael’s.

"My mate."

Kael’s heart gave an unexpected beat. Lytharion looked back toward the Shadow God as his voice became quieter.

"The Emperor of Qashmar and the Queen of Shadows."

The silver flames suddenly burned brighter.

FWWWWOOOOOSH—!

Kael instinctively stepped closer. Lytharion immediately reached for his hand again and this time, he didn’t let go.

A deep vibration travelled through the floor.

THUM.

THUM.

THUM.

The enormous statue’s closed eyes remained still. Yet the shadow beneath it began to move. Kael’s expression hardened.

"Lytharion..."

"I know."

The deity stood slowly as his body shifted subtly in front of Kael, placing himself between his mate and the ancient presence.

The warmth disappeared from his expression as the tyrant had returned.

"Whatever this is..." His golden eyes narrowed. "...it will answer to me."

Kael grabbed his sleeve.

"Lytharion."

The deity looked back. Kael shook his head. "We came here together."

A pause.

Then Kael stepped beside him instead of behind him. "I won’t hide behind you."

For several heartbeats, Lytharion simply stared at him. Then a slow smile appeared, not arrogant and not mocking.

Proud.

"That’s my beloved."

Veyrith fluttered from Kael’s shoulder and landed upon one of the nearby pillars. "Cawww."

Kael glanced at him. "Even you agree?"

The raven tilted his head.

"Caw."

Lytharion gave a quiet laugh, then the three of them stood beneath the enormous statue of Nethrazul.

The Shadow Temple remained silent, but somewhere deep beneath its ancient foundations...something had awakened.

Something that had recognized the presence of the Queen of Shadows.

Far above them, the silver crescent carved into the temple ceiling began to glow.

SHIIIIING...

Kael slowly lifted his eyes.

The pale light spread across the enormous chamber, slipping between the pillars and falling upon the black marble floor. The shadows themselves seemed to bend toward him, not in submission...

But in recognition.

Lytharion’s fingers tightened around Kael’s hand.

For the first time since entering the temple, the ancient deity looked genuinely uncertain; the temple had never reacted like this to him.

Not once.

Kael turned toward him. "Lytharion...?"

Lytharion didn’t answer immediately as his golden eyes remained fixed upon the glowing crescent above them.

Then slowly, he turned toward Kael, and he stepped closer until they stood face to face, their joined hands resting between them.

"Beloved...there is something you must understand, since you have chosen to remain with me—not for one year, not because of a bargain, but for your entire life..."

His thumb brushed slowly across Kael’s knuckles.

"...you have accepted more than becoming my husband."

Kael’s brows furrowed.

"You have accepted the title that comes with our bond." He looked toward the ancient altar. "The Queen of Shadows."

Kael followed his gaze. Lytharion’s golden eyes returned to him.

"It means the divine realm will no longer see you as merely a mortal emperor. It will see you as part of the Shadow Realm."

A cold breeze moved through the temple.

Kael remained silent as Lytharion continued. "And that...can make your life considerably more dangerous."

Kael’s eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

"It means...the person behind all of this...is not a mortal."

The words settled between them. Kael’s eyes widened slightly.

"An immortal?"

Lytharion nodded. "Most likely, but do not assume that means another deity. There are many beings beyond the mortal kingdoms, beloved. Deities are merely the oldest among them."

He slowly began counting them upon his fingers.

"There are divine beings. Cursed immortals. Ancient vampires who have survived longer than mortal dynasties. Dragons who existed before some kingdoms were even founded, and there are things even the gods refuse to name."

Kael’s eyes narrowed. "Then why would any of them want me?"

Lytharion became silent for a moment, his gaze softened, and then he raised one hand and gently touched Kael’s cheek.

"Because you are no longer simply Kael Vaelric, you are my mate." His thumb brushed beneath Kael’s eye and moved slowly towards Kale’s chest. "You carry my mark, and you have been recognized by the Shadow God himself."

Kael glanced toward the enormous statue standing behind them.

"Nethrazul. The First Shadow." The name echoed faintly through the temple. "Nergalith does not bless mortals easily. His blessing is not a crown one can remove."

Lytharion’s gaze became solemn.

"It is a connection to the Shadow Realm itself, and because your my mate...your existence has become intertwined with mine."

Lytharion’s voice was almost a whisper. "Those who oppose me know this."

Kael’s expression slowly changed. "They cannot easily reach you."

Lytharion’s eyes became cold.

"But they can reach for me through you."

Silence.

The words were far more frightening than any threat. Kael looked toward the glowing crescent above them. "So...they are trying to kill me because I am your weakness."

Lytharion’s expression immediately hardened.

"No, they may believe you are my weakness, but they are wrong. You are the reason I have become more dangerous."

Kael’s heart skipped. Lytharion’s hand settled gently against his waist. "And there is another reason."

Kael noticed the sudden change in his expression. "What reason?"

Lytharion hesitated; for the first time, something almost cautious appeared in the eyes of the Lord of Darkness.

"If we were to have a child...the blood of a deity does not pass into a child unchanged, and neither does the blessing of Nethrazul."

Kael slowly understood.

"Our child...would inherit my divine essence." Lytharion’s fingers tightened slightly around his waist. "And your connection to the Shadow Realm—the result could be something the divine world has never witnessed."

Lytharion’s voice became quieter.

"Not merely the child of a deity and a mortal, a child born from two souls already bound to the same divine power."

The silver crescent above them pulsed again.

THUM.

Kael stared upward. Lytharion continued.

"Among the immortals, there are beings who possess immense power. Some command fire. Others command storms, oceans, death, time..."

His golden eyes darkened.

"But the Shadow Realm is different."

"Why?"

"Because shadows do not merely destroy." Lytharion looked directly into Kael’s eyes. "They endure, they conceal, they consume, and in the hands of one born with enough divine essence...they could become limitless."

Kael’s expression became troubled. "How powerful?"

Lytharion didn’t answer immediately, then, quietly, "Powerful enough that the other immortals would fear the child."

Kael’s breath caught.

"And if the child inherited enough of my power..." Lytharion’s gaze became grave. "...it could challenge even ancient deities."

Kael stared at him. "But that doesn’t mean it would destroy the world."

"No."

Lytharion’s answer came immediately as his fingers gently intertwined with Kael’s.

"Power does not determine one’s nature; that child would still possess a heart. A will. A choice, and if it carried your heart...I would have nothing to fear."

Kael’s cheeks warmed.

"But others would."

"Yes."

Lytharion’s smile disappeared as his golden eyes became merciless. "That is why the moment such a possibility becomes known...those who fear the child may decide to kill the mother before the child can ever be born."

. . .

. . .

"So...the attacks are happening to kill me because...they think I may carry a monster inside me?"