Chapter 60: The Crimson-Black Protection

[The Shadow Temple — Beneath the Altar — Continuation]

The silence that followed was suffocating. Kael stood beneath the ancient silver crescent, his fingers tightly intertwined with Lytharion’s. His amber eyes remained fixed upon the place where the vision had disappeared.

For several heartbeats, he said nothing, then his voice finally broke through the silence.

"How...?"

Lytharion looked at him. Kael’s fingers tightened around his as his voice trembled.

"How can our child possibly become a monster? How can they be so certain that our child could destroy the world?"

His breathing became uneven.

"How can they decide the fate of someone who hasn’t even been born?"

Lytharion’s expression softened as he slowly turned Kael’s hands within his own. Then he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss against the back of one hand, then the other, slow and reverent.

As though reassuring him without needing words.

"Beloved..." His golden eyes lifted toward Kael. "Mortals, gods, immortals...they all make the same mistake; they look at what something could become..."

Lytharion’s thumb slowly brushed across Kael’s knuckles.

"...and mistake possibility for destiny."

Kael’s eyes remained troubled.

"But if our child truly possesses that much power...power does not make a monster." Lytharion’s voice was firm. "A blade does not decide whom it cuts. The hand holding it does."

Kael swallowed. Lytharion stepped closer as his fingers rose towards Kael’s cheek.

"Your child would have a choice, and if that child carries your heart..." A faint smile touched his lips. "...then I have little reason to fear what they may become."

Kael’s expression softened for a moment, but the fear remained. "It’s still a cursed fate."

Lytharion’s smile disappeared. Kael lowered his gaze as his voice became quieter.

"How can they simply decide that our child must die because of something that might happen? How can they—"

The words died on his lips; he couldn’t finish. Lytharion watched him for several seconds, then his hand gently cupped Kael’s cheek.

"Because those who fear the future often destroy it before it has the chance to prove them wrong."

His golden eyes darkened as the shadows around his feet began moving.

"And that...is why we must become stronger, especially you."

Kael frowned.

"Me?"

Lytharion nodded.

"You are mortal." There was no insult in his voice, only concern. "And to beings who dwell beyond mortality, that makes you the easier target."

Kael’s jaw tightened. "I can protect myself."

"I know." Lytharion smiled faintly. "I have watched you stand against an ancient Grimfang with your own sword."

His thumb brushed beneath Kael’s eyes as his voice became softer. "I have watched you command armies. I have watched you become an emperor, but strength alone will not protect you from every enemy."

Kael remained silent.

"Some enemies cannot be fought with steel." Lytharion glanced toward the altar. "Some cannot even be seen, and that is why I brought you here."

Kael’s brows furrowed. "What does that mean?"

Lytharion reached inside the sleeve of his black robes; for a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

SHIIIIING...

A faint crimson-and-black light emerged between his fingers. Kael’s eyes widened. Lytharion slowly revealed the ancient leaf, the same leaf that had once been silver, now one half was crimson, the other...black as the deepest night.

Kael stared at it. "What is that?"

Lytharion held it carefully between his fingers.

"An ancient blessing." He looked toward the statue of the shadow god. "This leaf came from the sacred tree beneath the protection of the Wolf God Vaelthor and the moon."

Kael’s eyes moved between the leaf and the altar.

"And what does it do?"

Lytharion’s golden gaze became solemn as he raised the leaf slightly.

"Once I awaken the spell before the Shadow God...the three divine forces will recognize you."

Kael’s expression changed.

"Three?"

"Vaelthor." His eyes shifted toward the moonlight. "The Moon and the God of Shadow."

The names seemed to awaken something within the temple.

THUM.

The ancient roots beneath their feet pulsed. Kael instinctively tightened his grip around Lytharion’s hand. Lytharion noticed, and a faint smile appeared.

"Their blessings will weave themselves around your life force."

Kael looked at the leaf. "A protection barrier?"

"Yes." Lytharion nodded as his expression became darker and he closed the fingers around the leaf. "One that cannot be seen by mortal eyes. And more importantly...it will make it considerably more difficult for another divine being to reach into your soul."

Kael stared at him. "Then this is why you brought me here."

"Partly."

Kael frowned. "Partly?"

Lytharion’s golden eyes softened.

"I also wanted you to see my world."

Kael blinked. "My world?"

"The place where I rule, the place where my power was born." His fingers intertwined with Kael’s again. "And the place where you now belong."

Kael’s cheeks warmed faintly, but then his expression changed. "What about you?"

Lytharion paused. Kael looked directly into his golden eyes as his fingers tightened. "If this protection is for me...what protects you?"

Silence.

Lytharion didn’t answer; for several seconds, the Lord of Darkness simply stared at his mate. Then a small smile appeared, almost amused and almost touched. He lifted Kael’s hand and pressed another kiss against his knuckles.

"It has been a very long time since someone asked a deity about his protection."

Kael frowned. "I’m serious."

"I know."

"You are my mate." His voice became firmer. "If someone is powerful enough to attack me because of you..."

Kael stepped closer.

"...then they can attack you too."

Lytharion’s expression softened completely. "My beloved..."

He reached around Kael’s waist and pulled him gently against his chest. Kael looked up. Lytharion lowered his forehead against his.

"You worry about the wrong creature."

Kael blinked, and Lytharion smiled.

"I am the Lord of Darkness."

His voice carried the ancient authority of something that had ruled shadows before mortal kingdoms had names.

"God fears me."

His hand moved slowly through Kael’s hair.

"Immortals avoid me."

His golden eyes gleamed.

"And those foolish enough to hunt me...usually do not live long enough to regret it."

Kael couldn’t help but smile.

"But you’re still my husband."

Lytharion went quiet. Kael’s fingers touched his chest. "So your protection matters to me."

Something flickered within Lytharion’s eyes; for once, the tyrant deity had no sharp reply. Instead, he gently kissed Kael’s forehead.

"Then perhaps...my beloved should remember that he possesses enough strength to protect his husband too."

Kael smiled.

"I will."

Lytharion’s lips curved upward. "I know."

Kael leaned slightly closer.

"I will always protect you."

For a moment, Lytharion simply looked at him, then he pressed a lingering kiss against Kael’s forehead.

"And I will always protect you."

Their foreheads remained together, two rulers, two worlds, and one bond. Then Lytharion finally stepped back; he lifted the crimson-and-black leaf as his expression became solemn once more.

"Now..."

The ancient runes surrounding the altar began to illuminate.

SHIIIIING...

"The ritual."

Kael nodded.

"What do I need to do?"

Lytharion extended his hand toward him. "Stand beside me."

Kael placed his hand in Lytharion’s.

"Whatever happens..." Lytharion’s fingers closed around his. "...do not let go."

Kael looked into his golden eyes.

"I won’t."

The Shadow King turned toward the ancient altar, the candles erupted into black flames, and the silver crescent above them began shining brighter and beneath the temple floor—

THUM.

The ancient roots awakened. Lytharion raised the leaf. Kael stood beside him; neither knew what the ritual would awaken, neither knew what the ancient tree remembered, and neither knew that somewhere beyond the mortal realm...something had already sensed the return of a bond that should have remained buried.

The ritual...was about to begin.

***

[Shadow Temple — Beneath the Altar — The Protection Ritual]

The moment Kael nodded, the temple changed, not gradually, not gently... All at once.

Every candle surrounding the altar was extinguished.

FWOOSH—!

Darkness swallowed the chamber. Kael’s breath caught as the Shadow King’s hand tightened around his.

Then—

THUUUUUM.

The floor beneath them pulsed as the ancient roots beneath the obsidian floor began to move.

CRRRRKKKK...

They crawled across the stone like enormous black serpents awakening from centuries of sleep. Kael instinctively stepped closer to Lytharion.

The shadows surrounding the altar thickened, they twisted, they climbed, and they gathered into enormous silhouettes along the temple walls—horned shapes, elongated limbs, and countless glowing eyes appearing within the darkness before vanishing again.

Kael’s amber eyes widened. "What...are those?"

Lytharion’s expression remained calm. "Do not look at them; they are not meant to be seen."

The shadows suddenly screamed, not with a voice with thousands.

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH—!!!

The sound shook the temple. Kael flinched. Lytharion immediately pulled him against his chest, one arm wrapping firmly around his waist.

"Do not be afraid, beloved."

The golden eyes of the Lord of Darkness began glowing. "They are only the remnants of what existed before this temple and what my shadows swallowed."

Then Lytharion lifted the crimson-and-black leaf; the leaf trembled between his fingers.

Then—

DRIP.

A single drop of black liquid fell from its edge. It struck the floor.

HISSSSSSSSS—!

The obsidian beneath it began to dissolve. Kael’s eyes widened as the leaf suddenly began producing darkness into something thicker and something alive. Blackness poured from its veins and crawled over Lytharion’s fingers.

Then the crimson portion began to bleed.

DRIP.

DRIP.

DRIP.

Red liquid streamed from the leaf like fresh blood. Kael stared in horror, and Lytharion’s eyes remained fixed upon the leaf.

The red and black energies intertwined, then—

SHIIIIIIIIING—!!!

The leaf rose from Lytharion’s palm. It floated between them; black darkness surrounded it first, then crimson. The two forces spiraled around each other faster and faster until the entire chamber became a vortex of shadow and blood-red light.

Lytharion’s robes began whipping violently around him as his long hair rose in the unnatural wind. Kael’s cloak fluttered behind him; the ancient roots slammed against the floor.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Something beneath the temple roared. Lytharion’s golden eyes became terrifying.

"Enough."

His voice echoed and the shadows froze. The roar ceased and silence.

Lytharion raised one hand, and ancient symbols appeared across his palm. Kael stared at him, and then he answered honestly.

"I hope you can bear the pain..."

Kael reached for his hand. "I’m not afraid."

A faint smile touched Lytharion’s lips as he pulled Kael closer. One arm wrapped firmly around his waist; the other remained raised toward the floating leaf. His golden eyes began glowing brighter, then the Lord of Darkness spoke.

Not in the language of mortals, not even in the language of gods...an ancient tongue. A language that seemed to make the temple itself remember.

The enormous statue of the Shadow God opened its stone eyes.

SHIIIIING—!

Kael gasped as the leaf suddenly shot toward him.

FWOOSH—!!!

It struck directly against his chest.

"AAAAAHHHHHHH—!!!"

Pain exploded through his body. Kael’s back arched violently as his fingers crushed around Lytharion’s hand. Lytharion immediately tightened his arms around him, and the leaf began dissolving into Kael’s chest.

Black light entered first. It spread beneath his skin like liquid darkness, racing through his veins. The crimson light followed, and it entered his body like molten blood.

SHIIIIING—!!!

Kael’s entire body trembled, his amber eyes flashed crimson for a heartbeat, then black, and then gold. Lytharion held him tighter as Kael struggled to breathe and Lytharion pressed his forehead against Kael’s.

"Breath...beloved...breath."

Kael’s breathing came in broken gasps, and the pain continued. The leaf was almost completely gone now. Its final veins dissolved beneath Kael’s skin.

CRACK—!

A dark mark briefly appeared over his heart.

Then—

BOOOOOOM—!!!

A wave of power exploded from Kael. Lytharion didn’t release him, and the entire temple shook. Ancient pillars cracked, the roots recoiled, and the shadows along the walls screamed and disappeared.

And above them, the silver crescent shattered into countless fragments of light. Kael cried out one final time.

Then—

Silence.

His body went limp. Lytharion caught him immediately.

"Beloved."

Kael’s head fell against his chest as his breathing was weak but steady, and he fell unconscious. Lytharion lowered his gaze as a faint crimson-and-black glow remained beneath Kael’s skin, directly over his heart.

The protection had taken root. Lytharion slowly raised his hand and touched the place, and then he wrapped him in his arms tightly, muttering,

"Let every immortal who dares reach for him learn this truth."

The darkness behind him expanded.

"He is protected." His golden eyes burned. "Not because he is merely the Emperor of Qashmar, not because he is merely my mate because...he is the Queen of Shadows and whoever attempts to take him from me..."

His voice became a whisper.

"...will be destroyed."

The ancient roots beneath the altar suddenly went still; the ritual was complete but... Is Kael really safe?