The room was bathed in soft shadows, the dim light flickering gently as Asriel Lunara lounged in his chair. His silver hair, slightly tousled, fell in soft waves over his shoulder, a stark contrast to the rich, dark red of his robe.
It hung off him like a second skin, slipping loosely from one shoulder, exposing pale skin and the sharp, elegant curve of his collarbone. His amber eyes, warm and predatory, gleamed with a mixture of mischief and something darker—something every fox shifter in his clan carried like a well-practiced mask.
A faint buzz interrupted the quiet, and Asriel's gaze flickered toward the communicator on the table, his fingers lazily brushing over the surface as he answered. The screen blinked to life, revealing his father's stern face, etched with the weight of command.
"Asriel," the Emperor's voice crackled through the static, cold and unyielding. "You've settled in, I assume?"
"Yes," Asriel drawled, leaning back in his chair, the barest smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "The Dominion's palace is as grand as they say. Excessive, really. Almost makes one dizzy with its grandeur."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed, his gaze sharpening like a blade. "Then listen closely," he cut in, tone lowering to something more dangerous. "The Dominion is growing bolder. Two more planets were annexed this month. Their borders push ever closer, and their military strength—nearly untouchable. The key to all of it is Kaelian Solaris."
Asriel's smirk never wavered. "Ah, so you want me to wrap the key around my finger, is that it?"
The Emperor's glare could have burned a hole through steel. "This is no game, Asriel. Kaelian must fall for you. Marriage is our only option. His heart—his loyalty—is the keystone to their strength. Break him, and we break them."
A laugh, low and hushed, escaped Asriel's lips. "Marry him?" His voice curled, dripping with a mocking sweetness. "You're asking me to seduce a prince—Kaelian Solaris, the phoenix prince. Your prized weapon. How poetic."
"I'm telling you to do whatever it takes," his father's voice was icy, clipped. "The Alliance's future depends on it."
The call ended abruptly, leaving the room eerily still. Asriel sat in silence for a moment, the glow of the communicator casting a faint light across his face, his expression unreadable. Then, his gaze drifted toward the massive palace in the distance. Its towering golden spires pierced the night sky, gleaming faintly in the starlight, as though daring him to make his move.
"Kaelian Solaris..." he murmured softly, the name leaving his lips like a challenge. "Let's see how strong you really are."
He leaned back in his chair again as his fingers drummed lightly on the edge of the console. A steady rhythm echoed into the background, almost soothing. The darkness of the room wrapped around him like a cloak.
He looked into the screen with his brows furrowed and eyes focused. He was already thinking three steps ahead. his mind spun webs of plans. Hacking into the Dominion's secure network was a matter of moments, just another small task in a long list of them.
But underneath it all, a flicker of something darker—something more dangerous—stirred in him. The weight of his father's words hung heavy, but there was something else in that weight. The pressure. The expectation. It gnawed at him, stirred his blood.
He tapped into the Dominion's network, his fingers moving with practiced ease. It was almost effortless, like breathing, a dance of subtlety and power.
The screen flickered to life, and Asriel leaned forward, eyes narrowing as a lavish hotel suite filled the frame. The room was a testament to excess—velvet curtains draped like a royal robe, a chandelier casting soft golden hues, and furniture that practically screamed of wealth and power.
And at the center of it all was Kaelian Solaris—lounging with an air of lazy dominance, his posture relaxed, but his presence undeniable. He looked like he owned the world, as though the very space around him was made to bend to his will. His sharp, golden eyes were trained on the man kneeling before him, but there was no warmth in them—only that chill that made the man's posture stiffen, his hands trembling.
A hint of alpha pheromones spread throughout the room, making the little blue eyed Omega kneeling on the ground even more frightened. His lower lips quivered as he pursed them and looked up with moistened eyes.
"Kaelian, please…" The voice cracked, desperation clawing at its edges. The man's breath hitched, tears streaking his face, his words tangled in a frantic attempt to save himself. "I didn't mean to disobey you. It was a mistake. Just one mistake…"
Kaelian didn't move. His gaze stayed fixed, cold and distant, as though he was looking right through the man. His hand rested casually on the armrest of the couch, the other swirling his drink. His every motion was slow, precise, almost deliberate.
The man's sobs filled the quiet room, his hands reaching out, trembling as though hoping to touch Kaelian, to see the traces of regret in his eyes. "I love you. I'll do anything. Please, don't leave me like this. Don't punish me…"
The room held its breath. For a heartbeat, nothing moved, no sound other than the soft whimper of a broken man. Then Kaelian's lips parted, his voice smooth yet firm. "You think I tolerate disobedience?"
The words hung in the air like an ominous storm.
The man froze, his breath catching in his throat, his hands reaching out again, desperate, fingers brushing Kaelian's leg. But before he could even reach, Kaelian was faster. His hand shot out like a whip, seizing the man's throat with terrifying precision, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.
The man's wooden pheromones became even more intense as he stared with intense heat and anger in the depths of his eyes. The man was left gasping for air as his life slipped away with each breath.
Asriel watched, leaning slightly forward, his gaze sharp as the scene unfolded before him. His lips curled, just barely, in something resembling amusement. It wasn't shock, not even revulsion. No, it was something deeper. He wasn't disturbed. He was fascinated. Kaelian was, in this moment, a force of nature. He looked both untouchable and ruthless. Everything Asriel had expected, and more.
His fingers drummed softly against the window frame, a low rhythm that barely broke the silence. The distant silhouette of Kaelian's tower caught his eye, standing tall against the sky. It was a reminder, sharp and unyielding. Soon, he would find his way into that world, and he had no illusions about the challenge that awaited him.
The screen flickered again. The man's body had dropped to the floor with a dull thud, lifeless, his blood pooling across the plush carpet, dark against the golden glow of the room. With the Omega, his soft, orange pheromones also dissipated along with the traces of life from his eyes.
Kaelian wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I hated oranges anyway."
There was no remorse in Kaelian's eyes. No hesitation. Only the aftermath which seemed quiet and brutal.
The door opened then, and a new figure entered—a young Omega. As soon as he entered, a soft, vanilla scent filled the air. His movements were cautious at first. He looked hesitant, but there was something almost practiced in the way he carried himself.
His clothes were sheer, clinging to his body in a way that made it clear this wasn't his first time navigating this kind of space. He met Kaelian's gaze, who looked more like a predator, ready to capture his prey.
"Your Highness," the Omega purred, his voice light, a touch too inviting, almost rehearsed.
Kaelian's gaze flicked over him, sharp and cold, giving nothing away. He didn't react to the pheromones drifting toward him. Instead, his gaze turned even lazier. He raised his eyebrows as he signaled for the Omega to approach.
The Omega stepped forward but froze mid-step when his eyes landed on the crumpled body on the floor, the blood slowly darkening the carpet. His confident smile faltered, and something in his posture stiffened. His earlier posture crumbled.
"Wh-what happened?" His voice was unsteady, despite his best attempt to mask the fear creeping into his voice.
Kaelian didn't answer right away. He picked up his glass, the amber liquid swirling within. His movements looked practiced as he let his pheromones float softly toward the Omegas. The latter trembled in response, but he still couldn't move.
The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken tension, before Kaelian's voice cut through it. It was cool and detached. "Does it matter?"
The Omega swallowed, his breath quickening. He nodded, too quickly, too eagerly. "No, Your Highness. Of course not." But the tremor in his voice betrayed the calm he tried to project.
Kaelian stood then, his movements fluid, effortless, the air around him thick with authority. The Omega's pulse quickened, the air growing heavier with every step Kaelian took toward him. When the prince's hand reached up, brushing gently along his jaw, the touch sent a shiver down the Omega's spine.
"You're here to serve," Kaelian murmured, his voice low but carrying the weight of command. "Not to question."
The Omega nodded. He could barely hide the traces of panic in his widened eyes. His heart was hammering in his chest as he tried to maintain composure which was slipping, like sand between his fingers.
Kaelian's hand tightened, pressing onto the Omega's jaw with just enough force to make the latter gasp. The man pushed the Omega back, pinning the poor fella against the wall with a strength that spoke of a power that could shatter him with a thought. His eyes locked onto the Omega's, and his voice dropped to a whisper, a promise of something darker.
"If you disappoint me," Kaelian said, lips brushing against the Omega's ear, "you'll end up like him."
Asriel leaned back in his chair, the faintest of smiles curving his lips. His gaze was sharp, eyes glinting with something between admiration and anticipation. The feed blinked off, but the image of Kaelian's unflinching ruthlessness lingered, imprinting itself on his mind.
"Ruthless," Asriel murmured, a quiet breath, his voice full of wonder. "Reckless. This... this will be interesting."