The forest was eerily silent as Lucian and his group pressed on, the weight of their recent victory mingling with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Behind them, Cassius carried the unconscious Ronan, his shackled form swaying slightly with each step. The dense canopy above filtered out most of the moonlight, leaving only faint silver streaks to guide their path.
"We need to find a place to rest," Lyra said quietly, her sharp eyes scanning the dark woods. "The guards will be searching for us by now. It won't be long before they realize Ronan's missing."
Lucian nodded, his expression unreadable. "There's an old hunting lodge not far from here. We'll regroup there."
Cassius grunted in agreement. "Good. The big man's heavier than he looks."
Despite the tension, a faint smile tugged at Lucian's lips. Cassius's gruff humor was a welcome reprieve from the grim atmosphere. But his mind remained focused on the task ahead. Capturing Ronan had been only the first step; now came the hard part—deciding what to do with him.
"Do you really think he can be reasoned with?" Lyra asked, her voice low but laced with doubt. "He's not the brother you once knew, Lucian. Whatever humanity he had is long gone."
Lucian didn't answer immediately. He glanced back at Ronan, bound and unconscious, a flicker of emotion crossing his features. "We'll see," he said finally. "If there's even a sliver of the old Ronan left, I intend to find it. If not…" He didn't finish the sentence, but the cold edge in his voice made his intentions clear.
They reached the lodge just before dawn, a dilapidated structure hidden among the trees. Though it showed signs of age and disuse, it was sturdy enough to provide shelter. Cassius dumped Ronan unceremoniously onto the floor, stretching his arms with a groan.
"Never thought I'd be babysitting a tyrant," he muttered.
Lucian ignored the comment, turning his attention to Lyra. "Set up wards around the perimeter. I don't want any surprises."
Lyra nodded and disappeared into the shadows, her movements swift and silent. Cassius, meanwhile, busied himself with securing the lodge, barring the doors and windows.
As the first rays of dawn broke through the trees, Lucian sat across from Ronan, waiting. It didn't take long for his brother to stir. Ronan's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, confusion clouded his expression. Then, recognition set in, followed by a sneer.
"Brother," Ronan said, his voice hoarse but filled with venom. "Still playing the hero, I see."
Lucian leaned forward, his gaze steady. "I didn't kill you, Ronan. That should tell you something."
Ronan laughed bitterly. "It tells me you're weak. Mercy has no place in our world, Lucian. It never did."
"Maybe," Lucian said calmly. "Or maybe you've forgotten what it means to lead. Power without purpose is meaningless. You've become a tyrant, Ronan. And deep down, you know it."
Ronan's sneer faltered for a brief moment before returning in full force. "Spare me your lectures. You think you can change me? Save me?" He leaned forward, the chains clinking softly. "You're a fool, Lucian. Always were."
Before Lucian could respond, Lyra entered the lodge, her expression tense. "We've got company. Scouts—five of them, closing in fast."
Lucian rose to his feet, his eyes narrowing. "Cassius, take Lyra and deal with them quietly. No one gets away."
Cassius grinned, unsheathing his greatsword. "My pleasure."
As they left, Lucian turned back to Ronan, his expression hardening. "This isn't over, brother. One way or another, you'll answer for what you've done."
Ronan's eyes gleamed with defiance. "Then you'd better be prepared to finish what you started."
Lucian said nothing more, but the weight of those words hung heavily in the air. As the sounds of the forest grew distant, he knew that the real battle was just beginning—not on the battlefield, but within the fractured bond between two brothers caught between shadows and blood.