The night stretched endlessly as Lyanna and Kalen trudged through the dense forest, their breaths visible in the crisp, cold air. Kalen leaned heavily on her, his injuries slowing them down. Lyanna's arm ached from supporting his weight, but she refused to complain.
"How much farther?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"Not far," Kalen replied, though the strain in his voice betrayed his exhaustion.
The silence between them was thick with unspoken words. The events of the night replayed in Lyanna's mind—the attack, the blood, the terrifying realization that the guild knew who she was.
"What did they mean?" she asked suddenly, her voice breaking the stillness. "When they called me a royal prize?"
Kalen hesitated, his steps faltering. "Now isn't the time."
"It's never the time with you," she snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface.
"Because the truth will only make things worse," he shot back, his voice sharp despite his weariness.
Lyanna stopped walking, forcing him to do the same. She turned to face him, her eyes blazing with determination. "I deserve to know what I'm up against. What we're up against."
Kalen met her gaze, his expression a mixture of anger and regret. "You're the last heir to the Serathian throne," he said finally, his voice low. "The guild wants to control you. And if they can't... they'll kill you."
The Weight of a Crown
Lyanna stared at him, the weight of his words crashing down on her like a tidal wave.
"That's not possible," she said, shaking her head. "The royal family was killed years ago."
"Not all of them," Kalen replied, his tone grave. "You were hidden, smuggled out of the palace before the attack. Your existence was kept secret to protect you."
"From what?"
"From the Blooded Thorn," he said, his eyes darkening. "They were the ones who orchestrated the coup. The ones who put the current regime in power."
Lyanna felt the ground shift beneath her feet. The life she thought she knew—simple, unremarkable—was a lie.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Because knowledge is dangerous," Kalen said. "The fewer people who knew the truth, the safer you were."
"And you knew?"
"Yes," he admitted. "It's why I was assigned to you."
Lyanna's heart sank. "Assigned? So this is just a job to you?"
"It was," he said, his voice softening. "But it's not anymore."
A Deadly Ambush
Before Lyanna could respond, the sound of horses shattered the fragile moment. Kalen's head snapped up, his body tensing.
"They've found us," he said, his voice a harsh whisper.
Lyanna's heart pounded as the riders came into view, their torches casting eerie shadows across the trees. Kalen pulled her behind a cluster of rocks, his hand going to his sword despite his injuries.
"There's too many," she whispered, panic creeping into her voice.
"We don't have a choice," he replied, his eyes scanning their surroundings for an escape route.
The riders dismounted, their voices carrying through the night as they spread out in search of their prey.
"Stay here," Kalen said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"No," Lyanna said firmly. "I'm not letting you face them alone."
Kalen's jaw tightened, but before he could argue, one of the riders shouted, "Over here!"
They had been spotted.
A Desperate Gamble
Kalen surged forward, his sword flashing in the torchlight as he met the first attacker. Lyanna grabbed a fallen branch, her hands trembling but her resolve firm.
The fight was chaotic, the forest echoing with the clash of steel and the shouts of their pursuers. Lyanna stayed close to Kalen, using the branch to fend off any attackers who got too close.
Despite his injuries, Kalen fought with the ferocity of a cornered wolf, his movements precise and lethal. But the numbers were against them, and it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed.
"Run!" Kalen shouted, his voice raw.
"I'm not leaving you!" Lyanna shouted back, her voice breaking.
"Lyanna, go!" he roared, his sword cutting down another attacker.
Before she could respond, an arrow whistled through the air, grazing her arm and drawing blood. She cried out, stumbling back.
Kalen's eyes widened in panic. "Lyanna!"
The Shadows' Bargain
The chaos was interrupted by a sharp whistle, cutting through the night like a blade. The attackers froze, their gazes snapping toward the sound.
A figure stepped out of the shadows, cloaked and hooded, their presence commanding.
"Enough," the figure said, their voice calm but authoritative.
The attackers hesitated, then lowered their weapons, stepping back.
"Who are you?" Kalen demanded, his sword still raised.
The figure didn't answer immediately, their gaze settling on Lyanna.
"You've caused quite a stir, Princess," they said, their tone almost amused.
Lyanna's blood ran cold. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"A messenger," the figure replied. "Sent to offer you a choice."
"What choice?" Kalen growled, stepping protectively in front of Lyanna.
The figure smiled faintly. "Surrender willingly, and the guild will spare your life. Resist, and they'll ensure your death is slow and painful."
A Cliffhanger's End
Kalen's grip on his sword tightened, his body coiled with tension. Lyanna felt her heart racing, her mind a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty.
"I think we'll pass," Kalen said coldly, his blade gleaming in the torchlight.
The figure chuckled softly. "Brave. But foolish."
With a wave of their hand, the attackers moved in, their weapons raised.
Lyanna's breath caught in her throat as Kalen prepared to fight. The odds were impossible, the danger insurmountable.
And then, just as the first blade swung, the ground beneath them trembled, a deep rumble that sent shockwaves through the forest.
The attackers froze, their expressions shifting from confidence to confusion.
"What's happening?" Lyanna whispered, her voice barely audible over the growing roar.
Kalen's eyes narrowed. "Something worse than them."
The chapter ends with the ground splitting open, a burst of light erupting from the forest floor, and the promise of something ancient and powerful rising to the surface.