Chapter Ten: Threads of Fire
Kaelion sat on the edge of his throne, the golden-red glow of his mismatched eyes unfocused as his mind turned over the pieces of his plan. Aeliana's fiery defiance played in his head like an unrelenting melody, her voice sharp and unyielding, her power raw and unpredictable. She was proving to be a more complex challenge than he anticipated—and he thrived on challenges.
It was rare for anyone to occupy his thoughts like this. Usually, they broke long before they became interesting. But Aeliana wasn't breaking; she was evolving, her magic becoming sharper, her will stronger. That fire inside her burned bright, and with every defiant word, it only grew.
Kaelion leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the faintly glowing runes on the floor. They were a reflection of his kingdom—seemingly flawless, powerful, unshakable. But cracks existed beneath the surface. He had kept them hidden for years, ruling with precision and dominance, but Aeliana's arrival threatened to expose those fractures.
He didn't hate her for it. If anything, he respected her for it.
Still, respect and control were not the same. And control was non-negotiable.
"She doesn't realize how deeply she's already tied to me," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "Or how much she's fated to be mine."
The sound of footsteps echoed through the throne room, interrupting his thoughts. Kaelion didn't look up as Eryndor approached, his polished boots clicking against the obsidian floor.
"My king," Eryndor said, bowing low.
Kaelion finally raised his gaze, his expression unreadable. "Report."
"She's improving," Eryndor said, his voice clipped but respectful. "Her control over her magic is growing by the day. Today, she successfully contained a shadow wolf without letting the energy spiral out of control."
Kaelion's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. She's learning."
Eryndor hesitated, his steel-gray eyes meeting Kaelion's briefly before flicking away. "She's also growing more resistant to your influence. Her defiance… it hasn't wavered."
Kaelion's smile widened, a sharp, predatory edge to it. "Of course it hasn't. That's what makes her valuable. If she bent too easily, she'd be worthless."
Eryndor straightened, his expression neutral, though his posture betrayed his discomfort. "Forgive me, my king, but what is your ultimate plan for her? She's strong, yes, but she's also dangerous. If her power grows unchecked—"
"It won't," Kaelion interrupted, his tone cold. "Because I'll control it."
"And if she resists?"
Kaelion stood, his cloak sweeping behind him as he descended the steps of his throne. He stopped in front of Eryndor, his towering presence casting the advisor in shadow.
"She can resist all she likes," Kaelion said softly, his voice carrying a lethal edge. "The more she fights, the brighter her fire will burn. And when the time comes, I'll make her realize there's only one place where her power truly belongs."
Eryndor swallowed hard, bowing his head. "As you say, my king."
Kaelion dismissed him with a wave of his hand, turning back toward the balcony. He needed space to think, to plan. The pieces were moving, and Aeliana was at the center of it all, whether she realized it or not.
The Demon's Legacy
Kaelion stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night air brushing against his face. The twin moons hung low in the sky, their silvery light casting long shadows over Lythrenis. He rested his hands on the edge of the stone railing, his mismatched eyes scanning the sprawling city below.
He could feel her power even now, faint but pulsing like a distant drumbeat. It called to him in a way that no one else's ever had. Not even his mother, with all her cunning and strength, had possessed magic like this.
His mother's voice echoed in his mind, a cruel whisper from the past: "You are meant to rule with strength, Kaelion. Anything less is weakness."
He had lived by those words, forging himself into the tyrant the world feared. But his mother's vision had been incomplete. Strength wasn't just about dominance—it was about knowing when to bend, when to pull back, and when to strike.
Aeliana was his test. His fire. His proof that he could rise above his mother's legacy and create something greater.
But she wasn't ready yet.
Kaelion exhaled slowly, his breath misting in the cool air. She'll fight me until the end. The thought should have annoyed him, but instead, it excited him. Her resistance wasn't just a challenge—it was a promise. She wasn't like the others. She wouldn't shatter under his pressure; she would adapt, survive, and rise.
And when she did, she would be unstoppable.
Kaelion's lips curled into a wicked smile. But she won't do it alone. She'll do it under me. Beside me. For me.
The ember of her power burned brightly, but he was the one who would shape it into a flame. And when that flame finally consumed everything in its path, she would realize that it had always been his hand guiding it.
Kaelion turned away from the city, his mind sharper than ever. The pieces were falling into place, and soon, Aeliana would have no choice but to embrace the role he had carved out for her.
She thought she was fighting for freedom, but Kaelion knew the truth: she was fighting for him.
And one way or another, she would be his.