Chapter Sixteen: The Aftermath of Fire
The victory at the outpost had left Aeliana shaken. Though the rebels cheered, the adrenaline of battle still thrummed through her veins. Her magic felt like a live wire under her skin, crackling and restless. She had unleashed a power she barely understood, but it had worked—this time. The thought of Kaelion's reaction to her defiance sent an uneasy chill through her triumph.
Kaen approached her as the rebels began securing the outpost. His sword was sheathed, but his piercing blue eyes betrayed his lingering tension. "You did it," he said, his voice steady yet laced with awe. "Without you, we wouldn't have stood a chance."
Aeliana shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself. "I didn't do it alone. And he's going to retaliate. You know that, don't you?"
Kaen's jaw tightened, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Let him. This victory is more than just a battle. It's a message to his people. They'll see that he isn't invincible."
Aeliana wasn't so sure. Kaelion wasn't just any ruler. He was the strongest being in the kingdom, a force of nature that couldn't be rivaled. Even now, she felt his shadow looming over her, his gaze like fire searing into her soul.
She turned away, the wardstone still pulsing faintly in her hand. "We've bought ourselves time," she said quietly. "But we can't let our guard down. Not for a second."
Kaelion stood in the center of his throne room, his mismatched eyes glowing with cold fury. The atmosphere was heavy with his power, the air itself bending to his will. Eryndor stood before him, his usual composure cracking under the weight of the king's displeasure.
"They've taken the outpost," Eryndor said, his voice low. "Aeliana led the charge. She… she defeated General Corath."
Kaelion's smirk was sharp, dangerous. "Did she now?"
Eryndor hesitated. "She's growing stronger, my king. The rebels see her as a symbol now, someone who can challenge your rule."
Kaelion turned, pacing slowly as he considered this. "A symbol," he repeated, his voice laced with dark amusement. "How quaint."
His gaze sharpened, the fire in his eyes flaring brighter. "She's no threat to me. Not truly. She's a spark, flickering in the wind. And I will either extinguish her… or mold her into something far more useful."
Eryndor inclined his head, though his unease was evident. "And the rebels? They're rallying behind her. Their forces grow bolder with each passing day."
Kaelion's smirk widened, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Let them rally. Let them think they have a chance. And when the time is right, I'll remind them why I am their king."
A Dangerous Invitation
Aeliana sat in a corner of the outpost, her back against the cold stone wall. The wardstone lay in her lap, its light dim but steady. The rebels' voices echoed in the distance, their cheers and laughter a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside her.
She had done what they asked. She had helped them win. But victory felt hollow when she knew what was coming.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a messenger, a young rebel with a nervous expression. He held out a sealed letter, his hands trembling slightly. "This… this came for you."
Aeliana frowned, taking the letter. The seal was unmistakable: black wax imprinted with the mark of a flame. Kaelion's mark.
Her pulse quickened as she broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. The handwriting was sharp and elegant, the words precise and laced with authority.
Aeliana,
You've caught my attention once again. Return to the palace. We have much to discuss.
Do not test my patience.
—Kaelion
Her breath hitched, her hands trembling as she stared at the words. Her mind raced with questions, but one thing was clear: Kaelion knew exactly where she was, and he wasn't waiting for her to come to him. This was a demand, not a request.
Kaen appeared beside her, his expression darkening as he read over her shoulder. "You can't go back," he said firmly. "It's a trap."
"I don't think I have a choice," Aeliana murmured, her voice barely audible.
Kaen's jaw tightened. "If you go, he'll try to break you."
Aeliana looked up at him, her eyes steady despite the fear churning in her chest. "Then I won't let him."
The Game Begins
The journey back to the palace was quiet, tension hanging heavy in the air. Aeliana was escorted by two of Kaelion's soldiers, their expressions unreadable beneath their helmets. She clutched the wardstone beneath her cloak, its faint pulse a reminder of the power she carried.
When they reached the palace, the massive gates creaked open, and she was led through the familiar halls. The weight of Kaelion's presence grew stronger with each step, pressing down on her like an invisible hand.
The throne room doors opened, revealing Kaelion seated on his obsidian throne. His mismatched eyes locked onto hers the moment she entered, his smirk as sharp as ever.
"Aeliana," he said, his voice a low purr. "You've been busy."
She stopped a few feet from the throne, her chin raised despite the trembling in her limbs. "You summoned me."
Kaelion chuckled, rising from his throne with a fluid grace. "Summoned? No. Invited. And you accepted."
"Did I have a choice?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.
His smirk widened as he descended the steps, closing the distance between them. "There's always a choice, little thief. But you made the right one."
He circled her slowly, his presence suffocating. "You've impressed me," he continued, his tone laced with something darker. "Defeating General Corath. Rallying the rebels. It's almost as if you're trying to challenge me."
"I'm not afraid of you," Aeliana said, though her voice wavered.
Kaelion stopped in front of her, his mismatched eyes glinting with amusement. "Liar."
He reached out, his hand brushing her cheek. The touch sent a jolt through her, the fire inside her flaring in response. Her breath caught as his fingers lingered, his smirk softening into something almost intimate.
"You're brave," he murmured, his voice a low growl. "But bravery alone won't save you."
Aeliana jerked away, her heart racing. "I don't need saving."
Kaelion's smile faded, replaced by a look of quiet intensity. "Everyone needs saving from something," he said softly. "Even you."
The words hung between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. Aeliana stared at him, her pulse pounding in her ears. She didn't trust him—she couldn't. But the way he looked at her, the way his presence seemed to pull her in, made her question everything.
Kaelion stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You think you can stand against me, little thief. But the truth is, you're already mine."
Aeliana's hands clenched at her sides, the fire inside her roaring in defiance. "We'll see about that."
Kaelion's smirk returned, sharper than ever. "Oh, we will."