The marriage of shadows

The Preda

is presence loomed everywhere-his voice echoed faintly through the halls as guards spoke of him in hushed

he prince's cryptic warnings were as unsettling as his nature. What

wallow her. If she was going t

resolve had hardened into st

ickering on the long, polished table. Kael sat at the head, a goblet of

as quiet, yet it carried throug

lf to walk closer. "I want to kno

o a smirk. "You're bol

me here as your hostage, surround me with monsters, and offer me noth

im light. For a moment, he said nothing, simply studying h

om knowledge?" he asked, his

s. "I think survival comes from knowing who and what to trust.

nd that sent shivers down her

race of a predator. "But since you're so despe

ollow, and despite her b

had ever dared venture. The air grew colder with every step, and the fli

of heavy iron doors, their surfaces

ina asked, her voice b

aintly in the dim light. "The heart of the cas

he pushed the doors open,

books and artifacts. At the center of the room stood a circular dais, its surface

s where the castle's power resides. It is a n

ok in the strange, otherworldly

ink monsters like me exis

he runes on the dais glowed brighter, and for a moment, Velina

oice low and resonant. "Its power sustains me, just

curiosity overriding her fe

ful than you can imagine. They are bound here, trapped by the castle's magic, but their hatred fe

er resolve wavering. "Wh

ernative is worse. If they were to escape, the world beyo

rds, but a question burned in her mi

ents slow and deliberate. "A warden.

ches away from her. His crimson eyes bored in

s voice a dark whisper, "I have lea

ut she refused to back away. "And

s smile. "Then, little lamb, you'l

cture

hing Kael had told her. The castle was alive, a nexus of magic and d

he call hims

rough the window. Kael was dangerous, that much was clear, but there

She would uncover the truth about Kael, about the cast

ouldn't shake the feeling that the truth might

g like a phantom. It lingered by her bedside, its faint, glowing eye