Chapter 2 Six Kings, One Sacrifice

Selena's POV

The six kings were waiting inside the throne room.

I stood between two guards, looking at the men seated before me. They were all different, but each carried the same air of authority.

The man in the middle stood up.

"Bring her forward."

The guards pushed me towards the centre of the room.

"Can I at least know what you intend to do with me?" I asked.

Nobody answered.

The man on the largest throne looked at me.

"I am Rowan. You have been brought here because your family owes a debt to the six kingdoms."

"That's what my father said. But he refused to explain the debt."

"Your blood is required to renew the Crimson Covenant."

I looked at the other kings.

"So you brought me here to kill me?"

"We brought you here to fulfil an agreement," Rowan replied.

"An agreement I never made."

Knox, the king sitting beside him, leaned forward.

"She doesn't seem afraid of us."

"I'm terrified," I answered. "I'm just not interested in pretending otherwise."

Mason laughed quietly.

Lyon wasn't amused.

"Stop wasting our time. Begin the ceremony."

An elderly man approached me. He wore long black robes and carried a small silver knife.

"Place your hand on the altar," he instructed.

I looked at the large stone table in front of me.

"What happens when I do?"

"Your blood will complete the agreement."

"And if I refuse?"

Rowan answered without hesitation.

"You will be forced."

I stepped backwards, but the guards held my arms.

"Get your hands off me!"

One of them tightened his grip while the priest took my hand.

I struggled, but it was useless.

The priest made a small cut across my palm. Blood fell onto the stone altar.

For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Then the carvings on its surface began to glow red.

The guards immediately released me.

I stepped away, staring at the strange light spreading across the altar.

Suddenly, all six kings reacted.

A red mark appeared on Rowan's palm. Another appeared on Knox's wrist. Similar marks formed on Lyon, Selene, Mason, and Riggs.

They all looked at their hands.

"What is happening?" Mason asked.

The priest stepped backwards.

"This cannot be."

Selene approached the altar and examined the markings.

"The ritual has connected her to all six kings."

"That's impossible," the priest whispered.

Knox looked at me.

"Who are you really?"

"How should I know? I'm the person your guards dragged inside."

Lyon stood up.

"Watch your mouth."

"Then stop asking me questions you expect me to answer when nobody has explained anything."

Before he could respond, a strange pain spread through my chest.

I fell to my knees.

At the same moment, Rowan grabbed his chest. The other kings also struggled with the sudden pain.

I pressed my hand against the floor.

Something was happening between us.

Then I heard a voice.

It wasn't coming from anyone in the room.

The six have awakened. The seventh has returned.

I looked around, but nobody seemed to have heard it.

A loud crack came from the altar.

Everyone turned.

A large crack had appeared across its surface, revealing a symbol underneath the stone. It looked like a crown with seven points.

Riggs stood up.

His expression changed as soon as he saw it.

"Close the doors," he ordered.

The guards rushed to obey.

Rowan turned towards him.

"Do you know what that symbol means?"

Riggs ignored the question and looked at the priest.

"Who prepared this ritual?"

The old man began trembling.

"It was prepared according to the ancient instructions."

"That wasn't my question."

Before the priest could answer, he suddenly collapsed.

Blood ran from his nose.

"The offering was supposed to die," he whispered.

I stared at him.

"Why?"

Nobody answered.

Rowan approached me.

"Take her to the east chambers."

Two guards moved forward.

I stepped away from them.

"I'm not going anywhere until someone explains what happened."

Rowan's expression hardened.

"You are in my kingdom. You will follow my orders."

"Your kingdom? Then perhaps you should learn how to treat your guests."

Knox shook his head.

"This is not the time for arguments. Something went wrong with the ritual."

"Then fix it and let me go."

He looked at the mark on his wrist.

"I don't think it's that simple."

Riggs finally approached me.

Unlike the others, he wasn't looking at my face. His attention remained on the mark beneath my skin.

"Your family told you nothing, did they?"

I shook my head.

"They said I was settling an old debt."

He looked towards the broken altar.

"That was a lie."

My stomach tightened.

"What do you mean?"

"Your family didn't bring you here because of a debt. They brought you here because of what you carry in your blood."

I stared at him.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Before he could answer, the red mark on my wrist began glowing again.

The six kings' marks responded at the same time.

Then a loud sound came from somewhere beneath the palace.

Everyone turned towards the floor.

Riggs's expression darkened.

"Something has awakened."

And judging by the fear on his face, it was something none of them wanted to meet.