Chapter 2 The Captive's Defiance

Kael had been locked inside the east wing for exactly three hours when the first guard entered.

He was sitting beside the large window, staring at the moon hanging above Blackthorn territory.

The room was far too comfortable to be called a prison.

There was a large bed covered in dark sheets, a fireplace burning quietly in the corner, a wardrobe filled with clean clothes, and a table covered with food he hadn't touched.

It should have felt like mercy.

It didn't.

Aurelia hadn't given him freedom.

She had simply placed him inside a prettier cage.

The door opened.

Two guards entered.

"Stand."

Kael didn't move.

The older guard frowned.

"I said stand."

Kael slowly turned his head.

"Did the Queen say I should stand?"

The guard's expression tightened.

"You will obey any order given by the Queen's guards."

Kael smiled faintly.

"Then tell the Queen to give the order herself."

The younger guard stepped forward angrily.

"You're a prisoner."

"I know."

"You're standing in the palace of the woman who defeated your entire pack."

"I know that too."

"Then stop acting like you're equal to her."

Kael looked at him.

"I never said I was."

The older guard grabbed his arm.

Kael's body reacted before his mind did.

He twisted his wrist, stepped behind the guard and slammed him against the wall.

The younger guard immediately drew his sword.

Kael released the man.

"I don't want trouble."

"You just attacked a palace guard!"

"He grabbed me first."

The sword was raised.

Then a voice came from the doorway.

"Put it away."

Both guards immediately froze.

Kael turned.

Aurelia stood in the doorway.

She wore a long black dress embroidered with silver along the sleeves. Her dark hair was pulled back, exposing the sharp lines of her face.

She looked calm.

But Kael could feel the authority radiating from her.

The guard lowered his weapon.

"Your Majesty."

Aurelia's eyes moved from the guard to Kael.

"What happened?"

The older guard bowed.

"He attacked me."

Kael scoffed.

"He grabbed me."

Aurelia looked at him.

"Did you?"

"No."

"Then why did you fight back?"

"Because I don't enjoy being handled like an animal."

Something flickered in her eyes.

"Interesting."

She walked into the room.

The guards stepped aside.

Aurelia stopped in front of Kael.

"You seem to have forgotten something."

"What?"

"You're my prisoner."

Kael stared at her.

"You remind me every few minutes."

"And yet you continue to challenge my authority."

"Maybe your authority isn't as frightening as everyone claims."

Silence.

The guards exchanged nervous glances.

Aurelia's golden eyes began to glow.

Kael felt her Alpha power pressing against him.

His wolf immediately pushed back.

His knees weakened.

But he remained standing.

Aurelia noticed.

Her expression became unreadable.

"Leave us."

The guards bowed and left.

The door closed.

Kael and Aurelia were alone.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Aurelia walked toward him.

"Why can you resist me?"

"I don't know."

"Liar."

Kael frowned.

"I am not lying."

She stopped inches from him.

"Every wolf in my kingdom feels my Alpha command."

"Congratulations."

"You think this is funny?"

"No."

"Then answer me."

Kael looked directly into her eyes.

"I don't know why."

Aurelia studied him.

Then her gaze dropped to the silver pendant around his neck.

"What is that?"

Kael instinctively covered it with his hand.

"Nothing."

"Take it off."

"No."

Aurelia's eyebrows lifted.

"That wasn't a request."

"And I'm not giving it to you."

For the first time, her calm expression cracked.

"You're forgetting who you're speaking to."

Kael stepped closer.

"And you're forgetting that I'm not afraid of you."

The moment their bodies came within inches of each other, the mate bond exploded between them.

Aurelia gasped.

Kael's breath caught.

For a second, neither could move.

Their wolves recognized each other.

The connection was undeniable.

Aurelia immediately stepped back.

"No."

Kael's eyes darkened.

"You feel it too."

"I feel nothing."

"Liar."

Her eyes flashed.

"Be careful."

"Why? Because you're my Queen?"

"No."

She stepped closer again.

"Because I'm your Alpha."

Kael's heart hammered.

Aurelia reached for the pendant.

Kael caught her wrist.

The moment his fingers touched her skin, a burst of energy shot through both of them.

Aurelia's eyes widened.

Kael released her immediately.

Neither spoke.

Then Aurelia looked at the pendant again.

"You're hiding something."

"So are you."

Aurelia's expression hardened.

"You're in no position to investigate me."

"Neither are you."

She stared at him.

Then she smiled.

A cold, dangerous smile.

"You're right."

Kael frowned.

Aurelia stepped away.

"I don't need to investigate you."

She walked toward the door.

"Because I'll simply make you tell me."

Kael watched her.

"How?"

Aurelia looked over her shoulder.

"By keeping you here until you remember that resistance has consequences."

She opened the door.

Then paused.

"Tomorrow morning, you will attend breakfast with me."

Kael frowned.

"I'd rather starve."

Aurelia smiled.

"That wasn't an invitation."

The door closed behind her.

Kael stared at it.

His wolf growled.

She is dangerous.

Kael slowly touched his pendant.

"I know."

She is our mate.

He closed his eyes.

"That is the problem."

Across the palace, Aurelia entered her private chambers and slammed the door.

She walked straight to the mirror.

Her reflection stared back at her.

Her eyes were still glowing.

She hated that.

She hated that her body reacted to Kael.

She hated that her wolf wanted him.

Most of all, she hated the strange warmth she had felt when his fingers touched her wrist.

A knock came at the door.

"Enter."

Beta Rowan stepped inside.

"Your Majesty."

"Did you find anything?"

"Yes."

Aurelia turned.

"Tell me."

Rowan placed several documents on the table.

"Kael Veyran disappeared from Frostfang records when he was fourteen."

Aurelia frowned.

"Disappeared?"

"His father claimed he had been sent away for training."

"And?"

"We couldn't find any record of where he went."

Aurelia opened the first document.

"What about his mother?"

Rowan hesitated.

"She died shortly after Kael's birth."

Aurelia looked up.

"How?"

"We don't know."

"Find out."

"Yes."

Rowan placed another document before her.

"There is something else."

Aurelia looked at him.

"What?"

"Kael's bloodline doesn't appear to be entirely Veyran."

Aurelia's fingers stopped moving.

"What does that mean?"

"We don't know yet."

"Then find out."

Rowan bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He turned to leave.

"Rowan."

He stopped.

"Keep this investigation secret."

"Of course."

Aurelia looked down at Kael's name on the document.

For the first time in years, something she thought she understood was beginning to unravel.

And somewhere inside the palace, Kael was staring at the same moon.

Neither of them knew that before sunrise, the first blood would be spilled.

And this time, it would be inside the palace.