Chapter 1
Everyone in the Lycan kingdom knew one great rule, never touch the king.
Kael Draven stepped out of his chambers, walking majestically towards the throne room. His movement was calm, measured and worthy of a king. As he turned into the grand hallway the maids scattered around the corners, the guards separated forming a large space for him to pass.
The palace servants lowered their heads, no one daring to look up at the king.
No one wanted to risk getting touched by him, even if it was a little brush. King Kael walked through the door which was opened widely for him then sat on his throne. His comrade came before him with a scroll, bowed before he began reading the content to him.
A servant hurriedly walked across the throne room carrying a sliver tray. Kael noticed her immediately, he didn’t notice her because he wanted too. He noticed her because he had to, keeping distance between people was the only way he could protect them.
“Careful” one of the guards warned her quietly. She froze, her head down with her knees on the ground .
“Forgive me, your majesty”
Kael wanted to tell her not to bother, not to feel to down. He didn’t cause words wont change what he was. The maid stepped back too quickly, her gown got caught by a table, the tray turned a little. The glass cup fell and shattered.
The sound of broken glass sounded loudly across the throne room. The maid swiftly bent, trying to catch the sliver spoon. Mistakenly her hands brushed the exposed part of his hands, the whole thrones attendees let sucked in a gasp.
But it was too late and Kael knew, they was nothing he could do.
The maid looked down at her hands, confusion spread across her face, then fear.
“Your majesty…” her voice Shaked. The curse has been released upon her. Kael stood up quickly “Everyone move away from her” his voice calm but inside, something changed in him.
The maid stumble back, staring at her skin in shock changing colors. “Your majesty, I didn’t mean to…”
“I know” he didn’t like someone suffering because of him.
The stone moved faster, from her hand, her arm, her shoulder. Kael clenched his fists as he watched it move so fast, consuming her.
For twenty-five good years, he has been watching this horrible nightmare repeating again and again.
The curse stopped, then cracks formed on the frozen maid and she fell turning to dust. The wide room turned quiet, another life lost.
“Your majesty…” Kael beta, Lucian, stepped forward carefully.
“Find her family” he didn’t look at his beta.
“Kael...” Lucian tried talking to him.
“Make sure they are well provided for”
That was all he said, then walked out. The hands that should be protecting his people were killing them, painfully.
Chapter 1
Seraphina stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself as the servants moved around her room, carrying her bags and preparing everything for the journey. Everyone seemed excited about the Grand Peace Ceremony. And Her father had been talking about it for days, telling everyone how important the ceremony was and how it would help strengthen their relationship with the other kingdoms.
But Seraphina wasn’t excited. She looked at the dress in front of her and sighed. Another ceremony. Another place where she would have to smile and pretend everything was fine, Especially when she knew Adrian would be there.
“Seraphina” her father called from outside.
“Am coming” She quickly picked up her necklace and wore it before walking towards the door, Her father was standing outside waiting for her.
“You are finally ready”
“Yes”
He looked at her before smiling. “You look beautiful”
“Thank you”
He nodded before looking towards the servants. “Make sure everything is ready, we will be leaving soon”
Seraphina remained quiet, then Her father turned towards her again.
“Adrian will be travelling with us”
“I know”
“And you should try to spend some time with him during the ceremony”
“Why?” Seraphina frowned.
Her father looked at her. “You know why”
She already knew, The marriage.
She looked away. “I don’t love him”
Her father sighed. “Seraphina, we have talked about this many times”
“I know”
“Then you should understand that this marriage is important to our family”
“Everything is always important to the family”
Her father became quiet as Seraphina looked down at her hands, She didn’t want to argue with him. But she hated how everyone kept deciding her future for her. Who she should marry, Where she should go and How she should behave. Everything had already been decided. Before she could say anything else, someone knocked on the door, then Adrian entered.
His eyes immediately went towards her. “You are ready”
“Yes”
He smiled. “We should leave soon”
Seraphina nodded. Adrian walked closer tried to reach for her hand, but She quickly moved it away before his hands could touch her. Adrian smile disappeared for a second.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing”
“You have been avoiding me”
“I haven’t”
Then He looked at her. “You know we are getting married soon”
Seraphina looked away. “I know”
“Our families are already making plans”. She clenched her fingers. She wanted to tell him that she didn’t care about their plans, That she didn’t want to marry him. But she kept quiet. She didn’t want to create a scene, Not now.
Her father looked at them. “Let’s go, everyone is waiting”
Seraphina picked up her bag and followed them outside. The palace was already busy, Servants were carrying their belongings while the guards prepared the carriages. She climbed inside and sat beside the window As the carriage began moving, she looked back at the palace.
She didn’t know why, but she felt like she was leaving more than just a place. Maybe it was the last little piece of freedom she had. Then She looked away, because The journey to Obsidian had begun.
