Rhiannon's POV

The next time I was able to see the world outside again was through chains bound tightly to my wrists.

And this time, they weren't silver cuffs, but black, gruesome metal pulsing lightly with magic under my skin. It didn't burn me and it wasn't too tight to bruise, but it was a reminder that I wasn't free anymore.

I now have a master's degree.

I belonged to someone, and that someone strode in deadly silence in front of me, the death king clothed in shadow and darkness itself.

The almighty Rael Throne. He didn't even spare me the slightest glance as he moved ahead of me, just kept walking in slow, deliberate steps which made my breath hitch.

And as he walked, his cloak dragged behind him but he didn't stumble.

And me? I walked behind me like a pet following its master, my bare feet dragging against the marble floor, my whole body clenching and aching painfully from the long journey, my thoughts still filled with those words Rael had uttered to me last night, I couldn't shake it off

He had said them more to himself than to me.

I was his curse, how? And his cure?

It all sounded absurd, I couldn't understand what it meant or what he meant by that.

But aside from my thoughts, something in me felt uneasy, a deadly feeling of dread washing down my spine.

Finally, we arrived at his fortress. I looked around in awe, my eyes widening. This was like nothing I had ever seen, its walls were enormous, towering over us like fifteen feet tall giants and on the wall, were strange paintings that pulsed with ancient magic and as we passed one, I could promise I saw it twitch and breathe as though it was alive.

I shifted my gaze to another, blood dripping down its canvas, never ending and terrifying. And where there were no lights cast on them, I saw shadows move.

Some metals in the fortress were etched in deep runes.

The pack had gathered, and all around us, they whispered.

“The king brought a female and she's not dead yet?” I heard one sneer.

“Is she his mate?”

“Tsk….she wouldn't last a week, it's a bet!”

“She's not different from a mortal, so weak”

“She looks like she's never shifted before”

I pursed my lips, ignoring them as I kept my eyes fixed forward, trying to suppress the urge to spit in their faces and yell at the tip of my lungs.

But, deep down, most of their words were the truth.

Even if I forced my head high and stood tall, I didn't know who I was anymore.

I didn't even have my freedom anymore, not like I had it in the past though.

Finally, we reached the middle of the keep and there, a staircase twirled up. I gasped softly, it looked like a black, huge snake curling around black metal. But, we didn't use the staircase instead, he spun his heels towards the throne hall.

I furrowed my brows with confusion but still followed him and just as I took a step forward, I bumped into something and almost fell, I yelled out, expecting to hit the ground in a painful thud but before my knees could hit the ground, I felt a hand snake around my waist, catching me just in time.

Rael, it belonged to him.

I slowly tilted my head up to meet his gaze, he squinted his eyes nonchalantly, like he just caught something he didn't realize he cared about.

He helped me to my feet and shoved me away almost immediately, as though my skin was filthy.

I saw his jaw clench tightly as he said nothing, neither did I.

But the air around us grew heavy and almost suffocating and his touch on my skin, although brief, still lingered, making my heart skip a beat, a chill sensation rushing down my spine.

I knew he didn't mean to help me, but then, he did.

And I really hated how my body reacted to his touch.

*****

As we walked into the throne room, my breath hitched, the stench of death and fresh blood hovering around.

I slowly tilted my head up, tall ceilings which made my stomach drop, banners as bright as blood and at the far end, was an Obsidian throne carved from bone and screams. On the floor were fire pits, neatly lined up and in the middle was the beast.

Rael's wolf-dragon pet.

As it saw its master, it suddenly began to pad towards us, its steps slow and deliberate, as though waiting for me to turn and run, its claws clicking softly on the marble floor, its golden, molten eyes fixed in me.

The hairs on my skin rose as I froze momentarily, my eyes widening as my heart pounded even harder in my chest. But, I didn't run, even when it got closer, its hot breath producing steam in the air and from its snout, smoke belched.

Just as it opened its mouth, I subconsciously held my breath, almost wanting to take a step back but then, much to my surprise, it bowed.

It tilted its enormous head low, its nostrils flaring at my feet.

The whole court was stunned, everyone gasping in surprise but no one dared to say any word, just stared at I and the beast as though something unimaginable had happened.

The beast never bowed to no one, not in Rael's court or to any general, but only to Rael himself.

But, it had broken the norm and bowed to me.

I pursed my lips, slowly tilting my head up and met with Rael's cold gaze.

He held no emotions in his eyes, his expression icy and unreadable, but I saw his hand moved to his chest, gently pressing it with two fingers.

I figured it was a rune hidden beneath his shirt. But, as his muscles flexed, I could see the tension, the way his jaws clenched tightly, something was wrong and he knew it.

Then from the shadows, I heard a voice snapped. “You're a curse”

I tilted my head back and saw as a man, draped in dark, blood red robes stride out, his lips holding a dark, menacing smirk, his eyes deep and filled with power.

He was the Royal Advisor of the pack, I didn't know his name or who he was, but from the way he dressed and carried himself, I already recognised his title.

He was the court's priest, the one who whispered the pack's affairs directly into the king's ears.

“This runt is interfering” he said again, this time to Rael. “And the curse reacts…”

Rael said nothing, he just clenched his teeth and squinted his gaze and beneath his deadly façade, I saw his heart jerk over his heart. It seemed as though something was shifting inside of me and it was because of me.

*******

Later, I was locked in a glass tower at the east wing. It wasn't a dungeon, at least it didn't look like one.

On the windows were thick, red velvet curtains and on the giant bed were scented pillows. The shelves were lined with books written in languages I could understand and languages I couldn't. And in the bathroom, it had the most beautiful bath I had ever seen, carved into the floor with steams of scented oils engulfing my nostrils.

This was perfection, but it still didn't change the fact that I was a prisoner.

Rael didn't assign any guards outside the door….he didn't need to. Because his pet beast was already there, curled up into a spiky ball like a demon asleep and from its jaws, smoke arose.

Even if I had the thoughts of escaping, I couldn't.

Later, I was brought food filled with rich meats, bread and fruits I could only hear stories of. And for my wounds, I was brought healing balms to speed up the healing process. Clean, warm gowns made of silk were also brought for me too.

But all these didn't mean my freedom.

Later in the night, the door creaked open with any knock or warning and Rael strode in, his dark, demon aura filling the entire room.

I pursed my lips, almost choking on my saliva.

He didn't spare me a glance or sit, just tossed a red cloth wrapped in a bundle onto the table.

“Put this on tomorrow” he muttered icyly. “The court wants to be properly introduced to what I dragged in”

I raised a brow, tilted my head to look at the bundle but didn't pick it up. “I despise being treated like I'm a property”

Finally, he raised his eyes to meet my gaze, those beautiful, deadly orbs piercing into mine.

A slight smirk curled on his lips. “But that's what you are, Flame”

Then, he spun his heels and began striding back to the door but suddenly stopped on his tracks but he didn't turn his back.

“Were you kissed by him?” He suddenly asked his question, catching me off guard.

I furrowed my brows with confusion. “Wh…what?” I asked.

“Knox…” he snarled softly, his voice low and dangerous. “Before you were rejected and thrown into the dungeon like trash….did he kiss you?”

My frown deepened as I stared at his back but the truth slipped out of my lips before I could properly think. “No..” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper but I knew he heard me.

I saw his hand tighten around the door knob, so hard his knuckles turned white but he didn't say another word.

He just strode out of the room, banging the door behind him with a soft thud.

I stood there, frozen, still staring at the door, his strange question still lingering in my mind. Why did he actually care?

******

It was the next morning, the court was a dangerous place. They put me in a dress Rael had chosen….deep red, cut high on the leg, with dark gold designs. I looked like blood in fancy clothes. And they made sure I felt bad.

People gasped, sneered, and looked disgusted. "She's nothing. Weak. Rejected." "He'll kill her before he uses her."

"She won't make it through the test."

I stood tall. Then a noblewoman stood in front of me, tall, cold, and very beautiful. She held a cup of dark wine and smiled.

Then, poured it. The liquid soaked my dress, warmth running down my chest like blood. "Oh," she said sweetly. "Clumsy me." She leaned in close. "You're too fragile to be Luna. The king was bored, that's all."

I didn't move or flinch. But my voice, shaking and soft but strong underneath, rose. "Is this how your court shows its strength?" I asked, out of breath. "By mocking the weak?" There was a pause.

A moment of silence. Then she raised her hand to hit me. And the beast jumped forward. Its body crashed between us, a loud snarl echoing through the hall. Its jaws snapped close to her face.

She screamed and stumbled back. Everyone froze. "Touch her again," Rael's voice echoed from the top of the stairs, "and you'll be dinner."

My heart skipped a beat. He was watching. He had been watching. The beast walked back to me, lying down at my feet, guarding me. Rael came down the stairs slowly. His eyes locked on mine. He walked past me without saying a word. But his presence stayed with me like warmth in my blood.

*******

That night, I couldn't sleep. I sat by the window, looking at the red moons. In another part of the castle, I heard him roar. Just once. Not angry, but in pain.

And I knew where he had gone. The cursed room. I stood up. Put a hand on my chest. My heart beat fast. No reason. No cause. But something in me felt pain for him.

*******

Morning came cold. I was called again. Rael stood by the fireplace, his shirt partly unbuttoned, steam rising from his tea. "You'll be tested tomorrow," he said. My stomach sank. "Physically, politically, emotionally."

I said nothing. "If you fail," he added, still not looking at me, "I'll break the bond myself.”

My hands shook. "Why?" I asked. "Why do this to me?"

He finally turned around. "Because the gods are cruel," he said softly. "And they picked you." He walked past me, touching my shoulder with cold fingers. "I'm not your happy ending, Rhiannon," he said. “I'm not your prince charming….but the demon lord who doesn't give happy endings”