Lord of Deception

The night was suffocatingly silent. Not even the wind dared to whisper through the trees as Elyndra Valcrest walked back toward the castle.

Her lips were still tingling.

Her heartbeat, usually steady and composed, was erratic, each pulse a reminder of what she had done.

What had she done?

Her fingers brushed against her cloak, gripping the fabric tightly as if to ground herself. She wasn't the kind of woman to be swayed by emotions. She wasn't weak. She wasn't reckless. She wasn't—

A traitor.

But when Kael's lips had met hers, when his words had slithered into her mind like a slow, seductive poison, she hadn't fought back. She hadn't resisted.

She had wanted it.

And that terrified her.

The castle gates came into view, guarded by two knights standing motionless, their silver armor gleaming beneath the torchlight. Elyndra took a slow breath, masking her turmoil behind the practiced poise of nobility. She had to pull herself together.

She was still the future queen of Solaris. She was still the Hero's fiancée.

But as she stepped inside the castle, she couldn't help but wonder—

Was she still his?

Elsewhere in the castle…

The Hero, Auron Starfire, sat alone in the war council chamber, his hands resting on the massive wooden table. The flickering light of the chandeliers above cast long shadows across his face, making him look almost hollow.

He didn't know why, but something in his heart felt wrong.

Elyndra had been distant lately. Her smiles, once so warm, had begun to feel forced. Her presence, once reassuring, now felt like something slipping through his fingers.

His golden eyes flickered toward the map laid out before him. War was brewing. The Empire of Thalgris had begun mobilizing troops near the border, and the kingdom's forces were stretched thin.

There was no time for distractions.

And yet…

His thoughts kept returning to her.

Was he imagining things? Was it just stress? Or was he… losing her?

Auron exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. He was a hero.

He didn't have the luxury of doubt.

Meanwhile, in Kael's chambers…

Kael leaned back in his chair, his fingers gliding over the rim of a crystal goblet filled with deep red wine.

His lips curled.

Tonight had been a success.

Elyndra had hesitated, yes. She had tried to resist, yes. But in the end… she had given in.

And the best part?

She didn't even realize how deep she had already sunk.

Kael wasn't foolish enough to believe she was fully his yet. Not yet. But the seed had been planted. The moment she had grabbed his wrist, the moment she had accepted his touch, the first fracture had formed in her devotion to the Hero.

And fractures?

They always spread.

Kael took a slow sip of his wine, savoring the taste as he considered his next move.

Patience. That was the key. Elyndra was a woman of duty, of honor. She would fight against her desires. She would try to convince herself that what happened tonight was a mistake.

But mistakes had a way of repeating themselves.

He would let her return to the Hero. Let her pretend everything was fine.

And then, when she least expected it—

He would pull her back.

Deeper.

Until she no longer wanted to escape.

Until she willingly betrayed everything for him.

Kael smiled to himself as he swirled the wine in his goblet.

The Hero's lover was falling.

And soon, she would be his completely.

To be continued.....