Lord of Deception

A King Without a Crown

The flames of the royal palace burned lower that night, flickering in the cold wind. The throne room of Solaris stood empty, its golden banners casting long shadows across the marble floor.

Auron sat in silence.

His hands, once steady and strong, now gripped the edge of the massive stone table before him. The royal seal of Solaris was carved into its surface—a sun engulfed in chains. Once, it had symbolized hope. Now, all Auron saw was a cruel reminder of his shackles.

Elyndra had betrayed him.

Not just in body, but in soul.

And Kael…

Kael had stolen her.

Every moment replayed in his mind—the way she hesitated when he begged her to stay, the way her eyes faltered when he reached for her hand. And worst of all—the way she let herself fall into Kael's grasp.

Auron exhaled a sharp breath, his fingers curling into a fist.

"I swore to protect her. I swore to be her hero."

And yet, a villain had taken everything from him.

He turned to the tome before him. The pages glowed faintly, the words carved in ancient magic. Power surged from its depths, whispering, calling. Promising him the strength to take back what was stolen.

But it came at a cost.

"A hero who embraces darkness shall no longer be called a hero."

Auron closed his eyes.

Did it matter anymore?

Did anything matter if he couldn't reclaim what was his?

For the first time, he reached out.

His fingers brushed the cursed pages. And the moment he did, the entire room shook.

The Devil's Whisper

Across the city, in the highest tower of the Obsidian Keep, Kael watched the city lights dim one by one. He stood at the balcony, arms crossed, the night wind brushing against his dark robes.

Behind him, Elyndra lay in his bed—her body wrapped in silk, her breathing soft.

She hadn't run.

She hadn't resisted.

She was his now.

But even as victory pulsed through his veins, Kael's mind was far from settled.

Because he knew Auron.

He knew heroes did not break so easily.

"You should be resting."

Elyndra's voice was soft, laced with exhaustion, but also something else. Something warmer.

He turned slightly, his crimson eyes meeting hers.

"Are you worried about me?"

She hesitated for just a second before sighing. "I don't know."

Kael smirked. Good.

He wanted her like this—uncertain. Dependent.

He walked over to the bedside, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Auron won't stop. You know that, don't you?"

Elyndra swallowed, eyes flickering with unease.

She did know.

But for the first time, she wasn't certain if she wanted him to stop.

Because something about Kael terrified and thrilled her.

Because he made her feel wanted.

Because, unlike Auron, he didn't beg her to love him—he made her surrender to him.

And wasn't that what she had always craved?

A man who would take her, not wait for her?

Kael leaned closer, his voice a whisper against her lips. "He will come for you, Elyndra. The question is—will you still want him when he does?"

She didn't answer.

And Kael grinned.

The Fall of a Hero, The Rise of a Tyrant

Auron's breath came in sharp, ragged gasps as power pulsed through his body. The moment his fingers had touched the cursed tome, it had devoured him.

Dark tendrils of energy wrapped around his arms, branding him, binding him. But he didn't resist.

This was what he needed.

This was how he would take back Elyndra.

"The power of the Lost Kings is yours to wield. But beware—this path will grant you no salvation."

Auron didn't care.

"Give me what I need."

The magic obeyed.

He clenched his fists, feeling it surge through him. The once golden glow of his aura flickered, darkened, twisted.

From the shadows, a voice chuckled.

"Well, well. The golden prince has finally embraced reality."

Auron turned sharply. His eyes, once a brilliant sapphire blue, now gleamed with fragments of violet and black.

A figure emerged from the darkness—a man draped in regal black robes, his smile wicked.

"Who are you?" Auron demanded.

The stranger tilted his head. "A friend. A guide." His smirk widened. "Someone who despises Kael just as much as you do."

Auron narrowed his eyes. "You know him?"

The man's laughter was deep, sharp. "Oh, my dear prince—I created him."

For the first time that night, Auron felt true fear.

Because the moment he met the stranger's gaze, he realized—

This wasn't just a war over Elyndra anymore.

This was something much, much bigger.

To be continued....