The Dawn

Chapter Fifteen.

Him.

Kaelith sat in the darkness of his chamber, the weight of last night's encounter pressing down on him like a heavy cloak. The heat that had consumed him hours earlier had subsided, leaving behind a bitter aftertaste of frustration and confusion. He had tried to push her from his mind, tried to focus on the task at hand, but the memory of her body against his, her lips parting in a breathless gasp, was impossible to erase.

He hadn't intended to see her today. He needed time to collect himself, to regain the control that had slipped so dangerously the night before. But as the hours dragged on, a strange unease settled over him. The castle was quiet,
too quiet. The usual hum of activity was absent, replaced by a silence that gnawed at him, filling him with a sense of foreboding.

Kaelith pushed himself up from the bed, his frustration now mingling with a creeping sense of dread. Something was wrong. He could feel it in his bones, in the way the shadows seemed to stretch longer than they should, in the oppressive stillness that hung in the air.

He pulled on his clothes quickly, the urgency in his movements fueled by the growing certainty that something terrible had happened. He had wanted to stay away from her today, to avoid the storm of emotions she stirred within him, but now all he could think about was finding her, making sure she was safe.

The corridor outside his room was empty, the usual sounds of servants and guards strangely absent. He moved swiftly through the castle, his eyes scanning every shadow, every corner for a sign of her. But she was nowhere to be found.

His pulse quickened, anger and fear intertwining in a dangerous mix. Where was she? He had made it clear that they would meet in the study, but when he arrived, the room was vacant, as if she had never been there at all.

Kaelith's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. Something wasn't right. He moved further into the room, searching for any clue that might tell him where she had gone. It was then that he saw it, a piece of parchment lying on the edge of the desk, the wax seal broken.

His heart pounded as he reached for the letter, his instincts screaming at him that this was no ordinary message. The paper was rough, the ink dark and spidery, as if it had been written in haste. He scanned the words, his eyes widening in fury as the truth of her disappearance sank in.

It was a warning, a taunt from whatever dark force had taken her. The letter spoke of shadows, of ancient grudges and debts to be paid. It mocked him, daring him to come after her, to find her if he could. And if he didn't...well, the consequences were left chillingly vague.

Kaelith's grip tightened on the paper, the edges crumpling beneath his fingers. The thought of anyone else laying a hand on her, of anyone daring to take what was his, filled him with a cold, murderous rage. He had been a fool to let her out of his sight, to think that she was safe within the walls of the castle.

He should have known better. The darkness that surrounded him, that had been his constant companion since childhood, was not easily dismissed. There were things in this world that thrived in the shadows, waiting for the moment to strike. And now they had her.

Kaelith's jaw clenched as he crushed the letter in his fist, his mind already racing with plans. He would find her, and when he did, he would make whoever had taken her pay. He would tear them apart with his bare hands if he had to. No one took what was his and lived to tell the tale.

The castle's eerie silence had shifted now, filled with a low hum of energy that radiated from him as he moved with purpose. His mind was no longer clouded by doubt or hesitation, only a single, burning focus remained. Elara. He had to get her back, and nothing, not even the darkest forces, would stand in his way.

Kaelith stormed through the corridors, his steps echoing off the stone walls. He had always been possessive, always guarded what was his with a ferocity that bordered on madness. But this was different. This wasn't just about control or power, this was about her. The woman who had somehow become the center of his world, the one person who had the power to undo him completely.

He had never wanted anyone like this, never felt this kind of primal need to protect and possess. It terrified him, the depth of what he felt, but there was no time to dwell on that now. He would deal with it later, once she was safe.

His mind conjured images of what could be happening to her, the thought of her in pain, of her afraid and alone, driving him to the brink of madness. He would not allow it. He would find her, no matter what it took, no matter who he had to kill to get to her.

Kaelith reached the end of the corridor, his eyes scanning the shadows, searching for any sign of movement. The darkness was thick here, almost tangible, and he knew he was getting closer. He could feel the presence of something ancient, something malevolent, lurking just out of sight.

But he was not afraid. The rage that burned within him was more powerful than any fear, and it propelled him forward, deeper into the heart of the castle's dark secrets. Whoever had taken her, whatever they were, they had made a grave mistake.

Elara was his, and he would stop at nothing to bring her back. Even if it meant walking into the very darkness he had spent his life embracing, even if it meant facing his own demons head-on, he would do it. For her.

And when he found them, when he found the ones who dared to take her, they would learn that the Dark Prince was not someone to be trifled with. They would learn that some things in this world were more dangerous than the darkness itself.