Shadow Bound Fate

The Night Syndicate

Lira's POV

When we stepped through the portal, the sensation was disorienting, like stepping through a veil of cold shadows. As we landed, I blinked, trying to make sense of the space around us. We weren't in a home—no, this was far grander, more imposing. A palace. The foyer we stood in was massive, the floor beneath our feet a gleaming marble that reflected the soft glow of chandeliers above. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, each one depicting scenes I couldn't quite understand but felt an eerie familiarity to.

To our right, a wide balcony stretched out, opening up to the night sky. The expanse of dark velvet overhead was dotted with bright, shimmering stars, their light almost unnaturally vivid. It felt surreal, like the sky itself was enchanted, far too beautiful to belong to the world I knew.

"It's beautiful," I breathed out, unable to take my eyes off the sight before me.

Beside me, I sensed a quiet presence. Turning, I found Caius watching me, his gaze soft despite the tension in the air. "Yes," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "it is."

There was something deeper in his words, but before I could ask, the portal shimmered again behind us. Kieran and Thalia emerged, both looking slightly disoriented.

"Ugh," Thalia groaned, brushing imaginary dust off her dress, her lip curling in distaste. "I hate doing that."

I couldn't help but smile at her, the moment of levity easing the knot of nerves twisting in my stomach.

"Let's do this," Caius said, his tone suddenly all business. He held his arm out to me again, and I slipped my hand through, gripping his forearm tightly, trying to hide the shakiness in my fingers.

With Caius leading, the four of us moved down the hall. The grandeur of the palace seemed to expand around us, the ceilings stretching impossibly high, draped in heavy velvet curtains and tapestries that whispered of ancient power. Caius wore an expression of indifference, as if none of this impressed or even phased him. His steps were measured, purposeful, as if this dark world was second nature to him.

At the end of the hall stood two guards, each clad in black armor with edges lined in that distinctive dark violet—the same shade I had seen creeping up the hem of my dress. Their faces were impassive, eyes cold, but they nodded to Caius as we approached, acknowledging his presence. Without a word, they pulled open the massive double doors, revealing the ballroom beyond.

The soft hum of faint music filled the air, though no one was dancing. Instead, all heads turned as we crossed the threshold, their gazes sharp and assessing. I could feel their eyes on me, on all of us, but I remembered what I had been told: make no eye contact with anyone but the king. I swallowed hard and kept my gaze forward, resisting the urge to look at the curious, hostile stares burning into me.

At the far end of the room, Morven sat atop an enormous black throne, his presence commanding and unnerving. The throne itself seemed to pulse with a frozen darkness, as though it was made of solidified shadows, tendrils of black creeping from its edges. His crown, black and purple, gleamed under the dim light, and his eyes locked on us with predatory amusement. A sadistic smile curved his lips, sending a chill down my spine as we approached.

A woman sat on Morven's lap. Her long brown hair was wavy down her back as she wore a black dress that did nothing to hide any part of her skin from the eyes of others. Although she was beautiful. His arm was wrapped around her waist as she leaned on him.

There was another throne that was next to the massive one in the middle that sat empty. It was identical to Morven's but smaller. Who could that be for?