The Siege of Shadows: Book one

Chains of Defiance (46)*

The great hall of the Seelie Court pulsed with life, the air thick with the heady scents of roasted meats, spiced wine, and perfumed garlands strung across every archway. Enchanted lanterns cast golden light that danced like fireflies along the shimmering walls, while the ceiling mirrored a twilight sky, painted with the faint pinks and violets of a coming dawn. Imbolc, a celebration of renewal, was meant to usher in the promise of spring. Yet, for all its splendor, the room carried a weight, an undercurrent of something darker that prickled beneath the surface.

Kael sat apart, as he always did, in a throne-like chair near the raised dais where the King's grand gilded seat loomed empty. His chair, though less ostentatious, was no less commanding. Blackened wood inlaid with faint emerald accents gave it an austere presence, fitting the man who occupied it. His iron helm caught the light in sharp flashes, its jagged design as intimidating as the curling black horns that framed his head.

Beside him, a small cushion of white silk embroidered with gold thread marked the place meant for me—his concubine. The cushion was deliberately low, positioned to emphasize my inferiority in the hierarchy of the court. A delicate, gilded chain hung from one corner, more for symbolic humiliation than function. It wasn't an unspoken expectation that I sit there; it was an explicit demand of court etiquette. A reminder to everyone present that no matter what else I might have been, here, I was property.

I lingered near the far wall, pretending to busy myself with nothing in particular, my hands brushing over the folds of my skirt. Every now and then, I caught the flicker of Kael's gaze cutting toward me, sharp and unreadable beneath the iron mask. His posture was as rigid as ever, one gloved hand resting on the arm of his chair, the other gripping a goblet of untouched wine.

The courtiers buzzed with murmurs behind their jeweled goblets, their eyes darting between the empty throne and Kael. Despite their feigned indifference, they watched him with barely concealed curiosity—and fear. To them, he was Theros, the Beast. A creature of the King's making, bound to his will, leashed to serve.

The great doors creaked open, and a hush fell over the hall, heavy and expectant. A lone courtier scurried in, his head bowed as he made his way toward the dais. The absence of the King hung in the air like a storm cloud, but his presence was still felt in every corner of the room.

Kael didn't move, but his fingers tightened slightly around the goblet, the faintest flex of his jaw betraying some internal tension. Whatever news the courtier carried would set the tone for the rest of the evening.

My heart twisted in my chest. Imbolc was meant to celebrate new life and hope, but here, amidst the cold splendor of the Seelie Court, it felt more like an elaborate farce. Renewal and light meant nothing to the man who ruled this place, nor to the beast who sat below his throne. And me? I was caught somewhere in between, the white-and-gold cushion beside Kael's chair waiting like a beacon, or perhaps a brand.

Kael's gloved hand lifted, a subtle motion that drew me forward. My stomach tightened, but I obeyed, stepping toward the small white-and-gold cushion beside his chair. As I lowered myself onto it, the silk felt cold beneath me, a stark contrast to the warmth radiating from the room. My position left me low to the ground, the perfect vantage point to feel every gaze that slid my way, some curious, others pitying, and more than a few sneering.

Kael shifted slightly in his seat as I settled, the faintest brush of his boot against my knee a reminder that, for now, I was safest at his side. His hand rested on the arm of his chair, close enough that the glint of his gauntlet was visible in my peripheral vision. I didn't look up at him. I didn't dare.

A loud creak echoed through the hall as the towering golden doors swung open. Conversation dropped into a low hum before cutting off completely. The King had arrived.