Veiled Bonds

Unbreakable Bonds

Elowen sat stiffly, her hands clenched together in her lap. The air in the room was thick with tension, suffocating and heavy. Despite its grand size, the chamber felt small—far too small with all seven kings gathered. Their presence was overwhelming, their sheer existence a force that commanded attention. Kaelan stood rigid beside her, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable, but she could sense the storm raging within him.

Zephyr, standing at the head of the room, folded his arms and fixed his sharp crimson gaze on her. "We need to talk. We'll tell you everything," he said, his voice steady, carrying the weight of something inevitable.

Dashiell flicked his wrist toward Amias. "Take Anastasia, her sister, and Rony to the garden. Let them play."

Anastasia’s sister, wise beyond her years, looked between the kings and her parents. She had an inkling of what was to come. Her conversation with Lysander the other day had hinted at something deeper, something life-altering. Without resistance, she took Rony's hand and gently guided him toward Amias, her expression unreadable.

The doors closed behind them, sealing Elowen and Kaelan in the room with the kings.

A heavy silence followed before Thaddeus finally broke it. His voice, deep and measured, carried an unusual gentleness. "We have waited decades—centuries—for Anastasia. She is our mate, the other half of our souls. We knew it the moment we came across her."

Kaelan’s fists clenched. Rage simmered beneath his skin, his entire being resisting their words. His daughter? His innocent, small, fragile daughter was supposed to belong to them? His mind spiraled into chaos. He would never allow it. He couldn't.

He was silent, but his inner monologue screamed at him. I will not hand her over to these creatures. I have already lost enough to them. Humans have been overthrown, forced into submission by their kind. And now, they dare lay claim to my daughter?

Elowen, however, was not silent. Her voice broke as she lashed out, pain and frustration spilling from her in trembling words. "You kept my daughter last night. She is just seven. And God knows what you did to her!" She choked on her tears, her maternal fear turning to something close to fury. "I couldn't say it before because I feared for my other children, but now I need to know—what did you do?"

Lysander immediately stepped forward, his golden eyes burning with sincerity. "Nothing happened, Elowen," he said firmly. "She only slept in the same room. We do not have any lust for her. Even if she is our mate, she is too young for such things. What we feel for her right now is nothing but a protective instinct—the same as a parent's." His voice softened slightly, though the weight of his words remained. "But do you understand? Our bond with her is already formed, and the dangers that have come since we found her have shaken it. We need her near, not out of possession, but because we cannot risk losing her again."

Kaelan seethed. He had heard enough. The kings were speaking as though they were logical, as though their monstrous claim over his daughter made sense. His entire being rejected them.

But the kings? They barely acknowledged him.

They spoke to Elowen, explained themselves to her. They treated him as if he were an insignificant hurdle, an obstacle in their path.

And that only fueled his hatred further.

Zephyr, who had been watching quietly, finally stood. His tone was gentler than before but held an unshakable finality. "We will take care of Anastasia and your family," he told Elowen. "Because she cares for you, we will consider you our family. But," he glanced at Kaelan then, "even if you do not agree, there is nothing you can do." His words were sharp and absolute. "She is our other half. To take her away from us, you would have to go through each one of us. And believe me, many have tried—even before we revealed ourselves to humanity."

With that, he turned and walked toward the door, his steps unhurried, his presence commanding. The other kings followed, each casting a glance at Elowen, ignoring Kaelan completely.

Cassian was the last to leave. He paused in the doorway, his gaze softer than the others'. "You don’t have to worry about Anastasia," he murmured. "We cannot and will never hurt her. We will take care of her. Please, try to understand—we have waited for her for centuries. We cannot just let go."

And then he was gone, leaving Elowen to digest the truth, and leaving Kaelan to stew in his own unrelenting fury.

_________________________________

The castle walls felt like a prison. He couldn't stay here, couldn't allow them to keep his daughter under their control.

He moved swiftly through the halls, his rage giving way to desperate resolve. He found Anastasia walking alone, her small form moving curiously through the dimly lit corridor.

This was his chance.

Without hesitation, he scooped her up into his arms.

"Papa?" she blinked in surprise. "Where are we going?"

Kaelan pressed a hand gently over her mouth, his voice urgent. "Shh, keep quiet. We're leaving," he whispered. He adjusted his hold on her, tightening his grip as he hurried through the hall. "I am not so low that I will hand my daughter over to those mosquito dogs and lizards."

He took a sharp turn, looking for an exit, his heart pounding. He had to get out—he had to—

A voice like thunder cracked through the corridor, stopping him in his tracks.

"It would be wise of you to stop now."

The deep, grave voice sent chills down his spine.

Kaelan turned slowly, his grip on Anastasia tightening as he met the piercing golden gaze of Orion. The Griffin Shifter stood at the end of the hall, his posture relaxed but radiating quiet menace. His massive frame was partially shadowed, his predatory eyes locked onto Kaelan with an almost lazy amusement.

But beneath that amusement, Kaelan sensed the warning. The promise of danger.

"Put. Her. Down."