Veiled Bonds

Betrayal

Kaelan’s grip on the knife tightened, his breath coming in ragged pants as he held Anastasia against him, the blade pressing into her soft skin. His mind was a whirlwind of rage and desperation—she was his daughter, his flesh and blood. Not theirs. He would never let them have her. Not in life. Not in death.

“P-Papa…?” Anastasia’s voice trembled, her wide, teary eyes filled with fear and confusion. She didn’t understand. How could she? The man who had always protected her, the one who had kissed her bruises and held her close when she was scared, now held a knife to her throat.

The cold bite of the blade nicked her delicate skin, and a single drop of blood trickled down her neck.

Orion’s golden eyes darkened, his already tense posture growing rigid. His hands clenched into fists, every muscle in his body coiled with the instinct to tear Kaelan apart. But he held himself back. If he moved too suddenly, if he provoked him further, Kaelan might actually do the unthinkable.

"What kind of being does this to their own child?" Orion’s voice was low, almost a growl, thick with disgust. His entire body radiated fury, but he forced himself to stay still, calculating his next move.

Kaelan’s eyes darted wildly as Orion took a single step forward. He stepped back immediately, his grip on Anastasia turning bruising. “Don’t come any closer!” he screamed, his voice raw and desperate. “I’ll kill her if you do!”

Orion felt the weight of his beast clawing at his restraint. His every instinct screamed to lunge, to protect, but he knew—one wrong move, and the girl they had waited for all their lives could be lost.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. The other kings arrived, their eyes immediately locking onto the horrifying scene before them. Their mate—their little mate—was trembling in Kaelan’s grasp, the glint of steel against her fragile throat.

Elowen was not among them. She was still in her room with the other children, unaware of the nightmare unfolding outside.

Kaelan’s back was to the grand staircase, the only path left for his escape. He was cornered, his eyes darting from one king to the next, realizing there was no way out.

So he did the unthinkable.

With a sharp, cruel movement, he threw Anastasia down the stairs.

“NO!”

Her small body tumbled down the marble steps, her terrified scream echoing through the halls. The kings surged forward, their panic crashing over them like a tidal wave.

Dashiell was the fastest. He lunged, his arms stretching out desperately—

But he was too late.

Anastasia’s tiny head struck the edge of a stair. Once. Twice. Before Dashiell finally caught her.

Silence.

And then—

Blood.

A deep, horrifying crimson bloomed against her golden curls, staining Dashiell’s trembling hands.

For the first time in centuries, the kings felt true, visceral terror.

Kaelan turned to run, but he didn’t get far.

Amias was on him in an instant, his eyes dark with fury. With a snarl, he slammed Kaelan into the stone wall so hard it cracked. His fingers curled around his throat, squeezing just enough to cut off his breath.

“You batshit lunatic,” Amias hissed, his voice shaking with barely restrained rage. “You tried to kill your own daughter!”

Kaelan choked, struggling against Amias’s hold, but there was no escape.

Behind them, the other kings crowded around Dashiell, who knelt on the floor, cradling Anastasia’s limp body against his chest. Blood seeped through his fingers as he held her close, his normally calm demeanor shattered.

"She’s not waking up," he murmured, his voice breaking.

Zephyr turned sharply to Thaddeus. "Get the healer. Now."

Thaddeus didn’t hesitate. He vanished in a blur of movement, his beast roaring inside him.

Lysander ran his fingers through Anastasia’s hair, his hands shaking. “She’s so small,” he whispered, voice raw with grief. “She didn’t deserve this…”

Orion, still seething, turned his murderous gaze back to Kaelan.

"You're dead," he growled.