Chapter 157: _They Will Understand You Are Mine Kyren’s POV
Later that night, Kyren made himself busy in his throne room, his eyes flicking through holographic screens showing cities in Arcadia. The attack on Gravethorn city had exposed the possibilities of traitors among the city chiefs of the Dark Lands. But it also allowed him to make plans for a possible counterattack on the witches. "What about Nyxstera, my lord?" Farrell asked beside him. "It’s Arcadia’s centre of magical weaponry and hex tech. Launching an attack on it would be—" "Bold but a waste of resources." Kyren interrupted, shaking his head, his fingers swiping across the holographic screens. "Nyxstera is almost as important as the Arcadian capital. After my broadcast, those sly witches will definitely pull their security forces to major cities." He paused, glancing briefly at Farrell before bringing his eyes back to the screens. "If we hope to launch an attack, we should target a city that wouldn’t be given as much attention as the important ones. Like..." He scrolled through the screens again, his mind reeling through names and information on each city that his spies had gathered. Eventually, his eyes settled on one and he froze the screen, zooming in on the city map. "Bingo." He smirked, leaning back comfortably and gesturing at the map. "This one right here. Bloomfen city. And according to the information here, it supplies Arcadian hex tech components... But it is thinly guarded compared to a city like Nyxstera." Farrell nodded slowly beside him. "Genius, sir. The city has two access points... The bloodspire river and then the east gate. Not to mention it’s close to our borders."
Later that night, Kyren made himself busy in his throne room, his eyes flicking through holographic screens showing cities in Arcadia. The attack on Gravethorn city had exposed the possibilities of traitors among the city chiefs of the Dark Lands. But it also allowed him to make plans for a possible counterattack on the witches. "What about Nyxstera, my lord?" Farrell asked beside him. "It’s Arcadia’s centre of magical weaponry and hex tech. Launching an attack on it would be—" "Bold but a waste of resources." Kyren interrupted, shaking his head, his fingers swiping across the holographic screens. "Nyxstera is almost as important as the Arcadian capital. After my broadcast, those sly witches will definitely pull their security forces to major cities." He paused, glancing briefly at Farrell before bringing his eyes back to the screens. "If we hope to launch an attack, we should target a city that wouldn’t be given as much attention as the important ones. Like..." He scrolled through the screens again, his mind reeling through names and information on each city that his spies had gathered. Eventually, his eyes settled on one and he froze the screen, zooming in on the city map. "Bingo." He smirked, leaning back comfortably and gesturing at the map. "This one right here. Bloomfen city. And according to the information here, it supplies Arcadian hex tech components... But it is thinly guarded compared to a city like Nyxstera." Farrell nodded slowly beside him. "Genius, sir. The city has two access points... The bloodspire river and then the east gate. Not to mention it’s close to our borders."
Kyren sniggered coldly. "It’s the perfect target. We might need to get our spies to look deeper into it, in case we’re missing something, but if we attack this city and destroy its major companies... Arcadia will feel it."
He could already imagine the accursed high Matron clutching her pearls if he made the move.
Arcadia has underestimated the Dark Lands for way too long, most likely because they believed Kyren stole and copied their technology back when he was merely a child.
That was mostly true... But this war would be a chance to show the continent that the Dark Lands were just as formidable as Lunaria and Arcadia.
"Begin readying troops just in case," Kyren instructed Farrel, making the screens disappear with a swipe. "For now, we’ll keep any preparations we make on the down low. Something tells me Arcadia and the Dark Hand will start sniffing around our business soon."
Farrell nodded his understanding, bowing before he attempted to walk down the dais.
But halfway down the steps, a communication bracelet on his wrist blinked with a dull red light.
He frowned, raising his hand while Kyren watched curiously. A hologram flickered to life above the bracelet, showing some words that Farrell read through.
"Oh..." The commander seemed speechless, turning to face Kyren. "My lord, it’s a message from Lunaria. They’ll be sending an envoy tomorrow to begin ways to ’keep the peace’."
Kyren’s brows knitted into a frown. "Hmph. Those self-righteous bastards. Any idea on who this ’envoy’ will consist of?"
Farrell’s eyes skimmed through the holographic screen above his bracelet again. "We hope the Rogue king will welcome... The Alpha Prince and Beta into his domain tomorrow for these peace talks."
Well, well, well.
His little flame’s two pets—oh, right. Elian liked referring to them as his mates as well.
"How interesting." Kyren rubbed his jaw with a calm smile. "Lucian, Axel and I under the same roof, with Elian stuck in the middle. Whoever picked those two for this peace talk bullshit sure knew what they were doing."
Farrell dropped his hand, the holographic screen disappearing. "Most likely the Alpha king, my lord. He probably hopes to distract you from his dealings with the Dark Hand."
Kyren drummed his fingers on his throne’s armrest, his mind calculating.
"Distract me?" Kyren finally said, his tone edged with amusement. "That doddering king doesn’t have the wit to distract me from anything. If he thinks dangling his golden heir and that blunt dog of a Beta in front of me will make me look away from the Dark Hand, then he underestimates me as much as Arcadia does."
Farrell clasped his hands behind his back, his expression neutral. The man was too disciplined to give away more, but Kyren could smell the faint tension beneath his skin.
Farrell hated surprises.
And this was no mere surprise—it was bait.
Kyren leaned back, folding one leg over the other. "Still, it would be rude of me not to welcome them." A grin ghosted across his lips, thin and dangerous. "After all, Elian would be thrilled to see his beloved pets again."
He let the silence linger deliberately. Farrell remained unmoving, but Kyren knew what he was thinking. The commander feared what Elian’s reunion with Lucian and Axel might spark.
And rightly so.
Because Kyren himself wasn’t certain what it would stir in him, regardless of the way Lucian and Elian parted ways earlier today.
He could already picture it: Elian’s face lighting up when he saw Lucian.
That quiet warmth in his eyes, the way his lips might part, ready to call his name—
Kyren’s jaw clenched.
"Farrell."
"My lord."
"Prepare the palace. They will arrive tomorrow, yes? Good. Let them marvel at the Dark Lands’ splendour. I want every hall blazing with banners, every guard drilled to perfection. They will not mistake this realm for some backwater shadow kingdom."
"Understood."
Kyren rose from his throne, his cloak trailing like spilt ink behind him.
He paced toward the edge of the dais, speaking low. "And when they arrive... keep a close watch. Lucian may try to play diplomat, but I know all too well he wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to play games with me."
Farrell hesitated, then said, "Would you prefer I keep Elian away completely, my lord?"
Kyren stopped at that, his back straightening. He considered the idea—Elian tucked away in the safety of his chambers, shielded from the envoy’s reach.
It would be wise.
But it would also be a weakness.
"No," Kyren said at last, turning with his crimson eyes glinting. "If I hid him away, they’d think I feared losing him. And Elian is not some fragile relic to lock in a chest. He is mine. They will see him at my side, and they will know it."
Farrell bowed. "As you command."
Kyren waved him off, and the commander retreated down the hall, his armoured boots fading into the distance.
Alone, Kyren exhaled, running a hand over his jaw.
For a moment, fatigue threatened to edge in—the weight of plots, betrayals, looming war.
But then he waved his hand, making the holographic frozen city map to hover yet again above the dais, Bloomfen’s streets etched in blue lines.
He smiled again.
Arcadia, Lunaria and the Dark Hand.
They all moved their pieces across the board, confident in their games. But tomorrow, with Lucian and Axel under his roof, Kyren would have the chance to tilt the board entirely.
.
.
The next morning dawned with a bruised sky, ashen clouds rolling low over the palace spires.
From his balcony, Kyren watched the preparations unfold below—columns of guards in black-and-red armour, banners of the crescent wolf sigil unfurling.
He inhaled, savouring the metallic scent of anticipation in the air. The Dark Lands was alive and ready.
"Kyren." A voice suddenly spoke from inside his room.
He didn’t turn. He knew that voice, soft and clear.
"Elian," he said, letting the name draw out slowly. "You rose early today."
He heard the rustle of fabric as Elian stepped beside him. His mate’s violet eyes caught the sunlight, and for a moment Kyren had to bite back the urge to cup his jaw.
"You’re hiding something," Elian murmured, studying him with unnerving calm. "Farrell wouldn’t tell me, but I know it. What is it?"
Kyren smirked faintly. "Perceptive as always."
"Tell me."
He considered deflecting. But Elian wasn’t some courtier to toy with. And besides, part of him wanted to watch how his little flame reacted.
"Lunaria is sending an envoy today," Kyren said. "Your Alpha Prince and your Beta will arrive before noon."
Elian froze. His lips parted, but no words came.
Kyren saw the flicker in his eyes—hope, grief, longing, fear—all tangled together.
"They’ll be here?" Elian whispered.
"Yes." Kyren’s voice cooled. "To negotiate ’peace.’ Or so your Alpha king claims."
Elian turned from him, hands tightening on the balcony rail. For a long moment, neither spoke, the wind filling the silence.
Then Elian said softly, "You’ll let me see them?"
Kyren’s teeth ground together. The request should have infuriated him—but instead it hollowed something in his chest.
He stepped closer, close enough that Elian could feel his breath. "I will let you stand beside me," Kyren said, his voice calm. "They will see you. They will hear your voice. And they will understand you are mine."
Elian’s head turned, his eyes flashing with defiance. "I am not a trophy to display."
Kyren’s smile was razor-thin. "No. You are a fire to be worshipped. And I will burn anyone who forgets that."
Elian looked away first, but Kyren didn’t miss the tremor in his breath.
Suddenly, a holographic screen appeared in front of Kyren’s face, showing a live video from Farrell.
"My lord, I just got word. They’re here early."
His eyes lit up.
This was going to be fun...