Chapter 05
The cold winds of the desolate battlefield howled against the stone walls of the palace. Inside the great hall, the tension was palpable. Lila stood next to Ronan, her mind racing as she studied the towering emissary of the Syndicate, Kael. Their sleek black armor gleamed under the dim light, the glowing runes pulsing faintly like a heartbeat.
The Syndicate’s offer of “help” was no altruistic gesture. The Syndicate didn’t aid—it acquired.
“You think to dictate terms to me?” Ronan’s voice cut through the air like a blade. He stepped forward, his silver eyes blazing with defiance.
Kael tilted their helmeted head slightly, an infuriatingly calm gesture. “Your bravado is admirable, but misplaced. You are already losing this war. Izael has aligned with us, and we are willing to offer you the same terms—provided you relinquish your human.”
Lila’s breath caught, and she felt the weight of Ronan’s fury radiate beside her.
“She is not for negotiation,” Ronan said, his voice dangerously low.
Kael didn’t respond immediately, letting the silence stretch before speaking. “Then you’ll fall like the rest. We will strip your lands, your people, your very identity until nothing remains but ash.”
The room erupted into murmurs. Ronan’s advisors shifted uneasily, their faces betraying a mix of fear and doubt.
“I will not yield,” Ronan declared, his voice thunderous.
Kael’s helmet tilted back slightly, a faint chuckle emanating from within. “Your pride will be your downfall, Zombie King. You’ve made your choice. We’ll see how long your resolve lasts.”
After Kael departed, leaving behind only the chilling promise of destruction, Ronan turned his fury on the council.
“Someone has been feeding Izael information,” he growled, his gaze sweeping across the room. “I want answers, now.”
The room fell silent, the weight of his anger suffocating.
Lila stepped forward cautiously. “We need to start with who had access to the plans for the northern gate.”
The advisors exchanged wary glances until Varen, the wiry strategist, spoke up. “Not everyone in this room is loyal. Some believe your choices—especially regarding the human—have weakened us.”
Ronan’s silver eyes narrowed. “If you have something to say, Varen, say it.”
Varen hesitated, then gestured toward a younger advisor at the edge of the group—Dara, a junior officer with a sharp mind and a fiery temper.
“You’ve been suspiciously quiet, Dara,” Varen accused.
Dara’s head shot up, her eyes wide. “You think I’d betray the king? After everything I’ve fought for?”
“It’s always the ones you least suspect,” Varen sneered.
“That’s enough!” Ronan’s voice boomed. “We’ll investigate every lead. But if I find the traitor before you admit it...” His words hung in the air like a death sentence.
As the advisors filed out, Lila lingered, her gaze fixed on Dara. Something about the young woman’s reaction felt off—not fear, but guilt.
Later that evening, Lila found Ronan in his chambers, standing by the shattered window overlooking the city. The flickering fires of the battlefield still glowed faintly in the distance.
“You’re brooding,” she said, leaning against the doorway.
He didn’t turn to look at her. “I failed them.”
“You didn’t fail anyone,” she countered. “This isn’t just your fight. You can’t control everything, no matter how much you want to.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond.
Lila approached him cautiously. “Ronan,” she said softly, placing a hand on his arm. “You’re not alone in this.”
He finally turned to her, his silver eyes filled with a vulnerability that took her breath away. “I’ve spent so long trying to hold this kingdom together. If I fall, they all fall. I can’t... I won’t let that happen.”
“You’re not going to fall,” she said firmly.
For a moment, they stood in silence, the tension between them palpable. Then Ronan reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek. The touch was electric, sending a shiver through her body.
“You make me feel alive,” he murmured. “Like there’s still something worth fighting for.”
Lila’s breath hitched as his lips captured hers in a kiss that was both fierce and tender. She melted into him, her hands gripping his shoulders as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer.
The kiss deepened, their connection igniting like a spark to dry kindling. For a brief moment, the weight of the world fell away, leaving only the two of them.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily.
“We should—” Lila began, but Ronan silenced her with a soft, almost reluctant smile.
“Rest,” he said, his voice a mix of command and longing. “Tomorrow will be worse than today.”
The next morning, chaos erupted before dawn.
Explosions rocked the city as Syndicate forces launched a surprise attack. Their ships hovered over the northern gate, firing beams of energy that tore through the defenses like paper.
Lila woke to the sound of alarms, her heart racing as she bolted from her quarters. She found Ronan already dressed for battle, his expression grim.
“They’re moving faster than expected,” he said as he strapped on his weapons. “Kael wasn’t bluffing.”
“Where do you need me?” she asked, her voice steady despite the fear coiling in her stomach.
Ronan hesitated, then handed her a communicator. “Stay with the medics. Coordinate the wounded. If we fall back, you’ll need to keep them alive.”
She nodded, though every instinct screamed at her to fight alongside him.
The battlefield was chaos incarnate. Syndicate soldiers, sleek and heavily armored, moved with deadly precision, their weapons cutting down Ronan’s forces with ruthless efficiency.
Ronan waded into the fray, his blade glowing with the energy that pulsed through his body. He was a force of nature, cutting down enemies with a ferocity that sent shivers through even the most hardened warriors.
But the Syndicate had come prepared.
Kael stepped onto the battlefield, their presence commanding as they faced Ronan.
“You could have avoided this,” Kael said, their voice carrying easily over the din of battle.
Ronan didn’t respond. He lunged, his blade slicing through the air toward Kael.
The emissary dodged with ease, their movements almost otherworldly.
“You’re strong,” Kael admitted. “But strength isn’t enough.”
They raised a hand, and a beam of energy shot toward Ronan, sending him crashing into the rubble.
From her position with the medics, Lila saw Ronan fall. Her heart stopped, a cold wave of fear washing over her.
“Ronan!” she screamed, abandoning her post and sprinting toward the battlefield.
Kael turned toward her, their glowing visor fixating on her with chilling intensity.
“So, the human comes to save her king,” they said mockingly.
Lila grabbed a fallen soldier’s weapon, her hands shaking as she aimed it at Kael. “Stay away from him.”
Kael laughed, the sound hollow and metallic. “You’ve got fire, I’ll give you that. But fire burns out quickly.”
They raised their hand, energy crackling as they prepared to strike.
“Lila, no!” Ronan roared, his voice filled with desperation.
The beam fired.