lilyfroty

Kael is a wandering swordsman with a haunted past. Rhia is a former healer with a secret that could change everything. When fate binds them together through an ancient oath—Blood, Oath, Fire—their lives are irrevocably altered. The bond doesn’t just link them; it transforms them, awakening a supernatural fire that intertwines their pain, presence, and power.

Hunted by the ruthless Black Hounds and shadowed by a force that watches from the ruins of a forgotten age, Kael and Rhia must unravel the mysteries of their oath before it consumes them. But every answer comes at a price, and the deeper they go, the more they realize: they are not the first to bear this curse.

As their connection deepens into something neither of them expected, they must decide—will they master the fire within, or will it burn them alive?

A tale of supernatural trials, forbidden power, and a romance forged in darkness.

Blood Hounds

The grand hall of Vaelthane had never been so full. Representatives from the Eastern Kingdoms stood in formal attire, their expressions guarded as they studied Kael. They were not just here out of curiosity—they had come because they recognized power.

Kael sat on his throne, his gaze steady. He had fought for this kingdom, bled for it, and now, he would rule it not just with steel, but with strategy.

The leader of the delegation, Lord Edric of Velmara, stepped forward. His robes bore the sigil of his kingdom—a golden phoenix. "King Kael," he began, voice measured. "Your victory over Eldoria has not gone unnoticed. The world watches what you do next."

Kael tilted his head. "And what does the world expect?"

Edric smiled faintly. "Some believe you are a conqueror. Others see you as a leader who seeks to restore what was lost." He paused. "Which are you?"

Kael let the silence stretch before answering. "I am a man who will not let his people fall again. If that makes me a conqueror, then so be it. If it makes me a ruler, then I will rule."

Murmurs spread among the envoys. Some nodded in approval, while others exchanged wary glances.

Beside Kael, Fenir stood, a silent yet commanding presence. Her gaze flickered over the envoys, reading them as a predator would its prey. Across the hall, Rhia observed as well, her quiet wisdom ever present.

Edric studied Kael before speaking again. "The Eastern Kingdoms wish to propose a pact. A mutual alliance between our nations."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "And what do you ask in return?"

"The security of knowing Vaelthane will not turn its armies eastward."

A test. A challenge hidden within diplomacy. Kael's lips curled slightly. "Vaelthane seeks war with no one. But I do not make weak alliances. If the East wants a pact, it will be built on more than words."

Edric nodded. "Then let us speak of trade, of soldiers trained together, of shared protection against enemies that threaten all kingdoms."

This was what Kael needed. Not just war, but influence. The meeting continued late into the night, strategies unfolding, decisions that would shape the future being made.

By the end, Vaelthane was no longer just a rising power. It was now a kingdom recognized on the world's stage.

The Gathering of Kings