The night air inside the royal corridor felt heavy.
Not because of the weather, but because King Kaelis was walking through it with murder in his veins.
The torches flickered as he strode past servants and guards alike, his cape dragging behind him like a living shadow. Every single person lowered their head instantly, terrified to even breathe too loudly near him.
Yet Kaelis hardly noticed any of them.
His mind was elsewhere.
Back in his chambers.
Back to the image of Elara sitting on his bed with those furious red eyes and the trembling in her voice when she asked about his mother.
And worse...
The way her blood had made him panic.
His hand tightened slightly at his side as he walked faster toward the council chamber. He hated it. Hated how one tiny cut on her skin made his entire chest cave in like a dying star.
Disgusting.
Pathetic.
Human.
Just as he reached the large carved doors of the council hall, he suddenly stopped walking.
