The council chamber was carved from black stone and old victories.
Banners of conquered lands hung from the walls — trophies soaked in history and blood. The long table at the center gleamed under torchlight, already filled with men and women draped in silk, fur, and authority.
They stopped talking the moment Kael entered.
Elira followed two steps behind him.
She felt every stare like a blade.
"Why is she here?" a noblewoman snapped, rings glinting on her fingers. "The captive should be restrained."
Kael did not slow.
"She goes where I go."
Murmurs rippled across the chamber.
Elira lifted her chin, though her hands trembled beneath her sleeves. She could feel the ancient wards etched into the walls — old magic humming, watching her, measuring her worth.
A gray-bearded lord leaned forward. "Warlord, you were summoned to explain yourself. Not parade your newest weapon."
Kael stopped at the head of the table.
His presence filled the room — armor scarred, gaze unflinching, shadow coiled tight but controlled.
"She is not a weapon."
A scoff answered him. "Then what is she? She arrived with the Abyss at her heels. Monsters hunt her. She nearly tore our war camp apart with her magic."
Elira swallowed.
Kael spoke again, voice colder now.
"She saved my life."
The room went very still.
Several council members exchanged sharp looks.
"That is exactly the problem," the gray-bearded lord said quietly. "If she can save you… she can kill you."
Kael's eyes flashed gold.
"You assume she would want to."
All eyes turned to Elira.
"Would you?" another demanded.
Elira felt the weight of a dozen judgments pressing down on her — fear, curiosity, hatred. She could lie. She could beg.
Instead, she said the truth.
"I don't want to hurt anyone."
Soft laughter echoed.
"And yet the Abyss calls you star," a man said from the shadows. "And stars fall hardest."
Kael's hand drifted to the hilt of his sword.
"Watch your tongue."
"Or what?" the man challenged. "Will you slaughter your own council for her?"
Silence.
Kael took one step forward.
"If you threaten her again," he said evenly, "I will slaughter anyone."
A gasp rippled through the chamber.
Elira's breath caught.
This was no longer protection.
This was declaration.
The noblewoman rose from her seat. "You would place a stranger above your kingdom?"
Kael didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The word hit like thunder.
"She is under my protection," he continued. "Any harm done to her will be treated as treason."
The serpent stirred beneath his skin — approving. Hungry.
Elira stared at him, shock and something warmer flooding her chest.
A council elder slammed his hand on the table. "You are letting emotion cloud your judgment."
Kael leaned down, eyes burning.
"I have never ruled without blood on my hands," he said softly. "Do not mistake this for weakness."
The room fell silent again.
At last, the elder exhaled. "Very well. She remains… for now. But she will be watched."
Kael straightened.
"So will you," he replied.
He turned sharply and left the chamber without waiting for dismissal.
Elira followed, heart racing.
The doors slammed shut behind them.
In the corridor, she finally spoke.
"You didn't have to do that."
Kael stopped abruptly. Turned.
"I did," he said simply. "Because if the world turns on you… I refuse to stand with it."
Their gazes locked — warlord and star, protector and threat, fate grinding its teeth around them.
Somewhere deep within the fortress, ancient wards flickered.
And the gods began to pay attention.