CHAPTER 220: _GONE ROGUE

Kyren’s POV

*****

Arian’s death was unexpected.

Even for him.

When Aurora called them, saying they should watch out for the Dark Hand the only thing he could think about was protecting Elian, especially with his heat in full swing.

Never would he have imagined those pests coming after a celestial sovereign.

"They’ve gone completely rogue." He whispered to himself with a small smirk. "Too bold..."

He just left Elian’s room a few minutes ago, leaving behind his mates and Princess Aurora. There was also that girl from the industrial district.

Seraphyne.

Kyren had his suspicions about her at first, but now he was not so sure, especially after adding her to the group mind link.

She seemed clean. For now.

Currently, he had one person in mind to pay a little visit to and clear the air on things.

When he arrived on the final floor of the palace, he slithered through the brightly lit hallway like a shadow until he got to his destination.

Luna Queen Elowen’s bedroom door.

He raised his right hand, about to knock when the door suddenly opened on its own.

The Rogue king’s lips parted with surprise when he peered into the dimly lit room.

Elowen stood on the balcony, her back facing him. The fingers of her left hand had a subtle glow, signifying she had used some kind of telekinetic skill to open the door.

"As expected..." She muttered, not looking back even when Kyren stepped in. "A man like you won’t wait even during the death of a ruler to take what he wants."

Kyren arched his brow with curiosity. "How did you know I was here?"

He flicked his wrist, causing the door to close behind him.

The room was large, the only source of light being a white crystal chandelier hung on the ceiling. But the light coming from it was dim, as if mirroring the queen’s mournful demeanour.

"My bedroom’s surveillance system alerted me." Elowen finally turned around to face him, her golden night robe shimmering under the light of the new moon. "This was not how things were supposed to go, Rogue king. We made a deal."

Kyren blinked, not knowing whether to laugh or scoff.

How quaint.

"Yes, we did." He took a few steps forward, placing his arms behind himself. "But it’s not my fault your palace is crawling with Dark Hand agents. I was ready to fulfil my part."

Elowen shook her head, closing her eyes. "This doesn’t feel right."

Right? She was talking about what was RIGHT?

"Please." Kyren scoffed, looking away from her. "My condolences, but a deal is a deal. Although it wasn’t the way we wanted it, the Alpha king is out of the way. Lucian is set to be king."

Elowen’s eyes glinted with a cold light as she waltzed into the room. "Not with your snake of a father still out there! Garrick has done his worst tonight."

Kyren shook his head. "Oh, trust me. I might not know much about my father but I know he and the Dark Hand are far from doing their worst tonight."

He waved out his right hand just then, sniggering softly when he saw Elowen jolt cautiously.

"Relax." He twisted his wrist, conjuring an object he’s had for twenty days.

It was a sickly green crystalline shard, pulsing with a soft glow like it was breathing.

"What... What is that?" Elowen pointed at it, her voice shaky and laced with mistrust.

He couldn’t blame her but he also couldn’t care less.

"This is an extracted and solidified piece of a Dark Hand curse," Kyren revealed, his lips curling when he stared at the crystal. "My magi tech expert helped me extract it from a maid who confessed to trying to poison me weeks ago."

Elowen’s brows furrowed, her eyes flicking from the curse shard to Kyren’s face repeatedly.

Kyren let her take her time scrutinising it before he continued. "I’ve kept it with me all this time, studying it and trying to understand the nature of the curse. It works by feeding on any energy in the victim’s body. Including life force."

He remembered all the nights he spent in his hex chambers back in the Dark Lands.

There was something oddly familiar about the curse. Something that he was willing to go through almost any length to unravel its inner workings.

And tonight? He got a clue.

"What does any of this have to do with my late husband?" Elowen asked with agitation, forcing him to lock his eyes on her.

Her breath shuddered, her eyes flickering with unease. "Are you... Are you saying this curse is the same thing that was used on my husband?"

Well...

"Yes and no." Kyren’s wrist twisted, causing the crystal to blip like it was never there. "Yes, it’s the same magic signature. Casted by the same witch. But the one used on your husband was obviously more... Potent."

A curse capable of killing a celestial sovereign almost instantly...

The Dark Hand were proving to be a formidable foe each day.

"W–Why?" Elowen gulped, sounding defeated. "Why are you telling me this?"

Kyren’s lips twitched with the ghost of a smirk. Just for a moment.

"Because... Unlike you, I have a head start in studying this curse." He moved closer until he was a few feet away. "I sensed the origin of your husband’s curse already. It happens to be linked to the curse shard in my possession as well."

Her eyes widened with realisation.

"You’re... You’re telling me you might be able to track down the culprit behind both?" She gasped, her voice cracking with desperation as she grabbed his shoulders.

He flinched, withholding the urge to swat her away telekinetically.

Grief was an annoying emotion.

"Not might. I can." Kyren straightened his posture, flicking invisible dust from underneath his nails. "Only if you hand over the information box from my parents. Like we agreed."

Elowen froze, her jaw tightening. But he could already sense her walls breaking underneath all that stubbornness.

"And... And you’re not going to ask for anything else other than that?" She arched a brow, staring at him with suspicion.

Well, well, well...

"You’re sharp." He grinned wolfishly like a fiend striking a deal she couldn’t resist. "You’ll also owe me a favour. One I can cash in at any given time I please."

He stretched out his right hand, gesturing for her to shake it.

"Do we have a deal? Time is ticking—and the culprit is nearer than you think..."

Elowen’s lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze settling nervously on his outstretched hand.

But Kyren could already see the end of this. And he couldn’t wait to make it a reality...