Caspian's POV
I ran from the Archives, heart pounding, the prophecy book burning against my chest.
The mysterious voice still echoed in my head. What are you really, Caspian Drax?
I didn't know. Didn't want to know. Knowing meant danger. Meant being even more of a target than I already was.
I turned a corner and slammed directly into someone.
We both went down. Papers scattered everywhere.
"Watch where you're—" The person stopped. Stared at me. "You."
I looked up. Selene stood over me, silver eyes wide with shock.
My wife. Who I hadn't spoken to in five days. Who'd watched me be humiliated and said nothing.
"Selene," I said quietly.
"Princess Selene," she corrected automatically. Then caught herself. Her face flushed. "What are you doing in this part of the palace? Servants aren't allowed here."
"I got lost delivering documents." I started gathering her scattered papers. Anything to avoid looking at her. "I'll go back to the servant quarters."
"Wait." Her hand touched my arm. I flinched. She pulled back like I'd burned her. "I... I need to talk to you."
"Now you want to talk? After letting everyone torture me for days?"
"I couldn't defend you. My father forbade it." Selene's voice dropped to a whisper. "He said if I tried to help you, he'd make things worse for both of us."
"So you just abandoned me." The words came out bitter. Angry. "Let me suffer alone."
"I had no choice!"
"Everyone has choices." I stood up, handing her the papers. "You chose to save yourself. I understand. But don't pretend you had no choice."
Selene's eyes filled with tears. "You don't know what it's like. Being his daughter. Having every move watched. Every word judged."
"You're right. I don't know." I turned to leave. "Because I'm just the nobody hybrid you married and regret."
"I don't regret you!"
I stopped. Turned back. "What?"
"I don't regret marrying you." Selene stepped closer. "I regret not being brave enough to stand by you. I regret letting fear control me. But I don't regret you."
The words should have made me feel better. Instead, they made me angrier.
"Words are easy, Selene. Actions matter." I gestured around us. "You want to prove you don't regret me? Then stop hiding. Stop pretending I don't exist. Stand beside me even when your father threatens you."
"I can't—"
"Then we have nothing to talk about." I walked away before she could respond.
My hands shook with emotion. Anger. Hurt. Confusion. Seeing Selene made everything worse. Made me remember why I'd agreed to this nightmare in the first place.
Because for one afternoon, she'd looked at me like I mattered.
Now she looked at me like a mistake she wished she could erase.
I made it back to my chambers somehow. Locked the door. Pulled out the prophecy book Oracle Thessalia had given me.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
The first page showed an image. A figure standing between light and darkness. Half their body glowed white. The other half burned black.
Beneath the image, words written in ancient script:
When shadow meets light in mortal frame,
A hybrid king shall stake his claim.
Born of two worlds, belonging to none,
Destroyer or savior before his time is done.
I read it three times. Four times. The words didn't change.
A hybrid king. Born of two worlds. That could be anyone. Thousands of hybrids existed in the empire.
But the door had opened for me. The Forbidden Archives had recognized something in my blood.
I turned the page. More prophecy text. More warnings about power and destruction and choices that would reshape kingdoms.
Then I found a section that made my blood freeze.
The Hybrid King shall face three trials:
First, he must survive those who wish him dead.
Second, he must discover his true heritage.
Third, he must choose between unity and destruction.
Failure means death. Success means the world changes forever.
Three trials. I was already facing the first one. Surviving assassination attempts and daily torture from people who wanted me gone.
But the second trial—discovering my true heritage—that terrified me more.
Because what if the truth was worse than not knowing? What if my father really was some ancient wizard prince? What if I had power I couldn't control?
What if I was dangerous?
A knock on my door made me jump. I shoved the book under my pillow.
"Who is it?" I called.
"Marcus. The Emperor wants you. Now."
My stomach dropped. The Emperor. Again. This couldn't be good.
Marcus led me to a room I'd never seen. Small. Private. No windows.
Emperor Valorian stood waiting. He wasn't alone. Oracle Thessalia sat in a chair beside him.
My heart raced. Had she told him about the Archives? About the door opening for me?
"Sit," Valorian commanded.
I sat. Every muscle tensed. Ready to run or fight.
"Oracle Thessalia came to me with interesting news," Valorian began. His voice was calm. Too calm. "She says you visited the Forbidden Archives today."
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think of a lie fast enough.
"The door opened for you," Valorian continued. "A door that's been sealed for three centuries. A door that only responds to First Mage bloodlines." He leaned forward. "Explain."
"I don't know how it opened," I said honestly. "I touched it and it just... did."
"Just did." Valorian's eyes narrowed. "Magic doesn't just do anything. It responds to blood. To power. To ancient bonds that can't be broken."
"I didn't know about the door. I swear. I got lost and found it by accident."
"There are no accidents in this palace." Valorian stood. Walked around my chair. "Everything happens for a reason. You being here. The door opening. The prophecy."
"You know about the prophecy?" I asked.
"I know about all prophecies concerning my empire." He stopped behind me. "The Hybrid King. The destroyer or savior. The one who will either unite the fractured kingdoms or burn them all to ash."
I felt his hand on my shoulder. Casual. Almost friendly. But the pressure was threatening.
"The question," Valorian whispered, "is whether you're that king. Or just a convenient coincidence."
"I'm nobody," I said. "Just a hybrid who got lucky."
"Lucky." Valorian laughed. It sounded like breaking glass. "You survive assassination attempts. Open forbidden doors. Show flashes of power when threatened. That's not luck. That's destiny."
He released my shoulder and moved back to face me.
"Oracle Thessalia believes you're the prophesied Hybrid King," he said. "She thinks you're the most important person in this empire right now."
"I'm not—"
"But I'm not convinced." Valorian cut me off. "Prophecies can be wrong. Misinterpreted. Manipulated. Before I believe you're this legendary king, you need to prove it."
"How?"
"Survive." His smile returned. "If you're truly destined for greatness, you'll survive everything I throw at you. If you're just a lucky hybrid, you'll die and the prophecy will find someone else."
Oracle Thessalia stood suddenly. "Your Majesty, if I may speak with Caspian alone—"
"No." Valorian moved toward the door. "You've said enough already, Oracle. Coming here and revealing his potential was dangerous. Now every enemy in this palace knows he might be important."
"They would have found out anyway," Thessalia argued. "The door's magic was felt throughout the palace. Anyone with magical sensitivity knew something happened."
Valorian paused. "Then tonight will be interesting."
"What happens tonight?" I asked.
"You'll find out." The Emperor left without another word.
I turned to Thessalia. "What did he mean? What happens tonight?"
Her expression turned grave. "I made a mistake coming to the Emperor. I thought he'd protect you. Instead, I painted a target on your back."
"A bigger target, you mean. I already had one."
"This is different." She gripped my arm. "Before, Cassius wanted you dead because you're an inconvenience. Now everyone who heard about the door will want you dead because you're dangerous."
"I'm not dangerous. I don't even know how to control whatever power I have."
"That's what makes you dangerous." Thessalia's eyes held mine. "Uncontrolled power is the most terrifying kind. And people fear what they can't control."
"So what do I do?"
"Learn. Fast." She pulled out another book from her robes. Larger than the prophecy book. "This contains basic First Mage techniques. Start with chapter three. It teaches defensive magic."
"I can barely make sparks," I protested. "How am I supposed to learn ancient magic?"
"Desperation is an excellent teacher. And you're about to be very desperate." She moved toward the door. "Lock your doors tonight. Trust no one. Not the guards. Not the servants. Not even your wife."
"Why? What's coming?"
Thessalia stopped at the door. Looked back at me with eyes full of sympathy and fear.
"They're coming for you again. Tonight. And this time, they won't fail."