Dinner with the Dark King was not what I expected-at all.
There were no screaming servants, no blood-soaked tables, no intimidating displays of power.
Instead, the dining hall was elegant in a dark, deliberate way—long obsidian table, silver candleholders, and towering windows that looked out over a storm-lit kingdom.
Kael Draven sat at the head of the table like he had been carved there.
I sat to his right.
Too close.
The bond pulsed faintly between us, a constant reminder that distance was no longer something I was allowed to have.
"Eat," Kael said calmly.
I stared at the plate placed before me—roasted pheasant, dark bread, jeweled goblets filled with deep red wine.Lots of my people would kill to have a meal like this.
"You poisoned it," I said flatly.
One of his brows lifted. "If I wanted you dead, Elara, I wouldn't bother with subtlety."
I hated how easily he said my name.
I picked up my fork anyway, refusing to let him win this round. The food was warm. Rich. Annoyingly good.
Servants moved silently around us, eyes lowered, fear etched into every careful step. None dared look directly at Kael—or at me.
"So," I said, breaking the silence, "is it a sort of tradition to terrify everyone who serves you?"
"They are alive," he replied. "That is my tradition."
I scoffed. "You rule with fear."
"It produces positive results."
I glanced at him. "And what am I? A result?"
His gaze slid to me slowly. "You are more of a consequence I was forced to bear."
I sighed "Still, you can learn to rule with love."
"You'll see that it's much better."
"You have no right to lecture me, you're just the mortal fate forced me to be stuck with"
The words settled heavy in my chest. And it hurt for some weird reason-more than I cared to explain
Before I could respond, footsteps echoed from the far end of the hall. A woman approached—tall, graceful, dressed in black silk embroidered with silver runes.
The same woman from court.
Crimson Smile.
"Lord Draven," she said smoothly, bowing. "I see the rumors were…quite accurate."
Kael's expression hardened. "Leave us, Lady Kiara."
She smiled wider. "You never dismissed me so quickly before."
My grip tightened on my fork.
Before I could stop myself, I asked, "Before what?"
Kiara's eyes flicked to me with open amusement. "Let's just say before you came into the picture."
Kael stood.
The shadows reacted instantly, crawling along the walls, coiling like restrained beasts.
"That will be enough Kiara," he said quietly.
Kiara held his gaze, unafraid. "You bring a mortal into our world and expect silence? The court will test her. So will the kingdoms beyond our borders."
"I'm afraid she's not yours to test."
"Then teach her faster," Kiara replied.
"Or she will die, which of course I wouldn't mind."
Her eyes met mine. "And that would be such a waste, don't you agree with me?."
She turned and left, her laughter echoing faintly behind her.
I exhaled sharply. "She wants me dead."
"Yes."
"You say that like we're talking about changing cloths."
"It is," Kael said, sitting back down. "Cloths wear out. So do enemy's tactics. We adapt."
"And if I don't want to adapt?"
His gaze locked onto mine. "Then you will break."
Anger surged. "You think your words can scare me."
His lips curved faintly. "You sure aren't a good liar."
The bond flared suddenly—heat blooming low in my abdomen, sharp and unwelcome. I sucked in a breath, fingers curling into the tablecloth.
Kael noticed immediately.
His eyes darkened.
"Do not fight it," he warned.
"I'm not fighting," I hissed. "It's attacking."
He stood again, closing the distance between us in two long strides. His hand wrapped around my wrist, pulse syncing instantly.
The sensation hit me like fire.
My breath hitched.
"So sensitive," he murmured. "The bond is learning to adapt to you."
"Or controlling me," I snapped.
"Both can be true."
For a moment, we were too close. His warmth. His scent—smoke and something darker. His thumb brushed my pulse point, and the bond calmed instantly, as if soothed and suppressed by his touch.
I hated that.
"You enjoy this," I accused quietly.
"I endure it just like you do," he replied just as softly.
"Because if I don't, the curse will devour both you and I."
"Stop acting like you care about me"/
I searched his face for mockery. Found none.
"Tomorrow," he continued, releasing my wrist slowly, "you will begin training."
"Training for what?"
"Combat. Magic resistance. Court deception."
I blinked. "You want me to fight?"
"I want you to survive."
/-
"And what if I refuse?"
His gaze hardened. "Then I will have to force you."
Silence stretched between us.
Finally, I said, "You really don't trust anyone."
"I trust and believe very much in power."
"And love?" I asked before I could stop myself.
For the first time, he looked away.
"There is no place for love in a cursed kingdom Elara, to us there are much more important things."
The bond pulsed faintly—as if disagreeing.
A servant rushed in suddenly, breathless.
"Your Majesty—another assassination attempt. Poison this time. Target unknown."
Kael's head snapped up. "Lock down the entire palace immediately ."
His gaze flicked to me instantly. "Stay right here."
"No," I said, standing. "If they're trying to hunt me down, I won't hide."
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes.
"And that my dear ," he said slowly, "is exactly why the curse chose you."
The thunder outside cracked violently, shaking the windows.
Kael extended his hand.
"Come," he said. "Let them see what happens when they threaten what is mine."
"I'm not yours," I argue.
"Whatever you say."
I hesitated only a second—then took his hand.
The shadows surged around us, suddenly alive and hungry.
And for the first time since arriving in this cursed palace, I realized something terrifying.
I wasn't just trapped with the devil.
I was starting to become part of his darkness.