“Kael…”
Lyra’s voice quivered.
Kael spun.
Both boys were gone.
Only the silver handprints were left on the stone floor.
“No.”
He fell to his knees.
He touched one of the glowing marks with his fingers.
A cold energy shot through his arm.
A child’s scream echoed through his head.
Papa!
Kael’s eyes went wide.
“Eren!
He levered himself up.
“Where are they?”
The one on the black throne said nothing.
Then it’s eyes opened.
There were two silver flames in the darkness.
“At the right place.”
Kael’s wolf rammed against his consciousness.
Seek them out.
Kael moved forward.
“Bring ‘em back.”
The figure turned its head.
“You still think you can tell me what to do?”
I don’t have to tell you.”
Kael’s aura shattered.
“I’ll tear this place apart until I find them.”
The throne trembled.
The figure smiled.
“You sound exactly like your mom.
Kael froze.
“You knew my mom?”
“I knew the woman before she was your mother. Lyra moved closer. What does that mean?”
He looked at her.
“You should be asking what you were before Lyra Moonveil.”
Lyra went rigid.
“I know who I am.”
“No.”
The voice thundered through the chamber.
“You know who you were allowed to remember.”
Kael glanced at Lyra.
The same words were repeated too many times.
Her memories.
His memories.
How they won’t.
Their relationship.
It all seemed connected.
“Riddles enough,” said Kael.
“Where are my children?
The figure raised a hand.
The black throne was no more.
In its place, a vast chamber opened up beneath them.
Kael noticed the two boys.
They stood on opposite sides of a glowing ring.
Both were scared to death.
“Eren!”
Kael hurried to them.
He ran into an invisible barrier.
The boys looked up.
“Daddy!”
Kael crashed into the barrier.
“I’m coming!
The figure’s voice spoke from behind him.
You can’t save them both.
Kael looked around.
“Look at me.”
“You don’t understand.
The figure stepped forward.
“They are not being held captive.”
Kael frowned.
“What are they doing then?”
“They’re picking.”
Lyra’s face tightened.
“Choosing what?”
“Which one will stay.”
Kael’s stomach turned.
Suddenly the two boys stood facing each other.
The first boy put up his hands.
“I don’t want to fight.
The second shook his head.
“Me neither.”
Dark energy started to close in on them.
Kael glanced at the figure.
“Stop.”
“Not a chance.”
“Why?”
“Because one of them has the ancient power.”
“And the other?”
The figure stopped smiling.
“The other has the power that can destroy it.”
Kael got it.
The two heirs were distinct.
They were the reverse.
The other had been born with the Moonborn power to destroy it.
But there was one other thing.
Kael looked to Lyra.
“Your blood.
She looked at him.
What!
That’s why you’ve got the symbol on you.
Then the first Alpha came up next to them.
“She is the equilibrium.”
Lyra gawked at him.
“Balance between what?”
Creation and destruction.
And then the woman who had become Seraphina laughed.
“You don’t understand yet.”
Kael narrowed his eyes.
“You know anything.
“I know everything.”
She looked at Lyra.
“The First Luna didn’t create the Moonborn blood to kill the Alpha.
Lyra took a step forward.
“Then why?”
“To take his place.”
“Silence.
Kael’s eyes widened.
“You mean…
“That throne was never meant to be an Alpha King, forever.”
The woman smiled back.
“It was supposed to have a Queen Luna.
Lyra gazed toward the throne.
A strange tug went through her chest.
The black throne started to glow silver.
Kael saw it right away.
“Lyra.
She had not answered.
She stepped forward.
“Lyra!”
She faltered.
Her eyes were glued to the throne.
“I hear something.”
“What?”
“A heart beat.”
Kael looked at the throne.
Nothing stirred.
And then— Boom.
The whole room trembled.
BANG.
The pulse was there again.
Lyra put her hand to her chest.
“It’s calling me.
The first Alpha’s face darkened.
“It shouldn’t have been.
Kael swung around to him.
“What?
“You were made to wake the blood.”
Lyra glanced up at him.
“But? He halted. But for you the throne is awaking.”
The woman in black grinned.
“At last.”
Kael’s instincts screamed.
He took Lyra’s hand.
“We’re going out.
She nodded her head.
They wheeled round.
The passage behind them was no more.
Kael snorted.
“Okay.”
There was the figure again, upon the throne.
“You must not go away.
Kael’s claws shot out.
“Then I will go.”
He made a lunge.
Before he could reach the throne the figure disappeared.
Kael punched at the void.
Someone whispered in his ear.
“You don’t even know who you’re fightin’.”
Kael turned around.
Nothing.
And then the two boys screamed.
“DAD!”
Kael looked around the glowing chamber.
One boy had dropped.
Blood was coming from his nose.
“Wait!” Kael shouted.
The figure towered over them.
“Choose.”
Kael looked.
“What?”
“Choose which son shall live.”
Lyra moved forward.
“Nope.”
The figure looked at her.
”You have till the next heart beat.
Boom.
Kael’s heart was racing.
“Kael,” Lyra breathed.
Boom.
The boys watched him.
They both cried.
“Dad!
Kael couldn’t breathe.
He looked at a one.
Then the second one.
The wolf in him howled.
Don’t choose.
Kael’s eyes went hard.
And suddenly he knew.
For the throne, he had to choose.
That was the snag.
If he chose one the other would die.
And the old cycle would continue.
Kael grinned.
The figure did not move.
“You think this is amusing?”
“Nope.
Kael walked toward the barricade.
“Now I see it.
“Understand what?
“You don’t want me to pick my son.
The figure’s eyes were narrowed.
“You want me to pick the heir.”
Kael’s aura grew larger.
“And I’m not giving you either.”
He hit the barrier with both his hands.
Silver and black energy met head-on.
The room shook violently.
Lyra came over to join him.
Her silver aura embraced his.
The wall started to crack.
The first Alpha stood in disbelief.
“No…” “
The woman in black ceased to smile.
“No way.”
Kael clenched his teeth.
“They’re both my kids.
The barrier broke again.
“And neither one is yours.”
The chamber was ripped apart by a deafening explosion.
The boys were gone.
Kael reached for Lyra.
Then everything went dark.
When he opened his eyes he was on cold stone.
Lyra stood beside him.
But there was no sign of the two boys anywhere.
Kael forced himself up.
“Eren?”
No reply.
Then a little voice came out of the dark.
“Daddy?”
Kael whirled.
One of the boys came into the light.
Kael felt relief, but only for a moment.
The boy was covered with blood.
And the other boy was at his back.
A knife at his throat.
Kael halted.
The second boy grinned.
“Now choose.