Absolute Sovereignty-Chapter 22: A Debt of Blood

The cold steel of Lysandra's blade pressed harder against Kaelen's skin, a single bead of blood welling up where the sharp edge bit into his flesh. The silence in the room was absolute, broken only by the queen's shallow breaths and the frantic thumping of Kaelen's own heart.

"I should slit your throat this second," Lysandra hissed, her voice barely a whisper, yet laced with a venomous intensity that chilled the room.

"You should," Kaelen replied, his voice calm and steady despite the deadly pressure against his neck. "But hear what I have to say first."

"I don't care what you have to say, Ash Prince," Lysandra spat, her voice tight with fury.

"You die regardless."

"Is that so?" Kaelen challenged, a hint of amusement creeping into his tone. "Then why am I still breathing? What do you hesitate for, Ice Queen? Surely taking a head is not beyond your capabilities?"

A moment stretched, taut with silent tension, the only sound the soft creak of the floorboards beneath their feet.

Then, slowly, almost imperceptibly, Lysandra lowered the blade. Her voice, though still edged with anger, now held a note of... something else. Sadness, perhaps?

"Selene... she told me you somehow... knew. But she trusted your words. She said she saw something different about you, I thought you might have gone back to the boy I knew when we were kids. And you... you betrayed her. You betrayed me. You betrayed my kingdom."

Kaelen stepped forward, turning to face Lysandra.

The faint moonlight filtering through the window caught the blue of her eyes, making them seem to glow in the dim room. The faint image of Selenes body being thrown down, flashed.

He sighed, rubbing his brow, and walked towards the bed in the center of the chamber.

"I didn't owe her, you, or your kingdom any loyalty," he said, his voice weary.

Lysandra's body tensed. "Is that your answer, prince?"

"It should be," Kaelen replied, his gaze meeting hers. "After all, it's the truth. However..." He sat down on the bed, his movements slow and carefull. "I have no such devotion to the Emperor as to reveal your kingdom's secrets for his favor."

He paused, gathering his thoughts, the words heavy on his tongue.

"I found out, mere hours before the Conclave began," he explained, his voice low, "that the Emperor was already aware of Velarion's... activities." He chose his words carefully, avoiding any direct mention of treason. "Most likely, the Umbra Heralds discovered it somehow. They were watching her. Always watching."

He continued, his gaze never leaving Lysandra's. "He also knew about the trade agreement between Caldris and Velarion. He planned for it. He expected it. He sent her as a test, knowing you would try to make some kind of move. If I did not do what I did, Caldris and Velarion would fall. I did it to protect your kindom and mine."

"Why should I believe you?" Lysandra challenged, her voice laced with suspicion.

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"I don't care if you believe me," Kaelen replied, his tone sharp.

"But I know how smart you are, Lysa. You understood the situation the moment it happened, even before I said these things. Even now." He stood up, his movements fluid and purposeful, stepping towards Lysandra until they were mere inches apart.

The scent of her perfume, a delicate blend of icy musk, filled his senses.

"I understand your pain," he murmured, his voice soft now, almost a whisper.

"Your hunger for retribution. The need to avenge her. To feel...something when all else seems gone and without meaning." His hand reached out, his fingers lightly brushing against her cheek, leaving a trail of warmth on the chilled porcelain of her skin.

"So I'll be that someone," he said, his voice a breath against her ear. "I'll carry her blood on my hands. I'll be the target for all your hatred, Lysandra."

Lysandra closed her eyes, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek, freezing halfway.

"I must avenge her, Kaelen," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"I know," Kaelen murmured, his gaze softening. "I know you must."

"The next time I see you," she whispered, her eyes meeting his, "I'll do everything in my power to end your life."

"Likewise," Kaelen replied, his voice low and steady. "I'm not one to let my enemies live."

Lysandra's gaze held his for a moment longer, a silent exchange of promises and unspoken grief. Then, with a sudden flutter of icy petals, she vanished, leaving Kaelen alone in the dimly lit room.

He stood still for a moment, the silence echoing around him, heavy with unspoken words and the lingering scent of her perfume, musk and snow.

The memories of their friendship as little kids lingering slightly in his mind.

Then, with a sigh, he returned to the bed, seeking the oblivion of sleep, whatever solace he could find in the darkness. The dawn, he knew, would bring new challenges, new dangers, and the ever-present threat of the Voidwell's hunger.

But for now, he would rest, and gather his strength for the battles to come.