One

Ariadne's POV

I knelt in the dirt, sweat dripping into my eyes, the scent of blood thick in the air. The bodies of my people, friends, neighbors, family, lay broken around me, the once-vibrant village of Elaria reduced to ashes. My sister Elira sobbed beside me, her face pale and streaked with soot. She clutched my arm as if holding on to me was the only thing keeping her alive.

"Quiet," I whispered, forcing strength into my voice. My throat ached from screaming, from begging the gods to wake me from this nightmare. "Don’t draw attention."

But it was too late. The wolves, no, the monsters, were everywhere, their glowing eyes scanning for prey, their hulking forms silhouetted against the inferno. I watched in silent fury as they herded the survivors like cattle, stripping away dignity and humanity with every barked command.

A voice thundered through the chaos, deep and laced with malice. "Bring the young and strong to me."

I turned my gaze toward the speaker. There, towering above the chaos, stood him. King Magnus. The Beast King of Lupania. Even from a distance, his presence suffocated the air around him. His dark armor gleamed like a predator’s hide, and his amber eyes burned with a hatred that seemed to single me out in the crowd.

Elira's grip tightened, and I knew what she was thinking.

"They'll take me," she whispered, her voice trembling.

I didn’t hesitate. "No, they won’t."

Before she could argue, I tore the hem of my tunic and bound my chest, disguising myself in the shadows of desperation. I shoved her behind me, raising my chin as I stepped forward, ignoring the pounding of my heart.

"Take me," I called out, my voice steady despite the trembling in my limbs.

Magnus turned toward the sound, his predatory gaze locking onto me. The intensity of his stare threatened to burn through my resolve, but I held firm.

"You?" His lip curled into something between a sneer and a smile. "A child playing at bravery?"

"I am no child," I said, forcing strength into my voice. "I am a prince of Elaria."

The crowd fell silent. Elira gasped behind me, but I didn’t look back. I couldn’t afford to.

King Magnus tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he descended from his perch. Each step he took made the earth tremble, and when he finally stopped before me, his shadow swallowed mine.

"A prince?" he echoed, his voice a low growl.

I met his gaze, refusing to flinch. "Yes."

The corner of his mouth twitched, amusement flickering behind his harsh exterior. "Then bow to your king, little prince."

"I bow to no beast."

The words left my lips before I could stop them, a reckless defiance born of anger and grief. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, and I braced myself for the blow I knew would come.

But king Magnus didn’t strike me. Instead, he laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that sent chills down my spine.

"Bold," he said, circling me like a predator sizing up its prey. "But boldness can be dangerous."

"And so can cowardice," I shot back, my heart hammering in my chest.

His laughter died, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. "You amuse me, human. Perhaps I'll keep you."

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. "If it means my sister goes free, then do what you will."

King Magnus' gaze flicked to Elira, who clung to the shadows, trembling. His lip curled in disdain. "Weak," he muttered. Then his eyes returned to me, sharp and unyielding. "Very well, 'prince.' You belong to me now."

Before I could respond, rough hands seized my arms, yanking me away from Elira. She screamed, reaching for me, but I shook my head.

"Stay strong," I said, my voice cracking. "I’ll find a way to protect you. I promise."

But as they dragged me toward the looming path of the Moonstone Citadel, I felt that promise slipping through my fingers like sand.

The cart rattled beneath me as we traveled deeper into enemy territory. The chains around my wrists bit into my skin, a constant reminder of my new reality.

King Magnus sat across from me, silent and imposing. His amber eyes watched me with an intensity that made my skin crawl, but I refused to show fear.

"What is your name?" he asked finally, breaking the heavy silence.

I hesitated. My real name felt too sacred to speak in this cursed place, so I offered him the only truth I could. "Ariadne."

He raised an eyebrow. "A strange name for a prince."

I held his gaze, the lie burning on my tongue. "It was my mother's choice."

For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something, regret, perhaps? in his eyes. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual cold demeanor.

"You're a liar," he said, his voice a low growl.

My heart skipped a beat, but I forced a smirk. "And you're a beast. It seems we’re both good at being what the world expects of us."

His lips twitched, but he said nothing.

~

When we arrived at the citadel, I was shoved into a dimly lit chamber that smelled of damp stone and iron. The guards left without a word, the heavy door slamming shut behind them.

I sank to the floor, the weight of my situation finally crashing down on me. The reality was suffocating. My sister was still in danger, and I was trapped in the heart of the enemy’s den.

But despair wouldn’t save Elira. I had to be stronger than this, smarter.

I touched the necklace hidden beneath my tunic, a small charm my mother had given me before the raid.

You’re stronger than you think, Ariadne, her voice echoed in my mind.

Never forget that.

Tears blurred my vision, but I wiped them away. Magnus may have taken my freedom, but he wouldn’t take my will.

This wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.