Chapter 21: A King's Deception

King Alex stood in his private chamber, staring out the arched window overlooking the kingdom. Below, torches flickered in the cold night air, illuminating soldiers as they moved like restless shadows through the villages and forests. They combed the land with precision, searching—hunting—for Eira.

But it wasn’t enough.

She was slipping through his grasp, avoiding his forces, defying his control. And soon, she would find the fireborn, her twin, the one prophecy had foretold would bring his downfall. Alex clenched his jaw, his fingers curling into fists. He would not allow that to happen.

A slow, calculating smirk played on his lips. He knew exactly who to call.

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his most trusted operative—Callen.

The chamber door creaked open, and Callen stepped inside. The warmth of the fire did nothing to thaw the chilling atmosphere of the room. The flames cast long, flickering shadows on the marble floor, stretching toward Callen like silent specters. He kept his posture straight, unreadable, even as the weight of this meeting settled on his shoulders.

King Alex turned to him, his piercing gaze locking onto Callen with unyielding intensity.

“You will find her,” Alex commanded. “Gain her trust. And when the time comes—betray her.”

Callen didn’t move. His fists remained clenched at his sides, his mind reeling with the cold simplicity of the order. Betray her. The words echoed inside him like poison.

“She is not your concern,” the king continued, watching him closely. “She is a threat.”

Callen’s lips parted, disbelief flashing in his sharp eyes. “She’s my sister,” he said stiffly. His voice lacked emotion, but not because he felt nothing—because he had learned to keep his emotions buried when speaking to the king. “She doesn’t even know the truth—doesn’t know about me. She’s spent her life in exile, alone, and now you want me to be the one to destroy her?”

King Alex chuckled, though the sound was devoid of humor. “Destroy?” he echoed, tilting his head. “No. You will simply prevent her from meeting her twin.”

Callen stiffened. Twin?

The king smirked at the confusion in his eyes. He took slow, deliberate steps toward Callen, like a predator cornering prey. “Ah… I suppose you were only ever concerned with Eira, weren’t you?” His tone was mocking, cruel. He leaned forward slightly. “She’s not just your sister, Callen. She has another.”

Callen’s blood ran cold. He had spent years watching over Eira from a distance, ensuring she survived without exposing his connection to her. She had been a secret—a dangerous one—but she had always been the only one.

But now, another truth was unraveling before him.

“She has a twin?” he breathed, barely able to form the words.

“The fireborn,” King Alex confirmed, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. “Ember. The sister I erased from history. The one I ensured Eira never knew existed.”

Callen felt as if the floor had been ripped out from beneath him. He had spent his life believing he was Eira’s only remaining family, the only one who shared her blood. And now, in the span of mere seconds, he learned that she had another sibling—a twin—the other half of something much greater than he had ever realized.

“She cannot reach the fireborn,” Alex continued smoothly. “You will make sure of that.”

Callen’s chest tightened. His thoughts spiraled, crashing against each other. Eira had a sister. A twin. Someone just as lost, just as hunted. And his orders were to ensure they never met.

Then, without thinking, he did something reckless.

“I refuse,” he said bluntly.

The words barely left his mouth before King Alex’s hand lashed out, striking him hard across the face. The force sent Callen stumbling, his breath catching as heat flared across his skin.

Silence stretched between them.

The king straightened, his face cold and void of remorse. “You do not get the luxury of refusal,” he hissed. “You will do as I command.”

Callen’s breathing remained steady, but his jaw ached, and something inside him shifted. He had endured beatings before. He had endured worse. But this—the revelation, the cruel manipulation—left wounds deeper than physical pain.

King Alex narrowed his eyes, watching Callen carefully. “You leave tonight,” he ordered. “Find her. Gain her trust. And when the time comes… break it.”

Callen didn’t move, didn’t speak. He only bowed stiffly and turned to leave.

The heavy doors of the grand chamber shut behind him, and the echo reverberated through the palace halls, lingering in his mind long after the sound faded. The chill of the night air hit him as he stepped outside, his breath fogging in front of him, but it was nothing compared to the coldness settling deep within his chest.

Eira had a twin.

She was not just his sister. She was half of something far greater.

And he was supposed to ruin everything before she ever discovered the truth.

For the first time in his life, Callen wasn’t sure if he could carry out an order.

And for the first time, he feared losing more than just his own life.

The weight of the revelation pressed down on him, turning the simple act of breathing into something heavy and unfamiliar. His thoughts twisted, colliding, unraveling all at once. He had spent years protecting Eira from the shadows, ensuring she survived without ever knowing he existed. It had been a quiet mission, a duty woven into his soul—one that did not require deception.

But now, he was supposed to betray her.

He moved through the palace corridors, the familiar paths offering no comfort. The flickering torches lining the stone walls barely reached him, failing to illuminate the turmoil festering inside him. His steps were slower than usual, his mind somewhere else—somewhere far from the mission the king had just assigned him.

He had always known King Alex was ruthless. He had witnessed it—had carried out orders that did not warrant hesitation. But this felt different.

This was family.

And yet, there was another layer to this deception now—Ember.

A sister he never knew existed.

A twin Eira had been unknowingly searching for.

Callen’s jaw clenched as he made his way toward the lower levels of the palace, where preparations for his departure would be made. He needed time to process this, to understand the implications, to grasp the depth of what he had just learned.

He needed time—but time was not something King Alex allowed.

As he neared the armory, a familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts. “You look troubled.”

Callen turned, his sharp gaze landing on Captain Lucian, the king’s most trusted general. The older man leaned casually against the stone wall, arms folded, expression unreadable.

Callen schooled his features into neutrality. “I have much to do.”

Lucian smirked slightly. “Ah, the great soldier, always moving forward without pause.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Tell me, how does it feel to betray your own blood?”

Callen stiffened, his fists clenching at his sides. He should have expected this. Lucian had always seen more than others, understood the complexities of the kingdom better than most.

“I carry out orders,” Callen said simply.

Lucian’s smirk widened. “So obedient. So predictable.” He leaned in. “But this time, it’s different, isn’t it?”

Callen did not answer.

Lucian studied him for a moment before chuckling under his breath. “You hesitate,” he mused. “I wonder if the king knows his perfect weapon is finally rusting.”

Callen exhaled sharply, forcing his anger into something quieter. “I do what I must.”

Lucian nodded, unimpressed. “Then I hope, for your sake, that you do not falter. The king does not tolerate mistakes—especially when it comes to those girls.”

Something dark twisted in Callen’s gut.

Lucian clapped a hand on Callen’s shoulder before walking away, his final words trailing behind him like a warning. “Good luck, soldier. Try not to drown in the lies.”

Callen stood there for a moment, unmoving, unbreathing.

He had always known this mission would come at a cost.

He just hadn’t realized the cost would be himself.

He turned abruptly, pushing forward, ignoring the sinking weight pressing down on his chest. He had his orders. He had his plan.

And yet, as he stepped into the shadows, for the first time in his life, he wondered if he would fail on purpose.