Lord of Deception

The great hall of Lorian's Keep was filled with tension so thick it could be carved with a blade. The glow of enchanted lanterns bathed the chamber in soft golden light, but no warmth could be found in the air between the two men standing at its center.

Kael Ardyn stood with practiced ease, his dark robes flowing like midnight silk. His crimson eyes gleamed with amusement as he swirled a goblet of wine in his hand, the scent of aged grapes lingering between them. He was the picture of calm.

Valen Stormhart, the hero, stood rigid across from him, his armored fists clenched tight enough to crack stone. His sapphire-blue eyes, so much like Elyndra's, burned with barely contained fury. His presence alone would have been enough to command a room—tall, noble, righteous. But righteousness meant little in the presence of a man who thrived on shadows.

The door had barely closed behind Elyndra, yet her absence was like a ghost in the room. Kael could already see the doubt swimming behind Valen's eyes.

Good.

"Stormhart," Kael finally said, breaking the silence. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Valen's jaw tightened. "You know exactly why I'm here."

Kael took a slow sip of wine. "Do I?"

Valen took a step forward. His presence was like a storm barely restrained. "Stay away from Elyndra."

Kael chuckled, low and rich. "Ah, so it is about her. I wondered how long it would take before you showed up." He tilted his head. "Tell me, Valen… why is it you believe she needs protecting?"

The hero's lips curled into a snarl. "Because I know what you are."

Kael exhaled dramatically. "A scholar? A diplomat? A man of taste and refinement? Truly, I am a menace to society."

Valen's patience was slipping. Good. Let it slip.

"You're a viper," Valen spat. "A liar and a deceiver. You twist words, break minds, and play with people as if they're nothing more than pieces on a board."

Kael's smile didn't waver. "And yet…" He took a slow step forward, closing the space between them ever so slightly. "Elyndra still came to me. She still listened. She still lingered. Tell me, Valen—did I twist her mind, or did she simply hear something from me that you never dared to say?"

The blow landed.

Kael saw the flicker in Valen's expression, the slight tightening of his fingers, the subtle shift in his weight. Doubt.

A man like Valen, so certain in his ideals, so absolute in his righteousness, couldn't comprehend the idea that Elyndra—his beloved—might not see the world as he did.

So Kael would show him.

"You think she belongs to you, don't you?" Kael said smoothly. "You think that just because you wear the title of 'Hero,' she is bound to follow you? That she is a prize to be claimed, a symbol of your justice?"

Valen bristled. "It's not like that!"

"Isn't it?" Kael stepped closer, lowering his voice, pressing the knife in deeper. "Tell me, Valen… if you truly understood her, if you truly knew the depths of her soul, then why did she come to me?"

Silence.

Valen stood frozen, his entire body rigid, his mind warring against the truth being forced upon him.

Kael's smile widened. Checkmate.

He took another sip of wine, letting the silence stretch, letting the poison seep in deep.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned away and strolled toward the nearby desk, idly tracing a finger over the ancient tomes scattered there.

"You misunderstand me, Valen." His voice was calm, effortless. "I have no intention of 'stealing' your dear Elyndra." He turned slightly, his crimson gaze glinting. "That would imply she was ever yours to begin with."

The sound of Valen's teeth grinding was almost satisfying.

Kael could feel the storm raging inside the so-called hero. The fury, the confusion, the fear. But the beauty of it all? Kael had done nothing but speak the truth.

Valen was the one breaking himself.

A sharp knock at the door shattered the tension.

One of Kael's personal attendants entered, bowing deeply. "My lord, the council summons you."

Kael sighed, setting his goblet down with a soft clink. "Duty calls, it seems."

He turned back to Valen, offering the hero one last smirk. "Do give Elyndra my regards, won't you?"

Then, without another word, Kael strode from the room—leaving Valen alone with his spiraling thoughts.

To be continued....