The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 14: A hammer

Chapter 14: A hammer

Kai’s expression remained unfazed as he assessed the depth of her audacity. Elaika’s rudeness had crossed a line. She had forgotten her place. His icy gaze darkened, shifting into a mischievous and unforgiving glare. The air around him thickened with a palpable tension, the weight of his aura pressing down on her like a storm. It was suffocating, an invisible force that left her trembling under its influence. She had dared too much, and now she would feel the full brunt of his wrath.

His piercing eyes burned with a dangerous fire as he spoke, his voice a low growl. "Elaika, I warned you not to fall in love with me. I’ve never made a promise to you, have I?"

Elaika’s breath hitched, her throat constricting as though an iron fist was closing around it. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, each beat a reminder of her desperation. Internally, she screamed at herself for showing such vulnerability, for allowing herself to hope. When he rose from his seat and began walking toward her, her knees gave out, forcing her to collapse to the floor. She barely managed to catch herself on her hands, her blonde hair cascading down. The sheer force of his aura was overwhelming, wrapping around her like a vice.

"Please," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Tears threatened to spill from her wide, pleading eyes. "Let me stay by your side. I... I can be your concubine. I have no problem with it."

Kai’s footsteps halted just inches from where she knelt. The suffocating pressure in the air lightened as his aura receded, but the chill in his gaze remained. "Don’t even think of pushing this further," he warned, his tone as cold as the air that surrounded him. "If you do, I’ll send you back to the mountain castle. Have I made myself clear?"

Elaika’s head bowed, her eyes squeezing shut in frustration and humiliation. Her fists clenched tightly, nails digging into her palms as she struggled to contain her simmering rage.

"Do you love her?" she blurted out, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and despair.

Kai turned away from her without answering. His boots echoed sharply against the marble floor as he walked toward the door, the question hanging unanswered in the icy air. He owed no one an explanation, especially not her. Yet the thought of his wife tugged at something deep within him. Ren was different. She had slipped into his life and lodged herself in his mind in a way no one else ever had.

Outside the hall, he stopped in front of Coran, his cold demeanor unshaken. "If you don’t want me to doubt your loyalty, convince her to step back. I’ve made no promises to your family. My only vow is to protect this land and the people who reside in it."

Coran’s expression faltered, but he lowered his head in obedience. "I’ll take her to the dungeons. I’ll make sure she doesn’t cause any hardship for the princess."

"Good," Kai replied curtly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. Without another word, he strode toward his chamber.

The scent of medicinal herbs hit him before he entered the room. The healer, Rigo, stood by the bedside, his face grim as he examined Ren. Kai’s chest tightened at the sight of her. She looked fragile, her once lively complexion drained of all color. Her lips were dry, her skin cold to the touch. He felt a sharp pain pierce through his heart—the mark’s bond. Her suffering echoed within him, a silent cry he couldn’t ignore.

"Could you extract the cobalt from her blood?" Kai’s voice was calm, but the tension in his jaw betrayed his worry.

Rigo, a striking figure with snow-white hair and crimson eyes, shook his head. "Your Grace, I’ve done all I can. But if the poison reaches her heart, there will be nothing I can do."

Kai’s hands curled into fists at his sides. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing Ren before even knowing her. He could feel her presence in his mind, the faint whispers of her thoughts—her confusion, her pain. The bond between them had deepened since the moment he had marked her, and now every beat of her fragile heart echoed in his mind. He hated how disappointed she was when she unknowingly linked her thoughts to him. ’Well, dear husband you have to wrap your mess.’ She was so blunt in her thoughts.

"She was fine for a week. How did this happen?" he demanded, sitting beside her. His large hand enveloped hers, seeking to warm her icy skin.

Rigo hesitated before responding. "The bracelet is harmless as long as her magic core remains dormant. But I believe the princess was frightened, perhaps felt threatened. Her magic core activated instinctively, and the cobalt reacted violently, spreading through her body. That’s how the magic-blocker bracelet works. If we don’t remove it, it will kill her. We don’t know for how long her magic can fight the bracelet."

Kai stood, his posture regal yet tense. "How do we remove it? The bracelet is made of magic. I tried to break it, but it burned me."

Rigo’s gaze dropped to the floor. "There’s only one person who can help us. But I doubt she will."

Kai’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous edge creeping into his voice. "Speak, Rigo."

"Elaika," Rigo admitted reluctantly. "She found a magical hammer in her father’s forge a few days ago. She took it to her grandfather to investigate, but I don’t know what came of it."

Kai’s jaw tightened. He despised the idea of asking anything of Elaika, but Ren’s life was on the line. "Do everything you can to keep her stable. I’ll deal with Elaika."

He brushed a strand of hair from Ren’s face, his fingers lingering for a moment before he turned and left the room. The cold determination in his eyes promised retribution for anyone who dared to harm her.

In the courtyard, he spotted Coran and Rail escorting Elaika to the dungeons.

"Wait," Kai called out, his voice commanding.

The two men stopped, turning to face him. Elaika’s expression lit up with a glimmer of hope. She believed she had won, that he couldn’t forget the nights they’d shared. Her lips parted in a confident smile.

"I knew you’d change your mind," she said, her tone laced with triumph.

Kai’s gaze bore into her, cold and unyielding. "Don’t be so sure. You’ve committed another crime. You stole something from the forge, and I have no intention of sparing your life."

Her smile faltered, replaced by confusion and fear.

"What did you do now?" Coran shouted, glaring at his sister.

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