The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 145: Lucieth, her first Fae Uncle.

Chapter 145: Lucieth, her first Fae Uncle.

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"How long does it take for three carriages to cross the shadow pathway?" Ren asked Kai, her voice tinged with terror, her gaze lingering on Gloria’s sorrowful face as she stepped into another carriage flanked by guards. She would question her about it later. But she told Kai about Gloria and Rail’s feelings because she found it extremely necessary.

"One hour, wife. Give me your hand."

Kai reached for her. He was so careful with her dress, guiding her up the carriage steps. Her long, royal golden dress dragged behind her, heavier than usual. She had chosen it deliberately, a silent proclamation of power. By now, the noble families of the human realm would be reeling from the revelation: their princess had been married to the ruler of Thegara all along. The first Heir to the throne of Alvonia now was the legit wife of a predator.

Ren took his hand and climbed in, settling into the plush seat draped in deep green velvet. Kai shut the door behind them and joined her, only to pull her swiftly onto his lap, his arms encircling her waist with a familiar protectiveness.

"Are you scared?" he asked softly, his lips pecking hers.

Ren didn’t answer and instead kissed him hard. She couldn’t reply. The truth sat heavy in her chest. One hour through the shadow pathway, where ghosts wept and begged for life, where vengeful spirits clawed for bodies to possess, or drifted, hungry, waiting to feed on the dreams of the living.

Not even in her darkest nightmares could she have imagined this fable was real, until she saw it unfold with her own eyes.

Their lips parted. Ren rested her head against Kai’s chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. She closed her eyes, hoping to steal a few moments of rest. Last night had been too much, too wild, too painful, but she was grateful he had finally opened up, speaking of what his brother had done... and what his father had brought to him next.

In Kai’s childhood, there had been no room for innocence. No space to simply be a child. They had stripped it from him, piece by piece, and she would never forgive that. She would make sure Litherieth paid the price for every stolen moment.

She tried to drift into sleep, but rest eluded her.

"I didn’t see Master Agara. Will he not join us?" she asked softly.

"He will," Kai replied. "He had to inform my uncle about Acelieth. I hesitated to reveal it... but the monster is his son, and he has the right to know that we intend to kill him."

Ren pressed her lips together, the weight of it all coiling silently in her chest. That Fae vampire was also her uncle. An abandoned relative who killed Kamin and many others.

"Don’t kill him," Ren murmured. "I heard that my first uncle can search through memories. Maybe he can help us find the remaining lords and hunt them down more easily."

Kai didn’t respond right away. The idea didn’t sit well with him, perhaps it wasn’t as wise as it had first seemed.

"Do you know your first uncle’s name?" he asked at last, just as the carriage lurched forward, slipping into the swirling portal he had conjured.

"I do. His name is Lucieth," she whispered.

Kai nodded. "He is. And he’ll kill Acelieth the moment he sees him."

Ren blinked, startled. "Why? Are they enemies?"

Kai hesitated, uncertain how to explain something so tangled. Now wasn’t the time.

"Yes," he said eventually. "I’ll tell you everything when we’re about to visit your Fae grandfather."

Ren sighed, letting it go, for now. "Fine. At least tell me about the Al-Gathiran kin in the heavens. Is Azrael working with them?"

Kai smirked, his lips curving with pride. "How did you know?"

She shrugged. "I guessed because of his eagerness to his heavy relatives. So?"

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her head. "Amazing," he whispered. "My wife is brilliant. Yes, he is. That’s what they call the winged saints. And Azrael has wings too, so of course he’s with them."

"You said the saints weren’t born. So how are King Xakiel and your father brothers?"

"They’re not by blood," Kai said. "They swore brotherhood. That’s why I call him uncle. It’s not blood that binds them, it’s their oath."

Ren nodded, a faint smile curving her lips. "How did they accept a born saint like Azrael?"

"I’m sure they challenged him, repeatedly," Kai replied. "They would’ve tested the darkness he inherited from both of his Fallen parents. But his seed was conceived in the heavens. The light in him was stronger than the dark."

He glanced at her, curiosity flickering in his gaze. Why was she so interested in Az?

"Then why didn’t his half-brother, my uncle, I mean Lucieth, why didn’t he ascend?"

Kai narrowed his eyes. "Wife, are you interrogating me?"

"No," she said quickly, shaking her head. "I just want to understand what’s happening around me."

"Alright." He leaned back, arms folded loosely across her waist. "Lucieth chose to take many women. He has over twenty concubines and even wed a Fae. That disqualified him from ascending. As for my brother Az... he’s never craved mortal pleasures. Never touched a woman, never harmed a soul. From the time he was a child, he planned to ascend. He forged a connection with the heavens and followed their will, behind my father’s back."

Ren’s breath caught slightly. That was bold, brave even. Azrael had defied the Demon God... and the god had let him. She was certain the old one, King Axaxeal, knew and yet he hadn’t stopped Azrael. Why? Why did Azrael get the freedom to chase his dream, while the others were chained to duty, submission, or punishment?

One day, maybe, she would find the courage to ask the question from the Demong god himself.

"We have the most twisted families," Ren muttered with a tired laugh.

Kai chuckled, and as exhaustion wove its arms around her, so did the dark. Her body grew still, her breathing slowed, and soon... she drifted off.

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