The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 59: A cursed crest on Shadow

Chapter 59: A cursed crest on Shadow

Ren reached out, her fingers curling around his hand where it rested at his side. She traced slow, deliberate circles over his knuckles with her thumb, her gaze lifting to meet his. Tears shimmered in her eyes, threatening to spill, but she fought to hold them back.

’Release them. They are scared, please.’

Her whispered plea made Shadow shift his attention toward her. Instinctively, she knew exactly where to look. He was watching her, not with the malice she had expected, but with something else, something strange. Was he inspecting her?

The beast moved, its form shifting into an inky black cloud that drifted back to the platform. From within the darkness, its head emerged, crimson eyes gleaming like embers in the abyss. Those eyes should have sent her heart into a terrified frenzy. She should have screamed, run, or even collapsed from sheer horror. But she didn’t. She sat still, spine taut, her gaze unwavering as she met his. It wasn’t enough—her fingers moved of their own accord, reaching out.

Shadow had no true physical form, yet when her palm pressed against him, he reacted. A deep rumble vibrated through the air as he leaned into her touch, closing his eyes and nuzzling against her hand.

Kai stiffened. He could feel it—the connection between Ren and Shadow, as tangible as the warmth of her fingertips against his skin. His gut twisted in disbelief. A short while ago, before releasing the beast, Shadow had—as always—demanded a deal. And unlike always, Kai had agreed, but ensuring the creature would be kept away from her. And yet, here he was, summoned by her touch, allowing her to stroke the sharp planes of his jaw.

’You gotta be kidding me!’ Kai snarled in his mind, jerking Shadow back with a forceful pull. ’Time to sleep. You’ve enjoyed the feast enough!’ he commanded.

Shadow let out a disgruntled snarl. ’Dumbass fucker.’ The beast spat his irritation before vanishing into the void.

Ren lowered her hand, fingers curling into her lap. She sat motionless, waiting for Kai to speak.

"Now that all of you have accepted Princess Reneira D’Orient as your Luna Queen, we may proceed with our supper and enjoy the feast."

His words were a challenge, directed at those who had been forced to kneel. His gaze, sharp as a blade, landed on the Serpent elder, unspoken threats lacing his stare.

Agara, who had watched the spectacle unfold with quiet amusement, chuckled. "I like this feast."

Ren swallowed hard. She had heard tales of the Fae’s eerie cruelty, but witnessing it firsthand was another matter entirely. Her heart pounded violently against her ribs. How was she supposed to eat after this? Her appetite was dead.

The servants moved with practiced efficiency, placing dishes before them. Ren had expected the Serpent clans to leave in humiliation, yet they remained, eerily composed. Still, she could feel the weight of their hostile glares pressing against her skin.

’You handled the Bird clans with ease. Did you speak with Calisa’s father?’ Ren asked, recalling how Kai had instructed Calisa to relay his message. He had undoubtedly visited the man himself.

’Yes. You will need allies when I’m away. They are bound to the Griffin tamer. They will safeguard your secret.’

Her gaze flickered toward him. ’You told them about me?’

Kai’s lips curved into a smirk, sending her pulse into a reckless rhythm.

’Even if I hadn’t, they would have no choice but to kneel for you after tonight.’

Ren exhaled sharply. Of course. It wasn’t respect or loyalty that had secured their submission—it was Shadow’s merciless presence that had forced their hand.

’Eat, wife. This is your night.’

Her night? This wasn’t what she wanted—to strike fear into the hearts of others. Yet, despite the storm raging within, she maintained a composed facade.

The music began soon after the meal was served, dancers taking center stage as the air shifted into one of celebration. Laughter and chatter resumed, the previous tension seemingly erased from everyone’s minds.

Everyone except her.

How easily they adapted! They twirled across the floor, delighting in the revelry as if nothing had happened.

Kai stood, extending his arm toward her. "Come with me."

Ren hesitated, her eyes scanning the crowd. Agara was gone. It seemed she wasn’t the only one who had grown bored.

"Arkilla, only you come," Kai instructed before turning to Coran. "Bring your grandfather and the rest of the elders to the meeting hall. We need to discuss the war before I leave."

Coran bowed, unease darkening his expression. "Let me accompany you. At least allow me to assess the campaign—"

Kai cut him off. "Beta Coran, if anything was amiss, I would be the first to know. We will join them soon."

Reluctantly, Coran nodded, yielding to his decision.

Ren tightened her grip on Kai’s arm, eager to leave.

"Did you want to dance?" he asked, amusement flickering in his tone.

She vehemently shook her head. "Oh, no. I’ve had enough excitement for one night."

As they exited, Arkilla fell into step beside her. "You did well. I could see the terror in their eyes when Shadow let you touch him. I was scared too. It was the first time we all saw His Highness shift."

Kai’s gaze sharpened at the remark. He had been wondering the same thing when she touched Shadow, he could relate with others but in a different way. He was worried about her. In over a thousand years, Shadow had never allowed anyone to touch him. And yet, tonight, he had leaned into Ren’s palm as if he belonged there.

More than that, Kai could feel how much Shadow had wanted it. There had been no hunger, no malice, no violent intent—only approval.

Shadow had always been a force, a legacy from his father’s cursed bloodline. He obeyed because he had no choice. Yet tonight, he had acted on his own, defying the rules that bound him.

And, most unsettling of all, he had called Ren ’my woman.’

The words burned in Kai’s chest. They were words he had longed to say himself, yet he had always held back—fearful of his own darkness. But then, inexplicably, his demon had emerged not to harm her, but to protect her.

’I don’t know what’s happening. Maybe the father has lifted the cursed crest from me.’ Shadow’s guttural voice echoed in his mind.

Kai said nothing. The crest his father had branded upon him was meant to control Shadow, a cruel leash that inflicted unbearable agony, if the beast dared to disobey, the punishment was severely painful. It was a cage—one that bound Shadow in servitude, making him a mere weapon of destruction.

If the crest had truly been broken, Kai would have felt it. But he hadn’t. Which meant... Could Ren be immune to its influence?

He needed to speak with Agara. And yet, more than anything, what aggravated him most was Ren’s admission. Shadow could be deadly and would harm her.

"I felt like I had seen him before... I don’t know why." She paused, looking for words, "Whenever danger is close, my magic core flares. I felt it happening again, but then Shadow appeared, and strangely, my magic core calmed. I felt as though I had seen him before... I don’t know."

Kai’s grip on her tightened. Shadow had calmed her?

’Don’t ask. I’m just as confused as you. If she broke the crest, I’m no longer Father’s slave.’

Kai’s thoughts spiraled. If his father was behind this, it could only mean one thing.

This was a trap, to force Kai to unleash Shadow again so he could use him for his own good.

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