Chapter 31
Chapter
Thirty-One
SABLE
W e walk side by side through the cold, the air sharp against my skin, but something between us has shifted. The tension, the uncertainty—I can feel it in the way Kael’s stride matches mine, as if we’ve found some sort of rhythm. We’re still raw, still testing each other, but there’s a quiet understanding between us now. For how long it will last, I don’t know. But for now, the bond between us feels a little less like a leash and more like a thread.
“So,” I begin, breaking the silence, trying to stir the conversation again, “what’s next? What do we do now?”
Kael glances at me, his features softening slightly, though there’s still that controlled edge to his voice. “I have duties as the leader of the keep. Court to hold. People to govern. You know, the usual.”
I raise an eyebrow, pushing past the boredom I feel creeping in. “Duties? That sounds dreadfully boring. ”
He lets out a quiet chuckle, that low sound rumbling in his chest. “Well, we can’t all just hunt and kill warlocks all day, can we?” He glances at me, the corner of his mouth lifting in a wry smile. “Someone has to lead them. Protect the tribe.”
I don’t like the idea of Kael being the one who has to carry the burden of leading all these people. I can tell it weighs on him in some way, but it doesn’t stop my next words from spilling out. “So, you’re the big shot then. The one everyone turns to for answers.”
Kael meets my eyes with a flicker of something—amusement, maybe—but his expression remains serious. “Not just me. There’s a council, too. But yes, ultimately, the decisions come to me. I have to make sure everyone stays in line. Keep things running smoothly.”
“And is that what you want?” I ask before I can stop myself, the curiosity in my voice too strong to ignore. “To run everything?”
His gaze flickers away for a moment, his shoulders tensing, but he doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he speaks to my question in a different way. “What I want doesn’t matter,” he says after a beat, a hint of finality in his voice. “But I do what I must to protect the keep and the people. That’s the only thing that matters.”
I nod, letting the silence settle for a moment before speaking again. “So, what exactly does this ‘court’ entail?”
Kael glances at me again, his eyes dark with the weight of responsibility. “You want to watch? You’ve seen us hunt. Now, you’ll see how we run things.”
I blink, surprised. “Wait, you actually want me to watch?”
He doesn’t seem to hesitate. “You’re here to learn, aren’t you?”
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. “Well, if you’re offering... sure. I want to see what this ‘court’ is all about.”
Kael stops walking, turning to face me fully now. “I’ll need to cloak you in my power,” he says, his voice low. “You’ll be unseen by everyone else, but you’ll stand next to me the entire time. No one will notice you’re there.”
I stare at him, feeling the familiar weight of the bond between us—stronger than before—and I wonder, for a moment, what it will feel like to be hidden from everyone but him.
“And you’re sure,” I ask, my voice quiet but filled with uncertainty, “that only you can see me?”
His gaze locks onto mine, dark and steady. “Yes. Only I can see you. No one else will even know you’re there.”
I nod, a strange thrill running through me. The idea of being invisible to everyone but Kael, of standing beside him in a room full of people without them knowing... there’s something thrilling in that. It’s not just the power he holds over me—it’s the way I can be there, unseen, a ghost, watching everything unfold.
He motions for me to follow, and we make our way into the grand hall of the keep. The doors swing open with a slow, creaking groan, revealing the vast expanse of stone that fills the space before us. The walls rise high, adorned with tapestries that seem to pulse with a history long forgotten. The air inside the hall is thick with an ancient energy, a blend of old magic and tradition that I can feel brushing against my skin.
The floor beneath our feet is smooth, polished marble that gleams in the dim light of the torches lining the walls. High above us, the ceiling stretches impossibly far, a vaulted expanse that seems to stretch to infinity.
At the far end of the hall is a raised platform, a throne sitting in the center of it. The throne is massive, made of black stone and wrought iron, with intricate carvings of ancient symbols twisting around its arms and back. The air around it seems to hum with power, like this is where all the decisions are made, where everything comes to rest.
I can feel the weight of the room, the eyes that have been in this hall before, the power of what’s to come. But my gaze doesn’t linger long on the room itself. It’s on Kael.
He walks toward the throne with a purpose, his strides long and confident, and I can’t help but admire the way he commands the space, the way he moves. There’s no hesitation in him as he steps up onto the platform and takes his seat in the largest chair.
As soon as he sits, I feel the shift. His power radiates from him, filling the room and surrounding me. A hum of energy builds between us, and I can sense it— I’m cloaked . I’m invisible to everyone else, but I’m still right here beside him, within arm’s reach.
I feel Kael’s voice in my mind, a soft ripple that cuts through the silence. You can sit in the chair beside me, if you’d like.
I glance at the smaller chair beside his, its sleek design fitting the space, and I find myself sitting without question. “What’s the catch?” I ask quietly, feeling the weight of his presence next to me.
No one will see you but me, he replies, his tone low, but there’s an edge to it. You’re with me. But no one will know. Not even you can be seen.
I lean back in the chair, feeling the raw pull of the power he’s just cloaked me with. It’s strange, the sense of being there but not. It’s exhilarating.
“And what about the game?” I whisper into his mind, suddenly feeling bold, that playful side of me awakening. “The one you promised to give me. You said you were going to make me beg for your cock. Deny me. Did you forget?”
Kael’s eyebrow raises slightly, a sharp glint in his eyes, but he doesn’t respond immediately.
Then, a low chuckle rumbles in his chest, and his eyes darken with an intensity I can feel all the way to my bones. You’re playing a dangerous game, little huntress. But yes, I remember.
I don’t back down. Instead, I smile, my lips curling into something more dangerous than playful. “I’m going to make it as hard as possible for you to resist me.”
With that, I stand from my chair, slowly pulling the cloak from my shoulders, letting it fall to the ground. I stand naked before him, letting him see me fully, knowing the effect it will have on him.
He doesn’t flinch, but I can feel his power surge as his gaze locks onto mine. He’s affected. I know he is.
As the court begins, I’m acutely aware of the power Kael is exerting over everyone in the room—and of how easily I’m able to pull him off balance with just a glance. My heart races, and a wicked thrill flows through me.
I’m no longer just a pawn in this game. I’m learning how to play.
The court fills the hall, a hush falling over the room as Kael takes his seat on the throne. The weight of his presence is undeniable, and I watch with a new understanding as a group of people—those who must serve him, those who live in the keep—approach him with their problems, their grievances.
Kael listens. He doesn’t rush them, doesn’t cut them off. There’s a calm in him, a level-headedness that I hadn’t expected. It’s not just power he commands here. It’s authority. It’s respect. Each person who steps forward does so with a quiet reverence, and I can feel it now—the subtle worship that surrounds him. It’s not about fear, not entirely. It’s about trust, about knowing that Kael will do what’s best for his people. They follow him, not because they have to, but because they want to.
I realize, suddenly, that this isn’t just a group of savage men as I had thought. This is a community, a tribe with a purpose. And Kael isn’t just their leader—he’s their protector. Their strength.
I find myself respecting him more, though I don’t want to admit it. I came here to break free, to understand my place in this new world, and now, watching him in this role—this cold, commanding leader—something clicks inside me. I want to see how far he’ll go. How far I can push him.
The tension between us hasn’t gone away. It’s thicker now, a constant pulse that thrums between us, pulling at both of us. I feel it more than ever, and as the last of the petitions is handled and the crowd begins to thin out, I make a decision.
I want to test him. I want to see if I can make him lose control, if I can make him crack. He seems so icy , so put together, like nothing can touch him. But that just makes it all the more tempting to try .
I let my eyes linger on him for a moment before I let my hand move subtly, my fingers slipping to the edge of my thigh as I lean slightly toward him, knowing he’s the only one who can see me. The power I feel in his gaze, the way he holds the room— I want to make him lose that control.
Slowly, quietly, I begin to trace my curves, my fingers grazing my skin. I let my body move slightly, making sure he’s watching, though I know no one else can see me. He’s still speaking with a few people, but I know his attention is divided now, on me and on them, though I can feel it—his focus is slipping.
I push my hand higher, my thumb grazing the bottom of my exposed breast. I catch his eye, just for a second, and the tension between us tightens.
I know what I’m doing.
The heat in the room starts to change, swirling between us, and I’m aware of every inch of my body. The power I’m using, not just in the way I move, but in the way I’m making him feel, makes me feel... alive . I’ve never been so aware of myself, so confident in my own skin. Every movement feels like it’s mine .
Kael’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t break. He doesn’t move, not yet. But I know he’s reacting. His breath, just a little unsteady. His gaze, intense and unwavering, even as his voice remains calm and authoritative, handling the last of the affairs in court.
I slide my hand down my body now, just enough to tease, to make him aware of every movement. My fingers graze my lower lips, playing with myself as I tilt my head back. I open my legs wide. He can't miss the sight now.
He’s still trying to maintain control, still trying to hold court with a face of steel, but I can see it in the way his body tenses. I can feel the pull between us, like a thread that’s about to snap.
When the last of the petitions are over, and the room is all but empty, Kael’s posture shifts. His gaze turns to me with such intensity, I almost feel it before I see it.
“Court is adjourned,” he says, his voice deep and strained, but he doesn’t look away from me. His eyes lock onto mine, and there’s something dark there. Something he’s barely holding back.
The room empties, the sound of footsteps fading as the last of the people file out, leaving us alone. But I’m not ready for this moment to end.
Kael stands abruptly, his movement fast, purposeful. Before I can react, his hand is on my wrist, pulling me toward him. “You’ve had your fun, little huntress,” he growls, the words a mix of warning and desire, both dark and tempting. “But I’m done with games.”
The intensity in his voice sends a thrill through me. I’ve pushed him to the edge.
He drags me quickly from the grand hall, my feet barely touching the ground as he leads me back toward his chambers. His grip tightens around my wrist as he moves with purpose, and I know—this is just the beginning of whatever happens next.