The fall was nothing like the First King's realm.
There was no softness.
No silver wind.
No glowing threshold.
This was violent.
Kanah plunged downward through a tunnel of shadow and gold, her scream swallowed into the abyss before it ever reached her lips. The force tore the breath from her lungs. Her fingers clawed at nothing, grasping at empty air—
Then a warm, familiar hand closed around her wrist.
"Owain—!"
His other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her into him mid-fall. His chest crushed against hers, his breath hot and frantic against her ear.
"I've got you—I've GOT YOU—!"
Kanah clung to him, nails digging into the fabric of his coat.
"Owain—where—where are we—!?"
He didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Because the shadows around them were alive, snapping like hungry jaws, clawing at Owain's arms, forcing him to shield Kanah even as they plummeted.
Owain snarled and twisted his body, taking the hits for her, dragging her against him so tightly she could barely breathe.
"Don't let go!" he growled.
"I won't—!"
Light exploded beneath them.
Owain turned his back to the incoming ground and braced.
They hit with bone-jarring force.
Owain absorbed the impact, rolling to protect Kanah. Snow — black snow — billowed around them in clouds.
Kanah gasped, coughing as she pulled herself upright.
"Owain—Owain—are you—"
He was on one knee, breath ragged, claws out, eyes shifting from amber to feral gold. His entire body trembled with rage and instinct.
"I'm fine," he panted. "Where are you hurt?"
"I—I'm not—"
He grabbed her shoulders and looked her over frantically, scanning for blood, bruising, anything—
"I said I'm not hurt," Kanah insisted, voice steadier than her shaking hands.
Owain exhaled shakily and pulled her into his chest.
Not gently.
Not softly.
Desperately.
Kanah buried her face into him.
He shook against her.
"I thought—I thought I was going to lose you," he admitted hoarsely.
She held him tighter.
"You didn't."
He lifted his head.
And that's when they both realized—
They were not alone.
The Beast King's Realm Unveiled
The sky was a swirling mass of dark clouds and gold lightning, illuminating a vast terrain of scorched stone and twisted, blackened forests.
Heat pulsed under their feet as if magma simmered beneath a thin crust of earth.
Kanah shivered.
Owain rose slowly, shielding her from the horizon.
"This is… not the First King's domain."
"No," Kanah whispered.
"This is worse."
Helion's voice answered from behind—
"Much worse."
Kanah turned sharply.
Helion stepped forward out of a pillar of shadow, curse-marks pulsing along his neck.
Yllas descended moments later, wings straining against the oppressive atmosphere.
Then Gerrin emerged from a fissure of fading light, gripping his staff tightly.
The three looked battered, bruised, and drained.
"We followed your fall," Gerrin said, voice rattled.
"This realm… fought us."
Owain's jaw tightened.
"This is the Beast King's territory. Magic bends to him."
Kanah felt a cold ripple even before the air shifted.
A voice murmured behind them:
"Correct."
Owain and Helion spun around instantly, claws and blade drawn.
Yllas's wings flared defensively.
Gerrin chanted under his breath.
Kanah stiffened.
The Beast King stood only a few paces away—
relaxed, hands behind his back, his gold crown casting shadows across his face.
He smiled.
"You arrived safely."
Owain snarled.
"Get. Away. From her."
The Beast King's eyes slid to Kanah, unbothered by the threat.
"Does she ever breathe without you hovering?"
Owain lunged.
Gerrin grabbed him instantly.
"Owain—STOP—this is his realm—!"
The ground beneath Owain cracked from his rage.
The Beast King raised an eyebrow.
"No respect for hosts, I see."
Kanah stepped behind Owain without thinking.
The Beast King watched the movement with a hum.
"Instinct," he said softly.
"You cling to him. And he to you."
Kanah swallowed.
"I'm not clinging."
"You stand behind him," the Beast King said calmly.
"Your body says otherwise."
Kanah's cheeks burned.
Owain growled louder.
"You don't get to read her."
"On the contrary," the Beast King replied, "I am the creature who hunted her long before you arrived."
Yllas stepped forward.
"Why bring us here? The Restoration is complete. The trials are over."
The Beast King smiled faintly.
"No.
The trials of the heart are over."
Gerrin's eyes widened.
"No… you can't mean—"
Owain pulled Kanah back instantly.
"What trial is this?"
The Beast King gestured around them.
"The next arc, little wolf.
The trial of the throne."
Kanah froze.
Owain's eyes narrowed.
"The throne…?"
Gerrin staggered back, paling.
"Kanah… Kanah, this is—this is not good."
The Beast King turned to her fully.
"Your Restoration made the bond whole."
He smirked.
"But the throne of beasts cares very little for romance."
Kanah's heart thudded.
"What does it care for, then?"
He stepped closer.
Owain blocked him again.
The Beast King chuckled.
"Strength.
Dominance.
Heirship."
Kanah's breath shook.
"And what does that have to do with me?"
The Beast King smiled wider.
"Everything."
He extended his hand, golden aura swirling.
The ground cracked—
And a massive throne of obsidian and flame began rising from beneath the earth.
Helion steadied Kanah.
Gerrin whispered:
"Goddess… that's—"
Yllas clenched his jaw.
"The Beast Throne."
The Beast King stepped aside, gesturing to it.
"This realm," he murmured,
"is the place where all beasts bend knee."
He looked her over.
"You cannot claim the throne without entering my world."
"Claim?" Kanah whispered.
Owain's chest rumbled with a warning growl.
"You stay away from that throne."
The Beast King tilted his head.
"And if she is destined to sit on it?"
Kanah froze.
Owain's face darkened.
"What do you want with her?"
The Beast King lifted a hand, and the realm flickered—
Kanah felt her heart seize.
Memories—not hers—flashed across her mind.
A human girl.
A beast throne.
A king kneeling.
A prophecy whispered:
"Only a human may end my reign."
Kanah staggered.
Owain grabbed her instantly.
The Beast King's eyes glowed gold.
"You are the first human in a thousand years to enter Beast territory.
The first human whose bond survived unbonding.
The first human whose emotions affect magic."
Kanah swallowed hard.
"And that means…?"
The Beast King's smile sharpened.
"It means you are the only creature alive who can take my throne."
Owain's breath stopped.
Gerrin stepped back in horror.
Yllas muttered a curse.
Helion whispered:
"Oh…
this is going to be a problem."
Kanah trembled.
The Beast King extended his hand toward her again.
"Come, heir.
Learn your destiny."
Owain pushed Kanah behind him with a snarl.
"OVER. MY. DEAD. BODY."
The Beast King's eyes narrowed.
"Very well."
He snapped his fingers.
The ground beneath Kanah cracked—
then split apart like jaws.
Kanah shrieked as she fell.
Owain dove—
But golden chains shot from the ground and wrapped around him, dragging him back.
"KANA—AHHH—!!"
"Owain—OWAIN—!!"
Their fingers reached—
brushed—
slipped.
Kanah fell into the abyss.
The Beast King watched.
Calm.
Almost pleased.
He whispered:
"Let the throne choose."