Kanah's heart slammed violently against her ribs.
Choose him?
Choose Owain?
The throne's golden hands pulled her backward through the barrier and into the inner chamber, dragging her across a floor made of obsidian veins glowing with molten fire.
"Owain—OWAIN—!!"
Her voice cracked painfully, echoing into endless chambers.
On the other side of the barrier, Owain slammed against it again—
Hard.
"KANAH—!! I'M HERE—!! DO YOU HEAR ME—!!"
She could.
Barely.
But she could.
Kanah reached for him as the throne's grip dragged her deeper into its core.
"Owain—don't stop—please—DON'T stop calling me—"
Owain's roar shook the entire chamber.
"I WON'T—!! YOU HEAR ME—!? I WON'T STOP—!!"
Her chest tightened painfully.
But the golden hands closed around her wrists, tugging her toward the center of the room—
a platform of molten stone beneath a suspended crown of flame.
Kanah trembled violently.
"No—NO—let me go—!!"
The throne's voice spoke—not cruel, not gentle.
Neutral.
"The Queen must choose."
Kanah shook her head.
"You keep saying that—but choose what?!"
"Her King."
Kanah froze.
Her breath vanished.
Her legs buckled.
"No… no, I—I already—"
The throne's flames pulsed.
"You chose with your heart.
Now choose with your power."
Kanah swallowed hard.
"What is that supposed to mean!?"
The throne's voice echoed through her bones.
"A heart chooses love.
A throne chooses strength."
Kanah's heartbeat surged with fear.
"No—Owain is strong—he's—he's the strongest—"
"Your heart has already chosen him.
Now your throne must."
Kanah's stomach twisted painfully.
Before she could speak—
Light flashed.
Shadow peeled back.
And a figure appeared behind her.
Not Owain.
Not a beast.
The Beast King.
He stepped forward silently, golden eyes reflecting her trembling frame.
Owain roared from the other side of the barrier:
"YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER—!!"
The beast king ignored him entirely.
His attention was wholly fixed on her.
"Little human," he murmured, voice low,
"You stand where legends begin."
Kanah clenched her fists.
"I'm not choosing you," she spat.
The Beast King smiled faintly.
"I know.
You already made that clear."
She stiffened.
He continued:
"But the throne does not ask you to choose me.
It asks you to choose a King."
Kanah gasped.
"Owain IS my King!"
"Is he?"
The Beast King tilted his head.
"Or is he simply the wolf you love?"
The words sliced into her.
She stepped back.
"No—no—don't twist it—Owain is—he's—"
The Beast King stepped closer.
"Strong. Loyal. Devoted."
He paused.
"But is he crowned?"
Kanah swallowed, unable to breathe.
Owain pounded the barrier.
"I DON'T NEED A CROWN—!! I JUST NEED HER—!!"
The Beast King's eyes glowed.
"And that," he whispered, "is why he is worthy."
Kanah's breath shattered.
Then—
The throne shifted.
Golden flame surged in a spiral around her, forming a circle of light.
Owain slammed against the barrier again.
"KANAH—!! STAY WITH ME—!! DON'T LET THE THRONE TWIST THIS—!!"
"I won't—I WON'T—!!" she cried, reaching for him.
The golden light responded to her desperation—
And wrapped around her palm.
Kanah gasped softly as the throne whispered:
"If he is your King,
you must crown him."
Owain froze.
His fist stopped mid-slam.
Kanah stopped pulling.
Even the Beast King stilled.
Owain whispered:
"…What?"
Kanah trembled.
"Crown… you…?"
Owain took one step closer, palms pressed to the barrier.
"Kanah… listen to me…"
The bond vibrated between them, warm and terrified.
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Do you hear me?"
Kanah's breath shook.
The throne pulsed.
"A Queen must choose
who stands beside her."
Owain clenched his jaw.
"And I choose YOU—!"
Kanah cried out:
"I choose you too—!! I ALREADY DID—!!"
The throne echoed darkly.
"Not with your heart."
A pause.
"With your crown."
Kanah swallowed hard.
The Beast King folded his arms.
"This is the part," he said quietly, "where humans usually break."
Kanah glared through tears.
"I'm not breaking."
Owain slammed his fist against the barrier.
"KANA—!!
LOOK AT ME—!!
ONLY ME—!!"
She did.
Golden flames swirled violently around her.
Owain pushed harder, pupils narrowing, chest rising and falling like a beast struggling not to lose its mind.
"Whatever the throne tells you," Owain said,
voice breaking,
"don't choose the prophecy."
Kanah blinked.
"The… prophecy…?"
Owain pressed his forehead to the barrier.
"We won't kill him.
We won't kill anyone.
We don't follow destiny.
We follow us."
Kanah sobbed softly.
The throne whispered:
"Choose."
Owain's hands shook.
"Kana…
I'm here.
Choose me because you want me.
Not because the throne demands it."
Kanah stepped forward, heart racing.
"Owain…"
"Yes?"
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I want… you."
Owain's breath stuttered.
Kanah pressed her palm to the golden barrier.
"But I want you alive."
Owain swallowed.
"Kana—"
"I want you beside me."
"Kana…"
"I want a life with you."
His chest rose sharply.
"Then crown me," he whispered.
Kanah froze.
"Owain… you said—"
"I said choose with your heart."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"And my heart wants you to live.
So if a crown keeps you alive…
put it on me."
Kanah burst into tears.
"Owain… I can't—I can't force you—"
He laughed weakly.
"It's not forcing if I'm asking for it."
Kanah pressed her forehead to the barrier.
"I love you."
Owain's breath broke.
"I love you, too."
The throne trembled with heat.
Kanah lifted her palm.
Golden flame curled around her fingertips, shaping itself into a small, burning circlet—
a crown no larger than her hand.
Her voice trembled.
"Owain… if I do this…
you become something else."
Owain nodded.
"I know."
"You become king."
"I know."
"You stop being free."
Owain smiled faintly.
"Kana… I chose you a long time ago.
Freedom wasn't part of that deal."
She choked on a tearful laugh.
Owain pressed his hand to the barrier, matching hers.
"Queen…"
He whispered, voice raw.
"My mate…"
Kanah sobbed.
"Let me stand beside you."
Kanah drew a shaking breath.
And lifted the crown.
"Owain…
do you accept being mine?"
His eyes softened in a way that broke her.
"I already am."
Kanah closed her eyes.
Her bond pulsed.
Her heart pounded.
She whispered:
"I crown you."
The barrier split.
Light exploded.
Owain stepped forward, catching her as the crown dissolved into his skin—
And the throne roared:
"THE WOLF KING IS CHOSEN."
Kanah collapsed against him.
Owain held her like something precious.
The Beast King's voice echoed quietly:
"It begins."