The throne chamber did not merely tremble.
It groaned.
A deep, ancient sound — like stone giving way after a thousand years.
The same moment Kanah spoke her decree of peace, cracks raced across the obsidian floors, splitting in brilliant lines of gold and molten fire.
Owain immediately wrapped his arm around her waist.
"We're leaving," he said sharply.
Kanah nodded, gripping the front of his shirt. "Yes. Please. I don't want to look at this throne anymore."
The golden flames dimmed to a dying glow, their earlier ferocity dissipating now that the Queen had made her unprecedented choice.
Gerrin's staff pulsed urgently.
"The realm is destabilizing. Kanah's decision overrode the throne's war directive. It's collapsing in on itself!"
Helion eyed the growing cracks underfoot with alarm.
"Then MOVE! Before the floor decides to swallow one of us whole!"
Yllas unfurled one aching wing, grimacing from the burn of the throne's pressure. "I'll scout the exit!"
He launched upward just as another crack shot across the wall, splitting the ceiling clean in two.
Owain scooped Kanah into his arms.
"Hold on to me."
She clutched his shoulders instantly. "I'm not letting go."
Helion carved through a falling chunk of glowing stone as it dropped toward them. "Go! I'll cover the back!"
Gerrin kept pace beside them, staff blazing, creating small barriers under their feet where the ground had already begun to fall away into a molten void.
Owain sprinted.
Even injured, even exhausted, his instincts were sharp, faster than before.
Newly awakened.
Newly crowned.
Kanah felt it — felt his pulse through their bond.
"Your heartbeat," she whispered through the chaos, "it feels… different."
Owain leapt a broken section of floor, landing with barely any strain.
"It probably is. Everything feels different."
Kanah's chest tightened. "Does it hurt?"
He smirked, breathless. "Only when you're not looking at me."
She would've kissed him if the world wasn't exploding around them.
Gerrin shouted over the noise:
"There! There's the exit! A rift back to the Beast King's outer realm!"
At the top of the fractured staircase, bathed in gold light, hovered a swirling rift — a tear in reality, pulsing like a living thing on the verge of snapping shut.
Helion snarled.
"Move faster! It's closing!"
Owain tightened his hold on Kanah.
"I'm getting you out of here," he growled, voice deep, resonant —
a new edge to it, something commanding and dangerous
that hadn't been there before.
Kanah felt the vibration down her spine.
The Wolf King's voice.
Her breath caught.
Helion and Gerrin leapt first, disappearing through the rift.
Yllas shouted from the other side:
"HURRY!"
Owain planted his foot on a falling slab of stone and vaulted upward. Kanah looked over his shoulder just as the throne cracked down the middle — completely splitting, glowing from within as if molten gold had been trapped inside for centuries.
She whispered:
"…It's dying."
Owain reached the last step.
"Good."
The throne let out a final, echoing pulse — a blast of golden fire that surged outward like a shockwave.
Owain gritted his teeth, shielding Kanah's body with his own.
"KANA—HOLD ON—!!"
The explosion of light swallowed them—
And he dove through the rift with her.
The Realm Between Worlds
They fell out of the rift and straight into Yllas' outstretched grip.
He caught Kanah's arm and helped steady her as Owain landed hard on one knee, nearly dropping with exhaustion. Kanah grabbed him instantly.
"Owain—Owain—are you okay—?"
He inhaled sharply, bracing himself against the ground.
"Yeah—just… dizzy. Realm transitions hit harder now."
Gerrin's eyes widened.
"That's because you're tied to the throne's power source now. The shift strains you differently."
Helion crossed his arms.
"Great. He was already overly dramatic. Now he gets migraines from magic."
Owain shot him a glare.
"Say that again. I dare you."
"You get migraines from magic," Helion repeated slowly.
Owain stood up.
Helion immediately backed behind Gerrin.
"Right, I'm shutting up."
Kanah moved in front of Owain, placing a hand on his face.
"Look at me."
He did.
She pressed her forehead to his.
"You're here. You're alive. That's all that matters."
The pain in his breathing eased immediately.
"Yeah," he whispered. "I'm here."
Yllas stepped forward, inspecting them both.
"We need to get away from this area. The Beast King's realm is shifting."
Kanah stiffened.
"The Beast King—where is he?"
As if summoned, the air shimmered.
Golden light pooled beside them.
Owain growled, hands instantly pulling Kanah behind him.
"Show yourself."
The Beast King stepped through the wavering light — unharmed, calm, expression unreadable.
Kanah tensed.
Helion lunged but Owain blocked him with an arm.
"No," Owain growled. "Let me handle him."
Helion grumbled but backed off.
Kanah stayed half-shielded behind Owain, pulse quickening.
The Beast King nodded at her.
"Queen."
She clenched her jaw. "Don't call me that."
"That," he said simply, "is what you are."
Owain snarled.
"You stay at least five steps away from her."
The Beast King obeyed — surprisingly. He stopped, hands behind his back.
"I am not here to harm her."
Kanah narrowed her eyes.
"You pushed me into the abyss."
"And you survived."
"That doesn't make it acceptable!"
His eyes glowed faint gold.
"It makes it necessary."
Owain took a step forward, lip curled.
"You test her again and I swear—"
"You misunderstand me, Wolf King," the Beast King said coolly.
"If I wanted to stop her ascension, she would not have survived the first trial."
Kanah froze.
"So you wanted me to become Queen?"
"No."
His gaze softened fractionally.
"I wanted to see if you could survive being yourself."
Owain growled louder.
"What the hell does that mean?"
The Beast King looked directly at Kanah.
"You carry more power than you realize.
Your emotions bend the Beastworld.
Your choices reshape its laws.
You say peace — and the throne accepts what it has never accepted before."
Kanah's breath caught.
"But I'm just—"
"Human," he finished.
"And that is precisely the problem."
Yllas stepped forward.
"Explain."
The Beast King's voice deepened.
"Humans were never meant to enter Beastworld with power. They disrupt the balance."
He met Kanah's eyes.
"You, little Queen… may disrupt everything."
Kanah swallowed.
"But I don't want to destroy anything."
"That," the King murmured, "is why you are dangerous."
Owain stepped between them again, shoulders squared, voice low and feral.
"You don't get to decide what she becomes."
"No," the Beast King agreed. "You do."
Owain stiffened.
Kanah froze.
Helion blinked. "What?"
The Beast King continued calmly:
"The Wolf King's bond to the Queen determines which path she takes.
Her power will follow his instincts."
Kanah grabbed Owain's arm tightly.
"Owain… is that true?"
He swallowed, jaw tightening.
"I don't know."
Gerrin stepped close, examining the glowing sigils on both their bodies.
"It… makes sense," he said slowly.
"Wolf bonds are instinct-led. If he's king now… she'll mirror his nature."
Kanah looked up at Owain.
"Owain… what instincts?"
He looked at her with a mix of fear and love.
"Protectiveness," he said softly.
"Territoriality."
He swallowed.
"And… possession."
Kanah's breath caught.
He whispered:
"I'll fight it. I won't let it control you."
The Beast King shook his head.
"You cannot fight instinct.
But you can direct it."
Owain stiffened.
Kanah stepped out from behind him.
"What does that mean?"
The Beast King met her gaze with striking seriousness.
"It means the Wolf King does not have to be a tyrant—
if the Queen chooses to be his balance."
Kanah swallowed.
"I do."
Owain looked down at her sharply.
"Kana—"
She cupped his face.
"Owain, I choose you. You. Not the throne. Not the prophecy. You."
His eyes softened.
Almost painfully.
Kanah whispered:
"So I'll keep choosing you — again and again — until your instincts listen."
Owain rested his hands on her waist.
"Kana…"
Yllas cleared his throat loudly.
"Not the time."
Helion muttered, "Unfortunately."
Owain held her closer, forehead touching hers.
"Let's get out of this realm. Then we talk."
Kanah nodded.
"Yes. Let's leave."
Leaving the Beast King's Realm
The Beast King stepped aside, gesturing toward a rippling archway that shimmered like liquid gold.
"This leads back to the border of my lands — far from the throne's influence."
Owain didn't move.
"Why help us?"
The Beast King raised an eyebrow.
"You want your Queen to collapse here?"
Kanah glared.
"I'm not collapsing."
"You will," he said softly.
"Once adrenaline fades."
Kanah opened her mouth—then faltered as a wave of dizziness hit her.
Owain steadied her instantly.
"Kana—!"
She forced a shaky smile.
"I'm okay—I'm… okay…"
Owain stared at her.
"No," he said firmly, lifting her into his arms.
"You're not walking. End of discussion."
Kanah flushed. "O–Ow—ain—!"
Helion grinned obnoxiously. "Looks like king instincts are already kicking in."
Owain glared.
Helion shut up immediately.
Yllas chuckled quietly.
Gerrin looked mildly fascinated.
Owain tightened his hold around Kanah's thighs.
"Let's go."
The Beast King's voice followed them.
"One last warning."
Owain didn't turn.
"I'm not listening."
"You should," the King said.
"Because the world will come for your Queen.
And for you."
Owain's jaw clenched.
"They can try."
Kanah rested her head on his shoulder.
"I trust you."
Owain exhaled softly.
"I won't fail you."
They stepped through the golden archway—
And the Beast King's realm shattered behind them.
On the Other Side
They emerged on a cliff overlooking vast black forests and burning gold horizon.
Kanah's breath hitched.
"Owain… everything looks… different."
He nodded.
"That's because you're seeing with a Queen's senses now."
She held onto him as another dizzy wave hit.
"Owain… I feel… heavy…"
He sat with her on a flat stone.
"It's the power settling. Let me help."
He pressed his palm gently against the glowing sigil on her sternum.
Kanah gasped softly.
A warm rush flowed through her body.
Her heartbeat steadied.
Her breathing softened.
The dizzy fog lifted instantly.
She blinked.
"You… took the overload?"
Owain smirked.
"I'm king now. Might as well be useful."
Kanah pressed her forehead to his chest, overwhelmed.
"I don't deserve you."
Owain cupped the back of her head.
"You chose me. That's enough."
The bond pulsed gently in agreement.
Gerrin approached with caution.
"Kanah… Owain… we need to talk about what comes next."
Owain kissed the side of her head.
"I know."
But he didn't move from holding her.
Helion rolled his eyes.
"She's not glass, wolf."
Owain growled at him.
Kanah smiled sleepily.
Yllas exhaled with weary relief.
"We made it out alive. That's enough for now."
Gerrin looked toward the burning horizon.
"No," he whispered.
"It's only the beginning."
Kanah curled closer to Owain.
"I know."
Owain tightened his arms around her, eyes darkening protectively.
"Let the world come."
He looked down at her.
"I dare it."