Cold air brushed against Elara's face.
For a moment, she thought she was still dreaming. Her head throbbed painfully, and the last thing she remembered was the ballroom… the screams… and the dark stranger who had taken her.
Her eyes slowly opened, Stone, Rough gray stone surrounded her on every side.
She was lying on a narrow bed inside a dimly lit chamber. A small fire burned quietly in the corner of the room, its flickering light casting long shadows across the walls. Elara sat up abruptly. Panic rushed through her chest.
This was not the palace.
The room was unfamiliar, cold, and far too quiet.
She swung her legs off the bed and rushed to the door. Locked, Of course it was.
Her breathing quickened as she pushed harder against the heavy wooden door, but it didn't budge.
"Let me out!" she shouted. Her voice echoed through the silent hallway beyond.
No answer.
Elara stepped back, forcing herself to breathe slowly. Think.
She was a princess of Valeria. Panic would solve nothing.
The man who took her had said something before disappearing with her.
This is the beginning of your father's punishment.
Her stomach twisted, Revenge.
This wasn't a ransom.
Whoever that man was, he wanted something far more dangerous.
A faint sound suddenly came from the hallway. Footsteps, Slow, Heavy.
Elara's body tensed.
The footsteps stopped outside the door.
Then the lock turned. The door creaked open.
He stepped inside, The same man from the palace.
Without the hood, she could see him clearly now. He was tall and imposing, dressed in dark armor that seemed built for war rather than ceremony.
His expression remained cold and unreadable.
Elara lifted her chin.
"You dare imprison the princess of this kingdom?" she said sharply.
He closed the door behind him. "I dare much more than that."
His voice was calm, almost bored.
Elara crossed her arms, refusing to show fear.
"Do you know what will happen when my father finds you?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"That depends." "On what?" she demanded.
"On whether he values his daughter's life."
Silence filled the room.
Elara felt anger rising within her.
"You think kidnapping me will make the king surrender to you?" she asked.
"You misunderstand," the man said.
"I didn't take you to bargain."
His dark eyes met hers. "I took you to remind him."
"Remind him of what?"
For the first time, something dangerous flashed across his face.
"Of everything he destroyed."
Elara frowned.
"My father has protected this kingdom for decades."
The man laughed quietly. "Protected?"
His eyes hardened.
"Is that the story he told you?"
Elara felt a strange unease stir in her chest.
"Who are you?" she asked.
He watched her for a moment. Then he finally answered.
"My name is Kael."
The name meant nothing to her.
But the hatred in his voice did.
"And from this moment on," he continued, "you belong to my castle." Elara's jaw tightened.
"I belong to no one."
Kael stepped closer.
For a brief second, something curious flickered in his eyes. Not anger. Interest.
"Good," he said softly.
"I was hoping the king's daughter wouldn't be boring."
He turned and walked toward the door again.
Elara stared at him.
"Wait!" He stopped.
"If you hate my father so much," she said, "why take me?"
Kael glanced back at her over his shoulder.
"Because revenge," he said quietly,
"is much sweeter when the king watches his most precious treasure disappear."
The door closed behind him.
And for the first time since arriving there
Elara realized she might truly be trapped in the villain's world.