CHAPTER 26 — THE THRONE OF TWO BLOODLINES
The ground trembled beneath my feet.
The Sanctuary's floor split wide open, violet light spilling out like blood from a wound.
Stone crumbled. Crystals cracked. Runes across the walls flickered—struggling to stay lit.
And rising from the depths—
A throne emerged.
Massive. Ancient. Terrifyingly beautiful.
Crafted of violet-lit crystal, carved bone, and dark, swirling silver.
A throne that pulsed with a heartbeat.
My heartbeat.
Owain's hands clamped around my arms instantly.
"Don't look at it," he whispered harshly, breath shaking.
"Kanah—don't even LOOK—"
But my eyes were locked onto it.
As if something inside me recognized it.
As if something inside me had been waiting for it.
A voice whispered through the air—
Not loud.
Not harsh.
Just inevitable.
Come, daughter.
Your seat awaits.
My entire body trembled.
"No," I whispered. "No—no—no—"
Owain turned me away, pressing my face into his chest.
"Don't listen," he begged. "Please—Kanah—don't listen to him—"
The throne pulsed brighter.
Silver and violet spirals curled off it, drifting toward me like tendrils.
Owain's hackles rose, growl tearing from his throat.
"BACK OFF!"
Yllas stepped between us, wings flaring wide.
"Sanctuary magic is responding to her bloodline," Yllas said tightly.
"It wants her to take the throne."
Gerrin shook his head violently.
"No. Not wants. Commands. A bloodline summons is absolute in this place."
Helion cursed under his breath, tail flicking.
"We're fucked."
Owain snarled at him, eyes blazing amber.
"SHUT UP—"
But he couldn't finish because the throne pulsed again—
and something inside me jerked forward.
My feet slid.
As if pulled.
"Owain—!" I gasped.
He grabbed me tighter.
"No—NO—NO—don't take her—don't—"
A violet tether wrapped around my wrist.
Owain roared and tore it away with his claws—
silver burning across his skin.
He hissed in pain.
"Owain!" I cried.
He shook his hand, charred flesh smoking.
"Don't worry about me—DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT ME—"
The throne pulsed again.
Sit.
"I won't!" I screamed.
Pain tore through my chest—
the mark burning silver,
the seal burning violet.
Both forces warred inside me—
and I screamed again.
Owain caught me before my knees hit the ground.
"Kanah—Kanah—breathe—come on—stay with me—"
But Yllas' voice cut through the panic, layered with fear.
"Owain. Move. NOW."
Owain snarled. "OVER MY DEAD BODY—"
Gerrin shouted, "If she gets pulled toward that throne, she won't survive the transition!"
Owain froze.
"Transition?" he rasped.
Yllas stepped forward, jaw tight.
"The throne isn't just symbolic. It's a power seat. A channel. It merges bloodlines. It will force her into becoming what she was born to be."
"No," Owain whispered, voice breaking.
"She doesn't WANT that."
"She doesn't have a choice!" Yllas shouted.
Owain shoved him backward.
"SHE HAS A CHOICE IN EVERYTHING—"
The throne pulsed—
And its violet tether wrapped around me again.
This time around my ankle.
I was dragged forward.
"Owain!"
I clawed at his clothes, fingers slipping.
He lunged, grabbing my waist with both arms—
and was dragged with me.
"OWAIN—LET GO—"
He bared his teeth.
"I'll NEVER let go!"
The tether burned his skin—
vicious, searing, punishing him for interfering.
Yllas unleashed fire at the tether—
Forbidden dragonfire, white-hot.
The tether didn't break.
But it recoiled—
long enough for Owain to pull me back.
Gerrin slammed a glowing rune into the ground.
"TEMPORARY BIND!"
Silver chains erupted around my feet—
slowing the pull.
Helion stepped forward and rolled his shoulders.
"Fine. I didn't want to do this. But desperate times."
He touched his own chest.
Gold light erupted beneath his skin.
Owain's eyes widened.
"Helion—NO—your curse—"
Helion smirked weakly.
"Too late."
He pressed his palm to the ground.
Golden energy surged outward—
a Leopard binding curse
deadly
rare
forbidden.
The air warped.
The throne flickered.
For the first time—
the pull weakened.
Helion spat blood, collapsing onto one knee.
Gerrin rushed to support him.
"Helion—your heart—"
"I know," Helion groaned.
"Tell me something I don't."
Owain pulled me against his chest, panting.
I clutched his shirt, trembling violently.
"Owain… I don't want this…"
He kissed my forehead, jaw tight.
"I know. I know. I'm here."
Yllas snapped, "We don't have much time! The throne is strengthening its pull—"
But before he finished—
The air changed.
Went colder.
Darker.
Sharper.
Yllas stopped breathing.
Gerrin's markings flared.
Helion's ears flattened.
Owain wrapped both arms around me protectively.
A new voice echoed inside the Sanctuary.
A voice I recognized.
Daughter.
Enough struggle.
Come to me.
My blood froze.
"No," Owain growled.
"You do NOT speak to her—"
The Beast King's laugh reverberated through the Sanctuary walls.
She is mine.
By blood.
By right.
By destiny.
"YOU'RE NOTHING TO HER!" Owain roared.
She will choose me.
"No!"
Blood always returns to its origin.
"SHUT UP!"
Magic exploded.
The throne roared.
And suddenly—
The tether didn't pull me gently.
It yanked.
Violet light swallowed my legs—
climbing past my knees—
my hips—
my ribs—
"Owain!" I screamed.
He dug his claws into the floor, refusing to let me go.
Refusing to surrender me.
Yllas seized my arm, trying to pull me to the side.
Gerrin pressed a stabilizing rune to my back.
Helion slashed at the tether again.
The throne hissed.
Violet flames rose around it.
And then—
The Beast King's voice boomed:
ENOUGH.
The tether surged—
and tore me from their hands.
Owain's scream ripped the Sanctuary apart.
"KANAH!"
Darkness swallowed me.
Again.
THE VOID AGAIN
But this time—
it wasn't empty.
I stood in the darkness—
and behind me, before me, around me—
Two thrones slowly formed.
One violet.
One silver.
Both pulsed in time with my heartbeat.
Two bloodlines.
Two destinies.
One body.
Sit, child, the Beast King murmured.
Sit, and claim what is yours.
"No."
You cannot fight forever.
"I can fight YOU."
"You cannot fight PROPHECY."
I trembled.
Torn.
Rejected by both halves.
Accepted by neither fully.
"I don't want this."
But you ARE this.
"No—"
You are my daughter.
And hers.
Born to unite power.
Born to END us both.
My breath froze.
"What?"
The void shook.
You end me.
Or you end her line.
There is no third path.
My legs weakened.
"No…"
Choose.
"I CAN'T!"
You must.
Before your body tears itself apart.
My knees buckled.
But before darkness claimed me again—
A voice sliced through the void.
KANAH—LISTEN TO ME!
Owain.
Howling through the bond.
Through the seal.
Through the throne's power.
His voice cracked with pain and love.
Don't let him choose for you.
Don't let destiny own you.
Choose YOURSELF.
Choose the YOU that loves.
The YOU that fights.
The YOU that lives.
My breath hitched.
The void flickered.
Owain's voice reached again—
I love you.
No matter your blood.
No matter your fate.
You're mine because YOU choose me.
Not because fate does.
And then—
Yllas's voice tore through the darkness, fire behind every word:
Kanah—claim your LIFE, not your blood.
Gerrin's voice followed:
You have more power than you think. More CHOICE than he wants you to believe.
Helion's voice was last:
Fight back, little queen. You're stronger than the bastard who spawned you.
Their voices wrapped around me—
Warm.
Steady.
Real.
The Beast King roared.
ENOUGH—
I screamed—
And the world shattered.
BACK IN THE SANCTUARY
I shot upward—
Gasping—
Violet energy exploding from my core.
Owain caught me mid-air.
"KANAH—!"
I sobbed into his chest.
He held me so tightly my ribs ached.
Yllas stumbled forward, wings shaking.
Gerrin wiped blood from his lip.
Helion clutched his chest where his curse still glowed faintly.
The throne cracked.
Literally cracked—
a jagged streak splitting across its surface.
Everyone froze.
Owain whispered in shock:
"You… broke it."
Gerrin stepped forward slowly.
"That throne is older than war."
Yllas whispered, "Older than dragons."
Helion muttered, "Older than common sense."
A final crack split the air.
The throne CRUMBLED.
Violet shards scattered.
The Beast King's furious snarl shook the Sanctuary.
Owain tightened his hold on me, shielding me with his body.
"Kanah," he whispered, voice trembling,
"What did you DO?"
I buried my face in his neck.
"I chose."
And the chapter ends with the Sanctuary beginning to collapse around them.