Dark King
Leia – POV
Kai's body was safely stowed in the Moon Goddess shrine, Susan's cold, dark magic ensuring that both the body and the soul remained intact. Exhaustion had settled in every bone of my body after I had returned to the manor and changed out of my dirty war clothes. I was too spent to move much.
"Xavier," I called out, laid on the bed. He entered the room, dressed in casual attire. My eyes scanned over him, ensuring that this was not a dream, that Xavier was alive, not dead. Those agonizing hours without my mate had been indescribably painful.
"Leia," Xavier murmured, his hand gently caressing my cheek. He kissed my forehead, then my nose, and finally, he pressed a soft peck onto my lips. "Don't be afraid. I'm alive, thanks to you and your power. You're stronger than anyone else. I hope you won't feel weak or sad anymore, especially once we manage to revive Kai too," he reassured me.
"But why wasn't Kai's soul in the Abyss? Where could it be?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I will find out. You said Lilith is in our dungeons, right?" Xavier inquired, and I nodded in response.
"Why do you ask?" I probed.
"Perhaps she knows where Kai's soul might be. After all, wasn't it she who directed you to the book that allowed us to be revived?" Xavier reasoned.
"You're right. We should go together," I suggested, attempting to sit up despite the protest of my sore muscles.
"Why stress yourself, Leia? I can handle it. Please, rest up," Xavier implored, his concerned expression coaxing me into agreement. As I lay back on the bed, Xavier gently ruffled my hair, his touch calming my body, even though my heart was still fraught with worry.
"I'll be back, my Leia. Rest now," Xavier whispered, his words lulling me into sleep.
****
Xavier – POV
Leia was tossing and turning, trapped in the throes of a nightmare. Through our mate bond, I projected calming energy, easing away her anxiety about Kai and helping her rest to regain her strength. She appeared frail, but she had mustered every ounce of her power to bring me back from the Abyss, and it had taken a heavy toll on her.
Once I saw that Leia had settled into a peaceful sleep, I posted a guard outside her room and went to the dungeons to meet Lilith. In the corridor, I encountered Eric, who seemed shocked at the sight of me, healthy and alive. "Alpha, you look well. Moon Goddess to thank for the blessings."
"I'll also thank Leia for bringing me back to life," I responded.
"Indeed," Eric acknowledged.
"Alpha, are you going somewhere?" he inquired.
"To the dungeons, to see Lilith," I replied. Eric's expression turned into a concerned frown. "Don't worry about me. We need to get Kai back, and that requires speaking with Lilith. Eric, there's something else. Vincent and Daisy are no longer with us; Lilith killed them. I want to offer you the position of my Beta. Will you accept?" I asked as we reached the entrance to the dungeons.
"Of course, it would be my honor, Alpha," Eric responded, his voice filled with gratitude.
I used my magic to create a sigil on his arm, marking him as the Alpha of the Blackmoon pack. Eric bowed and followed me into the dungeons. Lilith looked up with droopy eyes, a small smirk on her lips.
"So Leia did listen to my suggestion. She brought her mates back," she mused.
"Only one mate, not both. Now tell me, Lilith, what game are you playing? Kai's soul wasn't in the Abyss. Where is it?" I demanded sternly, invoking my light magic to create a comfort barrier around Lilith. She looked irritated, shutting her eyes briefly before reopening them to focus intently on me.
"I don't know if he's not in the Abyss, then…" Lilith's voice trailed off.
"Speak," I demanded, my voice a low growl. I intensified my magic, and she moaned in pain as the energy suffocated her.
"Perhaps Kai's dark powers led him to Hell, where he could become the new King. I was defeated by Leia," Lilith managed to say between gasps, clearly struggling under the weight of my power. "Stop using your magic. Just kill me already."
"I don't think I'll do you that honor. It's Leia who will decide your fate," I countered, and she looked at me, surprised.
"She's just a Luna, you are the Alpha. Can't you make a decision?" Lilith mocked, a twisted smirk playing on her lips.
"Yes, I am the Alpha, and I could kill you, but you've hurt Leia too much. I won't rob her of the satisfaction of dealing with you herself," I snapped back. I then walked out of the dungeons, leaving Lilith behind as she screamed in frustration, urging me to kill her. But I paid her no mind.
When I exited, I found Jennifer and Susan looking more healthy.
"Did you discover anything about reviving Alpha Kai?" Susan asked.
"Lilith suggested that if he's not in the Abyss, he might be in Hell because the realm of Dark powers needs a new King or Queen after Lilith's defeat. After losing to Leia, she lost her title of Queen," I explained. Susan pondered this, then summoned a dark-colored book and read a passage.
"Alpha, I believe your power might be the key to reviving Kai, not Leia's," Susan proposed, pointing to the text in the book. "The light can draw the Dark King from the depths of Hell. Only a wielder of pure Light magic can accomplish this, not one who wields a mix of both," Susan read from the book. The statement resonated with me. I wielded pure Light magic, while Leia possessed a blend of Light and Dark.
"Then let's bring Kai back to life, shall we?" I declared, determination coursing through me. Susan nodded in agreement, and together, the four of us set off for the Moon shrine.