Chapter One Hundred and Twelve

Chapter One Hundred and Twelve
Kael's Pov

“Why now?”

My claws dug deeper into it neck, black blood spilling hot across my hand. I asked again, voice low — the kind that carried weight through the air. “Why now?”

The creature only grinned, a twisted, lifeless thing that made its already ruined face look worse. “You killed our kin,” it hissed, voice thick with gurgled pleasure. “Now the night feeds on yours.”

My jaw tightened. “You’re being used,” I said, pressing harder. “You don’t even know who you’re fighting for.”

The grin widened, eyes glinting red. “Don’t we?”

Before I could react, I felt it — a sting at my back, sharp and searing.

For a second, I didn’t understand. Then came the warmth, wet and spreading fast, followed by the cold burn of something foreign crawling under my skin.

Venom.

My breath hitched. I froze, realizing too late what had happened. I released the vampire in my hold, who dropped to the dirt laughing, his voice echoing like a curse. “Die slow, wolf.”

I staggered forward, my knees threatening to give way. My hand reached instinctively for my back, fingers brushing over the wound, and the hand still there, buried deep. The vampire behind me twisted its claws cruelly, pushing deeper, until the pain ripped through my chest like lightning, my head snapping back.

A growl tore from me, raw and feral, echoing over the chaos. I spun, fast and vicious, slashing through the air. My claws found its throat, snapping bone and tearing sinew. The vampire’s head rolled into the mud before its body hit the ground.

But my vision was already dimming.

The venom spread quick — green veins branching out across my skin like cracks through glass. My muscles tightened, then went limp, my body caught between fire and ice. I could feel my wolf inside me thrashing, fighting to hold control, to stay awake, to breathe.

“King!” someone shouted, but it sounded distant, like a voice underwater.

The world tilted. I dropped to one knee, blood spilling from my mouth, the taste metallic and bitter. My breath came ragged, each one harder than the last. Around me, the battlefield had collapsed into chaos, fire, steel, screams, all folding into one endless noise.

Men were still fighting, their silhouettes flashing. Some had shifted, wolves tearing through bodies that didn’t bleed red. Others fell where they stood, necks bent, hearts pierced before they could even howl.

I tried to stand, my legs trembling beneath me. My body didn’t listen.

Not yet.

I can’t die on my knees. Not now. Not today.

“Retreat!” I roared loudly, voice breaking. “Pull back! Everyone—!”

The order tore out of me, but halfway through, it broke, my throat giving way, breath shattering. I could feel my pulse slowing, my vision pulsing black at the edges. The venom was everywhere now, in my bones, in my lungs, crushing every breath I tried to take.

Still, I forced myself up.

One step. Another. My sword dragged against the dirt, the weight too much. My body screamed to let go, my wolf howled. But I couldn’t stop. Not when they still needed me.

A shadow moved to my left, fast, too fast. I turned in time to block the strike, claws meeting claws. The vampire hissed, face too close, fangs glinting under the firelight. I swung once, missed, then drove my knee into its ribs. Bone cracked, but before I could finish it, another came from behind.

Too slow.

It grabbed me by the throat and threw me across the courtyard. The world spun mod air. I hit the ground hard, rolling through ash and broken glass. My shoulder cracked, pain radiating down my arm.

“Best if the Alpha King stays down,” one of them sneered, stepping closer.

I spat blood, forcing myself upright again. “Come try.”

It lunged, but before it reached me, a blur cut across my vision, my general. His claws tore through the vampire’s chest, splitting it open before it could touch me. The creature’s body hit the ground in two halves, dissolving to dust before it even settled.

He turned to me, voice desperate. “My lord! Stay awake!”

I tried to respond, but all that came out was a strangled sound. The venom was eating through me faster than before, every heartbeat sending another surge through my veins. I could feel my wolf slipping. The link between body and spirit, breaking.

The general caught me before I could fall. “We have to move! They’ll come again!”

I shook my head weakly, forcing my eyes open. “No… the men—”

“They’re gone!” he barked. “We’ve lost too many already!”

He was right.

Around us, the screams were fading. The ones still fighting were dying on their feet. Those who could run were retreating toward the wagons. The fire had spread to the far side, painting the world in orange and black.

Through the smoke, I saw them, vampires, dozens of them, watching from the shadows. Waiting. Smiling.

“Get… them out,” I rasped. “Sky… make sure she’s safe.”

“She’s gone,” he said, pulling on my arm. “Mira took her. She’s safe. But we won’t be if you don’t move.”

He tried to pull me up, but I pushed him away. My legs barely held. “Go. Lead them our men out. I’ll cover.”

“You can’t even stand!”

I smiled weakly. “Then they’ll think I’m still fighting.”

He hesitated, but the sound of footsteps closing in ended the argument. He shouted orders, gathering whoever was left, dragging them away. I turned to face the oncoming dark, claws still out, breath ragged.

Every movement hurt now. Every breath felt like fire. But I stood, even when the venom screamed otherwise. Even when my body trembled.

The vampires approached slowly, confident, circling me like wolves that knew their prey was already dead.

“You bleed like the rest,” one of them said, voice slick with mockery.

“Maybe,” I muttered, raising my claws. “But I bite harder.”

They lunged suddenly.

I moved on instinct. The first came low; I kicked it back. The second came high; I slashed upward, tearing across its chest and armor. The third I didn’t see until it was too late, its claws dug into my side, deep. I roared, grabbed its head, and crushed its skull between my palms.

Pain blurred everything else. The world spun. My body gave way.

I hit the ground, blood pooling beneath me. My vision was fading faster now. I didn't want to go down, I couldn't afford to. But the pain, the venom, it was agonizing.

I forced my head up. One last time.

The vampires were closing in as if I was the last opposing factor on the field, their steps soft, deliberate. The general appeared again, cutting one down while the rest fled into smoke. He dropped beside me, gripping my arm. “King! Stay with me!”

I tried to speak, but the words didn’t come. Only blood. “Don’t you dare disobey—!” I breathed weakly, the strain my my voice louder than the words. “I am your King. Retreat with all your might.”

I coughed loudly, then dropped to my hands and knees.

My eyes opened once, twice, then — nothing.