Chapter 82 The Hunger
SERA
Kael collapsed the moment we got back to our chambers.
No warning. One second removing his armor, the next his legs gave out. I barely caught him before his head hit marble.
"Kael!" I lowered him down. His skin was ice—literally ice. Frost spread where I touched him. "Theron! Arianna! Now!"
They burst through. Arianna cursed and dropped beside us.
"Temperature's dropping fast." She pressed fingers to his throat. "Heartbeat's there but weak. Like his body's forgetting how to be alive."
"What do we do?" My voice cracked. "We just got him back."
"Whatever he brought back from death is consuming him. The void energy. Spreading like poison through his system."
"Then get it out. Do something." I gripped Kael's hand—so cold it burned. "Please."
"There is." Nyx's small voice from the doorway. She could barely walk but forced herself forward. "But you won't like it."
"Tell me."
She touched Kael's chest. Her eyes flashed silver. "The void wants payment. It gave him back but wants something in return. Life for death."
"What kind of payment?"
"Life force." Nyx's voice went flat. "The void feeds on living essence. Right now it's feeding on Father. If we don't give it something else, it'll take him completely within hours."
"You want us to sacrifice someone."
"No. Feed." She looked at me. "The void doesn't need death. It needs energy willingly given. A dozen people giving small amounts rather than one person giving everything."
"Blood." Theron got it first. "Blood magic. Feeding the void through donated blood."
"Yes. Father's a vampire. Blood is life. If enough people donate freely, the void gets fed and Father stays alive. But it has to be willing."
"Then we do it." I stood. "We gather volunteers."
"It's not that simple." Arianna's voice was quiet. "Once we start feeding the void, it'll always be hungry. Kael will need regular offerings. Forever. He'll become dependent. And if we ever stop..." She didn't finish.
"Then we don't stop." I looked down at Kael. At the man who'd died for our daughter. "We do whatever it takes."
"Your Majesty." Marcus appeared in the doorway—the head servant. "I overheard. If blood's needed, I volunteer first."
"Marcus—"
"I want to. King Kael's changing things. If my blood helps him survive, take it."
"I'll give too." Theron's voice was gravel. "For my king."
"And me." Lyra stepped through. "Though I never thought I'd willingly feed void magic."
More voices. More volunteers. Within minutes, fifteen people stood ready.
"This is dangerous." Arianna addressed them. "The void will take your energy. You'll be weak for days. We don't know long-term effects."
"Worth it." Marcus said. "Begin."
Arianna drew symbols. Arranged Kael in the center. Positioned volunteers in a circle.
"Nyx. I need you to anchor this. Guide the void." Arianna looked at our daughter. "Can you do that?"
"I can. But I need Mother in the circle too. The bond will help stabilize the transfer."
I took my place beside Kael. Felt the gray bond pulse weak and dying.
"Everyone ready?" Arianna raised her hands. Power gathered. "Once I start, don't break the circle. The void doesn't like interruption."
She began.
The chant was old. Older than kingdoms. Words that tasted of death. Power rose thick enough to see, black smoke coiling.
Then it dove into Kael.
He screamed. Back arching. Eyes flying open but seeing nothing. The void inside him recognized offerings.
It surged forward. Hungry. Taking.
I felt it pull through the bond. Through me into the volunteers. Their life force flowing like rivers into Kael's body.
Marcus gasped. Theron gritted his teeth. Lyra's face went white.
But they didn't break. Gave willingly.
The void fed. Gorged. Satisfied.
Color returned to Kael's skin. His heartbeat strengthened. The ice melted.
But his eyes. When they opened.
They were wrong.
Still red. Still Kael. But underneath, darkness swirled. Void looking out through vampire eyes.
"Sera?" His voice was his but layered. Echoing. "What happened?"
"We fed the void. Saved you."
He looked at the volunteers. At their pale faces and shaking hands. "You gave for me."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Marcus managed a weak smile. "Someone has to keep you alive."
Something moved across Kael's face. Emotion struggling with void. "Thank you. I won't forget this."
"You need to rest." Arianna helped him stand. "The void's satisfied for now but it'll hunger again. Soon."
"How soon?"
"Days. Maybe a week." She met his eyes. "You need to learn to control this. Or it'll control you."
"I will." But his eyes flicked to the volunteers. To their blood. I saw hunger flash. Brief. Terrible.
The volunteers filed out. Exhausted. Brave.
Kael pulled me close. "I felt it. This hunger. It wanted more. Wanted everything. If Nyx hadn't been anchoring..." He shuddered. "I could've killed them all."
"But you didn't."
"This time. What about next? What if the void decides volunteers aren't enough and wants to hunt?" His voice broke. "What if I become a monster?"
"Then we fight it. Together." I cupped his face. "You're not alone. You have me. Nyx. Arianna. An entire realm who just bled for you. That means something."
"It means I have more to lose when this darkness wins."
"It won't win." I kissed him. Felt cold lips warm slightly. "You beat death. You can beat this."
He wanted to believe. I saw it in his eyes. But I also saw doubt. The void whispering promises he didn't want to hear.
"There's something else." Nyx's voice was small. "The void showed me—the blade that killed you wasn't just poisoned. It was cursed. Void-touched. Someone wanted you to die in a way that'd create this connection. Someone knew about death-walkers. Knew I could bring you back changed."
"Cassian."
"Or someone helped him. Someone with knowledge they shouldn't have." Arianna looked grim.
"Everyone at court saw the ritual. Saw Nyx walk." Lyra's voice from the doorway. "Every noble knows what your daughter can do. Some want to exploit that."
Heavy silence.
"They'll come for her." Kael's voice was ice and void.
"Let them try." Nyx moved between us. "I'm not some tool. I'm the daughter of kings. Anyone who thinks they can control me will learn how painful that mistake is."
"You're three hours old."
"I'm ancient. And done being underestimated." Her eyes flashed silver. "Father brought back darkness. We use it. Master it. Weapon it."
"Nyx—"
"No. You spent too long trying to be good. Look where it got you. Assassinated. Cursed." She looked at us. "Sometimes darkness isn't the enemy. Sometimes it's what you need to protect the light."
Kael laughed. Short. "She's definitely our daughter."
"I'm a force of nature in small clothes." She smiled slightly. "Now rest. I'll keep watch."
"You can barely stand."
"I can stand long enough." She moved to the window. "Besides, I want to see who's watching. Who's planning."
I joined her. Looked out at the grounds. Shadows moving in early morning light. Figures disappearing too quickly. Danger circling.
"They're coming," Nyx said softly. "Everyone who wants power. Everyone who fears change. Everyone who sees Father's transformation as opportunity."
"Then we'll be ready."
"Will we?" She looked up at me. "Father has void hunger. You have a bond turning gray. I walked death and something followed me back. We're not ready, Mother. We're barely surviving."
"We've survived worse."
"Have we?" Her voice was ancient. Sad. "Or are we just pretending the worst hasn't arrived yet?"
Before I could answer, frost spread across the window. Sudden. Fast. Following Kael's gaze.
I turned. He stood in the center of the room. Eyes black. Void fully visible. Power radiating off him in waves that cracked the air.
"Kael?" My voice shook. "What's wrong?"
"They're here." His voice echoed. Layered. "The ones who cursed the blade. Who wanted me changed. They're in the palace. Right now. And they brought something."
"What?"
His eyes met mine. Terror mixed with void. "More death. Enough to finish what they started. Enough to either destroy me completely or turn me into something no kingdom should ever have as a king."
The temperature dropped ten degrees.
Somewhere in the palace, something screamed. Not human. Not vampire.
Something else entirely.
Something hungry.