Chapter 299

Kaiden pov

The cave is cold and damp, but I don’t feel it anymore. I’ve been waiting here for hours, sitting against the rough wall with my legs stretched out in front of me.

My mind runs in circles, replaying everything. My father’s betrayal. The Council’s plans. The hunters. And now… this army of rogues.

I’m impatient. The rogue should’ve been back by now. What if he lied? What if he ran off? What if no one’s coming after all? My fingers twitch, and I clench my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. If he doesn’t show soon, I’ll have to-

Footsteps, fucking finally. The rogue steps into the cave, his face lit with a strange mix of excitement and exhaustion. His clothes are dirty, his hair wild, but he’s grinning like he’s won a prize.

“They’re coming, getting close,” he says, breathless. “I’ve spread the word and they really heard me. It’s happening.”

I stand quickly, my heart pounding. “How many?”

“A lot.” He leans against the wall, catching his breath. “More than I thought. The word’s spreading faster than fire in a dry forest. They’re already gathering at the border. You should’ve seen them - packs of rogues, loners, all the outcasts of this kingdom. They’re ready.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you sure? How do you know they won’t turn on us? Rogues aren’t exactly known for their loyalty.”

The rogue chuckles. “True. But they’re loyal to power. And right now, you’re power. You’re giving them something no one else has - hope. Revenge. Freedom.”

I pace the cave, thinking. If what he’s saying is true, we don’t have much time. Father will notice the movement soon. And once he does, he’ll send his men to crush us before we even have a chance to strike.

“How close are they to the border?” I ask.

“Close enough that we need to move. If we wait too long, the king’s guards will spot them.”

I nod and gesture for him to lead the way. “Let’s go.”

The forest is quiet as we walk, eerily so. Every snap of a twig and every rustle of leaves makes me glance over my shoulder. My magic hums beneath my skin, ready to erupt at the first sign of danger.

The rogue walks ahead of me, his steps confident, his movements quick. He seems sure of himself, like he knows exactly where we’re going.

“Why are you so calm?” I ask, breaking the silence.

He glances back at me with a smirk. “Because I believe in you.”

I snort. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough.” He shrugs. “You’re not like the others. You’re not afraid to do what needs to be done. The rogues see that. They respect it.”

“Respect is fragile,” I mutter. “One wrong move, and it’ll turn to hate.”

“Then don’t make the wrong move,” he says simply.

We walk for what feels like forever until the trees thin, and I see the edge of the kingdom ahead. The rogue stops and points. “They’re just past the border.”

I step forward, but then I feel it - the invisible wall. My body tenses, and my magic reacts, warning me like an alarm going off in my head. I stop abruptly, just short of the border.

“What’s wrong?” the rogue asks, turning to face me.

I shake my head. “I can’t cross.”

He frowns. “What do you mean?”

“The magic,” I say, gritting my teeth. “It’s tied to the kingdom. I can’t leave it.”

For a moment, the rogue just stares at me, his expression unreadable. Then he nods, like it makes perfect sense. “Alright. Then you stay here, and I’ll bring them to you.”

I blink, surprised. “You’re not angry?”

“Why would I be?” He grins. “You don’t need to cross the border to lead them. You just need to speak to them. They’re not here for a geography lesson - they’re here for you.”

I stare at him, caught off guard by his understanding. I don’t know why I expected him to lash out or accuse me of weakness, but this… this is different. He believes in me, even with my limits. It’s strange. And maybe it’s exactly what I need.

“Alright,” I nod. “Bring them here.”

The rogue vanishes over the border, and I wait, my magic crackling in excitement. It doesn’t take long before I hear them - dozens of footsteps, voices whispering, the sound of movement growing louder.

Then they appear, one by one, stepping out of the shadows like ghosts. Men and women of all shapes and sizes, all of them wearing the same look - hungry, desperate, angry.

The rogue stands at the front, gesturing toward me. “This is him. This is Kaiden.”

I step forward, letting them see me. The crowd quiets, their eyes locked on me. I can feel their energy, their emotions. They’re waiting for me to speak, to give them a reason to follow me. And I won’t let them down.

“Rogues!” I call out, my voice strong and steady. “Outcasts! You’ve been pushed to the edges of society, cast out by your packs, your families, your kingdoms. They called you weak. They called you useless. But I see you for what you are - strong. Fearless. Powerful.”

The crowd murmurs, their interest piqued.

“They thought they could break you,” I continue. “But you survived. You thrived. And now, it’s time to take back what’s ours. The kingdom, the packs, the Council - they’ve ruled over us for too long. They’ve taken everything from us. But no more.”

I step closer, my magic flaring around me, lighting up like a storm. “I promise you power. I promise you revenge. Together, we’ll show them what it means to fear. And when we do, no one will ever call us weak again.”

The crowd erupts into cheers, their voices echoing through the forest. I see the fire in their eyes, the determination, the hunger. They believe in me. And I’ll give them what they want.

The rogue steps up beside me, grinning. “You’ve got them, Kaiden. They’ll follow you anywhere.”

“Good,” I say, my voice cold. “Because this kingdom is about to fall. And we’re the ones who’ll bring it down.”