The Triplet Alphas' Curse: Rejected by the Wolfless Luna.

Morrigan found Vaelor near the eastern windows, exactly where she expected him to be.

The man seemed incapable of standing anywhere else when he need to think deeply.

Darkness stretched beyond the glass. The realm slept beneath black skies and silver moons, yet Vaelor remained awake as always.

One hand rested behind his back, and the other held a book.

He looked as though he had been standing there for centuries.

Morrigan approached quietly.

Vaelor turned a page. ”You took longer than expected.”

Morrigan folded her arms. ”Aire enjoys talking lately.”

Vaelor hummed.

The sound barely qualified as a response.

Several seconds passed between them, and then his voice emerged.

”How is she?”

Morrigan rolled her eyes. ”Stupid.”

Vaelor finally looked up.

Morrigan immediately regretted answering that way. Now she felt like the stupid one for giving a pointless answer.

If he asked, he wanted something specific.

Morrigan sighed. The memory with Aire irritated her all over again. ”She’s changing, Brother.”

Vaelor’s expression didn’t move.

”She doesn’t realize it yet.” Morrigan continued. ”She’s becoming cruel. Crueler than the Aire I knew.”

”Perfect, Sister.”

Morrigan raised a brow, waiting for him to explain himself.

Vaelor closed his book. The soft sound echoed through the chamber. He placed it aside gently.

”A little more darkness was always necessary.”

Morrigan studied him. ”You genuinely believe this will work?” She questioned searching his eyes.

Vaelor adjusted his glasses. His voice remained calm. ”It already is.”

Morrigan frowned.

Vaelor looked toward the window. ”The kind version of her was difficult for me to deal with.” His gaze drifted across the darkness. ”Her kindness created resistance, and gave her protection from the realm.”

Morrigan remained quiet.

Vaelor continued. ”Compassion is a habit but so is cruelty. Both strengthen when practiced.”

His fingers rested against the window frame.

Morrigan’s eyes narrowed.

His gaze remained outside.

Morrigan scoffed. ”She’s becoming vicious.”

Vaelor nodded once. ”I know, and that’s what I need. Keep pushing her.”

Morrigan stared at him.

He genuinely sounded pleased. ”Every day she grows angrier, the more she losses faith.” Vaelor lectured, remaining unconcerned.

A ghost of approval touched his face.

Morrigan suddenly understood.

That was exactly what he wanted.

Aire wasn’t being broken. She was being reshaped. The realization sent a strange feeling through her stomach.

Vaelor finally turned away from the window.

His eyes settled on her. ”Did you strike her?”

Morrigan shook her head. The question came so suddenly she almost laughed. ”Why?” She chuckled.

Vaelor simply waited for a reply.

Morrigan sighed. ”No, Brother.”

His gaze remained fixed on her. He wasn’t buying her response.

Morrigan rolled her eyes. ”There were countless reasons.”

Her jaw tightened as she recalled Aire calling her Marsili, a coward, and threatening to kill her.

”There were many reasons.”

Vaelor waited.

Morrigan folded her arms tighter. ”But you instructed me not to.”

His expression remained unreadable.

”So I spared her.” She ended.

Vaelor nodded, satisfied.

Morrigan disliked how relieved she felt.

Vaelor began walking, and Morrigan followed.

The corridors stretched endlessly before them with black marble, silver fire, and living shadows.

The closer they moved toward the court chambers, the heavier the atmosphere became.

Dark faes filled the corridors.

Generals.

Nobles.

Commanders.

Every conversation died when Vaelor appeared in the chamber, and they immediately vowed their heads to Vaelor and Morrigan.

Vaelor acknowledged none of it.

He continued forward.

The great doors opened before him, and the court chamber revealed itself.

Morrigan entered behind him.

The sight never failed to impress.

The room was enormous with black pillars stretched toward impossible heights. Hundreds of dark faes occupied the chamber.

Some stood, and some sat while others watched from balconies above.

Ancient ower saturated the room.

At the far end sat the throne, and upon it, sat the Dark Fae King.

The room fell silent, and every voice disappeared, and movements stopped.

Vaelor approached the center of the chamber.

His footsteps echoed through the chamber. Morrigan remained behind him, and the king watched him.

The resemblance between father and son was impossible to miss.

Vaelor stopped, and the silence deepened.

Respectfully, he bowed.

”My king.”

The ruler regarded him. ”Rise.”

Vaelor obeyed.

The king leaned back. His gaze swept across the gathered court, then returned to his son.

”You have something to report.”

Vaelor nodded, and chamber waited readily. The anticipation felt almost physical.

Vaelor cleared his throat. His voice carried through the chamber effortlessly. ”It is time.” He announced.

The words settled heavily across the room.

Vaelor continued. ”Forty days and this would be over.”

A murmur of excitement, hunger, and expectation of war spread through the chamber.

The king remained silent.

Vaelor’s purple eyes darkened. ”In forty days we march.”

The murmur grew louder.

The king raised one finger, and silence immediately returned to the chamber.

Vaelor went on. ”The Light Fae will fall.”

The dark faes lifted their hands in unison, and made a short war cry. A savage feeling flashed through the court.

Centuries of hatred, blood, and unfinished war.

Vaelor looked toward the throne, then spoke the words everyone wanted to hear.

”We finally possess what we need.”

The king’s eyes sharpened.

Several dark faes smiled, and others exchanged looks.

Morrigan watched carefully.

Vaelor’s expression never changed. ”In forty days.” His voice lowered. ”We can end the Light Fae race. We would own their realm.”

The chamber immediately fell into a sacred silnece. The king smiled.

The entire chamber seemed to breathe at once when he smiled.

The king rose slowly from his throne, and power rolled through the room. Every dark fae straightened instinctively, even Morrigan.

The king looked toward his son. ”You are certain.”

Vaelor didn’t hesitate. ”Completely.”

The king nodded, satisfied. His gaze drifted through the court, and went past the generals, the nobles, and the commanders.

Until it landed on one person.

Lysander.

The prince stood near the far side of the chamber, siilent, and motionless.

The king’s smile deepened slightly.

Vaelor turned as well.

His eyes found Lysander, and several seconds passed as he communicated with Lysander using just his eyes.

”You know what to do.” Vaelor urged, pacing his hands behind his back.

Lysander held his gaze, and smiled in assurance.