Kaelen blinked through the disorienting haze of pain, his vision finally clearing enough to focus on Vex. The man staggered toward his truck, his arm mangled, dangling uselessly at his side, while blood pooled behind him, leaving a dark, sticky trail across the cracked pavement of the Midnight Mirage Motel’s parking lot. Every movement seemed a battle for him—his once cocky swagger replaced by sheer desperation. He fumbled with the truck’s door, his fingers trembling as they gripped the handle, his breaths ragged and shallow.
Kaelen, still feeling the effects of his concussion, wavered as he tried to gather his strength. His head throbbed, a sharp pain spiking behind his eyes, and nausea rolled through him like waves. For a moment, he felt like he might pass out. But he forced himself to focus. Vex wasn’t done yet, and neither could he be. Not if he wanted to survive.
Finally, Vex managed to haul himself into the truck, slamming the door shut with a grunt. The engine roared to life, and in an instant, Vex floored the gas, jerking the truck into reverse. Tires screeched against the asphalt, kicking up dust as the vehicle hurtled backward—straight toward Kaelen.
Instinct kicked in. The world slowed as Kaelen’s mind sharpened. He dove to the side, barely escaping the deadly path of the truck, which sped past him, skidding across the parking lot like a drunk on a rampage. Kaelen hit the ground hard, the impact sending jolts of pain shooting through his bruised and battered body, but he didn’t have time to register it. All he could hear was the screech of the truck’s tires as Vex, like a wounded animal in retreat, swerved wildly before disappearing down the road.
The parking lot fell silent, save for Kaelen’s ragged breathing. He lay there, staring at the sky, his body aching, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. Distantly, he heard footsteps and muffled shouting, but everything felt far away, as if he were submerged underwater.
“No! No, no, no!” the motel manager bellowed, his voice growing louder as he stormed across the lot. His face was flushed with fury, his brow slick with sweat. “You leave now! You no can stay here! Get stuff, go, hurry!” His thick accent only heightened his frustration as he waved his arms in wild gestures, as though trying to shoo Kaelen away like a troublesome dog.
Kaelen blinked at the old man, still dazed, his mind struggling to process the words. It was like the man was speaking another language. Maybe he was. All Kaelen knew was that he was being kicked out, and the thought barely registered.
Without a word, Kaelen stood, wincing as a sharp pain lanced through his ribs. Loren appeared at his side almost instantly, her calm demeanor a sharp contrast to the chaos around them. Her expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes as she gently placed a hand on his shoulder. She didn’t say anything; she didn’t need to. She simply started packing Kaelen’s things with quiet efficiency, as she always did, helping him gather the few belongings he had left in the cramped motel room. Her movements were practiced, her hands quick as they folded clothes and stuffed them into bags. It didn’t take long. Kaelen had already planned to leave anyway—ever since Delphinus found him, this place had been compromised.
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As they finished packing, Kaelen pulled out his phone and checked the time. 10 AM. Too early for this kind of chaos, but it was only going to get worse. He needed a place to hide, to think, and there was only one person he trusted right now.
Kaelen dialed Elara’s number. She answered on the first ring, her voice sharp as ever.
“Turn on the news,” she said without so much as a greeting. “They’re talking about you.”
A cold knot formed in Kaelen’s stomach as he stared at his phone for a moment. What now? Before he could reach for the TV remote, Loren had already turned it on, her instincts as quick as ever.
The screen flickered to life, showing a live broadcast with a news anchor interviewing Cygnus. She sat regally, her immaculate white gown glimmering under the studio lights, her angelic wings tucked neatly behind her, giving her the appearance of a benevolent savior.
“So, you’re saying Kaelen Valrath refused your offer to join the Justice Guild?” the reporter asked, clearly intrigued. “And that he attempted to kill you with his car?”
Cygnus’s expression softened as she blinked, tears welling up in her eyes as she nodded somberly. “Yes,” she said, her voice cracking ever so slightly, the perfect display of emotion for the camera. “I offered him a chance to join us, to save him from the dangerous path he’s on, but he… he refused.”
The reporter leaned in, sensing the drama. “And there’s a rumor that his grandmother, Zelyndra of the Under Dark, has placed a bounty on his head—200 million dollars, dead or alive?”
Cygnus let out a shaky breath, wiping away an errant tear. “His grandmother… she’s a tyrant,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Kaelen is a prince, and his very existence threatens her rule. She would do anything—even kill her own blood—to maintain her power.”
She paused, looking directly into the camera, her eyes pleading. “Kaelen, if you’re watching this, please… let us help you. We can liberate your nation from your grandmother’s cruel grasp. We can make you the rightful king of the Under Dark.”
Kaelen’s heart pounded in his chest. A bounty? None of this made sense. His thoughts raced as he tried to process it all, but before he could react, Loren switched off the TV with a scowl.
“Your grandmother would never put a bounty on your head,” Loren said, her voice firm. “She’s too prideful for that. This is all the Justice Guild’s doing. They’re setting you up.”
Kaelen’s mind snapped back to the present. The Justice Guild, his grandmother, 200 million dollars on his head. It was too much. Before he could even begin to make sense of it, Elara’s voice came through the phone.
“Kaelen, listen. You need to lay low for a while. This is serious—200 million is enough to make anyone reckless. Come to my apartment. I’ve got a place where you can hide until this blows over. And… I still need that ride to Rave U.”
Kaelen didn’t hesitate. His body moved on autopilot, packing the last of his things into the Audi as Loren helped him gather what little he had. It was time to go.
As he drove away from the motel, his phone buzzed again. Mason. Kaelen let out a breath, his mind too numb to care anymore, but he answered.
“I kept things from you,” Mason’s voice came through the line, steady and uncharacteristically serious. “About your mother. About your grandmother. I thought it was for your own good. Zelyndra is a tyrant, but she wouldn’t put a hit on you. This is the Justice Guild’s doing. Stay away from them.”
Kaelen listened, but the words barely registered. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. His mind was blank, his thoughts a jumbled mess. All he knew was that he was being hunted—by the Justice Guild, by bounty hunters, maybe even by his own blood.
And there was no escape.