Thorns of Obsession
---
The chamber trembled beneath the First King's presence.
Ancient power coiled through the air like smoke, pressing against my lungs until breathing itself felt difficult.
But worse than the power—
Was the way he looked at me.
Like he already owned me.
---
Riven stepped further in front of me instinctively.
Protective.
Possessive.
Terrified.
---
Riven (coldly):
"You don't get to touch him."
---
The First King smiled faintly.
Not amused.
Almost pitying.
---
First King:
"You sound exactly like I once did."
---
Riven's shadows exploded violently across the floor.
---
Riven:
"I am NOTHING like you."
---
The chamber cracked.
Stone shattered beneath his feet.
For a moment, I thought he might actually attack.
Then the First King spoke again.
Quietly.
---
First King:
"You already are."
---
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
---
The king's golden eyes shifted toward me once more.
---
First King:
"The Seal always returns to the Crimson bloodline eventually."
---
Me:
"I'm not anyone's property."
---
Something flickered across his expression.
Approval.
---
First King:
"She said those exact words too."
---
The mark on my chest pulsed painfully again.
Fragments flashed through my mind suddenly—
A woman dressed in white.
Blood on marble floors.
Golden chains.
A crown falling into darkness.
---
I staggered backward.
Riven caught me immediately.
---
Riven:
"Hey—look at me."
---
His voice grounded me instantly.
The visions disappeared.
But the fear remained.
---
Me (breathing hard):
"I saw something…"
---
The First King tilted his head slightly.
---
First King:
"The memories are awakening faster than expected."
---
Riven's expression darkened instantly.
---
Riven:
"You're staying out of his head."
---
The king actually laughed softly at that.
---
First King:
"You still think you can protect him from this?"
---
Then his gaze sharpened.
---
First King:
"You can barely protect yourself."
---
The words hit harder than they should have.
Because deep down—
Riven believed them too.
---
The curse mark spread slightly higher along Riven's neck.
The shadows around him twitched unnaturally.
Hungry.
---
The First King noticed immediately.
---
First King:
"The corruption is accelerating."
---
Lucen moved closer cautiously.
---
Lucen:
"You said the Seal could stop the curse."
---
The king looked almost bored.
---
First King:
"Yes."
A pause.
---
First King:
"But only if the Crimson heir dies willingly."
---
The world stopped.
---
Me:
"…What?"
---
Riven went completely still beside me.
Too still.
---
Lucen:
"There has to be another way."
---
The king's expression remained emotionless.
---
First King:
"The curse survives through the heir's bloodline. The Seal was created to imprison the power after death."
His eyes met mine.
---
First King:
"That is your purpose."
---
No.
No.
Absolutely not.
---
I turned toward Riven instantly.
---
Me:
"Don't even think about it."
---
Because I saw it.
The look in his eyes.
Acceptance.
---
Riven (quietly):
"If it ends this—"
---
Me:
"No."
---
My voice echoed sharply through the chamber.
---
Me:
"You don't get to decide dying is the solution."
---
Riven stared at me silently.
Like he wanted to argue.
Like part of him had already made peace with sacrificing himself.
That terrified me more than anything else.
---
The First King watched us carefully.
Then suddenly—
His expression changed.
---
He looked… curious.
---
First King:
"You truly love him."
---
The statement felt almost strange coming from someone like him.
---
Me (coldly):
"What gave it away?"
---
For the first time—
The king looked sad.
Not evil.
Not cruel.
Just deeply tired.
---
First King:
"That is why this story repeats."
---
Silence fell again.
---
First King:
"The Crimson bloodline destroys everything it loves."
---
Riven's breathing became uneven beside me.
The shadows darkened further.
---
I grabbed his hand immediately.
Instantly, the corruption slowed again.
---
The king noticed.
Of course he did.
---
First King:
"…Interesting."
---
Lucen frowned.
---
Lucen:
"What?"
---
The king stepped closer slowly.
The chamber seemed to bend around him unnaturally.
---
First King:
"The bond between them is incomplete."
---
My chest tightened.
---
Me:
"What does that mean?"
---
The king's golden eyes locked onto mine.
---
First King:
"It means the Seal has not fully chosen yet."
---
Riven's grip on my hand tightened painfully.
---
Riven:
"No."
---
The king ignored him completely.
---
First King:
"If the bond completes naturally…"
A pause.
---
First King:
"The curse may disappear permanently."
---
Hope sparked violently inside me.
But it died just as quickly when he continued.
---
First King:
"Or it may consume both of you entirely."
---
Silence.
---
Lucen looked horrified.
---
Lucen:
"You're saying nobody knows what happens?"
---
The king smiled faintly.
---
First King:
"Love has always made monsters unpredictable."
---
Suddenly—
The chamber shook violently.
A deafening horn echoed somewhere above us.
---
Lucen's expression changed instantly.
---
Lucen:
"The Council."
---
Riven immediately stepped in front of me again.
Instinct.
Always instinct.
---
But this time—
The First King spoke before anyone could move.
---
First King:
"They've come to kill the Seal."
---
The walls cracked violently.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
And somewhere above the Hollow—
War had finally arrived.
---
[End of Chapter 36]