The word hung in the air like a blade:
Devourer.
Owain had no memory of hearing it in his lifetime — and yet his body recognized the danger long before his mind caught up. His instincts recoiled. His chest tightened painfully. His inner wolf snarled with ancient fear he didn't understand.
He forced the word out:
"…What is a Devourer?"
The Architect folded his hands behind his back.
"Long before thrones existed… before the beast races settled their kingdoms… before dragons raised mountains or elves shaped forests… there were four Prime Essences."
Gerrin stiffened, recognizing the old myth.
"Creation, Breath, Void, and Hunger."
The Architect inclined his head.
"Yes. Four forces that shaped Beastworld."
Owain clenched his jaw.
"Skip the history. Tell me what Kanah's father is."
The Architect's gaze sharpened.
"Hunger."
The wind stopped.
Forest air froze.
Yllas inhaled sharply.
Helion swore under his breath.
Gerrin whispered something in a language Owain didn't know.
Owain's fists trembled.
"Hunger…?"
The Architect continued quietly:
"The Devourers were beings born from that Prime Essence. Their bodies could consume magic, borders, souls, kingdoms — anything."
Helion swallowed.
"Are you telling us… that thing is older than the throne?"
"Older than Beastworld," the Architect corrected.
Owain's heart pounded so fast it hurt.
"And he wants… Kanah?"
The Architect nodded once.
"She possesses resonance — the only existing vessel compatible with Devourer inheritance."
Owain's breath stuttered.
Kanah.
His mate.
The woman he loves so fiercely it shreds him.
She wasn't only being hunted.
She was a target for an ancient hunger meant to end worlds.
Owain's voice came out dark and cracking:
"Why her?"
The Architect looked directly into his eyes.
"Because she is his daughter."
Owain's hands curled into fists until blood slicked his palms.
Gerrin stepped closer, tense.
"Architect… if Devourers died out, how did Kanah's father survive?"
"He hid," the Architect said.
"And waited."
"For what?" Helion growled.
"For a child born with resonance."
Owain's pulse roared in his ears.
"You mean he waited for her."
"Yes."
Owain nearly staggered.
Every instinct he had — wolf, man, King — rebelled violently.
The Architect spoke softly:
"Kanah is the key to restoring Devourer power. If he consumes her resonance… he will no longer hunger. He will feast. And the world will fall."
Owain's fear sharpened into rage.
"What happens to her if he succeeds?"
The Architect hesitated.
Owain slammed him back against a tree.
"WHAT HAPPENS TO HER—?!"
The Architect met his fury with calm sadness.
"She dies."
Silence.
Owain stopped breathing.
Helion whispered, "…shit."
Gerrin lowered his head.
Yllas exhaled shakily.
Owain's hands shook violently on the Architect's coat.
"She dies," Owain repeated numbly.
"Yes," the Architect said softly.
"And not quietly."
Owain released him abruptly, staggering backward.
His legs buckled.
His stomach twisted.
His heart splintered.
Kanah's laughter.
Her tears.
Her stubbornness.
Her warmth at night.
Her breath against his skin.
All of it—
the reason he wakes in the morning—
the reason he fights—
And the Devourer wanted to take her.
A sound broke from Owain that wasn't a growl.
Wasn't a roar.
It was a broken, human noise, raw enough to scrape bone.
He whispered:
"…I won't let him."
The Architect watched him quietly.
"You cannot face a Devourer as you are."
Owain raised his head, eyes bloodshot.
"Then make me stronger."
The Architect's gaze narrowed.
"And what would you give?"
Owain's breath stopped.
Gerrin stepped forward. "Architect—"
But the Architect lifted a hand.
"Owain must answer."
Owain didn't hesitate.
"Anything."
Helion froze.
"Owain—WHAT?!"
Yllas grabbed his arm.
"Owain, think—"
Owain shoved him away, voice cracking:
"KANA IS GOING TO DIE IF WE DO NOTHING!"
Silence fell.
Owain's chest heaved with ragged breath.
The Architect studied him, expression unreadable.
"You would give anything?"
Owain nodded.
"Yes."
"Even your throne?"
Owain's heart clenched—but he still answered:
"Yes."
"Even your reason?"
Owain lowered his head.
"Yes."
"Even your life?"
Owain closed his eyes.
"For her?
Every time."
The Architect inhaled deeply.
"Then we begin."
Owain's eyes snapped open.
Gerrin stepped between them.
"Wait—Architect—what do you mean begin?! With what—?!"
But the Architect cut him off.
"Owain must undergo a trial only Devourers survived."
Owain stiffened.
"And if I fail?"
"If you fail…
you lose your mind."
Owain didn't flinch.
"Then I'll succeed."
Yllas shook his head violently.
"Owain—listen—this is insanity—"
Owain's voice softened painfully.
"She is everything."
Helion's eyes lowered.
"She is."
Owain stepped forward.
"Tell me what to do."
The Architect nodded solemnly.
"We will follow the Devourer's trail. It leads to the Veylor stronghold."
Owain's face hardened.
"And Kanah?"
"She waits there now."
Owain's fists trembled.
"I'm coming, Kana," he whispered.
Inside Veylor Fortress — Kanah
Her cell wasn't made of stone.
It was made of… silence.
Something in the walls swallowed sound, swallowed light, swallowed breath.
Kanah sat with her knees pulled to her chest, tears drying on her face.
Her wrists still glowed faintly with the golden chains.
Then—
A knock.
Soft.
Gentle.
Not her father.
Kanah tensed as the door opened.
A young woman stepped in.
Maybe early twenties.
Dark hair braided.
Eyes gold.
A Veylor.
But she looked… frightened.
She approached slowly, bowing.
"My lady. Your bath is ready."
Kanah blinked.
"A… bath?"
"Yes.
The Lord requests you appear presentable when he visits again."
Kanah's stomach twisted.
"No," she whispered.
"I'm not going anywhere."
The girl's voice broke.
"Please, my lady… if you refuse… they will punish me."
Kanah inhaled sharply.
House Veylor's cruelty didn't discriminate.
"…They hurt their own people?"
The girl nodded, trembling.
"Yes.
Especially those who serve.
Especially those who fail."
Kanah gently took the girl's hand.
Her resonance flickered at the contact.
The girl gasped softly.
"M-my lady—your aura—"
Kanah frowned.
"My name is Kanah."
She paused.
"…Kanara."
The girl's eyes widened.
"That name… is sacred among Veylor."
Kanah swallowed hard.
"Tell me your name."
"Ilai. I am a handmaiden… assigned to you."
Assigned.
As if Kanah was livestock.
Her chest tightened with disgust.
Ilai hesitated.
"I am ordered to escort you. But… I can delay. I can help you—not much, but—"
Kanah shook her head.
"No. Thank you. You've already helped me."
Ilai blinked rapidly.
"M-my lady—"
Kanah managed a small smile.
"I don't want people punished because of me."
Ilai wiped her eyes with shaking fingers.
"You are… kind."
"Not kind," Kanah murmured.
"Just human."
Ilai led her to another chamber.
The bath was warm.
Steaming.
Insultingly gentle for a prison.
Kanah lowered herself into the water.
Her reflection fractured across the surface.
She didn't see a queen.
Didn't see an heir.
Didn't see a Devourer's daughter.
She saw a trembling girl who wanted her mother.
Wanted Owain's arms around her.
Wanted her old, messy, human life back.
Tears fell silently.
"Owain…" she whispered.
"Where are you…?"
Kanah's Father Arrives
As she stepped out of the bath, Ilai wrapped her in a soft robe.
Then the air chilled.
Kanah's father entered the chamber.
Kanah flinched backward.
Ilai immediately fell to her knees.
"My lord—"
"Leave."
Ilai fled, terrified.
Kanah glared at him.
"What do you want?"
He approached slowly.
"To see you."
"No."
He tilted his head.
"You speak to me with too much fire.
That wolf is in your veins."
Kanah stepped back.
"I love him."
Her father's expression sharpened.
"You will forget him."
"I WILL NOT."
"You will."
"I WON'T!"
He approached until he stood inches from her face.
"Kanara," he murmured, "I did not come to punish you."
She stiffened.
"What… do you want?"
His voice lowered to something disturbingly gentle.
"I want to restore you."
Kanah's breath tightened.
"Restore…?"
He lifted one hand.
His fingertips brushed her cheek.
Kanah recoiled violently.
"DON'T TOUCH ME—!!"
His eyes darkened.
"You were born to power.
You were born to inherit what only a Devourer can survive."
Kanah trembled.
"What does that mean…?"
His voice was soft.
"Inside you is a seed.
A hunger.
It sleeps now.
But when it wakes—
you will be greater than any Queen…
or you will be consumed by it."
Kanah's knees weakened.
Consumed—
Her father continued:
"You cannot escape what you are.
But you can embrace it.
With me."
Kanah's voice broke:
"I'm not a Devourer—!"
His eyes flashed.
"You are half."
Terror shot through her.
Her father lifted her chin.
"Let me show you your true form."
"No—NO—!!"
"You belong to me."
"I BELONG TO MYSELF—!!"
He exhaled sharply.
"Then I will teach you obedience."
Kanah's breath froze.
"W-what—?"
He turned away.
"You will remain here until you break."
Kanah's chest collapsed in horror.
"No—NO—!!"
He paused at the door.
"You cannot run from your blood, Kanara."
The door closed.
And everything inside her shattered.
Back in the Forest — The Architect's Path
Owain, Gerrin, Yllas, and Helion followed the Architect deeper into the woods.
Owain's hands were still shaking.
His legs ached.
His breath burned.
But his voice was steady.
"You said the world will die if she does."
"Yes."
"Why?"
The Architect didn't look back.
"Because your Queen is the last vessel capable of holding the Devourer's essence. If she dies, the essence will be unleashed into the world uncontrolled."
Owain growled low.
"And if her father absorbs her…?"
"Then the essence becomes whole. And he becomes unstoppable."
Owain's throat tightened painfully.
He whispered:
"Will… she change?
If the Devourer blood wakes up?"
The Architect paused.
Owain stepped beside him.
"Tell me the truth."
The Architect looked at him with rare softness.
"She will fight it."
Owain's heartbeat slowed.
"And…?"
"And she will win—
if you reach her in time."
Owain inhaled sharply.
"And if I don't?"
The Architect hesitated.
Owain grabbed his coat.
"IF I DON'T—?!"
The Architect whispered:
"She becomes what her father is."
Owain stopped breathing.
His hands shook violently.
"…No."
"She becomes a Devourer."
Owain collapsed to his knees.
Gerrin, Yllas, and Helion froze, horrified.
Owain's voice broke.
"I can't lose her to him.
I can't lose her to that.
Please—
Please—
tell me there is a way—"
The Architect knelt before him.
"There is."
Owain looked up, trembling.
"What do I have to do?"
The Architect reached out and touched Owain's chest, over the Wolf King sigil.
"This will hurt."
"Do it."
"It will change you."
"DO IT."
"It may kill you."
Owain's breath shook.
"For her…
I'll die a hundred times."
The Architect looked into his eyes.
"Then rise, Owain.
For your Queen awaits you in the jaws of a Devourer."
Owain's heart slammed once.
Hard.
The forest tilted.
The sigil burned gold.