"Maelina, no!" Aldric warned. "He'll rip you to pieces."
"Aldric, we're short on time." Maelina shouted back.
She stepped forward, magic crackling around her wrists.
Zarek roared again, the sound shaking the chamber.
Maelina slammed her palms together, runes flaring bright. "DOWN!"
Immediately, Zarek's legs were hit by a burst of force. For a heartbeat, his knees gave way.
"Now!" Maelina screamed.
Aldric rushed in with the silver chains. Zarek's clawed hand tore at him, slashing across his arm. Blood spilled.
Aldric let out a grunt but continued. He encircled Zarek's leg with the chain, pulled firmly, and locked it.
"Get the other!" a soldier yelled.
Two men grabbed the second chain. Zarek kicked and one flew into the wall, unconscious.
Maelina groaned, pushing more power. "Hurry! I can't hold him!"
Aldric pulled again, securing the second chain.
The moment the lock clicked, Zarek collapsed to one knee, snarling and thrashing but grounded.
Everyone gasped for air.
"How do we move him?" a soldier asked shakily. "He'll break out if we drag him."
"We can't risk carrying him," Aldric added. "One slip and we lose half the palace."
Maelina wiped blood from the corner of her mouth. "Then we teleport."
Aldric stared at her. "With him like this? Maelina, that's suicide."
"We don't have another choice," she said firmly. "If he breaks free up here, we're all dead."
"He could kill you, you could die. You are already drained!" Aldric insisted.
"Yes," she said simply. "But the kingdom dies if we don't try."
She turned to the seers. "Everyone, join hands. Pool your strength with mine."
The seers obeyed, shakily linking hands around the thrashing king.
Maelina stepped forward last, pressing her glowing fingers to Zarek's forehead.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," she whispered.
Light erupted.
Everyone in the room vanished in a burst of violet flame.
.
.
The waiting chamber was colder than the courtyard outside.
Eliora rubbed her hands together, trying not to shiver.
Dozens of humans huddled together, whispering prayers under their breath. The beasts stood guard near the wide doors, towering and silent.
Don't draw attention, Eliora repeated to herself. Stay small. Stay quiet.
The door creaked open.
An older human woman stepped inside. Her grey hair was neatly braided. Her clothes were simple but spotless.
Even the beasts moved aside to make room for her.
"That's the head servant," someone muttered.
"She's worked here for decades." Another said.
With keen eyes, the woman looked over them. "Welcome to Volkar of Eldfrost, the palace of the Beast King," she said in a clear voice. "I am Mistress Yora. From this moment on, you serve the Crown."
No one dared move. Eliora clutched her scarf tightly around her.
"You will obey the palace rules without question," Yora continued, "You will follow the palace rules without question. Failure to do so will bring consequences none of you can afford."
A man in the back swallowed audibly.
Yora lifted one finger. "Rule one: No eye contact with the beasts. Look at their hands. Their feet. The floor. Never their eyes."
A few people nodded quickly.
"Rule two: Do not speak unless spoken to. The palace is not a place for chatter."
A young girl beside Eliora trembled, hugging herself.
"Rule three: Obey every command. Immediately. Without hesitation."
Her gaze settled briefly on Eliora, sharp enough to make her heart thump.
"Rule four," Yora said, "Make yourselves invisible. Move silently. Act quickly. Be forgotten."
"Rule five: You will rise before the second bell each morning. Laziness will not be tolerated."
She paused.
"You will each share quarters with one other person. The rooms are small. Manage."
She began calling out names and job assignments.
Eliora's stomach twisted. Please not something dangerous… please.
Then...a roar split the air.
A violent, echoing, feral sound, the kind that turned blood to ice.
Every human in the room flinched. Some cried out. A few dropped to their knees.
The growl shook the floorboards beneath their feet and echoed through the walls, making Eliora's breath catch in her throat.
Mistress Yora froze, but not out of fear. In alertness and recognition. For a brief moment, she raised her gaze to the ceiling.
From the hallway, two beasts exchanged worried glances.
"Too soon," one muttered.
"The moon isn't high yet," the other said.
Yora inhaled, collected herself, and carried on as though the world hadn't just been rocked by a roar.
"That sound," she said lightly, "you will hear from time to time. You will not react. You will not ask questions. You will go about your duties."
Eliora tried to swallow but her throat was too tight.
Her chest hurt.
Why does it hurt? Why does it feel like someone's claws are inside my ribs? She pressed a hand over her heart, confused.
Yora resumed, reading from her scroll.
"Eliora Harley."
Eliora stepped forward, voice barely above a whisper. "Y...yes."
"You are assigned to the King's kitchen."
The humans gasped in horror.
A woman whispered, "The King's kitchen? "
Another muttered, "She'll be near him."
"Poor girl."
Even the beasts guarding the door looked her over in a new way, almost pitying.
Eliora couldn't breathe.
"The King?" she whispered.
Behind her, the young girl who had been trembling grabbed her hand. "I'm so sorry. Nobody wants that job."
The walls shook again.
Another growl. Shorter. Broken.
Then nothing.
Eliora's eyes stung, not from fear, but from an ache she didn't understand.
Why do I feel… sad?
Why does his voice hurt me?
Mistress Yora's voice cut through her thoughts. "Collect yourselves. You will be escorted to your rooms shortly."
Eliora stepped back into the crowd, her heart pounding unevenly.
She had never seen the King. Humans didn't get that privilege. Many beasts didn't either. He was too powerful. Too dangerous. Too feared. Only few were privileged to meet him.
Yet when he roared, Eliora felt something inside her crack open. Something deep. Something wrong. Something that didn't belong to her.
And she didn't know why.