Page 60 of The Blood Moon Oath

Kael stops walking, turning to face me fully now. “I’ll need to cloak you in my power,” he says, his voice low. “You’ll be unseen by everyone else, but you’ll stand next to me the entire time. No one will notice you’re there.”

I stare at him, feeling the familiar weight of the bond between us—stronger than before—and I wonder, for a moment, what it will feel like to be hidden from everyone but him.

“And you’re sure,” I ask, my voice quiet but filled with uncertainty, “that only you can see me?”

His gaze locks onto mine, dark and steady. “Yes. Only I can see you. No one else will even know you’re there.”

I nod, a strange thrill running through me. The idea of being invisible to everyone but Kael, of standing beside him in a room full of people without them knowing... there’s something thrilling in that. It’s not just the power he holds over me—it’s the way I can be there, unseen, a ghost, watching everything unfold.

He motions for me to follow, and we make our way into the grand hall of the keep. The doors swing open with a slow, creaking groan, revealing the vast expanse of stone that fills the space before us. The walls rise high, adorned with tapestries that seem to pulse with a history long forgotten. The air inside the hall is thick with an ancient energy, a blend of old magic and tradition that I can feel brushing against my skin.

The floor beneath our feet is smooth, polished marble that gleams in the dim light of the torches lining the walls. High above us, the ceiling stretches impossibly far, a vaulted expanse that seems to stretch to infinity.

At the far end of the hall is a raised platform, a throne sitting in the center of it. The throne is massive, made of blackstone and wrought iron, with intricate carvings of ancient symbols twisting around its arms and back. The air around it seems to hum with power, like this is where all the decisions are made, where everything comes to rest.

I can feel the weight of the room, the eyes that have been in this hall before, the power of what’s to come. But my gaze doesn’t linger long on the room itself. It’s on Kael.

He walks toward the throne with a purpose, his strides long and confident, and I can’t help but admire the way he commands the space, the way he moves. There’s no hesitation in him as he steps up onto the platform and takes his seat in the largest chair.

As soon as he sits, I feel the shift. His power radiates from him, filling the room and surrounding me. A hum of energy builds between us, and I can sense it—I’m cloaked. I’m invisible to everyone else, but I’m still right here beside him, within arm’s reach.

I feel Kael’s voice in my mind, a soft ripple that cuts through the silence.You can sit in the chair beside me, if you’d like.

I glance at the smaller chair beside his, its sleek design fitting the space, and I find myself sitting without question. “What’s the catch?” I ask quietly, feeling the weight of his presence next to me.

No one will see you but me,he replies, his tone low, but there’s an edge to it.You’re with me. But no one will know. Not even you can be seen.

I lean back in the chair, feeling the raw pull of the power he’s just cloaked me with. It’s strange, the sense ofbeingthere but not. It’s exhilarating.

“And what about the game?” I whisper into his mind, suddenly feeling bold, that playful side of me awakening. “Theone you promised to give me. You said you were going to make me beg for your cock. Deny me. Did you forget?”

Kael’s eyebrow raises slightly, a sharp glint in his eyes, but he doesn’t respond immediately.

Then, a low chuckle rumbles in his chest, and his eyes darken with an intensity I can feel all the way to my bones.You’re playing a dangerous game, little huntress. But yes, I remember.

I don’t back down. Instead, I smile, my lips curling into something more dangerous than playful. “I’m going to make it as hard as possible for you to resist me.”

With that, I stand from my chair, slowly pulling the cloak from my shoulders, letting it fall to the ground. I stand naked before him, letting him see me fully, knowing the effect it will have on him.

He doesn’t flinch, but I can feel his power surge as his gaze locks onto mine. He’s affected. I know he is.

As the court begins, I’m acutely aware of the power Kael is exerting over everyone in the room—and of how easily I’m able to pull him off balance with just a glance. My heart races, and a wicked thrill flows through me.

I’m no longer just a pawn in this game. I’m learning how to play.

The court fills the hall, a hush falling over the room as Kael takes his seat on the throne. The weight of his presence is undeniable, and I watch with a new understanding as a group of people—those who must serve him, those who live in the keep—approach him with their problems, their grievances.

Kael listens. He doesn’t rush them, doesn’t cut them off. There’s a calm in him, a level-headedness that I hadn’t expected. It’s not just power he commands here. It’s authority. It’s respect. Each person who steps forward does so with a quiet reverence, and I can feel it now—the subtle worship thatsurrounds him. It’s not about fear, not entirely. It’s about trust, about knowing that Kael will do what’s best for his people. They follow him, not because they have to, but because they want to.

I realize, suddenly, that this isn’t just a group of savage men as I had thought. This is a community, a tribe with a purpose. And Kael isn’t just their leader—he’s their protector. Their strength.

I find myself respecting him more, though I don’t want to admit it. I came here to break free, to understand my place in this new world, and now, watching him in this role—this cold, commanding leader—something clicks inside me.I want to see how far he’ll go. How far I can push him.

The tension between us hasn’t gone away. It’s thicker now, a constant pulse that thrums between us, pulling at both of us. I feel it more than ever, and as the last of the petitions is handled and the crowd begins to thin out, I make a decision.

I want to test him. I want to see if I can make him lose control, if I can make him crack. He seems soicy, so put together, like nothing can touch him. But that just makes it all the more tempting totry.

I let my eyes linger on him for a moment before I let my hand move subtly, my fingers slipping to the edge of my thigh as I lean slightly toward him, knowing he’s the only one who can see me. The power I feel in his gaze, the way he holds the room—I want to make him lose that control.

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