Page 71 of The Alien's Cruel Starfrost Domain

“King Caix created a device,” Adefina continued. “A crown forged from rare metals found only in the deepest mines of Trasq. He used his own blood to bind it with the planet’s energies, believing he could grant his people the ability to shape reality through their words and will.”

“But something went wrong?” I asked, noting the shadow that crossed her face.

“The crown worked—too well, perhaps.” She sighed. “When he used it in the ritual, it split our people into two distinct groups. The Icecaix gained dominion over snow, ice, cold, and all creatures that thrive in frost. The Starcaix...” She gestured to herself and Kila. “We received power over the warmer lands and their inhabitants.”

“We’re connected to our sun-star,” Kila added proudly. “That’s why they call us Starcaix.”

“What does that have to do with lying?” I asked.

“King Caix had sworn to all his people that there was no danger in activating the device,” Adefina said. “But from the very beginning, he was lying about what he planned.”

I tilted my head to one side, considering. “Being split into having control over warm or cold lands doesn’t seem like such a terrible side effect.”

“But that wasn’t the problem,” Fintan said quietly. “Tell her about the other change.”

Adefina nodded slowly. “The crown altered something fundamental in our nature. Our spirits remain eternally bound to Trasq through the magic King Caix created.”

“When they say he broke the world,” Fintan added, “they mean he broke their ability to everescapethis world.”

“Our bodies may fail,” Adefina said, “but from that day forward, no Caix has ever truly died.”

A chill ran down my spine as I remembered the undead king in the cemetery. “This crown,” I said carefully, “what did it look like?”

“Legend says it was made of gold and silver,” Kila replied, “with a great blue stone over the brow that pulsed with living energy.”

My hands began to shake, and I set down my teacup before I could drop it. “And what happened to it?”

“It was lost,” Adefina said. “Some say it was stolen by the firelords during the first great war. Others believe King Caix himself hid it away when he realized what his creation had done to our people.” She tilted her head, studying my face. “Why do you ask?”

I barely heard her question, my mind racing as pieces clicked into place. The cemetery hadn’t been a random place I’d stumbled into while trying to escape. Somehow, Ivrael had known I would go there—known I would encounter the undead king and his crown.

The question was, why?

“Lara?” Kila’s tiny hand touched my cheek. “Are you well? You’ve gone quite pale.”

I forced a smile, though my heart was pounding. “I’m fine. Just...thinking about how different your world is from mine.”

Adefina’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t press. Instead, she began gathering the tea things, signaling the end of our break. But as I rose to help her, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d stumbled onto something important—something that might explain why Ivrael had really bought me from Roland.

Since that conversation, my dreams have been haunted by images of the crowned king in the Caix cemetery—and the growing certainty that nothing about my presence in that graveyard was as accidental as I’d first believed.

I haven’t been willing to ask Ivrael. Not only because I was afraid to know the answer, but because in the end, I decided it didn’t matter. His plan couldn’t be anything good, if for only one reason.

Heroes don’t buy other people.

But now, I once again find myself wondering what Ivrael plans to do once he has Izzy, too.

I’m certain it has something to do with the undead king in that cemetery, the crown he wears on his head, and the magic the king conjured for hispeople so long ago.

The King of the Dead who, when I turned back to look for him behind the gate as Ivrael led me away, was nowhere to be seen.

I don’t know what it could have to do with me and Izzy. And I don’t care.

No matter what Ivrael’s planning, I will be long gone by the time he tries to put it into action.

CHAPTER 21

IVRAEL

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