Eighteen Years Ago - 3 Days to Zenith 916
Kaeden was doing exactly what he had been told to do. Watching his little sister.
It wasn’t his fault she had managed to duck and dodge every royal guard this realm had to offer. That was on the Devas.
It also wasn’t his fault she had an almost impressive ability to stumble into trouble the moment his guard relaxed. That was on her. Even though Mira was only three.
And it certainly wasn’t his fault that there happened to be someone else tailing Mira as well. And she was doing a terrible job of it.
The would-be shadow was too loud. Breathing too fast. Shifting her weight like she couldn’t stay still. She was half hidden behind a marble pillar, fingers tracing the carvings idly over and over again, as if her hands needed something to do.
Kaeden observed her more without moving. Silver-blue skirts that swept the polished floors. Dark hair slipping loose from its tie. And if he remembered correctly, she was eight—three years junior to him. Too young to be a threat. Too curious to be an enemy.
Not a danger.
Prey, then.
He allowed himself a brief, private smirk and then shifted his attention back where it belonged—only to catch the tail end of Mira’s red dress as she toddled her way into the kitchens.
He ran a hand down his face. All right. Maybe this was his fault.
He closed his eyes and counted.
One.
Two.
Three—Little feet thundered back across the marble.
Mira emerged triumphant, clutching a honey-dipped pastry with both hands. Syrup streaked her dress and dripped onto the floor.
The girl dropped into a crouch immediately, catching Mira before she could run again. “You’re going to get caught, you know,” she whispered, tucking a curl behind Mira’s ear.
Kaeden stepped forward. “My sister always runs toward the sugar.”
The girl startled and spun around. Her eyes skated along his sharp black jacket and rigid posture, and then darted up to his face. Kaeden held her gaze—sharp, guarded—until instinct betrayed him. His eyes flicked to Mira, softening despite himself.
“I’m Selena,” the girl said, offering him a smile. “Your sister’s got good taste.”
He didn’t smile back. “I know who you are, Princess.”
She made a face. “You don’t have to call me that. It’s Selena.”
He studied her. “I am Kumara Kaeden.”
“I know who you are too, Kaeden,” she said brightly, dropping pleasantries. “Welcome to Lunaris.”
Just Kaeden. No honorifics. No title.
He scrunched his eyebrows at the casualness. Perhaps the princess was not familiar with the old tongue—he’d heard it wasn’t spoken in Lunaris. Or perhaps she simply did not abide by the rules. Either way, he didn’t like this one bit.
His sister squealed as she bit into her treat. “Mira, Mira, Mira!”
Selena giggled and crouched again. “Well, you must be Mira. It is so nice to meet you, you little pastry thief.”
“It is Kumari Mira,” Kaeden corrected behind her. “Or, I suppose, here in Lunaris you would call her Princess Mira.”
She turned back to him. He stood exactly as he had before—stoic and rigid. He hadn’t moved an inch.
“Well,” Selena said, undeterred. “You are very serious for someone at a party.”
“I am responsible for her.”
She walked up to him, inspecting him closely. Too closely. The gold embroidery on his jacket displayed intricate workings of sun, fire, and stone symbols. His eyes were a deep amber, flecked with gold. Not a hint of mischief or youth. Just determination and discipline.
She hummed thoughtfully.
“Come on,” Selena said. “I want to show you something.”
Before Kaeden could object, she was already heading down a side corridor, Mira toddling beside her with sticky fingers.
Consorting with a Deva princess was not what he had planned to do this evening. It certainly went against Asura customs. But he was supposed to be watching Mira, who was now trailing Selena like a newly imprinted duckling.
He hesitated. Then followed.
They stepped into the garden, the air cooler here. The air on Lunaris always smelled of mist and blossoms, a soft and clean caress. But tonight, it was laced with earth, wood, and spice—a scent Kaeden much preferred. A gentle mist rolled across the grass, moonlight casting soft silver onto the reflecting pool ahead. The gardens were expansive, white marble columns and benches dispersed among the greenery.
Kaeden turned back, taking the Lunaris palace in. Towers spiraled into the sky like ribbons of light, tall and graceful, their surfaces etched with swirling runes and elemental signs. He had never seen a building so colossal, yet there was nothing heavy about them. They rose with a dainty elegance, giving the impression that they could be swept away with a gust of wind.
“I like your coat,” Selena said as they walked.
Kaeden’s eyes flicked to her. “Thank you, Princess.”
“You know, normally one compliments back,” she teased.
He paused. That… was true. He had seen his mother and father exchange compliments many times. Though in his eleven years, he never had to do that much.
His eyes moved over her slowly. “I like your… uh… rings.”
“My rings?” she questioned.
“Yes,” he nodded, sticking to the compliment. “They look nice.”
Then she smiled brightly, holding up her right hand where two silver bands sat snugly, stacked on one finger. “Thanks! I wear them all the time. And I will wear them for the rest of my life.”
He scoffed. “They won’t fit forever, Princess. Are you not planning to grow?”
“These are magical rings,” she explained proudly. “They grow with me.”
Kaeden narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. But before he could inspect them, Selena continued down the path to a moonlit pool. She led them to a curved bench beside the water and sat down with a dreamy sigh, her eyes on the shimmering surface.
“This is my favorite place. The moonlight looks just like little stars in the water,” she whispered. “It’s the closest we can get to seeing the stars.”
“I see the stars all the time,” Kaeden said before he could stop himself.
She gasped and turned toward him. “Really? You see stars in Solaris?”
He froze. A muscle jumped in his jaw. “Forget I told you that.”
He sat down, stiff and silent, furious with himself. That was not allowed. The unknown of Solaris was part of the sanctity of his culture. The dignity of the Asuras. That had been a slip up. A mistake. He ground his teeth. He will do better.
Selena, unbothered, scooted right beside him, their shoulders almost touching.
“How can the Asuras see stars? What do they look like? Is it like the stars in the mortal realm? Have you ever been to the mortal realm? I’ve never been, but my mom promised me that after my First Rite, she’ll take me there. Your Rite must be next year—”
The questions spilled out in an endless rush. Kaeden rolled his eyes.
“—and why do you guys call your realm the Shadows? Are there lots of shadows in Solaris?” Selena finally paused, her eyes wide and sparkling, waiting for answers.
Kaeden remained silent.
She leaned back. “That’s fine,” she said. “I like a bit of mystery.”
They sat in silence for a few moments. Mira babbled on the ground, dipping her chubby fingers into the pool. A breeze passed through the garden, lifting strands of Selena’s black hair. Kaeden caught the faint scent of warm vanilla.
“Ugh!” she groaned suddenly, sliding off the bench and onto the grass with a dramatic flop. “I don’t actually like mysteries! I can’t handle the suspense!”
His brow arched. A smirk tugged at his lips as a sense of victory fluttered through him. He was a rock. A vault. The epitome of restraint itself.
She rolled over to Mira, now playing with the strands of grass. “Do you like this, Mira?” Selena cooed. “This is called grass. I bet you’ve never seen it because you don’t have any gardens where you come from.”
“That’s not true,” Kaeden snapped. “We have plenty—”
“Ha!” Selena laughed, spinning toward him. “So Solaris has gardens!”
His expression fell. He stood abruptly and marched a few steps away.
He couldn’t believe he slipped up again. She must have used magic. He’d overheard the Solaris warriors warning each other last night. Deva Moon magic was sly, mental, and dangerous. Foreign to the Asuras. And this Deva was even better at it than he expected. He wanted to storm off—-but he stopped. He couldn’t leave Mira with her.
“Deva tricks,” he muttered under his breath.
He turned just as little feet thudded behind him. Mira was holding Selena’s hand, trailing along like they’d known each other for years.
“Don’t worry, Kaeden,” Selena said softly. “Your secret’s safe with me. I promise.” She met his fiery gaze with sincerity. “Would it be better if I told you a secret too?”
He didn’t answer.
She looked around warily, then rose up on her toes, whispering near his ear. “Sometimes I get this feeling in my chest… like I don’t even belong here.”
He scoffed and then turned to look at her. She dropped to her feet, her fists clenched and her heartbeat steady. She looked up at him with her almond-shaped eyes wide and vulnerable, as if she just unveiled the greatest secret in Deva history.
A ridiculous secret.
But important to her nonetheless.
“Don’t tell anyone, ‘kay?” she whispered.
He nodded.
She exhaled and took his hand. “Come on. I’ll show you the other gardens.”
Kaeden looked down at their hands—her dark brown skin a stark contrast to his. A reminder that they were, in every way, born of opposite sides.
But for one quiet moment, the Asura prince let go of the divide… and followed the Deva princess into the night.
twelve Years Ago - 3 Days to Zenith 916
The second time he saw her, she was across the ballroom.
He stood like a shadow, tall and unmoving. The high collar of his deep crimson coat framed his sharp jaw, the details of gold embroidered coiled serpents covering his broad shoulders. Around him his aura pulsed low and tight to his skin—controlled and restrained. Black and red, a thin sheen of heat shimmered at the edges, darker than the aura of his parents in front of him.
Beside him, Mira bounced on her toes in a black and red gown, her brown hair pulled back in a half-twist, but already frizzing from her excitement. She didn’t have an aura yet, but if she had, it would’ve been dancing all around the room. Her green eyes were wide, scanning the room as if she was on the brink of a grand mission. Unlike Kaeden, discipline was not her strong suit.
Kaeden bent down to her level, voice low. “Remember what I warned you.”
Mira followed his gaze. “The youngest Deva princess?”
“Yes.” His eyes locked with Selena’s across the room. “Warm. Clever. A master deceiver. She’ll charm you into spilling secrets before you realize you’ve spoken.”
Mira nodded slowly, her small hands clenched into fists. “She can’t fool me.”
Kaeden did not answer. Because Selena was already moving.
She crossed the room with an easy sway that made him tighten internally. Her silver gown twisted and swayed with her stride, ruffled skirts catching the light. She carried a thick book at her side, its worn spine hidden by the way she held it. It may have looked harmless, but Kaeden knew that even books could be weapons in the right hands. Even the hands of someone barely fourteen.
“Princess,” Kaeden said, his nod sharp and neutral.
“Hello, Kaeden,” Her gaze swept him unapologetically. “You’re taller now.”
Before he could respond, she crouched to Mira’s height, her smile brightening. “And hello again, Mira. You’ve grown so much and you are so beautiful.” She hugged her warmly. “I can’t wait to show you the gardens later.”
Mira melted into her.
Selena straightened, composure sliding back into place as she turned toward the rest of the Asura guests. Mira blinked after her, eyes wide.
“I love her,” she squealed. “And she smells so good!” She spun, taking off after the princess, nearly knocking a tray of drinks over in her wake.
Kaeden groaned, one hand dragging down his face as he lost sight of them. This was going to be harder than he thought.
When he found them again, they were huddled beside the reflecting pool. Selena’s aura was slightly open now, a warm white glow radiating around her. He could smell it from several steps away. Vanilla, yes—but deeper.
Lanterns flickered behind them. Mira’s head rested on Selena’s shoulder. The book lay open in Selena’s lap. She was reading.
“And so Vasuki stepped forward,” Selena read aloud, “offering himself to the serpent in sacrifice. A blinding light erupted as his tail latched around him. The cosmos quaked and the light channeled into the lands, over the oceans, and across the realms—sealing the Inferno. When the light faded, a black aura remained. The first Asura, the first—”
“What are you doing?” Kaeden’s voice cut through the night.
Mira flinched. Selena did not.
She turned the page calmly. “We are reading about Solaris. The creation of your kind.”
“It’s just like the stories Mother and Father told us at bedtime, Kaeden,” Mira added, while staring at Selena in admiration.
Kaeden’s gaze sharpened. “Where did you get that book?”
Selena met his stare evenly. “Our archives. There are records from the first Zenith. All about the creation of the lowest realm but nothing about after.”
Kaeden stepped forward. This was a disaster waiting to happen.
“Mira,” he said, extending his hand. “Come. The realms are exchanging gifts.”
She obeyed, and slipped her hand into his. Selena rose and fell into step beside them.
“I watched your family arrive tonight,” she said casually. “But there were only two winged serpents. Don’t you have one yet?”
Kaeden’s jaw flexed, he responded carefully. “My serpent is still too young to cross the inner and outer gates in a single night. Mira and I rode with my Moth–” he paused and cleared his throat, “With Queen Vireya and King Oren.”
Serena stopped walking. “You call your parents by their titles?”
“Well…not usually,” Kaeden muttered, keeping his gaze forward. “But this is a diplomatic event.”
“You have got to let loose a little, Kaeden.” She stepped in front of him, taking the lead and sighed longingly, “I wish I could have a pet serpent.”
Kaeden flexed his jaw in irritation. “A serpent is not a pet you can simply have. They have you just as much as you have them,” he snapped, rounding a corner, “It is a sacred and dangerous—” All three of them came to a halt.
Before them stood the Queens.
The contrast between their gowns sliced the room clean in two. White and black. Light and shadow. Opposite sides of the same cosmic coin.
A long table stretched before them, glittering with velvet-lined boxes. Queen Vireya of Solaris cocked an eyebrow, her fingers drumming the table in that familiar, impatient rhythm.
Kaeden knew that look. He’d grown up with it. He was late.
Beside her, the elder Lunari princesses were already waiting, serene and composed, their posture a quiet reminder that they understood etiquette.
Selena quickly composed herself, tucked her book behind her, and gracefully joined her sisters. One by one, the three Lunari princesses stepped forward, bowing with quiet elegance—Celesta, Lunara, and then Selena. Queen Vireya handed them delicate bracelets.
Selena inspected hers closely, it was an intricate chain of moons and stars.
Next Mira bounded forward, not yet having mastered the art of being regal. Her hand stretched out to the bracelet being presented to her by Queen Sera of Lunaris. Suns and flame.
“And Prince Kaeden,” Queen Sera said, lifting a box from the table, “this is for you.”
He accepted it with a bow and waited until the queens turned away before opening it. Inside lay a ceremonial dagger. The hilt was carved obsidian, wrapped with a golden serpent twisting toward the pommel. The blade shimmered with a dusky sheen, as if coated in shadowlight. It was beautiful. Deadly.
Selena leaned in, curiosity gleaming. “I want it.”
Kaeden raised a brow. “It’s mine.”
“You have ten like it. Probably more.”
“I do.”
“You don’t need it.”
“I do not.”
“Great. Trade me.”
“I don’t wear bracelets.”
“They’d match the rings on my hand. They’re nice.” She held up her fingers, wiggling them in front of him. “You said so last time.”
He looked down at the rings, then back to her. “I am keeping the dagger.”
She pouted.
Kaeden was quiet for a long beat. Then, with the kind of solemnity only a seventeen-year-old could muster, he said, “If you want it that badly, Princess, you will have to earn it.”
She stepped up to him, on her toes, so close that their noses were touching. Too close. He blinked quickly, startled.
“I already have.”
And just like that, she plucked the dagger from the velvet, leaving the bracelet behind in its place. She spun on her heel and took off running, her hair spinning in his face.
“See you at the next Zenith!” she called over her shoulder.
Kaeden stared after her, jaw clenched, pulse racing.
Damn Deva tricks.
Six Years Ago - 3 Days to Zenith 916
The music had changed.
It was deeper now—no longer the light, laughing strings of youth, but something richer. Darker. The scent of Lunaris clung thick to the air, crawling against Kaeden’s heightened Asura senses like a hundred whispers. He didn't flinch, but his jaw clenched briefly as his power coiled beneath his skin. It had been five years since his Second Rite, and the beast inside him was no longer dormant—it was awake. Burning. Listening. Always posed to hunt.
Kaeden stepped into the ballroom.
Changing realms always took some adjustment. He shifted subtly between his feet, grounding himself as his dark brown hair fell forward while he adjusted his cuffs. His broad frame moved with quiet command, a slow, deliberate stride that made space open before him.
This time, his parents and Mira trailed behind him. Queen Vireya’s posture was sovereign as ever, King Oren’s shadow a silent storm beside her. Mira stood tall in dark crimson and rose-toned silks, her hair twisted into an elegant braid that belied her usual wildness.
They were greeted with strong handshakes and stately welcome. Beneath it all, the tense reliance on the Zenith weaved like a fine thread.
At the center stood Princess Celesta, the future queen of Lunaris. She stepped forward hand in hand with Elion, her betrothed—their auras twinned in white and blue, brilliant and commanding. Two future rulers, perfectly aligned.
Kaeden inclined his head, then stepped to the side and surveyed the space.
Iris caught his eye from across the ballroom. His second in command hadn’t wanted to attend, but she came anyway. She always did when he needed eyes in a room. Her black gown clung to her like armor as she gave him a quick nod in silent report. All quiet.
He exhaled, tension easing a notch. Then he saw her.
Selena was no longer the curious girl peeking from behind pillars. She stood poised, shoulders back, royal and warm. Her silver gown clung with understated elegance, chandelier light whispering across her brown skin. Her black waves spilled over her shoulders, and she stood in profile, head tilted slightly, nodding to something someone said. Her aura was sealed so tightly even he couldn’t glimpse a flicker of her power. And in her hand, of course, was a book.
She looked innocently beautiful. But Deva beauty was never innocent. The Devas have perfected deception into an art.
But Kaeden had completed his Rites. He was certain he wouldn’t succumb to her tricks. Almost certain.
Selena glanced up and met his gaze. Then she walked toward him.
“Kaeden,” she greeted, her voice a quiet lilt.
“Princess.”
She rolled her eyes. “Still with the formality?”
“It’s important,” he said simply.
She gave a smile and gestured for him to follow her to the edge of the ballroom, where the music dimmed and the voices thinned. “So,” she said, “I hear you’re leading the Zenith this year.”
“Yes.”
“Nervous?”
“No.” It came out too quickly.
Her brow arched. “Liar.”
He didn’t deny it. Her gaze lingered—waiting for answers they both knew he’d never give.
He nodded toward the book. “More Solaris investigation?”
“Something like that.”
“You know, this curiosity of yours is unusual for your kind. Most Devas do not ask about Solaris… or the Asuras.”
“Well, I’ve never been usual.”
His eyes flicked down to the book. It smelled of the realm below them. He took it from her, flipping it over slowly. The cover depicted two mortals in heavy robes staring at a cracked ground beneath them. The Divine Comedy.
His mouth twisted.
“You’re reading about Hell, Princess?” His voice had dropped into that low, dangerous register.
Selena raised her chin defiantly, “I’ve read through all our archives. I’m simply widening my knowledge.”
He flipped it open, scanning a few pages. “You do realize this was written by mortals. Their idea of Hell is imaginative at best.”
“Sure. But it’s their interpretation of Heaven and Hell. What they believe Lunaris and Solaris to be. The Devas and Asuras to be.”
“Angels and devils—concerned with the afterlife of mortal souls. It is ridiculous.”
“And yet,” she teased with a knowing smirk, “as the leader of the newly formed Devils, you’re one to talk.” She stepped closer. “It still doesn’t make sense.”
His nostrils flared. Her scent slid down his throat and wrapped deep within him, coiling around his inner beast like a blanket.
“All the Hell depictions are of darkness and fire. Caverns and pits. There is no mention of stars. No gardens.” Her eyes lifted to his. “No hint of our little secret.”
Reckless princess. She was playing with fire and she knew it.
“And how is your secret, Princess?”
She stepped back in surprise. Before she could answer, a figure approached. The Lunari General, Corin. Straight-backed and unreadable. His eyes flicked to Kaeden, then back to Selena.
“Prince,” he greeted, with a small bow. “Princess.”
Kaeden extended a hand. “General. I trust things are steady after our last meeting.”
“As steady as they can be, Prince.”
Then Corin turned to Selena, extending a hand. “May I have this dance?”
She hesitated for half a breath, the long list of questions she hadn’t asked yet flickering in her eyes. But then she smiled. And placed her hand in his.
Kaeden watched her go, gliding across the floor, her laugh drifting up toward the chandeliered ceiling. He glanced around the room, taking the grandeur in. He had little patience for royal formalities. He was meant to be with his Devils. Still, he stepped away from the wall to fulfill his own obligation, and invited Princess Lunara to dance.
Though his body moved, his thoughts were elsewhere. In three days, the Zenith would approach. And with it, his inner beast would release. He shuddered at the thought.
But this was a necessity. For his Asuras. And for the three realms.
