Elsa’s jaw tightened, but she nodded again. “I understand.”
“Do you?” He leaned down, bringing his muzzle close to her face. Close enough that his breath stirred the tangled strands of her hair. “I wonder.”
Her pulse jumped, visible in her throat. But she held his gaze this time, refusing to look away despite obvious fear.
There it is. That fire.
It would serve her well in the days ahead. The court would test her, push boundaries, search for weaknesses. His pet needed spine as much as submission.
Lucky for both of them, Elsa seemed to possess an abundance of the former and was learning the latter.
Sylas straightened, satisfaction settling deep in his chest. He’d claimed his prize. Established ownership. Set terms.
Now came the interesting part—discovering exactly what his new pet could do. What she was worth beyond that divine scent and defiant spirit.
A navigator, she’d said. Someone who understood trajectories and star charts and the mathematics of void travel.
Perhaps keeping her alive would prove more valuable than he’d initially calculated.
Perhaps she’d surprise him.
He rather hoped she would.
“Come, Elsa.” He turned toward the private corridors that led to his chambers, expecting her to follow. “Let’s see if you’re as adaptable as you appear.”
Behind him, chains clinked as she shuffled forward. The sound grated—too crude for what she was, for what she represented.
He’d have them removed once they reached his chambers. Replace them with something more suitable. Something that marked her ashiswithout the brutality of prisoner restraints.
The throne room doors opened at his approach, guards snapping to attention. They didn’t look at Elsa—wise of them.He’d made his claim clear. Any male foolish enough to show interest would find himself missing more than just his position.
“Summon the Lux Sabers,” Sylas said without slowing. “Have them meet me in the royal corridor.”
“Yes, my king.” One of the guards peeled away at once, moving quickly to carry out the order.
Sylas continued forward, leading Elsa deeper into the fortress, into corridors reserved for royalty. Each step took them further from the public spaces, closer to his private domain.
His territory. Where he made the rules and enforced them with tooth and claw.
Where his new pet would learn exactly what it meant to belong to an Alpha King blessed by Lux herself.
The scent of Frosted Tears followed him like a promise. Like destiny finally catching up to claim what it had marked as his from the moment she’d crashed into his Holy Land.
Mine,his beast rumbled with satisfaction.
And for once, Sylas didn’t argue.
6
Elsa
Footsteps approached from the far end of the corridor—heavy, synchronized. Elsa lifted her head just as four figures emerged from a side passage.
Lux Sabers.
They were shorter and sleeker than the Alpha King leading her, each built like living weapons. Their armor was dark and fitted close to their bodies, etched with faint silver markings that caught the blue glow of the wall gems. Steel-gray, charcoal, and deep russet fur marked them as different clans, but the way they moved—silent, disciplined—told Elsa they belonged to the same order.
They stopped the instant they saw Sylas.