Into the Veil: The Dragon King's Fae
highlight_author
K.D. Peters
highlight_reads
179K
highlight_chapters
44
Prologue
I gently pushed open the door to the cupboard under the stairs, the hinges creaking softly. The first light of dawn was beginning to seep into the house, casting a gray hue over everything. I peeked out, my heart pounding in my chest.
The terrifying screams and other nightmarish sounds had finally stopped, replaced by an eerie silence and the sickening scent of blood. My small body trembled uncontrollably with fear.
Are they still here? I wondered.
The only noise that broke the silence was the sound of something dripping onto the wooden floor. The room was a mess, furniture upturned and broken, deep claw marks etched into the walls and floor—a grim reminder of our attackers.
I stepped out slowly, my hand clutching my chest. I could feel my heart hammering against my ribs, its frantic beat echoing in my ears along with my shaky breaths.
Despite my fear, I knew I had to leave. If they found me here, they would kill me. It didn’t matter that I was only five years old. The blood-soaked scent and the horrifying sounds I’d heard made it clear—they wanted us all dead.
My only hope was to escape to a nearby village once I was far enough away. Maybe there, I would be safe.
I tiptoed across the room, trying to be as quiet as possible. As I neared the doorway, my foot slipped on a wet patch. I caught myself with my hand, then foolishly brought it up to my face.
I clamped my other hand over my mouth to stifle a scream as I realized what I had slipped on.
“Blood!” I gasped.
I quickly crawled under the dining room table, my ears straining for any sounds as tears streamed down my face. A distant howl sent a chill down my spine.
Oh no! They’re still here! I thought.
I sat there for a few minutes, trying to decide what to do. I could go back to my hiding place and wait for someone to find me, but who knew how long that would take? And if the lycans came back, they would sniff me out. I had only been lucky before because my mother had the foresight to hide me with incense to mask my scent.
I had no choice. If I wanted to survive, I had to get out.
Summoning all my courage, I crawled out from under the table and made my way to the door. I gripped the doorknob with my small hand, pausing to listen before slowly turning it.
The village I had always called home was eerily silent as I stepped outside. The houses loomed dark and ominous in the dim light, their doors hanging open. Bodies were strewn across the road and around the houses, blood splattered and pooled everywhere.
I stood frozen, trying to process the horrific scene before me.
Everyone I knew was dead. They had all been slaughtered by the lycans.
We, the Sun Fae of the Northern Lands, knew about the lycan pack that roamed our lands, but we never thought we would be their targets. We were peaceful beings. We had done nothing to provoke their wrath. Yet, they had attacked us the previous night, treating us like mere prey.
I started walking down the main road leading out of the village, my eyes fixed straight ahead. I was in shock; my only thought was to get as far away as possible. But my legs felt heavy, and my mind was clouded.
Everyone’s dead, I kept thinking. They killed everyone. They’re all dead.
I don’t remember reaching the main road outside the village. The next thing I knew, I was there, surrounded by fields. The sky was getting lighter, and I could see the sun starting to rise over the distant mountains. Tears streamed down my face as I stopped to watch it.
I was out now! I might make it!
Suddenly, I froze, my breath hitching as I heard something large approaching from behind, followed by a low growl. Fear paralyzed me, but I knew what it was. The musky scent of damp fur mixed with the smell of blood was unmistakable.
A sudden, excruciating pain shot through my back, causing me to crumple forward with a scream. My survival instincts kicked in, and I managed to roll onto my side, but the pain was so intense that I could barely move. All I could do was look up at the monstrous figure looming over me.
I’d never seen a lycan before. I’d only heard the terrifying tales from my parents, and this one was even more horrifying than I could’ve ever imagined. He was tall and muscular, with a body and face that were eerily human-like. But his ears were large and wolf-like, and his eyes were a chilling dark color. His teeth were sharp and gleaming, and his fingertips ended in large, bloodstained claws. My blood.
The lycan towered over me, raising his hand to strike. I closed my eyes and shielded my head with my arms, bracing for the blow.
But it never came. Instead, I heard a thud, something heavy hitting the ground. I cautiously lowered my arms and opened my eyes. The lycan was gone, replaced by a figure that was a vision in white. His hair, his ears, his tail—they all glowed like the full moon.
Slowly, I sat up, taking in the sight of the lycan’s lifeless body on the dirt path. Blood was pooling around him, seeping from deep wounds in his chest and throat. It also dripped from the white claws of the one who had killed him.
I was speechless, staring at the scene in front of me. My back was throbbing with pain, and for the first time, I noticed pieces of my golden wings scattered around me. The lycan had torn through them when he attacked me.
My rescuer turned to me, kneeling down in front of me. I gasped and closed my eyes as he reached out, but his touch was gentle as he brushed my golden hair away from my face.
“You’re safe now, little one,” he said softly. “Do you know if anyone else survived?”
I shook my head, opening my eyes to meet his. They were golden and filled with concern.
“I promise I won’t hurt you,” he assured me. Then he called out, “Emelio.”
A figure appeared at his call, a strange man with fiery red hair and eyes that shimmered like a hologram.
“Yes, sire?” he responded respectfully.
“Bring me a blanket. We need to cover her back. We’ll take her to the palace, treat her wounds, and figure out what else we can do for her,” he ordered.
Emelio nodded, disappearing and reappearing quickly with a dark blanket. My rescuer took it from him and gently wrapped it around me before lifting me into his arms. As he did, my mind started to clear, and I began to piece together who these men were.
“I’m afraid there are no other survivors, my lord,” Emelio reported.
“I see.” He held me closer. “I’m sorry. I arrived too late, and your family’s blood is on my hands.”
It was then that I realized who he must be.
“You’re… Lord Jekia?” I whispered.
“I am,” Lord Jekia confirmed. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll keep you safe. They’ll never hurt you again.”
Relief washed over me at his words. I was safe with him. He was one of the most powerful beings in our world.
No one could harm me as long as I was with him, not even the lycans.
But as this realization sank in, so did the harsh reality of my situation. My entire Faerie Sect was gone, wiped out by the lycans.
What would become of me, the sole survivor?
Only time would tell.
