Chapter 3 THE NIGHT OF BETRAYAL

The full moon hung heavy in the sky, casting a cold, silvery glow over the kingdom. The citadel, normally bustling with life and royal affairs, stood eerily still as the full moon celebration began. The streets were filled with laughter and music, the joy of the people flowing freely as the royal family mingled with their subjects. But unbeknownst to the revelers, a storm was brewing in the shadows,one that would tear the heart of the kingdom apart.

In the grand halls of the citadel, Queen laynna stood beside King Alaric , their faces bright with smiles as they greeted guests and celebrated another year of peace. Their son ceaclum were with them, their laughter mingling with the music as they exchanged pleasantries with the nobles. It was a night of joy, a night of unity until the first screams shattered the air.

At the gates of the citadel, Macus and his rebellious army, masked by the chaos of the celebration, launched their surprise attack. The guards, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, scrambled to defend the walls, but their efforts were futile. Macus forces, swift and deadly, overwhelmed them in moments. Torches were thrown, buildings were set aflame, and the citadel once a symbol of peace became a battleground.

Alaric, who had been by his wife side when the first alarm sounded, drew his sword without hesitation. His heart raced with the realization that this was no ordinary raid it was an all out attack. He fought valiantly, his blade flashing in the moonlight as he struck down the rebels one by one. His mind, however, was consumed by the terror of what this meant. His kingdom, his family everything was at risk.

"Stay close, Lyanna!" Alaric called over his shoulder, his voice cutting through the chaos. But his wife was already by his side, but it seem she's in labour, sword drawn, fighting with a ferocity that only a wife could possess. Together, they pushed back the invaders, working as a team to protect the heart of their kingdom. But as the battle raged on, Lyanna's eyes narrowed in confusion. Amidst the chaos, she saw something that chilled her to the core.

She was in labour and have given birth to twin, From the shadows, Macus emerged, his face partially hidden by a dark hood. But it wasn't his face that froze Lyanna's blood,it was the twin an outline of their figure, the pressure might had forced her into quick labour. Alaric quickly signal some guards to take them to safety. But one thing is sure were is his son. His heart sank as the realization dawned on him, Macus was no mere rebel. He was his brother.

For years, Macus had been a trusted member of their family, a sibling he had fought beside, shared secrets with, and trusted implicitly. But now, as the truth crashed down on him, he saw the coldness in his eyes-a coldness he had never seen before. He had betrayed them. He had chosen his own path, and in doing so, had torn apart everything they had built.

Lyanna's grip on her sword tightened, her gaze locked on Kael as he moved toward the throne room. She tried to push through the chaos and pain of labour, but her path was blocked by rebels and fire. All around her, the citadel burned, but her focus remained solely on her brother.

Meanwhile, king Alaric, panic rising in her chest as the citadel descended into chaos, grabbed his son Caelum, with his twin the youngest of the royal family, pulling him toward the secret passage that led out of the citadel. "Please take them to safety ," he whispered urgently to a trusted guard, his face pale with fear. "They need to escape before it's too late.

He had remove a pandet from his neck and have given to the twin. Ceaclum hesitate to go with the guards but to fight with his parents, he ran back to the battle field leaving his siblings behind with the guard and his father. As he turned to leave, ceaclum caught sight of his wife from across the courtyard. His eyes met his mother and in that moment, there was no need for words. They both knew what had to be done. Alaric hesitated for only a moment before nodding. He and Caelum the passage into the field, the guard escape swift and silent with the twin , leaving A behind to fight.

Alaric, standing in the heart of the citadel, watched them disappear into the shadows. His heart twisted with the weight of his decision. He knew that he could not abandon his family, but he also knew that he had to protect what remained of the kingdom. The citadel was burning, the royal bloodline was in jeopardy, and Macus was no longer the brother he had once known. He would face him now.

Alaric made his way toward the throne room, each step heavy with the knowledge that this confrontation could be the end. As he entered the great hall, the flames licked at the walls, casting an eerie glow over the room. In the center, standing near the throne, was macus.

Macus face was obscured by the shadows, but Alaric could see the coldness in his eyes. The betrayal, the treachery,it was all laid bare before him. He could hardly believe it, but there was no time to question it now. The time for words had passed.

"Alaric," macus's voice came, low and steady, cutting through the crackling of the flames. "You are too late. The kingdom is mine now."

Alaric's heart pounded in his chest as he tightened his grip on his sword. "You are a traitor, Kael," he spat, his voice filled with disgust. "You have destroyed everything,our family, our kingdom."

Kael's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Everything was always yours, Alaric. You never deserved it. I have waited too long for this moment. The throne is mine, and nothing will stop me now."

Alaric raised his sword, his resolve stronger than ever. "I will stop you, Kael. You have betrayed the bloodline, and I won't let you take everything from us."

With that, the two brothers clashed, their swords ringing out as they fought. The flames of the burning citadel illuminated their movements, casting long shadows across the throne room. The battle was fierce, each blow a testament to the hatred that had poisoned their once-strong bond.

As the citadel burned around them, the fate of the kingdom hung in the balance. Alaric knew that this was the moment that would decide everything. The night of betrayal had arrived, and the future of their family-and the kingdom-was uncertain.

And as the two brothers fought, the citadel continued to burn, the night alive with the echoes of their conflict.

Alaric's sword clashed against Kael's, the sound of metal on metal ringing through the throne room. As the citadel crumbled around them, Alaric knew that this final battle would decide everything. Would he be able to stop Kael, or would the rebellion claim the throne? The answer remained uncertain as the flames closed in, threatening to consume them both. cealcul