Hades' Cursed Luna novel Chapter 254

Hades

The halls leading to the holding wing felt longer than usual—colder, narrower. The further I walked, the deeper the weight in my chest became. Not guilt. No, not anymore.

Just pressure.

Like something inside me was growing too big for the skin that held it.

The lights flickered above in rhythm with my footsteps. My shadow stretched and warped across the walls like something unrecognizable, something... watching.

Five personnel followed at a distance. Clad in white medical coats, they whispered among themselves, clipped voices and tight grips on their clipboards. Each held paperwork.

They didn't have to.

I could smell their fear.

I stopped in front of Kael's cell.

The guards bowed their heads as I approached. I didn't acknowledge them.

I stepped inside.

The door sealed behind me with a finality that rang louder than any lock.

The room was spartan. No windows. Just a reinforced cot, a chain loop embedded in the wall, and a single overhead light that buzzed faintly like a dying thing.

Kael was seated at the far end, wrists still bound, a faint shimmer of runes glowing beneath the skin—preventing his shift, suppressing his strength.

He didn't look up at first.

But when he did, his gaze locked onto mine—and narrowed.

"You're worse," he said flatly.

I tilted my head, the shadows catching the edge of my jaw.

"Hello, Kael," I said. My voice was deeper than usual. Thicker. Like something else was speaking with me.

Or through me.

He stood slowly, shoulders rolling back despite the ache in his wounds. "What did you do?" His voice was grave. "You are so pale, your eyes are bloodshot but I can't smell alcohol."

Despite his light hearted nature, Kael was always straight to the point, even now it surprised me. "You will be out soon," I told him. "No need to worry."

He looked at me like I had grown a second head for a second before he let out a laughter, a maniac one. He walked towards me, shaking his bound hands in my face. "You think I give a fuck?" He spat. "I look like I care. Did I beg for release?"

He looked at him not speaking, and he grew more agitated. "Tell me, your Majesty. Can you not talk to me anymore?" He demanded.

"We are talking Kael," he replied, somewhat numb with a dull ache somewhere that I could not name.

"Then tell me!" He growled. "I did it for you and Eve before you ruined the one thing that helped you heal, while you destroy the one person that could love an heartless king like you."

It stung. "I know," I replied quietly. "I understand."

>"Do you now?" The flux drawled.

I ignored it.

"I know you did it for Eve..."

"And you..." the softness of Kael's voice returned. "Both of you were healing, eachother. You are stomping on that because of tests that could have been tampered with. You are throwing her away for this."

I said nothing. He still had much he wanted to off load.

Kael's chest rose and fell, his breath ragged, but not from exertion.

From restraint.