here comes the rest of Chapter 27. The moment everything changes.
Chapter Twenty-Seven (Part Two): Ashes in the Veins
"Sometimes the truest rebellion is choosing love."
The fire surged around Kael like a living thing—gold shot with crimson, blistering with heat no mortal flame could touch. The godsflame, awakened fully, responded not to commands, but to conviction. And Kael's was absolute.
He would not let Riven die.
Not for politics. Not for legacy. Not even for the Emperor himself.
The guards closest to him stumbled back, shielding their faces. Metal warped, armor cracked. The sword at Kael's feet melted into slag.
Still kneeling, Kael met Riven's stunned gaze.
"Close your eyes," Kael murmured. "You don't need to see what comes next."
Riven shook his head, slow and dazed. "I see you. That's enough."
Above, the Emperor's voice thundered.
"KAEL!"
The godflame exploded outward.
Stone shattered. Pillars crumbled. Screams echoed as nobles ran, scattering like dry leaves in a storm. But the flames did not touch Riven. Not even a spark dared.
The fire knew who it burned for—and who it burned against.
The Emperor's guards tried to push forward, but the flames devoured them. One by one, like moths to a vengeful sun.
Kael stood slowly, flames licking up his arms, his chest, his face—yet he did not burn. The crown of fire ignited around his head again, brighter than ever.
He turned toward the Emperor.
"You said you'd burn the city if I defied you," Kael said quietly. "So I'll burn you instead."
He raised a hand.
And the palace wall cracked.
The Emperor snarled and thrust out his own hand—dark fire spiraling toward Kael. Shadowflame, ancient and poisonous. It met Kael's godsflame in mid-air.
The sky screamed.
The impact knocked most of the courtyard flat. Thunder rumbled from the heavens as the clash of fire and shadow tore the very clouds apart.
And in that chaos, Riven's chains—molten and weakened—snapped.
He stumbled to his feet, coughing, blood on his lips. The flames didn't touch him, but they recognized him. Wrapped around him. Protected him.
Kael turned just long enough to reach for him.
Riven fell into his arms.
"Are you real?" Riven asked hoarsely.
Kael pulled him close. "You're all that's real."
They didn't have long. The palace would collapse any second now. The flames were consuming everything Kael once called home.
Behind them, the Emperor staggered down from the throne steps, fury in every line of his burning silhouette.
"This changes nothing," he hissed. "You think they'll follow a traitor prince? A rebel whore?"
Kael smiled through the flames. "Then let them follow a god."
He took Riven's hand.
And they ran.
They didn't stop running until they were miles away. When the last flames of the city flickered on the horizon behind them, Kael collapsed beside Riven beneath a blackened tree.
Neither spoke for a while.
Until Riven whispered, "You kneeled."
Kael turned to him. "I'll kneel for no one else."
Silence, then a slow, ragged smile from Riven.
"…You really did let the world burn for me."
Kael brushed soot from Riven's cheek, touched his brow to his.
"No," he whispered. "I let it burn so I could build a new one—with you."