Married To Darkness-Chapter 452: Right In Wyfkeep Gate

Lucius hit the ground hard. He didn’t move.

Sebastian blinked, unimpressed. "You have to be joking..." he muttered, stepping forward. "How do you get knocked out in the first five seconds of a dramatic entrance?"

The second beast lunged forward, mouth foaming, but Alaric was already moving.

His sword was in his hand before the beast’s feet touched the ground.

Steel met claw with a sound like thunder cracking the earth.

The blow sent sparks flying into the air. Alaric’s eyes glowed faintly—unnatural. Too fast. Too graceful. The beast reeled back, howling in surprise.

Sebastian raised a brow. "Okay, impressive."

Alaric advanced without a word, his blade gleaming as he cut through the air with practiced ease.

The second beast roared, trying to flank him, but a flick of Alaric’s wrist sent a short dagger flying into its thigh, breaking its rhythm.

"You want to challenge a monster," Alaric muttered as he ducked a blow, "try one with discipline."

The first beast lunged again, claws scraping along Alaric’s chestplate, but Alaric spun with a savage growl of his own, delivering a brutal strike across its shoulder, slicing through flesh and sinew. Black blood splattered across the field.

It shrieked—a sound so high and raw it shook the trees.

Behind them, Salviana watched, wide-eyed. "He’s... he’s not even using magic..."

"Because he doesn’t need to," Sebastian muttered, finally lifting a hand. "But I suppose I can help before he accidentally dies and ruins the story."

He snapped his fingers and the second beast suddenly froze mid-lunge, like its limbs were bound by invisible rope.

It shrieked and struggled, but the spell held tight. Sebastian smirked. "There. Teamwork."

The first beast, enraged, took one final swipe at Alaric—but it was a mistake.

Alaric ducked, rolled, and then leapt high—too high for a human.

His sword came down like a falling star.

It drove straight through the beast’s neck.

Blood sprayed in an arc as the creature crumpled.

Silence.

The second beast, still writhing in Sebastian’s binding spell, let out a weaker cry—but Alaric wasn’t done.

He walked slowly, eyes burning with fury, and drove his sword through its heart with terrifying precision.

It was over.

The abyss behind them shrank and vanished with a sigh, the air knitting itself back together.

Jean ran forward, clutching Lucius’s face as he stirred groggily. "You idiot—how dare you pass out in the first round," she choked. Her eyes so expressive that Lucius smiled.

"Was buying time," Lucius slurred, clearly lying. "You’re welcome." Alaric looked at his friend with a frown.

Something must be wrong he thought, he might not know exactly how strong Lucius was but this has to be a weak moment for him. Something is wrong and he will ask him after all this.

Salviana ran into Alaric’s arms the moment he turned back, panting. His armor was scratched, bloody, but his face was calm—almost cold.

"You’re hurt," she whispered, touching his side.

"I’m fine," he replied, voice deep and quiet. "It’s over.

She pressed her forehead to his chest and breathed in the scent of steel and smoke. "That was... you were..."

"I told you," he murmured against her ear. "I would never let anything touch you."

Behind them, Sebastian sighed and dusted his coat. "Alright. Shall we all pretend we didn’t almost die? Or is this where someone writes a poem about it?"

"Remind me to never forget you again," Alaric said with a sharp glare.

"Oh please," Sebastian grinned. "You all would’ve died without me."

"Next time," Alaric said dryly, "don’t hide for two days just to show up with a one-liner."

"Drama is important," Sebastian replied.

Lucius groaned as he stood, half-dragged by Jean. "If anyone mentions I fainted, I will have Manni hex their bloodline."

"We all saw it," Jeanie said, trying not to laugh.

"You all saw nothing." Lucius insited,"

Salviana smiled, "Manni I hope is sleeping now somewhere safe with the prince’s privilege,"

As they regrouped, the trees parted ahead, and just over the crest—through a valley of blue mist—stood the black towers of Wyfkeep.

Salviana stared in awe. "We’re almost home..."

And Alaric whispered, "Let’s see what waits for us inside."

The city unfolded before them like a dream dipped in steel.

Wyfkeep’s towers clawed into the sky, shrouded in early morning mist. The streets bustled faintly in the distance—merchants shouting, carts rolling, bells chiming. But near the castle wall, all was still. Too still.

They approached on horseback, cloaked in travel dust and blood, blades sheathed, tension riding their spines like invisible burdens.

And yet, as they came closer to the gates—those towering iron doors engraved with the sigil of Wyfn-Garde—no horns sounded. No guards barked orders. No weapons were drawn.

Nothing.

Salviana felt the weight of it first, the breath catching in her throat like a trapped bird. Her fingers curled instinctively around Alaric’s tunic as her heart thudded like a war drum.

"Why is it so quiet? Why haven’t they stopped us yet? Is this mercy or a trap? Gods, what if this is the moment it all ends?"

Alaric felt her shift behind him, felt the sharp inhale of fear pressed against his spine. He glanced over his shoulder at her, his face calm, unreadable.

"Relax," he murmured, voice velvet and steel. "Whatever happens, I’m with you."

He dismounted, landing soundlessly like a shadow.

Salviana remained on the horse, stiff and still, too noble to show fear—yet her pulse pounded like a drum in her ears.

"He always speaks like he can shape fate. Like if he says we’ll survive, we will. But I’ve seen enough blood. I’ve seen enough fire. What if this is the price for peace?" Her thoughts rang.

Lucius and Jean rode just behind them, and Lucius, always moody, narrowed his eyes at the empty gate. "Where is the chaos? The sirens? They should be preparing to hang us—especially Alaric. He’s the one they branded traitor, demon, murderer. So why this calm?" He wondered mentally.

Jean kept close, sensing the static in the air. She nudged her horse forward.

"Lucius," she said under her breath. "It’s too easy. Something’s wrong." ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Lucius said nothing, his jaw tight. "I swore I’d find where I came from. That I’d uncover the truth of our kind. But it seems we can’t chase answers without dancing with death." His goals

Behind them, Sebastian scoffed lightly, adjusting his robes like he’d arrived for a dinner party instead of an execution.

"Look at this," he muttered, eyes bright with amusement. "We rode through fire and demons for this peaceful welcome?"

"Shut up," Jean hissed at him.

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