Lana
Walking between Kaelith and Sylas, I felt small.
Not just because of their height—but because of the suffocating weight of the stares surrounding us.
Since entering the Elven city, the air had changed. The scenery was beautiful—breathtaking, even. Tall, glowing trees, intricate silver-and-gold architecture, creatures unlike anything I'd ever seen. It looked like a fantasy kingdom from a dream.
But with every step we took, I felt the heavy gazes of people around us.
They weren't just curious about me.
They were watching them.
Kaelith and Sylas.
Their faces held no warmth—only fear, wariness, and something close to hatred.
I swallowed hard, pressing a hand against my chest to calm my heartbeat.
I already knew why.
Of course, they were afraid of my husbands. These two elves had a reputation—ruthless, dangerous, merciless killers.
But knowing that didn't make walking through these streets any easier.
I tightened my grip on my sleeve, lowering my gaze. "Why are they staring like that?" I whispered to Sylas.
A stupid question. I knew the answer. But I needed to say something—anything—to ease the tension clawing at my throat.
Sylas chuckled, his voice smooth and utterly unbothered. "They're just shy. Seeing Kaelith and me, two devastatingly handsome elves, is simply too much for them. They'd rather admire us from a distance."
Shy? My ass! They looked like they wanted to bolt the second we got too close! They were clearly terrified!
I gritted my teeth, holding back the urge to snap at him. Now wasn't the time to argue.
Kaelith, as expected, ignored both of us completely.
We kept walking, passing through grand plazas and elegant bridges before taking a turn down a narrower, darker road. The beautiful silver-and-white buildings faded into something more run-down. The air grew heavier, thicker—the scent of damp stone and something unpleasant tainting it.
The further we walked, the worse the feeling in my gut became.
I slowed my steps. "...Where are we going?"
Kaelith didn't even look at me when he answered. "The black market."
I stopped walking. "WHAT?"
Sylas grinned. "The black market. A place where laws don't apply, and anything can be bought or sold. Including information, lives, and… humans."
I took a step back. "Are you kidding me? You're seriously taking me to a place like that? Why?!"
Kaelith shot me a brief glance, his brown eyes cold and indifferent. "Don't make a scene. You're with us—no one will touch you."
His words should have reassured me.
But they didn't.
I knew I was safer with them than wandering alone, but that didn't mean I wanted to go anywhere near a place like that!
I hesitated for a second too long—because before I could argue, Kaelith grabbed my wrist again.
"Ow—Hey!" I protested as he pulled me forward, completely ignoring my resistance.
"Stop dragging me around like a damn ragdoll!"
Sylas chuckled, walking beside us with his hands in his pockets. "You're overreacting, sweetheart. Think of it as a fun little trip. A cultural experience."
I shot him a glare. "A fun trip? To a place where people buy and sell lives? Are you insane?"
He smirked. "Debatable."
I hate them.
With no choice but to follow, I reluctantly let myself be led further down the darkened path.
After winding through several shadowy alleys, we finally emerged into a new district—and the sight made my stomach churn.
The black market.
The streets were packed with people, but unlike the upper city, there was no lively chatter or warmth here. Every conversation was hushed, every movement calculated. The air felt thick with secrecy, as if the entire market thrived on whispered deals and hidden crimes.
The stalls around me were nothing like normal market stalls.
Artifacts pulsed with eerie energy. Weapons stained with dried blood were openly displayed. Merchants murmured about "rare ingredients" with a little too much emphasis on the word 'rare.'
And then—
I saw them.
Cages.
Cages filled with creatures. Some were monstrous—beasts with too many eyes or limbs—but others looked almost human.
One had glowing silver veins running under translucent skin. Another had curling horns like a ram, their eyes completely black.
Some were elves.
My stomach twisted violently.
This… this was slavery.
I turned away, swallowing down the bile rising in my throat.
"You look pale," Sylas remarked, clearly entertained by my discomfort.
I clenched my fists. "This place is horrifying."
"Of course it is," he replied easily. "That's why we brought you here."
I snapped my head toward him. "What?! What the hell do you mean by that?!"
He simply grinned and kept walking, offering no further explanation.
I swear to god—
Before I could demand answers, Kaelith stopped walking.
We had reached a building at the far end of the market. It was old, worn-down, and lacked any signs or markings. To any outsider, it looked abandoned.
Yet, without hesitation, Kaelith and Sylas stepped inside.
I hesitated.
A small voice in the back of my mind screamed at me not to follow.
This place felt… wrong.
I cast one last glance at the market behind me, at the cages, the chains, the cold, empty eyes of those trapped inside.
It could be me in their position. Trapped.
Then, before my hesitation could grow, Kaelith grabbed my wrist once more and pulled me through the doorway.
The air inside shifted instantly.
Unlike the noisy market, this place was eerily silent—but somehow, even more threatening.
My breath caught in my throat as I took in my surroundings.
Several elves and other creatures sat around round tables, their movements slow, deliberate. Some were sharpening blades. Others were drinking, their conversations hushed.
But the moment we entered—
All eyes turned to us.
The air grew thick. Heavy.
I could feel their gazes crawling over my skin—not out of curiosity, but out of recognition.
They were looking at Kaelith and Sylas.
Conversations halted.
No one greeted them. No one told them to leave. But there was no welcome here, either.
Only silence.
I swallowed hard, my heartbeat thudding painfully loud in my chest.
Kaelith walked further in, approaching a table where a group of rough-looking elves sat. One of them raised an eyebrow.
"You're back."
Kaelith gave a single nod. "We have business."
The man flicked his gaze toward me. His expression barely shifted, as if he had already heard the rumors.
I didn't like the way he looked at me.
Like I was something, not someone.
Sylas chuckled, tilting his head. "She's… a special guest."
He simply gestured toward a server in the corner, signaling for drinks to be brought over. I remained frozen in place, feeling as though I were surrounded by hungry wolves.
A sinking feeling settled deep in my gut.
These were people who lived by the blade.
Killers. Mercenaries. Assassins. Or more and I was the only prey in sight.
My mouth felt dry.
I turned to Kaelith, lowering my voice. "Why are we here?"
Kaelith didn't hesitate. "We're staying here."
I stiffened.
What? I must have misheard him.
"Excuse me?" I whispered, my voice sharp. "What do you mean, staying here?"
Staying here? In a den full of wolveswolves?!.
Kaelith didn't even spare me a glance. "I won't repeat it again."
What? Damn it, Kaelith!
I wanted to argue, to demand why the hell we needed to be here of all places, but before I could say anything, a low chuckle echoed through the room.
A chair scraped against the floor.
I tensed.
Someone had stood up.
Footsteps approached, slow and deliberate, stopping just a few feet away from us.
Kaelith turned slightly, his brown eyes darkening as they settled on the elf before us.
The man was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with the confidence of someone who wasn't afraid of death. His dark hair was tied loosely behind his back, and jagged scars ran across his arms, proof of countless battles.
His sharp green eyes flicked between Kaelith and Sylas, before settling directly on me.
I didn't like the way he looked at me. Like he was assessing a weak link.
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to hold his gaze.
It seems like he is a dark elf. From what I know, there are two types of elves: white-haired elves and dark elves with black hair.
His lips curled into an amused smirk. "So it's true," he murmured. "The two great evils of the Elven kingdom… took a human as their wife."
Kaelith didn't react, his expression as cold and sharp as ever.
Sylas, on the other hand, simply grinned. "Did the rumors reach you that quickly, Luthien?"
Luthien.
So that was his name.
The dark elf—Luthien—let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "Rumors travel fast, especially when they're ridiculous."
Then, his gaze flicked toward me again. "A human, huh?"
I said nothing.
His smirk widened slightly. "I was expecting something more… impressive."
Okay. Fuck this guy.
I opened my mouth to snap something back, but Sylas cut me off.
His playful demeanor remained, but there was something different in his tone—something colder.
"Careful, Luthien," he said smoothly. "That's our wife you're talking about."
Did Sylas just defend me? Oh, wow.
The air grew heavier.
Luthien didn't look intimidated. In fact, he chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. I wouldn't dare insult her."
I narrowed my eyes. I didn't believe that for a second.
Sylas placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip light but firm. "We need a room," he said, his voice casual. "Something private. I assume you have one or two available?"
Luthien raised an eyebrow. "You're really planning to stay here?"
Kaelith finally spoke. "For now."
Luthien sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Tch. Fine. Down there, there's always a room for you, boss, and a room for your little wife."
What? boss? Did he just call Sylas boss?
I didn't mishear that, did I?
So… he's one of Sylas's men?
To be continue....