The silence after Lyra’s departure was suffocating, heavy with all the things left unsaid. The book she had handed me rested on my lap, its weight feeling like a thousand bricks pressing into my chest. I couldn’t look at Rigel—not yet.“You have something to say?” I finally asked, my voice trembling despite how hard I tried to steady it.Rigel’s eyes, those piercing eyes that once made me feel safe, now only held shadows. “Daniel, don’t do this,” he said, his tone low, almost pleading.“Don’t what, Rigel?” I snapped, my fingers curling tightly around the edge of the book. “Don’t ask why the bond you swore was for my protection benefits you more than me? Don’t ask why you never told me the truth?”His jaw tightened. “It’s not like that—”“Then explain it to me,” I interrupted, my voice rising. “Explain why you’ve been lying to me!”“I never lied,” Rigel said sharply, stepping closer. “I just didn’t think you needed to know everything. The bond… yes, it strengthens me, but that doesn’t
The cathedral had grown colder as the night stretched on, but it wasn’t the chill that sent shivers through me—it was the silence. Rigel stood by the shattered window, his back to us, his broad shoulders tense as though holding up the weight of everything unspoken. Adrian paced, his boots scuffing against the cracked stone floor with every restless step.“I can’t do this anymore,” I said, breaking the silence. My voice sounded foreign to me, small but firm, like it didn’t belong to the person who’d endured everything up until now.Rigel turned sharply, his amber eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. “What are you talking about?”Adrian stopped pacing, his attention snapping to me like I’d just declared something catastrophic—which, in a way, I had.“I can’t just sit here while the rogue leader threatens everyone we’ve lost so much to protect.” I looked at Rigel first, then Adrian, my chest tightening with every word. “I have to end this.”Rigel’s jaw clenched, his usual calm breaking
The coldness of the rogue leader’s lair was nothing like I imagined. It wasn’t dark or damp—it was elegant in a way that unsettled me, like a trap laid with silk and gold. Candles flickered along stone walls carved with symbols I couldn’t understand, and the air carried a scent I couldn’t place—sharp, sweet, and wrong all at once.He stood in the center of the room, calm and collected, like he’d been waiting for this moment his whole life. His eyes glinted as I stepped closer, the faint hum of my mark thrumming painfully against my chest.“You’re braver than I gave you credit for,” he said, his voice smooth and deliberate, each word wrapping around me like a vice. “Coming here, alone… That takes a certain kind of desperation.”I didn’t answer right away, forcing myself to hold his gaze. It was harder than I expected. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”A smile spread across his face—sharp, calculating. “Straight to the point. I like that.” He motioned toward a chair, but I
The rogue leader’s words still lingered in my head as I stumbled through the labyrinthine halls of the lair, every step heavier than the last. The vision he had shown me—the crumbling world, Rigel’s desperate grasp—was burned into my mind, making it impossible to think straight. Freedom. That’s what he had called it. But why did it feel like just another trap?The sudden crash of splintering wood shattered my thoughts, and I whirled around, heart hammering. Out of the shadows, Rigel emerged, his expression a mix of fury and relief. His sword dripped with dark blood, and his breathing was ragged, his protective energy still swirling faintly around him.“Daniel!” he barked, rushing toward me. His hands gripped my shoulders, a little too tightly. “Are you hurt? Did they—” He cut himself off, scanning me up and down with wide, frantic eyes.“I’m fine,” I said, though my voice was barely above a whisper. “What are you doing here?”“What am I doing here?” he repeated incredulously. His tone
The morning came slowly, or at least it felt that way. I couldn’t tell if it was the light filtering in through the thick canopy of trees or my own senses shifting again, making time feel warped. Everything around me was sharper—every rustle of leaves, every distant birdcall—it all seemed unbearably loud. Even the air felt different, carrying a strange weight, like it wasn’t just oxygen but something… more.I sat on a weathered stone near our makeshift camp, staring at my trembling hands. My mark hadn’t stopped burning since we fled the rogue leader’s lair. It wasn’t just a dull ache anymore; it felt alive, pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat. My skin tingled, almost as if I were on the verge of shedding it altogether.“You’re changing.” Lyra’s voice startled me, but I didn’t flinch. Somehow, I’d sensed her approach.She crouched beside me, her crimson cloak pooling around her like blood. Her gaze was steady, piercing. “The bond is accelerating everything. Your body is trying to adapt
The night was quieter than usual, though silence had never felt so loud. I slipped out of the shelter, careful not to wake Rigel. His protective instincts were getting worse, his watchful eyes tracking my every move as if he expected me to vanish into thin air. Maybe I would, at least for tonight.Lyra’s cryptic warnings had been haunting me, her voice looping in my head like a broken record. The bond is accelerating, Daniel. You don’t have much time. I had to know more, even if it meant going behind Rigel’s back.I found her waiting for me near the edge of the forest, her figure blending into the shadows like she belonged there. “You’re late,” she said, her voice sharp but not unkind.“Had to make sure I wasn’t followed,” I replied, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets. The air felt heavier out here, like the trees themselves were holding their breath.She smirked, her dark eyes glinting in the moonlight. “Still scared of him, aren’t you?”“Rigel’s not the problem,” I shot back, t
The tension had been building for days, a silent storm brewing just beneath the surface. I didn’t notice Adrian until it was too late. He emerged from the shadows of the abandoned shelter, his face a mixture of anger and disbelief.“You’ve been meeting with her,” he said, his voice tight, like he was barely holding it together.I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. “Adrian, I can explain—”“You went to Lyra.” His tone sharpened, cutting through my words. “You trusted her over us. Over me.”The accusation stung more than I wanted to admit. “It’s not like that,” I shot back, my voice rising. “I just needed answers, Adrian. Answers no one else was giving me.”“You didn’t even give us a chance!” he snapped, stepping closer. His usual warmth was gone, replaced by something colder, more volatile. “Do you have any idea how dangerous she is? Or are you so desperate to escape this that you’ll make a deal with anyone who promises you freedom?”“That’s not fair,” I said, my chest tightening. “
The tension in the room was unbearable, a suffocating silence that neither Adrian nor Rigel dared to break. I stood between them, feeling the weight of their expectations pressing down on me. It wasn’t just a choice they were demanding—it was everything. My life. My heart. My soul.Rigel was the first to speak, his voice quieter than I expected but no less firm. “Daniel, you need to decide. You’ve seen what’s coming. You’ve seen what this bond can do—for both of us. But if you don’t embrace it, you’re putting everything at risk. I can’t keep fighting for you if you won’t fight for us.”There it was: his ultimatum. Stay with him and give in to the bond completely, or lose his protection forever. The words sank deep, cutting me in ways I didn’t even know were possible.I opened my mouth to respond, but Adrian stepped forward, his presence both comforting and unnerving. “Don’t let him manipulate you,” he said sharply, though his eyes softened as they met mine. “This isn’t about protectin
A Desperate SearchRigel couldn’t rest.Sleep was impossible when Daniel was still out there, trapped in the clutches of an ancient evil, slipping further and further away from who he once was.The world had already turned against him. The supernatural council had issued its final decree—Daniel was too dangerous to live.Every faction, every warrior, even supposed allies, whispered the same thing:“He’s lost. He’s gone. If you try to save him, you’ll die with him.”Rigel didn’t care.He had never cared about the odds.Because this wasn’t just about saving Daniel’s soul. It was about the truth.And the visions Daniel had been having—the ones of his past life, of his former self being betrayed—meant something far greater was at play.Someone had orchestrated all of this before.Someone had betrayed Daniel once before.And they were still here.Still close.A Hidden Trail of LiesThe answer had to be in the records.Rigel had spent hours, days, poring over ancient texts, searching for an
Falling into the AbyssDaniel was drowning.Not in water, but in darkness.It pulled him down, suffocating, smothering his thoughts, his memories, his very sense of self. He could no longer tell where his body ended and the ancient evil began. He was weightless, yet trapped, caught in a current he couldn’t escape.It whispered to him—soft, coaxing, like silk against his skin.“Stop fighting, Daniel.”“This is who you were always meant to be.”He gritted his teeth, pressing his hands against his temples.“No,” he rasped. “I won’t—”Pain exploded through his skull.Visions surged before his eyes like a thousand shattered mirrors, each shard reflecting a different version of himself. A different past.And then—he wasn’t Daniel anymore.The Past That Wasn’t His… Or Was It?The world shifted, and suddenly, he stood in a grand hall bathed in golden firelight.Marble pillars stretched toward a domed ceiling, intricate carvings of celestial symbols glowing faintly. Massive banners hung from t
A Line Drawn in BloodThe world had never felt colder.Rigel stood at the center of a battlefield that was seconds away from plunging into chaos.Daniel, the man he loved, the man who had once fought beside him, now stood against him, shadowed by an army that had pledged themselves to darkness.Behind Rigel, the council’s warriors—shapeshifters, sorcerers, and celestial beings—were ready to strike Daniel down at the first command.And Rigel knew.If he didn’t stop this war now, they would try to kill him.“Step aside, Rigel,” one of the council leaders commanded, voice sharp as a blade. “Daniel is no longer the man you knew. He has chosen his side.”Rigel’s hands curled into fists.“Then you’ll have to go through me first.”A ripple of silence spread through the battlefield. Disbelief. Shock. Even Daniel tilted his head slightly, as if trying to understand what Rigel had just done.“You don’t have to die with him,” another warrior spoke, her voice laced with urgency. “This isn’t your
The world felt wrong. Something had shifted—something irreversible. The moment the temple fell into darkness, the supernatural world knew. Across realms, in the deepest corners of the world where shadows whispered secrets, the air changed. Something new had awakened. Or rather—something very, very old. The council was the first to sense it. The moment Daniel disappeared, the High Seers’ sacred flames went out. The oldest vampires found their blood turning cold. The fae felt the balance of magic shift. Even the rogue leader, miles away, staggered, clutching his chest as the dark power he had once served was drowned out by something much greater. Something he didn’t recognize. For the first time in centuries, the supernatural world was unified—not by alliances, not by treaties, but by a singular, overwhelming terror. Daniel was gone. And something else was in his place. Rigel’s Desperation “Bring him back!” Rigel’s voice was raw, hoarse from shouting. He was still kne
Daniel had never felt so clear-headed. So strong. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he wasn’t drowning in fear or doubt. He wasn’t fighting against something he couldn’t control. He was the control. Power thrummed through his veins—dark, intoxicating, and endless. He could feel the ancient force within him, guiding his steps, sharpening his thoughts. He stood at the head of Veyron’s army, gazing down at the battlefield stretched before him. A sea of supernatural warriors stood at the ready—creatures of the night, rebels who had long abandoned the council, and shadows that slithered through the ground like liquid death. And yet, despite their numbers, Daniel knew exactly where his eyes were drawn. Rigel. Standing defiantly, sword in hand, eyes burning with something painfully familiar—love and fury, hope and heartbreak, all at once. “Daniel,” Rigel called, voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “You don’t have to do this.” Daniel tilted his head, taki
The Darkness Takes HoldDaniel had never felt so clear-headed. So strong.For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he wasn’t drowning in fear or doubt. He wasn’t fighting against something he couldn’t control.He was the control.Power thrummed through his veins—dark, intoxicating, and endless. He could feel the ancient force within him, guiding his steps, sharpening his thoughts.He stood at the head of Veyron’s army, gazing down at the battlefield stretched before him. A sea of supernatural warriors stood at the ready—creatures of the night, rebels who had long abandoned the council, and shadows that slithered through the ground like liquid death.And yet, despite their numbers, Daniel knew exactly where his eyes were drawn.Rigel.Standing defiantly, sword in hand, eyes burning with something painfully familiar—love and fury, hope and heartbreak, all at once.“Daniel,” Rigel called, voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “You don’t have to do this.”Daniel tilted
The Moment of SurrenderDaniel didn’t struggle.The moment he let the darkness swallow him whole, a cold, terrifying stillness settled over his body. It wasn’t painful. It wasn’t violent.It was acceptance.For weeks, he had been fighting—clawing, screaming, breaking—trying to hold on to something that was never meant to last. Trying to fight a war he had already lost.But this?This was peace.Veyron stood beside him, an eerie smile curling at the edges of his lips.“Finally,” he murmured. “You understand.”Daniel turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of Rigel in the distance. He could still hear the echoes of his voice—pleading, furious, desperate.“Daniel, please!”But it was too late.The choice was already made.Daniel let out a slow, steady breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them again—they were completely black.Rigel’s DevastationNo.This wasn’t happening.Rigel’s hands were shaking. His lungs burned. His heart was shattering inside his chest.“Daniel!” he roar
The Moment Everything ChangedRigel’s body shook violently, the invisible force crushing his throat. He couldn’t breathe.Daniel’s voice was distant, panicked, but Rigel couldn’t focus on anything except the burning pain in his lungs.Veyron was going to kill him.The realization sent a violent surge of magic through Rigel’s veins.With sheer, desperate willpower, he twisted his hand in a cutting motion, summoning a burst of white-hot energy. It shattered the unseen hold on his body, and he dropped like a stone, coughing violently.Before he could recover, a shadow loomed over him.“You’re persistent,” Veyron murmured, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “I respect that.”Rigel spat blood onto the ground and forced himself up, his entire body aching. “Go to hell.”Veyron simply smirked. “Oh, I plan to. And I’m taking Daniel with me.”Rigel’s chest tightened. His heartbeat was loud, deafening. He turned his gaze toward Daniel—who hadn’t moved.He was just standing there.Frozen. Shaken.
Daniel sat in silence, his hands gripping the arms of the stone chair as the council’s voices echoed through the grand chamber. The walls of the ancient hall loomed around him, adorned with tapestries depicting wars, betrayals, and supernatural history—stories that now felt disturbingly familiar in his mind. Because this wasn’t just history. It was his history. And Rigel’s. He risked a glance at Rigel, who stood beside him with his arms crossed, his jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might shatter. He hadn’t said a word since Daniel had told him the truth—about the vision, about their past, about the curse that seemed to wrap around them like an inescapable noose. And Rigel was terrified. Not of Daniel. But of losing him. The council members, seated in a crescent of towering thrones, spoke in low, urgent tones. “If he was a danger then, he will be a danger now.” “The prophecy has warned us time and time again—his existence alone could tip the balance.” “Can he truly r