I woke to the soft crackle of a fire and the faint smell of pine. My body ached, every muscle screaming in protest, but the warmth of the flames soothed some of the chill that lingered from the battle. I groaned so deeply as the sting of pain banged just right under my arms. Rigel sat across from me, his face shadowed in the flickering light.“Finally awake,” he said, his voice low, almost tentative.I pushed myself upright, groaning as a sharp pain shot through my side. “What happened?”“You passed out after the fight,” he said, his eyes meeting mine briefly before flickering away. “Your body couldn’t handle the strain.”I studied him, noting the tightness in his jaw, the tension in his shoulders. He looked... tired. More than that—haunted.“Rigel,” I said carefully, “what aren’t you telling me?” I asked looking deeply into his beautiful eyes.He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached for a small, battered flask at his side, taking a long sip before finally speaking. “You’re s
The peace of the refuge shattered in an instant. One moment, the air hummed with quiet conversations and the rustling of leaves; the next, a deafening explosion ripped through the clearing. I was thrown backward, landing hard against the packed dirt. My ears rang as the acrid scent of smoke and magic filled the air. “Daniel!” Rigel’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. I scrambled to my feet, my heart racing as figures emerged from the smoke—familiar faces twisted with fury and determination. The rival faction. “Stay close to me,” Rigel barked, unsheathing his blade in one fluid motion. I barely had time to nod before the first attacker lunged at us. Rigel moved with a lethal grace, cutting through the enemy with brutal efficiency. But they just kept coming, their movements coordinated, their eyes locked on me. “This isn’t random,” Rigel growled, his back pressed against mine as we fended off the relentless onslaught. “They’re here for you.” What Rigel had been s
The aftermath of the battle left me feeling like I was walking on a razor's edge. The hideout was supposed to feel safe, but the air was heavy with tension, I could not stop looking around to be sure that we were not under another attack. The rival faction had been relentless in their assault, and even though we managed to drive them back, it was clear their attacks were growing bolder—and more coordinated and I was sure that at some point, we would not be able to hold them back.Rigel was silent as we returned, his jaw tight and his eyes stormy. The way he avoided meeting my gaze made my stomach churn. He was hiding something, and it was becoming harder to ignore.Once we reached the hideout, Rigel issued orders in his usual clipped tone, sending the other allies scattering. His voice carried an edge I wasn’t used to hearing from him, as if the battle had rattled him in a way he didn’t want anyone to see. Then, without so much as a glance in my direction, he disappeared into his priv
The tension between Rigel and me had reached an all-time high since Lucian’s fiery visit. His cryptic words echoed in my mind, and though Rigel insisted he was doing everything to protect me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was keeping something vital from me.We didn’t speak much as we traveled through the dense forest that surrounded our hideout. Rigel led the way, his shoulders rigid and his hand never far from the hilt of his blade. I trudged behind him, trying to keep up while my thoughts raced.“Where are we going?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.“To someone who might help,” Rigel said curtly, not bothering to look back at me.“Someone you trust?”His hesitation was answer enough.After what felt like hours, we arrived at a dilapidated manor hidden deep in the woods. The once-grand building was now overrun with ivy and moss, its windows shattered and its doors hanging crooked on their hinges. It didn’t look like the kind of place where allies lived.“Are you sure abo
Sleep didn’t come easy, and when it finally did, it brought nothing but fractured images of Nathaniel and his mocking voice echoing in my head: “Not all bonds are unbreakable.” I woke up more exhausted than before, with a dull ache in my chest that felt like dread taking physical form.Rigel was already up, of course. He always was. Pacing by the window, his gaze darted toward the horizon like he was waiting for something—or someone.“What’s the plan today?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady as I stretched.“Training,” he said without turning around.Of course. Training. Because that’s all my life was now—learning how to survive a war I didn’t ask to be part of.The clearing Rigel picked for our session was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that felt unnatural. Even the birds seemed to know something was off.“Focus,” Rigel snapped as I tried, and failed, to summon even the tiniest spark of energy.“I’m fucking trying!” I shot back, frustration bubbling over.“Trying isn’t good e
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of amber and violet as I stood in the clearing, sweat pouring down my face. Rigel circled me like a hawk, his expression a mixture of frustration and determination.“Again,” he barked.I groaned, clutching my knees to catch my breath. “Can we take a break? I’m not superhuman, you know.”His lips twitched into what might have been a smirk if I didn’t know him better. “Not yet. But you’re closer than you think.”Rolling my eyes, I pushed myself upright. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”“Not particularly,” he replied, tossing me a stick to mimic a weapon. “But I do enjoy keeping you alive.”Training with Rigel was like fighting a storm—unpredictable, relentless, and always leaving me on edge. He lunged at me with precision, forcing me to block, dodge, and counter until my arms felt like they might fall off. Every time I thought I had the upper hand, he would disarm me in one swift motion.“Your problem,” he said, knocking the s
The visions began as fleeting images—half-formed faces, shadowed landscapes, and fragmented whispers that echoed in my mind. At first, I thought I was dreaming. But the searing pain that accompanied each vision made it clear: this was no dream.I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands trembling as I tried to steady my breathing. The latest vision lingered in my thoughts—a battlefield drenched in blood, a younger version of Rigel standing at the center, his face hardened and unrecognizable.“What are you hiding from me?” I muttered, the question directed more at myself than anyone else.Rigel entered the room, his presence commanding as always, but this time, I saw him differently. The Rigel I knew—the one who trained me, protected me, even kissed me—was now tangled in a web of secrets I couldn’t ignore.“You’re still up,” he said, his voice neutral, though his sharp eyes took in my pale face and restless hands.“I couldn’t sleep,” I replied, meeting his stare.He crossed his arms, leani
The room was thick with tension, the kind that weighed down on your chest and made breathing difficult. Rigel paced back and forth, his jaw clenched, and his brow furrowed in deep thought. I sat on the edge of the table, fiddling with the hem of my shirt, trying to process the bombshell he had just dropped on me.“You can’t be serious,” I said finally, breaking the silence.He stopped mid-stride, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. “Deadly serious, Daniel. We can’t keep running from them. The rival faction isn’t going to stop until they have you—or kill you. This is the only way to end this.”His plan was insane. He wanted us to infiltrate the rival faction’s stronghold—a fortress teeming with enemies who would rip us apart the moment we were discovered. The idea sent a shiver down my spine, but the fire in Rigel’s eyes told me he wasn’t going to back down.“Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?” I asked, standing up to face him.“Of course I do,” he snapped, his voice sharp. “
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
The first signs of trouble were whispers on the wind. Scouts returned with strange reports—villages abandoned overnight, entire factions bending the knee to a force moving in the shadows. Something was coming. Daniel and Rigel were still on the run, hiding in the crumbling remains of an old monastery, when their latest ally—Jorin, a former supernatural bounty hunter—came rushing in, breathless and wide-eyed. “We have a problem.” Rigel stiffened. Daniel, who had been sitting by the fire, barely reacted. He hadn’t been sleeping. Not really. The blackouts were getting worse, the whispers louder, and every time he closed his eyes, he feared he’d wake up covered in blood again. Jorin’s gaze flicked between them before he spoke the name that sent a cold chill through the room. “Veyron is alive.” Rigel’s breath hitched. Daniel frowned, slow and detached. “Veyron’s dead.” “Apparently not,” Jorin muttered. “And he’s not alone. He’s got an army.” Daniel exhaled sharply, running a han