ARAHShe held her breath, eyes glued to the screen. The camera was angled low, showing only the bottom half of the coroner’s office door. Shadows moved across the grainy footage, but it was impossible to see a person.Then a hand appeared—not human. Something with scales and claws. Fire burst from it, and the hand touched the lock until the metal bubbled and deformed.The video cut out.Cora cursed, Mabel tried to keep the phone steady, and Tonio leaned in closer while Arah stood frozen. The hand in the video reminded her of the beastly hand Gildeon had in her dream before turning back into a human. Or maybe she was remembering it wrong. That was a dream, after all. But this one wasn’t. How was she supposed to make sense of this?“Can you play it again?” Arah asked urgently. Mabel replayed the clip. The video quality wasn’t the best, so it was hard for her to make out the details.“Is there another video?” she asked again, practically snatching the phone from Mabel this time and repla
ARAHShe hadn't found a vase yet, so she just kept the flowers in her room. She ran her fingers over the soft violet petals so often that their sweet, exotic scent now clung to her hair and skin. These definitely weren't from a regular flower shop. Where did Gildeon find these?But it didn't really matter. If anything, not knowing made these flowers feel even more special. She carefully placed the bouquet on her bed and turned to get dressed, choosing the fanciest dress in her wardrobe. Slipping it on, she felt the soft fabric glide over her skin. She inspected her reflection in the mirror, flashing a satisfied smile. The soft pink on her lips matched the blush on her cheeks, enhancing the vibrant blue of her eyes and the curls she had pinned back.This would be their first real date night, not counting any they might’ve had before the accident. So tonight, she wanted to make an effort. She wanted to look good.The dress hugged her perfectly, revealing a bit of midriff and her owl-cou
ARAHWhatever qualms she had about Gildeon were out the window for now.He slung his arm around her from behind, pulling her close. She gasped as his hardness pressed into her back. They shared a brief moment of silent understanding. Sex was too soon, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t do other things to pleasure her. Just the thought sent a bubble of excitement through Arah, her heart pumping in anticipation.Her head rested against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, steady at first, then faster with each passing second. The power of it enveloped her body like a sweet embrace.Gildeon buried his nose in her hair, inhaling deeply, making her shiver. “You smell incredible,” he muttered. In the reflection, she saw his strong jaw working as if he were struggling to control his lust for her.His other hand squeezed her breast, kneading it firmly, eliciting a loud gasp from her.He paused. “Too hard?” His voice was husky, his head tilting as if to search her eyes for any sign of discomfo
GILDEONHis fingers slowed, holding her on the brink. The air thrummed, eager to merge with her. He hadn’t expected her power to manifest with such intensity just from his touch. But he found a way to control it, to keep Arah in check.“Arah?” he whispered, but she was lost, eyes shut tight. He continued stroking her in a calculated way, the hem of her skirt brushing his hand, his wrist grinding against her ass with every thrust. Her hips matched his rhythm. Each squirm, each moan drove him wild, barely containing the bulge in his pants.But tonight wasn’t about him. This was all for her.“Gildeon, please...” she begged. He risked it, pushing her to the verge of insanity.Her body trembled, walls spasming around his fingers. He watched her face contort, blue eyes fluttering in silent ecstasy. He ached to kiss her but nuzzled her ear instead, holding back his own desire.He felt it—tension coiling, ready to snap. Her desperate moans and fingers tugging at his hair pushed him to work fa
ARAHShe noticed Gildeon's eyes lingering on the scar-nosed woman. Searching his gaze, she asked, “Do you know her?”“No,” he replied, then nodded at the menu. “What do you want to get?”She was taken aback by his quick, dismissive reaction but wondered if she was reading too much into it. Lowering her eyes to the menu, she skimmed over the dishes and pointed to one. “Hmm… this salmon dish right here. I just can’t pronounce the name,” she said, wincing. She caught Gildeon stifling a smile.A server approached, sensing they were ready to order. Gildeon took care of the rest while her eyes feasted on the restaurant's interior. She’d never been to a place this classy—or at least, not in the time she could remember. The lights above resembled giant pearls caged in coral reefs, casting a warm glow across the room. She thought about getting one for her studio, hoping it wouldn’t be too expensive.The walls felt alive with lush ferns and vibrant orchids mounted on panels of neat wood slats.
GILDEONHe stilled, masking his reaction with an innocent frown. Arah's gaze bore into him as he watched the short clip. He doubted she knew anything, but he couldn't take any chances. Behind him, he sensed Ghulik trying to slink away.‘Where do you think you’re going?’ he growled internally. The goblin squeaked, freezing.“M-Master, Ghulik will go guard the witch,” he stammered. “Ghulik will protect Master and Sylph Lady.”‘Stay,’ he ordered darkly, replaying the video clip for show. ‘I’ll deal with you later.’“Ghulik made a mistake,” he groveled dramatically. “Forgive Ghulik, Master!”Ignoring the goblin, Gildeon handed the phone back to Arah, noting the dark gleam in her blue eyes.“So, what do you make of it?” she asked, her tone curious and probing.He leaned back, drumming his fingers on the table, pretending to think. “Hard to tell,” he said, jerking his head slightly. “Video quality’s subpar. It could be anything. A prop, a device, a trick of the eye.”“They said it might be
GILDEONRoselia had pinpointed the witch’s last known location around the area. He'd scouted the place earlier, but without Arah, flushing the witch out would’ve been a challenge—hence, the date night.His plan had worked. He managed to lure in the enemy while making Arah warm up to him. Two birds with one stone, as the saying goes. The only thing he hadn’t expected was that damn footage putting him in a surprising spot.“How did you sense her so fast?” he demanded sharply, locking the witch’s arm in an iron grip as they walked past the grand viewing deck behind the restaurant. He needed to find someplace without a crowd.“What do you mean, handsome?” she asked, her voice dripping with mock innocence.“Answer me truthfully,” he hissed. He could’ve easily killed the witch right here if it weren't for these people. He glanced up, ensuring there was only one CCTV, and it was facing the deck.Fucking cameras.“Oh, I was actually tailing the blondes at first,” the witch explained, tossing
ARAHShe didn’t wait for Gildeon. Her heart felt heavy as she walked out of the restaurant. Had she stayed, she would’ve grilled him about that woman, and he would’ve lied again, stringing together some smart words just to make her shut up.The thought of her husband doing who-knows-what with that scar-nosed woman gnawed at her. Distasteful images started to creep into her mind. She pushed the thoughts away as she wandered through town, trying to distract herself.Every now and then, she stopped, feeling like someone was watching or following her. She thought maybe it was just the cold, so she ducked into a clothing shop and bought a random jacket. She also grabbed a pair of flip-flops to replace her heels that were killing her feet.With the paper bag swinging from her arm, she continued her stroll until she ended up in the amusement park. She wished Gildeon were here with her. This could’ve been the perfect end to the night if he hadn’t ruined it. Though in hindsight, didn’t she als
ARAHShe slipped the cardstock with her printed Clover Wish design out of the binder, tore it into pieces, and dropped them into the bin. Then she pulled out a few more flash sheets—ones with patterns that looked a little too much like real sigils—and tossed those out too.She couldn’t risk setting something off again and starting another coven war.A month had passed since the incident. Life on Caylao Island had returned to normal, as if nothing strange had ever happened. The townspeople had been spared that horrific memory thanks to Roselia’s bewitching fog. If it hadn’t been for that, Arah likely would’ve lost her friends too after they found out she wasn’t human.She looked up at her friends gathered in the waiting area, swapping theories about what really happened at Baccayo Prison that night.“I heard Sharko’s gang was involved,” Mabel said, swirling her straw in her milk tea. “Maybe they tried to break out some of their old members.”Tonio grimaced, mid-chew on a massive bite o
GILDEONThey brought Arah to Roselia’s farmhouse. She was still out cold, and it would likely take her a few days to recover. Roselia had set up the back room, lit herbs that filled the air with sharp smoke, and circled Arah with crystals humming with healing energy.Gildeon switched on his dragon sight. Arah’s aura flickered, blue-green, faint. But something else swam through it—streaks of deep, electric blue that came and went like a second heartbeat.Gildeon hadn’t seen that on her before, but maybe they were remnants of some buried power. Something that had awakened when her life hung by a thread—something she’d used to wipe out both Zylas and Drusden.The aftermath of that fight still gnawed at him in strange ways, but none of it mattered for now. Answers could wait. He’d talk to Arah when she woke up.Gildeon pulled the blanket over her shoulders, then glanced at Ghulik, who was curled on a cushion near the bed, snoring like an old man, his belly swollen.Before leaving the Bacc
GILDEONThe monster that had been Drusden let out a growl that made the air tremble. Its massive fist crashed down, shattering the stone floor, jagged cracks splintering out like veins. Gildeon staggered back, the ground quaking beneath him.He needed to get to Arah—fast. But his attacks were useless against this colossal Fog Drusden. His flames and claws struck nothing but air, doing little more than disrupting the mist. Meanwhile, every swing of its massive arm and stomp of its enormous foot shattered the makeshift walls and cracked the floor beneath him.He had to find its weakness. But even when he used his dragon eyes, he couldn’t find anything.Gildeon leaped back repeatedly, leaving decoys in his wake until the giant beast fixated on them. The distraction worked. With the creature’s attention elsewhere, he slipped into the shadows, making his way toward Ghulik and Roselia.Roselia was still unconscious, but her aura was slowly returning.“Master, Ghulik used last power to heal
DRUSDENHe had wagered everything he had left on this battle. Half his soul remained with the titan form he had unleashed against Gildeon, while the other was committed to harvesting Arah’s power.When all his comrades had fallen, he thought everything was lost—that he was fighting for nothing but survival and revenge. But then he had found a way to exploit the weaknesses of both Gildeon and Arah. And with that, an opportunity had emerged.This would be his last chance to complete the mission.For the sake of his fallen witches, he had to claim victory.The air shimmered with the sylph’s power—cool, electric, alive. It curled around him, thrumming against his skin. Even half of her essence would be enough to ignite the ascension, to send him spiraling into a euphoria of accelerated evolution.From a human who became a powerful witch to a witch on the brink of ascending to a higher mortal state—only one step remained. Zylas had to carry him up to the Shamibar to complete his transforma
ARAHThe talons dug into her ribs, tight enough that she could barely breathe. Every movement sent sharp jolts through her side. Above, the wind roared past—a cold, biting force that turned her breath ragged and thin. She could feel the heat of the dragon’s underbelly, a stark contrast to the freezing air, like the sun trapped in scales.The wings beat in a steady, monstrous rhythm. Each downward stroke sent a tremor through her body, making her stomach lurch. The sheer power of it swallowed everything else, drowning out even her own pounding heart.She twisted, trying to turn her head, but the grip was unyielding. “Where are you taking me?” she yelled at the beast.Dragon Zylas answered with a roar—a gut-rattling sound that made her ears ring. Around her, the fog was still thick, high up in the sky. She couldn’t see anything else. Were they still above the prison compound?She struggled against the talons again, but it was futile. Not even her tattoos could help her now. They had sun
GILDEONThe apparition stalking toward him wore Commander Haemos’s shape. The details wavered and blurred, but Gildeon could still make out the rage-twisted expression on the ghostly face. Haemos’s fog sword flashed through the mist, a broad arc aimed straight at him.Gildeon shot backward, his eyes darting to Arah. She was squaring off against a spectral enemy of her own. He already knew Drusden was using their fears and regrets against them. But who could be Arah’s demon?Gildeon tensed, ready to rush to her side, but Fog Haemos cut him off, blade slashing in a tight swing. He ducked, but not fast enough. Steel bit into his shoulder. He grunted, blood spilling onto his hide. He’d been too distracted by Arah to harden his dragon scales in time.With a snarl, he wrapped his clawed hand around the fog blade, yanking it free from his shoulder. Agony rippled through him, but he didn’t flinch. Muscles strained as he drove the sword back into the ghostly figure, the force sending Fog Haemo
ARAHThe moment her fingertips brushed his beastly face, a cold shock slammed into her, so sharp it stole the breath from her lungs. Her vision blurred, darkness swallowed her whole, and before she could resist, her eyes fluttered shut—When she opened them again, she was somewhere else. Her breath hitched as she took in the sight around her.Corpses.Men. Women. Children.Her people.Arah’s stomach twisted. Sylph bodies lay scattered across the blood-streaked ground. Their lifeless blue eyes stared into nothing. Some bore deep claw marks, some were nearly split in two, and others had been brutally ripped apart, as if a pack of rabid wolves had torn through them.The village lay in ruins, smothered by the stench of death. Salamander warriors moved through the carnage, their heavy footsteps crunching over bodies—as if to ensure no one had survived.Tears welled in her eyes. This wasn’t a noble battle. This was a massacre.A few feet away, she spotted Gildeon in his leather armor. His b
ARAHFear coiled around her ribs like a vice.“I-it’s me,” she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.Gildeon didn’t flinch. His lips remained curled back, exposing sharp teeth. His expression was predatory, enraged. In his eyes, she was someone else—an enemy.What had Drusden done to him?She tried to choke out his name again, but her throat tightened, the pressure crushing her windpipe. Her pulse pounded—a frantic drumbeat against his grip. The steam curling from his scaled body rolled over her in suffocating, blistering waves.How the hell was she supposed to stop this?Through tear-blurred eyes, Arah caught a flicker of movement—an outline shifting, pulsing like a mirage behind Gildeon. Her eyes widened as she remembered her creature-helper.Gildeon hissed, his body tensing as his free hand shot back, claws poised to seize whatever had latched onto him. The creature clung to his neck, jaws clenched, its form flickering in and out of focus.The grip around Arah’s throat sl
ARAHDays passed. Drusden had recovered, but he remained at Roselia’s farmhouse.Roselia taught him about the old world and the ways of hedge witches. Drusden then hunted the dark witch responsible for the devastation—and eventually killed him.Together, they worked to cleanse the village of its plague and heal the people.Arah witnessed something shift between Roselia and Drusden. It was likely during this time that they began developing feelings for each other.Drusden also bonded with young Alaunus, though their connection was anything but paternal. He spoke to Alaunus about mankind’s corruption and the rewards of embracing a higher power as a witch.Roselia noticed it too, and Arah was sure it bothered her.Then came the day Drusden told Roselia everything—about Zephyr, about the vision of an army—an elite force of witches transformed into higher mortals meant to help Zephyr rule over Earthland.Arah wouldn’t have been surprised if Roselia had kept this knowledge even from Gildeon