TALIA*
The moon hung low, its pale light barely piercing the clouds as I made my way through the quiet paths toward Kael's secluded place. I hadn't even asked why he wanted to meet, my feet had already started moving the moment I got his message. My heart felt like it was fluttering in my chest, each beat louder than the last.
Kael stepped out from the shadows the moment I approached. His red eyes softened the instant they locked on mine. "Would you prefer we talk outside or inside?" he asked.
I shook my head. "Doesn't matter anymore."
He gave a small nod and led me in. I followed, my nerves dancing like fireflies in my belly. The place was simple and dimly lit. He made sure I was comfortable before he sat beside me. The silence lingered, thick and weighty.
"There's something I need to tell you," he said quietly.
My shoulders tensed. "I figured."
Kael looked down for a moment, his fingers curling slightly. "I visited someone... a sorceress named Mireva. She's ancient and powerful."
I watched him, trying not to show how fast my heart was beating.
"She confirmed what I feared," Kael continued. "That Veyros is making moves. He might not act openly yet, but he's not going to sit idle. Not for long."
A chill settled into my spine. "So what does that mean?"
He leaned forward, his eyes grave. "It means you're in danger. Real danger. And there might not be much time left before he strikes."
I swallowed hard. "Why are you telling me this?"
Kael's eyes met mine. "Because I can't lose you again. Not like Tanya. Not ever."
The words hung between us like a live wire. I swallowed hard, my throat dry.
We locked eyes, and everything I'd tried to suppress came flooding back. Anger. Fear. Longing.
Then something shifted.
He moved closer. I didn't pull away.
Kael reached up and brushed a strand of hair from my face, and in that moment, the world narrowed to him and me. His hand lingered, warm and reverent.
When he leaned in, our lips met with a fire that neither of us tried to contain.
I grasped his face, and he pulled me into his lap, his arms tight around my waist. The kiss deepened, turning into something that stole the air from my lungs. My skin felt like it was buzzing, heat curling in the pit of my stomach. I could feel the hard plane of his chest against me, the way his body responded.
His red eyes glowed faintly. The scent of my arousal filled the air.
I was losing control. And he was, too.
Kael let out a low growl, burying his face into my neck. I gasped when his hands slid over my waist and down to my hips. The power within me stirred, pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat.
Then, the temperature in the room dropped.
A cold, electric hum prickled across my skin. I jerked back.
Vaelith.
He appeared as if stepping through a crack in reality, the room darkening around him.
Kael was on his feet in a flash, his eyes flaring. "What are you doing here?"
Vaelith tilted his head. "I've been summoned."
"By whom?"
"The Court," he replied. "Veyros knows who she is." His eyes flicked toward me. "And he's begun making moves."
Kael's entire posture shifted. The air turned sharp with his anger.
"You need to be ready, Kael. They'll come for her."
My blood ran cold.
Kael turned to me, something unreadable in his eyes. "Go home, Talia. Lock your doors. Trust no one."
I wanted to argue, but the fear in his eyes rooted me.
"Also," he added quietly, his voice heavy, "Mireva told me something else. The Void… it's not just inside you. It's tied to your life force. If anyone tries to expel it, they won't just kill the Void... they'll kill you."
The room spun.
I swallowed hard. "What did I ever do to deserve this."
He stepped toward me and cupped my cheek. "No... don't think like that. You're powerful. And I'm going to help you figure this out."
Back home, Cara was waiting.
"You look like you saw a ghost," she said.
I tried to smile. "Something like that."
She didn't press.
But I knew I couldn't keep this in much longer.
I went to my room,had a shower and dropped on the bed like a rock.