That night, Aradia dreamed.
She stood in the circle of fire again, the battlefield stretching endlessly. Wolves howled in the distance, but their voices faded into silence as the shadow rose before her, vast and endless, its eyes countless, its claws dripping with hunger.
Witch. Its voice thundered in her bones. You are mine. You always have been. Every time you burn, every time you falter, you feed me. Why resist? Why fight?
Her fire trembled, her body shaking. "I will never belong to you."
But you do already.
The shadow shifted—and became Kael.
His green eyes glowed, his body scarred, his lips curving in the smile she loved. He reached for her, his voice Kael's, but his words shadow.
He will fall again. You will burn him again. And when he dies, I will remain. Only I will never leave you.
Her chest broke, tears spilling down her cheeks. "No…"
But she could not look away. Because the shadow wore Kael's face