The Blood Moon rose without warning.
One moment, the sky was calm and violet.
The next, it turned red, dripping light across the forest like spilled wine.
Aria hugged her basket to her chest.
"I just need a few herbs," she whispered. "And then I'll run home."
But the forest felt wrong tonight.
Too quiet.
Too still.
Even the crickets had stopped singing.
Her footsteps echoed between the trees as if someone were repeating them a second late.
Then—
A branch snapped behind her.
Aria froze.
Another snap.
Closer.
Heavier.
She slowly turned around.
Her breath died in her throat.
A demon beast—twice the size of a horse, claws glowing blue—was stalking her from the shadows.
Aria stumbled back. "N-no… stay away…"
The creature roared, shaking the leaves loose.
It leapt.
Aria shut her eyes—
But the impact never came.
Instead, a sound like tearing air split the night.
Slash.
A wave of crimson light burst forward, throwing the beast aside like a rag doll.
Aria opened her eyes—
Her heart stopped.
Someone stood in front of her.
Tall.
Sharp.
Shadow wrapped in a human shape.
His hair was jet black, falling over eyes that glowed crimson, brighter than the Blood Moon itself.
His armor looked forged from obsidian and fire.
His aura burned hot enough that the air around him shimmered.
He looked like sin carved into flesh.
A demon.
A powerful one.
He didn't look at the beast he just destroyed.
He looked at her.
Aria's throat went dry. "W–who… who are you?"
His voice was deep, rich, and cold.
"A demon who saved your life."
He took one slow step toward her.
Aria stepped back so fast she tripped. Her basket hit the ground.
His eyes flicked down to the small herbs that spilled out.
"You came here alone?" he asked quietly.
Aria swallowed and nodded.
"Reckless," he murmured. "Humans break too easily."
The way he said humans made her skin prickle.
The beast behind them roared again and charged—
But the demon didn't even turn.
He raised a hand.
Boom.
A burst of red flame exploded from his palm.
The beast's body turned to ash, scattering across the ground.
Aria stared, breath shaking.
"W-why did you save me?" she whispered.
He finally answered.
"Because your death would be inconvenient."
"Inconvenient?" Aria frowned. "For who?"
"For me."
Before she could reply, his gaze drifted to her collarbone—
to the strange crescent-shaped birthmark that peeked from her clothes.
It pulsed faintly under the red moonlight.
Aria covered it instantly. "Don't look at that!"
But he already stepped closer.
"That mark…" he whispered, voice suddenly low. "So it was true."
Aria backed away. "What are you talking about? It's just a birthmark—"
He reached out.
His fingers brushed her skin.
The forest exploded with red light.
Aria gasped as the mark burned like fire.
The ground trembled.
The trees bent inward as if bowing.
Her vision blurred.
"What's happening to me?!"
The demon prince's eyes widened—not in shock, but in recognition.
"So the prophecy chooses tonight," he murmured.
"I never thought the key would appear as a simple human girl."
Aria's legs weakened. "Key? Prophecy? W-what do you want from me?!"
He stepped forward and caught her before she fell.
His voice dropped to a whisper against her ear.
"Everything."
Aria froze. His warmth, his smell—danger and smoke—wrapped around her.
"N-no… stay away from me…"
But he lifted her chin with one finger.
"My name," he said softly, "is Kael."
She shivered.
"And you, Aria…"
He brushed her glowing mark again.
"…are bound to me by fate."
Her heart slammed against her ribs. "Bound…? To you?"
His crimson eyes softened with a dangerous warmth.
"Yes," he breathed.
"You belong to the Demon Prince."
And as the forest knelt under the Blood Moon, Kael lifted her into his arms—
claiming the girl destiny had promised him.