Aria's POV
My hands move with practiced precision, cutting through tissue, clamping vessels, accessing the dying heart of Xavier Kane's son.
The OR is silent except for the steady beep of monitors and my calm instructions to the surgical team.
"Suction. More light here. Clamp."
The boy's name is Marcus—named after my father, I realize with bitter irony. He's four years old, same as Lily. His heart has a defect that should have been caught years ago, but wealthy families often skip the routine checkups that save lives.
Their arrogance almost killed him.
"His pressure's dropping," the anesthesiologist warns.
"I see it. Increasing support." My hands don't shake. They never shake anymore.
I repair the damaged valve, my movements efficient and sure. This is what I'm good at—holding hearts in my hands and fixing what's broken.
If only I could fix my own heart this easily.
Ninety minutes later, I step back. "Close him up. He'll need ICU monitoring for twenty-four hours, but he'll survive."
The team erupts in relieved chatter, but I'm already stripping off my gloves and heading out.
Xavier is waiting outside the OR, pacing like a caged animal. Celeste sits in a chair, her face blotchy from crying. When they see me, they both jump up.
"Is he—" Xavier can't finish.
"He's alive. The surgery was successful." I keep my voice professional. "He'll need to stay in ICU overnight, but barring complications, he should make a full recovery."
Celeste bursts into tears of relief. Xavier's legs nearly give out—he catches himself on the wall.
"Thank you," he whispers. "Thank you, I—"
"I did my job. That's all." I turn to leave.
"Aria, wait." Xavier follows me. "We need to talk. Please. Five years—where have you been? What happened to you?"
I stop walking and turn to face him. Really face him for the first time in five years.
He looks older. Tired. There are lines around his eyes that weren't there before. But he's still Xavier—still the man who threw money at me and told me to get rid of our baby.
"What happened to me?" I repeat slowly. "I became a doctor. I built a life. I survived everything you did to me."
"I was wrong." His voice cracks. "I was so wrong about everything—"
"Dr. Russo?" A nurse interrupts. "Your daughter is here. She says it's urgent."
My blood runs cold. Lily. She's supposed to be at home with Azrael.
"Excuse me," I say to Xavier, pushing past him.
I find Lily in the waiting room with Azrael, who looks furious.
"What's wrong?" I kneel in front of my daughter. "Baby, what happened?"
"There were men at the apartment," Azrael says, his eyes flashing crimson for just a second. "Tamers. Searching for you. We barely got out."
My worst fear realized. The Tamer Society found me.
"How?" I whisper.
"I don't know. But they know you're here. We need to leave. Now."
I look at Lily, who's clutching her stuffed dragon, eyes wide with fear.
Then I hear Xavier's voice behind me: "Aria? Who is this?"
I turn slowly. Xavier is staring at Lily, his face going pale.
Because Lily has his eyes. His exact eyes.
"No," he breathes. "That's not—you said—"
"Said what?" I stand, moving protectively in front of my daughter. "That I was pregnant? I did. You called me a liar and threw fifty thousand dollars at me to 'get rid of it.'"
Xavier stumbles backward like I hit him. "But you... I thought..."
"You thought I'd do what you wanted. Get an abortion. Disappear." My voice is ice. "I disappeared. But I kept my baby. This is Lily. Your daughter."
Celeste appears behind Xavier, seeing Lily for the first time. Her face goes white.
"That's impossible. You were lying—"
"I have the pregnancy test. The hospital records. And a video of Xavier throwing money at me while calling my baby a problem." I meet Xavier's eyes. "I have proof of everything."
"I have a daughter," Xavier whispers, staring at Lily. "I have another daughter."
"No. I have a daughter. You have the son I just saved." I take Lily's hand. "We need to go."
"Wait!" Xavier grabs my arm. "Please. Let me explain—"
"Mr. Kane, I suggest you remove your hand from Dr. Russo immediately."
We all turn. Dr. Sarah Chen stands there, her expression cold and fierce.
"This is a private matter," Xavier says.
"This is harassment in my hospital." Sarah steps between us. "Dr. Russo just saved your son's life. Show some respect."
Xavier releases me, his eyes still locked on Lily.
"Aria, please," he says desperately. "Five years ago I was an idiot. I was cruel and wrong and I've regretted it every single day. Let me make it right. Let me know my daughter—"
"You made your choice five years ago." I pick up Lily. "And I made mine. I chose to raise her without you. That doesn't change now just because you finally see what you threw away."
"Mama, I'm scared," Lily whispers against my neck.
"I know, baby. We're leaving."
But before we can move, the hospital doors burst open.
Five men in dark suits march in—Tamers, their spiritual energy radiating power. I recognize the insignia on their jackets: The Tamer Society enforcement division.
The lead man points at me. "Aria Chen. You're under arrest for illegal demon contracting and crimes against the Tamer Society."
Azrael materializes fully, his power exploding outward. His eyes burn crimson, his true form barely contained. "Touch her, and I'll paint this hospital with your blood."
Patients scream. Nurses run. The Tamers draw their spirit weapons.
"Stand down, demon!" the lead Tamer shouts. "By order of the Society—"
"I don't answer to your Society." Azrael's voice echoes with otherworldly power. "She's mine. The child is under my protection. You want them? Go through me."
The Tamers' spirits manifest—wolves, tigers, serpents. But even I can see they're terrified of Azrael. They should be. He's the Demon King.
"Wait!" Xavier steps forward. "What's going on? Aria, you contracted with... with him?"
"Five years ago, when I had nothing. When everyone abandoned me." I meet his eyes. "The Demon King gave me power when no one else would. He protected me and my daughter. He's been more family than any of you."
"You bonded with Azrael?" Celeste's voice is shrill. "The same demon your ancestor sealed away? That's treason!"
"It's survival," I correct.
The lead Tamer raises his weapon. "Last chance. Surrender peacefully, or we take you by force."
"I'd like to see you try," Azrael purrs dangerously.
"Stop!" Dr. Sarah Chen steps forward, and suddenly her eyes glow gold. Spiritual energy erupts from her—massive, ancient power that makes even Azrael pause.
She's not mortal.
"Sarah?" I breathe.
"Sorry for the deception, Aria." She faces the Tamers, and her power intensifies. "I'm Sarah Chen. Daughter of Marcus Chen. Your half-sister."
The world tilts.
"What?" I whisper.
"Dad had another child. Me. Twenty years ago, before he married your mother." Sarah's smile is sad. "I grew up in the mortal world, but I'm still a Chen. And I've been watching you for five years, little sister. Making sure you were safe."
"You... you knew who I was?"
"From the moment I saw you. We have the same eyes." She turns to the Tamers. "Aria Chen is under my protection. She saved my nephew's life tonight. Touch her, and you answer to the entire Chen bloodline."
"The Chen family disowned her," the lead Tamer argues.
"I didn't." Sarah's spirit manifests—a magnificent Phoenix, the same one that rejected me five years ago. "I claim her as family. Anyone who disagrees can fight me for it."
The Tamers hesitate. A Phoenix contractor is no joke.
Then Xavier speaks: "I claim protection rights too. As the father of her child."
Everyone stares at him.
"You denied that child!" Celeste shrieks.
"I was wrong." Xavier's voice is firm. "That's my daughter. Aria is the mother of my child. The Tamer Society has rules about family bonds—you can't arrest her without going through me first."
"This is insane!" the lead Tamer sputters. "She's a demon contractor!"
"And I'm a Kane." Xavier's spirit, Fenrir, manifests beside him. "Cross me on this, and my family will make your lives very difficult."
The Tamers look at each other, clearly not expecting this much resistance.
"We'll be back with a warrant," the lead Tamer finally says. "This isn't over."
They retreat, but I know he's right. This is far from over.
When they're gone, I turn to Sarah. "Why? Why protect me?"
"Because you're my sister. Because what they did to you was wrong." Her eyes are gentle. "And because I've been looking for you for five years. Dad might have disowned you, but I never did."
"I don't understand any of this," I say, exhausted.
"Let's get you somewhere safe first. Then we'll talk." Sarah looks at Azrael. "Can you trust me, Demon King?"
Azrael studies her for a long moment. "You protected my contractor. For now, that earns trust."
"Good. I have a safe house—"
"No." I cut her off. "No more running. No more hiding." I look at Xavier, at Celeste, at the hospital where I just saved their son. "I'm done being the victim. The scared girl who ran away five years ago is dead."
"Aria—" Xavier starts.
"I'm Dr. Elena Russo now. I'm a surgeon. A mother. And yes, I'm bonded to the Demon King." I stand tall, Lily in my arms, Azrael at my side. "If the Tamer Society wants me, they can come. But I won't make it easy."
"That's suicide," Sarah says. "They'll bring an army."
"Let them." I smile coldly. "I have an army too."
Azrael grins, his teeth sharp. "Finally. I was wondering when you'd stop playing nice."
Xavier looks at me like he's seeing me for the first time. "You've changed."
"You destroyed the old me. This is what rose from the ashes." I head for the exit. "Lily needs sleep. We're leaving."
"Where will you go?" Sarah calls.
I pause at the door. "Somewhere they won't expect. And when I come back, it won't be to hide."
"It'll be to fight," Azrael finishes, his eyes gleaming.
As we leave the hospital, I can feel Xavier's eyes on my back. Can feel the weight of everything that just happened.
My half-sister appeared. The Society found me. Xavier met his daughter.
The life I built is crumbling.
But I'm not the broken girl anymore.
I'm the woman who survived. Who became powerful. Who has the Demon King's strength flowing through her veins.
And if they want war?
I'll give them one they'll never forget.
Lily yawns against my shoulder. "Mama? Are the bad men coming back?"
"Yes, baby. But we'll be ready."
"Will Uncle Az protect us?"
"Always," Azrael promises.
As we drive away into the night, my phone buzzes. A text from an unknown number:
You did well tonight, Dr. Russo. But saving Xavier's son just painted a target on your back. The Society won't stop until you're neutralized. You have three choices: Run. Surrender. Or fight. Choose wisely. —Marcus Chen
My father.
He's been watching too.
I delete the text and look at Lily sleeping peacefully in the back seat, trusting me to keep her safe.
Then I look at Azrael, whose crimson eyes glow in the darkness.
"What's the plan?" he asks.
I think about Xavier's shock. Sarah's protection. The Tamers' threats. My father's message.
And I smile.
"We stop running. We gather allies. And we show the Tamer Society exactly why they should have left me alone."
"And Xavier?" Azrael asks carefully.
I think about the man who destroyed me. Who just met his daughter for the first time. Who looks at me now with regret and longing.
"Xavier Kane is about to learn what it costs to throw away something precious," I say softly. "Because I'm taking everything from him that he took from me."
"Starting with?"
"His peace. His certainty. His comfortable life with Celeste." My smile turns sharp. "I'm going to make him regret every single choice he made five years ago."
"Good," Azrael purrs. "It's about time."
As we disappear into the night, I make a promise to myself:
This is no longer about hiding.
It's about revenge.
And the Tamer Society—Xavier, Celeste, my father, everyone who hurt me—is about to discover that the scared girl they destroyed became something far more dangerous.
A mother protecting her child.
A doctor who holds hearts in her hands.
And a woman bonded to the most powerful demon in existence.
They wanted me gone?
They're about to wish I'd stayed that way.