Sera's POV
It means you've just claimed the kingdom's most powerful warrior as your own.
Corvus's words hang in the air like smoke. I stare at Caelan's chest, where the god-mark is still changing shifting from blue to silver, from Kyros's control to... what? My control?
I didn't claim anything! I say, stepping back. I don't even know what that means!
Neither do I, Caelan says quietly. He touches the mark, and I see him wince. But it doesn't hurt anymore. For the first time since I was a baby, the god-mark doesn't hurt.
Before anyone can explain further, a horn blows somewhere in the forest. Long, low, and urgent.
The entire camp erupts into motion.
Raiders! someone shouts. Eastern border!
Kael immediately summons lightning to his hands. How many?
At least twenty! a scout yells, running into the firelight. Armed and moving fast!
Everyone who can fight, grab weapons! Kael orders. Families with children, into the caves!
I watch as the peaceful camp transforms into organized chaos. People arming themselves, forming defensive lines, moving with the efficiency of soldiers.
These are people who defied prophecy, Mara says beside me. She's still tending to Shadowmere but watching the preparations. They've had to learn to fight to survive.
Caelan draws his sword. The blade gleams with residual divine power. Stay here. I'll help defend
You're wounded and exhausted, Kael interrupts, appearing beside us. And you're still connected to a god who wants us all dead. How do we know you won't betray us the moment Kyros commands it?
The two men stare at each other, and I can feel the hostility crackling between them like Kael's lightning.
Stop it! I snap. People need help, and you're both standing here arguing about who gets to protect me like I'm some kind of prize!
Both men look startled.
I don't need either of you to keep me safe, I continue. What I need is to help those people out there who are fighting to protect this camp!
You have no weapons, no training Caelan starts.
Then give me a weapon and teach me fast!
Before either man can respond, the raiders burst into the camp.
They're not bandits they're something worse. Each one wears armor marked with the royal seal. Queen Isolde's personal guards.
There! one of them shouts, pointing directly at me. The Sacrificial Maiden! The Queen wants her alive!
My blood runs cold. Isolde sent them. She knows I'm here.
How? Caelan breathes. The Veilwilds should block divine sight
Someone betrayed us, Kael snarls. He throws lightning at the advancing guards. Someone told the Queen where to find the camp!
The battle erupts.
Kael's lightning tears through the first wave of guards. Other rebels fight with swords, spears, whatever weapons they have. But Isolde's guards are trained soldiers, and there are so many of them.
Sera, run! Caelan pushes me toward the forest. Get deep into the trees where they can't
A guard breaks through the defensive line, heading straight for me.
I freeze. I've never fought anyone in my life. I don't know how to defend myself.
The guard raises his sword
And Caelan is there, blocking the strike with his own blade. He moves like water and lightning combined, disarming the guard in three swift moves.
I said run! he yells at me.
But I can't. My feet won't move. I'm watching the camp I just arrived in being destroyed, watching people who offered me shelter fighting for their lives, and it's all because of me.
They're here for me, I say, the realization hitting like a physical blow. They'll destroy this whole camp just to capture me.
Then we don't let them capture you, Kael says, appearing at my other side. Blood runs down his arm from a cut, but his eyes are fierce. We fight.
More guards pour into the camp. Too many. We're going to lose.
Then I feel ita warmth spreading from my chest, like the sun rising inside me. The same power I felt when I touched Caelan's god-mark. The nullifying energy that makes divine magic fail.
Get me close to them, I tell Caelan.
What? No
The guards have god-blessed weapons and armor! I interrupt. I can feel the divine magic from here. But if I touch them, I can break it!
Caelan understands immediately. You'll be defenceless if it doesn't work.
Then make sure it works. I look him in the eyes. Trust me.
Something passes between us the same connection I felt when the god-mark changed. Like an invisible thread tying us together.
Stay close to me, Caelan says. He grabs my hand. Don't let go.
We run toward the battle together.
A guard swings a god-blessed sword at us a blade that can cut through stone. I reach out and touch it.
The divine glow dies instantly. The sword becomes ordinary metal. Caelan shatters it with one strike.
It's working! Kael shouts. He's seen what happened. Bring her to the others!
We move through the battle like a storm. Every god-blessed weapon I touch becomes useless. Every piece of divine armor loses its protection. The guards who seemed unstoppable moments ago are suddenly just normal soldiers facing rebels who've learned to fight against impossible odds.
The tide turns.
Within minutes, the remaining guards are fleeing back into the forest.
The camp erupts in cheers. People surround me, thanking me, calling me a hero.
But I don't feel like a hero. I feel terrified and confused and overwhelmed.
Everyone, back! Corvus's voice cuts through the celebration. He pushes through the crowd, his face grim. We need to move. Now.
Why? Kael demands. We won
Those guards found us somehow. Which means they can find us again. Corvus looks at me. And next time, they'll bring more. Maybe an army.
Then we go deeper into the Veilwilds, Kael says. Where even armies can't follow.
There's something you all need to know, Corvus interrupts. The reason Isolde's guards could find us despite the Veilwilds' protection. He turns to face the crowd. Someone here is a spy.
Shocked silence.
That's impossible, Mara says. Everyone here has defied prophecy. We're all refugees from the kingdom
One of you is lying, Corvus says coldly. One of you is still loyal to Isolde. And they just led an attack that could have killed us all.
People start looking at each other with suspicion. Friends who trusted each other moments ago now wondering who betrayed them.
This is exactly what Isolde wants, Kael says. To turn us against each other
He's right to be suspicious, a new voice says.
Everyone turns.
A woman steps out from behind a tent. She's older, elegant, with cold eyes that I recognize even though I've never met her.
Hello, stepson, Queen Isolde says, looking at Caelan. Did you really think you could defy the gods and live?
Caelan moves in front of me instantly, sword raised. You're not here. This is an illusion
Very good. Yes, this is merely a projection. Isolde's smile is cruel. But my guards were quite real. And the army I'm sending next will be even more real.
Why are you doing this? I demand. I just want to live! I never asked to be the Sacrificial Maiden!
Because the prophecy system keeps people obedient and afraid, Isolde says simply. Your death reminds everyone that the gods are in control. That destiny cannot be escaped. If you live, people start to hope. They start to rebel. They start to think they can make their own choices. She shakes her head. I can't allow that.
You're willing to kill an innocent girl to maintain power? Caelan's voice shakes with rage.
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep order. Isolde's projection begins to fade. You have until sunrise, stepson. Bring me the girl, or I'll burn the Veilwilds to ash with everyone in it.
She vanishes.
The silence that follows is suffocating.
We need to evacuate, Corvus says immediately. Everyone, pack only what you can carry. We move in ten minutes
No. I step forward. My voice is steadier than I feel. I won't let you all die because of me. I'll go back. I'll surrender to Isolde if it means
Absolutely not, Caelan and Kael say at the exact same time.
They look at each other, surprised to be in agreement.
If you go back, you die, Kael says to me. And your death changes nothing. Isolde will still hunt everyone here.
He's right, Caelan adds quietly. Surrendering won't save anyone. It just means you die for nothing.
Then what do we do? I ask desperately.
Corvus pulls out an ancient-looking book from his robes. We use the one weapon Isolde doesn't know about. Sera's Fate weaver power. He opens the book to a page covered in strange symbols. If we can awaken her abilities fully, she won't just be able to nullify divine magic. She'll be able to rewrite prophecy itself.
How long will that take? Kael demands.
Days. Maybe weeks.
We don't have days! Mara says. Isolde's army comes at sunrise!
Then we buy time. Caelan sheathes his sword and turns to me. Sera, I need you to do something. Something that might be dangerous.
What?
He touches the changing god-mark on his chest. Bond with this completely. Make it yours. If the mark serves you instead of Kyros, I'll be even stronger. Strong enough to hold off an army while everyone escapes.
And what happens to you? I ask, my throat tight.
Caelan smiles, and it's sad and beautiful. I buy you the time you need to become powerful enough to save yourself.
No. The word bursts out of me. I won't let you sacrifice yourself for me!
Someone has to, Caelan says gently. Isn't that what you've been trying to avoid someone dying in your place?
He's right, and I hate it.
Before I can argue, the ground beneath us trembles.
What now? Kael mutters.
The trembling gets worse. Trees shake. The earth cracks.
And from those cracks, something rises.
Creatures made of shadow and bone, with glowing red eyes and teeth like knives. Dozens of them, emerging from underground.
Nether wraiths, Corvus breathes. Isolde didn't just send guards. She sent demons.
The creature's screech a sound that makes my bones hurt and charge straight for the camp.
Straight for me.
EVERYONE RUN! Kael screams, lightning already flying from his hands.
But I can't run. Because I just realized something terrible.
These creatures aren't made of divine magic. They're made of death magic. Dark magic.
And my nullifying power doesn't work on them.