The city was quieter than usual tonight, but I didn't trust it. Silence was never empty—it was waiting, watching. My shadow twisted and coiled nervously around my feet, reacting to every whisper of wind, every flicker of moonlight.
Kael led me through the backstreets, his amber eyes scanning constantly. Fire glimmered faintly in his palms, subtle but alive, ready to strike at the first hint of danger. I stayed close, but my shadow seemed almost protective, reaching toward him instinctively.
"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to sound calm.
He glanced at me, expression unreadable. "Somewhere I can explain things. Somewhere you'll understand the danger you're in—and the role you play in all of it."
I nodded, though the knot in my stomach tightened. He was calm, controlled, untouchable. I was… not. I could feel it in my veins—cursed, dangerous, unstable. And yet, with him, I felt like I could face it all.
We arrived at an old, abandoned cathedral on the edge of the city. Its stained glass windows were shattered, its doors scarred with claw marks and scorch marks, but there was a presence here—ancient, quiet, and commanding. Shadows clung to the corners, and I felt their pulse against my own.
Kael lowered his fire, letting it fade to a faint glow along the walls. "The council," he whispered, almost reverently. "They run this city in secret. Every supernatural clan, every cursed being, every fire-wielder—they answer to them. And now… they know about you."
I froze. "Me?"
He nodded. "Your shadow is… unique. Dangerous. The council sees potential in you, but they don't see kindness. They see power they can control—or destroy."
A chill ran down my spine. My shadow flickered, restless. Potential, yes—but destruction? That was closer to the truth.
Before I could process it, footsteps echoed from the balcony above. Figures emerged—humans and supernatural alike. Some with glowing eyes, some cloaked in darkness, others whose presence alone made my shadow recoil. The council had arrived.
Kael stepped in front of me, fire coiling around his hands. "Stay behind me," he said, tone sharp, commanding. "Do not provoke them."
I nodded, though my shadow reacted defensively, coiling and writhing like a living thing. Every instinct screamed that they were testing me, that they wanted to measure the bond between Kael and me.
The tallest council member, a figure cloaked in deep crimson with eyes like molten gold, stepped forward. Their voice was calm, chilling, but carried authority that made the air itself tense.
"Kael," the figure said, eyes narrowing at him, "you've brought her here?"
He didn't flinch. "Yes. She's the one you've been expecting. The shadow-bearer."
All eyes turned toward me. I swallowed, my shadow curling tightly around my arms. Every instinct screamed to run, to hide, to vanish into the night. And yet… I stood.
The council member's gaze met mine. "Do you know what this means?" Their voice was both warning and intrigue.
I shook my head, voice trembling. "No. Only that… I'm dangerous?"
A ripple of laughter echoed through the room, low and tense. "Dangerous is an understatement," another voice said. "She could tip the balance of this city if left unchecked."
I felt Kael's hand brush against mine—quick, subtle, protective. The connection sparked again, fire meeting shadow. It was forbidden, yes—but it grounded me. I wasn't alone.
"You've already felt it," the council said, voice softening slightly, "the bond between shadow and fire. Do you understand its implications?"
I shook my head again, though my shadow reacted instinctively, twining with the lingering traces of Kael's fire. "I… I don't fully understand," I admitted. "But I know it's dangerous. And… important."
Kael's amber eyes softened as he squeezed my hand. "You'll learn," he murmured. "And I'll be here. Every step of the way."
The council members exchanged glances, murmuring in low tones. Finally, the tallest one spoke again. "You will be trained. You will be controlled… or you will be destroyed."
I felt my stomach twist. Controlled? Destroyed? My shadow pulsed angrily, reacting to the threat, to the fear, to the uncertainty. But I didn't back down. I couldn't.
Kael stepped closer, placing a protective hand near my shoulder without touching my shadow directly. "They don't get to decide your fate," he said firmly. "Not tonight. Not ever."
A thrill of defiance ran through me, and for the first time, I felt truly powerful. Dangerous, yes. But also alive. Shadow and fire together, forbidden as it was, gave me strength.
The council member's gaze lingered on me, measuring, weighing, and I realized something terrifying—and exhilarating. They were not here to help. They were here to test me. To see if I could survive. To see if Kael and I together were strong enough to defy centuries of rules and expectations.
I met Kael's eyes. Desire, fear, and determination collided in my chest. He didn't ask me to stay. He didn't order me to flee. He simply stood beside me, letting me choose. And I chose.
I stepped forward slightly, shadow flaring, fire reacting faintly around him. "I'll survive," I said, voice steady. "And I'll fight."
Kael's lips curved into a small, approving smile—rare, fleeting, dangerous. "Good," he said. "Because this city… it's just the beginning."
A howl sounded in the distance, low and threatening. I didn't flinch. Not anymore. Shadow and fire together. Kael and I together. Dangerous, forbidden, unstoppable.
The night stretched endlessly around us, full of whispers, hidden eyes, and threats. And for the first time, I realized something important: being cursed didn't make me weak. It made me alive.