She can't be my mate

Kier stood in the dim light of his chamber, his jaw clenched, eyes fixed on his unmarked palm. The wound had sealed itself the moment their blood had touched.

This wasn't normal. This wasn't possible.

A flutter of wings broke the silence. The black raven swooped in through the open window, landing gracefully on the edge of his desk. Its dark eyes gleamed with curiosity.

Kier exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I think she is the one."

The raven tilted its head. "So, you finally say it."

Kier didn't respond. His thoughts were a storm.

If Nana was truly the one… then everything was about to change.

Kier clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as frustration burned in his chest. He turned away from the raven, pacing toward the window.

"How can this be?" he growled. "The gods… they've cursed me."

The raven let out a sharp caw. "Cursed? Or fated?"

Kier spun around, eyes dark with rage. "She is a child!" His voice was sharp, filled with disbelief. "I have lived for over a thousand years, and they would mate me to a mere girl?"

The raven fluffed its feathers, unbothered by his anger. "The gods do not make mistakes."

Kier exhaled harshly, his mind racing. This was wrong. It had to be. And yet, the moment their blood had touched, he had felt it—the undeniable bond, the force that pulled him toward her.

He slammed his fist against the wall. "I refuse this."

The raven chuckled. "Can you?"

Kier's eyes burned with determination as he turned back to the raven.

"I have to," he said firmly. "This is a mistake, and I will not accept it."

The raven watched him, unblinking. "And what do you plan to do?"

"I'm going to Maga," Kier declared. "The goddess in the cave. She is the only one who can undo this."

The raven tilted its head. "You think the gods made an error?"

Kier clenched his jaw. "They must have. I will not be bound to a child. This ends now."

Without another word, he grabbed his cloak and strode toward the door, his mind set on one thing—breaking the bond, no matter the cost.

As Kier stormed through the halls, his long strides full of purpose, the guards at the entrance stiffened.

"Where are you going, my lord?" one of them asked, stepping forward.

Kier didn't stop. "Stay here."

The guards hesitated but quickly fell in line behind him, sensing the weight of his mood. They knew better than to question him further.

He had barely turned the corner when something small and fast crashed into him.

Nana.

She stumbled back, wide-eyed, rubbing her forehead where she had smacked against his chest. When she looked up, her face paled instantly.

Kier narrowed his eyes. "Watch where you're going."

Nana swallowed hard, stepping back. "I—I didn't mean to—"

His sharp gaze flickered over her, with his face filled with disgust. He didn't have time for this.

Without another word, he stepped around her and kept walking.

As Kier moved past her, one of the guards turned on Nana, his face twisted with irritation.

"What are you doing outside?" he barked, stepping toward her.

Nana flinched but stood her ground, her hands clenching at her sides. "I—I just needed some air."

The guard's expression darkened. "You don't leave your room without permission."

Before she could react, he grabbed her arm and shoved her back toward the hallway she had come from. She stumbled, catching herself just before she hit the floor.

"Stay inside," the guard growled. "Or next time, you won't like what happens."

Nana bit her lip, holding back the sting of anger and fear. She didn't dare say anything. Instead, she let herself be pushed back into her small room, the door slamming shut behind her.

Fool, she cursed silently

Kier moved swiftly, his guards trailing behind him. He passed through the stone corridors of his fortress, his cloak billowing behind him. The torches lining the walls flickered as he walked, casting long shadows across his path.

He strode through the great hall, past the training grounds where warriors sparred under the watchful eyes of their commanders. The scent of blood and sweat filled the air, but Kier barely noticed. His mind was set on one thing—reaching Maga.

Exiting the fortress, he made his way down the winding path that led to the outskirts of the village. The people who had been celebrating earlier now moved aside quickly, bowing their heads as he passed. No one dared to meet his gaze.

Beyond the village, the land turned rugged and unforgiving. He walked through dense forests, past roaring rivers, and over jagged cliffs. The journey was long, but he never faltered.

Finally, after what felt like hours, he arrived at the entrance of the cave.

The mouth of it was wide and dark, an eerie mist curling out like breath from a sleeping beast. Ancient symbols were carved into the stone, glowing faintly in the dim light.

Kier exhaled and stepped forward.

He had come to see Maga, the goddess of fate.

And he would demand she undo this mistake.

Kier stepped into the cave alone, leaving his guards behind. The air inside was thick and heavy, filled with an ancient presence that sent a shiver down his spine. The deeper he walked, the dim glow of the symbols on the walls illuminated his path, casting eerie shadows around him.

Then, he saw her.

Maga.

She sat on a throne carved from black stone, her presence both ethereal and commanding. Her beauty was almost unnatural—long silvery hair cascading over her shoulders, eyes like liquid gold, and skin that seemed to glow faintly in the darkness. She rested one elbow on the armrest, her fingers lazily tracing the rim of a goblet filled with a shimmering, unknown liquid.

A slow, knowing smile curved her lips.

"Kier," she murmured, her voice like silk yet carrying an undeniable weight of power. "It has been centuries since you last stood before me."

Kier didn't bow. He never did. Instead, he took another step forward, his jaw tight.

"You need to undo this," he said coldly.

Maga tilted her head, amusement flickering in her golden eyes. "Undo what, exactly?"

"You know what." His fists clenched. "The bond. The gods made a mistake. She is a child. I will not be tied to her."

Maga chuckled softly, the sound echoing in the vast cavern. "Oh, Kier… the gods do not make mistakes."

Kier's expression darkened, his patience thinning. "I don't care what the gods intended," he snapped. "She is a child, for crying out loud! This is absurd."

Maga leaned back on her throne, watching him with an amused glint in her golden eyes. "And what would you have me do, Kier? Tear apart a bond woven by fate itself?"

"Yes," he said without hesitation.

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Even you, with all your power, should know that some things cannot be undone."

Kier clenched his jaw. "Then tell me what I am supposed to do. Sit and wait? Pretend this isn't happening?"

Maga's smile faded slightly. "You will wait," she said firmly. "The bond has been made, but it will not fully awaken until she is older. You may despise it now, but in time, you will understand."

Kier's hands curled into fists. "And if I refuse?"

Maga tilted her head. "Then you will suffer the consequences of defying fate. Do you really wish to bring that upon yourself?"

His silence was answer enough.

Maga's gaze softened slightly. "You are not meant to claim her now, Kier. She is still a child. But one day, she will be something far greater than you can imagine."

Kier exhaled sharply, his frustration still burning inside him. But deep down, he knew Maga spoke the truth.

This could not be undone.

Kier's jaw tightened. He hated this—hated being backed into a corner by forces beyond his control. But he wasn't ready to accept this fate so easily.

"There is another way," he said, his voice low. "I know there is."

Maga arched a delicate brow. "Oh? Do tell."

"The sacrifice," Kier said. "The ritual that binds us to fate—I know what could stop it."

Maga's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in her golden eyes. "You speak of a path that is far more dangerous than waiting, Kier."

"I don't care," he said coldly. "You're the only one who can do it."

Maga sighed, swirling the shimmering liquid in her goblet. "You are a fool, as always."

Kier stepped closer, his presence commanding. "Then tell me, Maga. Will you do it?"

She set her goblet down, her gaze piercing. "I could… but the price, Kier. Are you willing to pay it?"