Chapter 1: The Bond of Fate

Chapter 1: The Bond of Fate

Silvia's POV

The world blurred around Silvia Earthstar as she struggled to remain standing. Blood dripped from a deep gash across her left arm, her breaths ragged as she faced the colossal beast before her. The S-tier monster—a nightmare of muscle, scales, and fangs—roared, shaking the ruined landscape around them. The ground beneath her trembled, dust and debris swirling through the air like a death omen.

Her team was gone. Either dead or missing. And she was alone.

Wind howled as her magic pulsed beneath her skin, a reservoir of power she had barely begun to understand. The deep ache of exhaustion clawed at her limbs, but she refused to fall. Silvia gritted her teeth and raised her trembling hands, summoning the last dregs of her magic.

"Infernal Storm!"

A brilliant wave of fire and lightning erupted from her fingertips, slamming into the monster's thick hide. It howled in pain, the force of the blast sending shockwaves through the air. Smoke curled around its massive form, but it didn't fall. Instead, it lunged forward, impossibly fast for something its size.

Silvia's heart pounded. This is it.

The realization struck as the monster's claws swung toward her chest. There was no time to dodge. No time to escape. She braced for the impact—

But it never came.

A blur of black fur and sharp fangs intercepted the attack, sending the beast reeling backward. Silvia's vision wavered as she collapsed onto her knees, her consciousness slipping away. The last thing she saw was a massive, sleek black panther standing between her and death, golden eyes locked onto her with an intensity that sent a strange shiver through her fading mind.

And then—darkness.

Dragon's POV

Dragon Bromson had felt her power before he had seen her. A radiance of raw, untamed magic, something ancient and deeply familiar. It called to him—like fate had stitched their souls together before they had ever met.

And when he saw her lying broken on the battlefield, something in his chest snapped.

He had been watching the human surface world for years, but he had never interfered. Until now.

She was dying.

A deep growl rumbled from his throat as he turned toward the wounded girl. His future queen.

The monster she had fought still lingered, its body crackling with residual magic. Dragon let out a warning snarl, his panther form growing in size, black fur bristling with energy. The other creature hesitated for a moment—then fled into the night.

Coward.

Dragon wasted no time. He approached the unconscious woman, his sharp eyes scanning her broken form. Blood soaked her clothing, and her breathing was barely perceptible.

Her magic was strong, but unstable. Wild. She didn't even realize what she possessed.

And now, it was slipping away.

A sense of urgency clawed at him. He could heal her—but it required a direct exchange of energy. And among his kind, the most potent way to transfer power was through a kiss.

Dragon shifted, his human form manifesting in a weakened state—but still strong enough. He knelt beside her, brushing strands of blood-matted silver hair from her face.

Her lips were slightly parted, her breaths shallow.

Mine.

The thought struck him before he could stop it. His instincts screamed at him to claim her—to bind her to him fully. But no. He would not force it.

Leaning in, he pressed his lips against hers, pouring his magic into her body.

A surge of power rushed between them, like a storm locked within their very souls. Her body arched as the bond ignited—a force beyond his control. Something ancient. Something irreversible.

The bond was sealed.

His breath hitched as he felt her magic intertwining with his own, locking them together forever. A pulse of heat raced through his veins, a mark that only she could bear.

Dragon Bromson was not just a powerful being—he was the next in line to rule the Terrans, a mighty race that lived beneath the earth's surface. His uncle, the king, had no sons. That left Dragon as the sole heir to their kingdom.

And now, he had bonded himself to a human.

Dragon Bromson had just accidentally made Silvia Earthstar his mate.

And when she woke up, she was going to have no idea.

Silvia's POV

Silvia's eyes fluttered open. Her entire body ached, but there was something different. A warmth pulsed inside her, a power that had not been there before.

She sat up slowly, glancing around. She was no longer on the battlefield but in a dark forest clearing, soft grass cushioning her. The air smelled of damp earth and night-blooming flowers, and the distant hoot of an owl filled the silence. The moon cast a silver glow over everything.

And then she noticed him.

A massive black panther lay beside her, golden eyes watching her with an unreadable expression.

She froze.

The creature yawned, showing rows of razor-sharp teeth, then casually rested its head on her lap.

"…What?"

Her body tensed, but for some reason, she didn't feel threatened. If anything, she felt… connected to it.

The panther huffed, nudging her side with his nose like an impatient cat.

Then, without warning, he licked her cheek.

"Ew—hey!" she yelped, shoving at him. The panther chuffed—a sound disturbingly close to laughter.

Something was very, very wrong.

She had just barely survived an S-tier monster. There was no way she should be alive, let alone…

Feeling stronger than ever.

Her eyes narrowed at the panther. "…Did you do something to me?"

The beast simply blinked at her, tail flicking lazily.

She groaned, rubbing her temples. "Okay. This is fine. I just need to get back to the city."

The panther immediately stood up and blocked her path.

"…Excuse me?" she muttered.

He huffed again, eyes glinting with something almost… smug.

And for some reason, Silvia had the strangest feeling that this wasn't just a panther.

Something big had just happened to her.

And she was going to figure out what.