Chapter 13 – The Marked Bond

The forest was silent when she took the blade.

No birds. No breeze. Just the sound of her heartbeat and Cael's breath across from her.

The leather-wrapped hilt felt heavier than it should. She unwrapped it carefully, revealing a short ceremonial blade with a curved edge and old runes carved into the spine. It shimmered faintly in the failing light, humming with energy like it remembered what it had been made for.

Seren looked up at Cael.

He wasn't smiling.

His expression was steady. Solid. But there was something in his eyes—an ache. A calm sort of fear. The kind you only felt when you knew the next step would change everything, and there was no going back.

"You don't have to," he said quietly.

She shook her head. "I do."

They sat opposite each other on the moss-covered floor, legs folded, knees touching. A small fire burned between them—more ceremonial than practical now. Cael had lit it with bloodroot and silver dust, just like the old rites dictated.

Seren's pulse quickened.

She could feel it now.

The bond, waiting like a held breath between them.

Half-tethered.

Craving completion.

"Where?" she asked softly.

Cael pulled back the collar of his shirt and tilted his head slightly, exposing the edge of his neck. "Here."

Her throat tightened.

Not because she was afraid.

But because she wasn't.

She made the cut carefully.

Not deep.

Just enough to open skin, to let the bond touch blood.

The moment her blade met his neck, his breath caught. A faint glow spread from the mark—silver light that wrapped around his shoulder like smoke. His eyes fluttered closed, lips parting just slightly.

"Now you," he said.

His hands were steady as he took the blade from her and mirrored the cut—just beneath her collarbone. Her skin burned, not from pain, but from magic. The bond surged, recognizing itself.

It felt like lightning threading between them.

A magnetic pull that yanked her heart toward his.

He reached out and pressed two fingers to the mark he'd made on her chest.

She mirrored the gesture, her hand shaking only slightly.

Then—

Everything ignited.

The forest disappeared.

She wasn't sitting anymore.

She was standing in a storm of light and wind, her hair whipping around her face, her mark glowing like molten silver. In front of her stood Cael—marked, radiant, fierce.

The bond wrapped around them like a tether, pulsing in time with the baby's heartbeat.

Then another pulse.

Deeper.

Stronger.

The child's magic responded.

It lit up her entire body.

A voice echoed across the space.

Bond complete.

Path chosen.

Then the world snapped back.

She collapsed against Cael.

They were both sweating, breathing hard, gripping each other like the earth might disappear if they let go.

The bond wasn't a thread now.

It was a cable.

A current.

Alive.

He rested his forehead against hers.

"Are you okay?" he whispered.

She nodded, even though her limbs trembled. "You?"

"I don't know what I am."

They both laughed, breathless.

It wasn't joy.

It was relief.

That they'd made it.

That they were still here.

That the world hadn't cracked open beneath them.

Not yet.

The baby kicked.

Hard.

Seren flinched.

Cael's hand flew to her stomach.

"What was that?"

She looked at him, eyes wide. "You felt it?"

"Yeah."

But that wasn't what shocked her.

It was the baby's power.

For the first time, it didn't feel random. It felt… connected. Like the child had just recognized its other parent.

"You marked me," Cael whispered.

"I think he knows now."

He went quiet.

Then his eyes widened.

"You said he."

She blinked.

"I… I don't know how I know. But I'm sure."

Cael's face changed.

Softened.

Just a little.

"Then we have a son," he said.

And he smiled.

Not a big smile.

Not the kind people wore for show.

But real.

Quiet.

Stunning.

They stayed in the clearing until the fire burned out.

Neither of them wanted to sleep.

The bond was still new. Raw. Every movement, every glance, sparked something electric. It wasn't just lust. It wasn't just comfort. It was something older. A claiming of space in one another's bodies, hearts, memories.

Seren rested with her head on Cael's shoulder, her hand on her belly.

He spoke quietly.

"I didn't think I'd ever do this."

"Seal a bond?"

"No." He paused. "Trust someone again."

She looked up at him.

He continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "Everyone I've ever cared about has either died… or left me."

Her chest ached.

"I'm not leaving," she said.

He looked at her.

But didn't say anything.

Instead, he pulled her closer.

Held her tighter.

And kissed the top of her head.

They woke to a different world.

The air was warm. Lighter.

And Seren could feel everything.

Every step Cael took.

Every breath.

Even his heartbeat, low and steady, matching hers.

The bond was sealed.

And the world had noticed.

Birds didn't sing. Trees didn't rustle. The quiet was deep. Watching.

The prophecy echoed in her thoughts.

The child shall rise,Not from love—But from fire.

But there was love now.

Wasn't there?

She didn't know.

Maybe the love came after.

Maybe it didn't matter.

Maybe fate didn't care what name they gave it.

As they packed up, Cael held her hand longer than he needed to. He didn't pull away like he used to.

But then he froze.

Seren turned.

"What is it?"

He sniffed the air.

Face darkened.

"Blood," he said.

She tensed. "Lucan?"

He shook his head. "No. Something else."

He drew his blade, motioning for her to stay behind him.

They moved slowly through the trees.

Then they saw it.

A clearing filled with corpses.

Five. Maybe six.

All different.

A vampire. A wolf. A hybrid. A seer.

Slaughtered.

Not torn apart.

Burned.

Charred to ash.

Seren's stomach dropped.

"This wasn't a fight," Cael said.

"No. It was a warning."

She stepped forward.

Then she saw it.

A symbol burned into a tree.

Three lines crossing in a spiral.

She didn't need to ask what it meant.

Cael's voice was cold.

"They know the bond's been sealed."