Bound by Blood, Broken by Fate

The smoke curled around Aria like ghostly fingers as the red-eyed figure stepped fully into the room, the shattered door crunching beneath his boots.

Kael followed behind him, his golden eyes locking on hers — sharp, haunted, and unreadable.

Aria's pulse thundered in her ears.

The last time she saw him, he had called her weak.

The last time… he had rejected her.

And now?

He looked at her like she was the only thing keeping him breathing.

The witch stepped in front of Aria, her fingers glowing with blue fire. "She's under my protection."

The red-eyed man laughed — a dry, grating sound. "Protection? From me?" He tilted his head, eyes narrowing at Aria. "You don't even know what you are."

"I know enough," Aria said, stepping forward. Her voice was stronger than she expected. "I'm not yours. Not anyone's."

Kael's jaw clenched, his voice low. "He's not with me. He followed me here."

The witch turned sharply to Kael. "You led him here whether you meant to or not. Your bond to her isn't fully broken."

Aria stiffened. "What?"

Kael's eyes met hers. "I feel you. Even now. Even after…"

"You said I was nothing," Aria whispered.

His expression twisted. "I lied."

The red-eyed man scoffed. "Touching. Truly. But the moon-child is mine now."

He raised a hand — and black energy crackled from his palm, lashing toward Aria.

Ronan stepped in front of her, teeth bared — but Aria shouted, "No!"

The mark on her arm blazed, silver fire bursting from her skin like a storm unleashed. The dark energy shattered in the air before it could touch her.

The red-eyed stranger stumbled back, snarling. "She's awakened…"

Kael looked stunned.

Ronan didn't move. "What was that?"

Aria stared at her hands, glowing faintly. Her heart pounded, but her fear was gone.

She wasn't the same girl who'd begged Kael to love her.

She wasn't afraid of her power anymore.

She was the power.

The witch's voice was calm but urgent. "You have two choices now, Aria. Run… or stand. If you run, they'll keep hunting you. If you stand—"

"I fight," Aria said, her voice like steel.

The red-eyed man hissed, retreating into the shadows.

Kael looked at her, torn. "Aria—"

"Don'

t say my name like that," she cut him off. "You lost the right."