The air still smelled like blood.
Liam stood at the edge of the ruined battlefield, staring across cracked stone and shattered steel, the remnants of Sorek's raid strewn like bad memories. The canyon was quiet now. Raiders dead. Chainmaster finished. Victory did not bring peace.
It brought silence.
Behind him, seven wives moved through the wreckage, gathering supplies, checking the wounded, keeping their distance from one another, and from him.
Rena wiped her sword clean, face unreadable.
Kaelith crouched beside Sorek's body, flicking rusted chains with the tip of her blade. "Trash," she muttered, and kicked the corpse aside.
Vexa sat on a broken slab, wrapping a bandage around her forearm. She did not look hurt. Maybe she just needed something to do that did not involve punching someone.
Sarya perched high on a fallen pillar, crossbow across her lap, eyes on the horizon, always counting.
Kaelyn cleaned her blade in silence, gaze lowered, ears open.
Elyra stood close, too close, fingers lightly brushing Liam's shoulder, silver eyes warm. "You fought well," she said, soft as smoke. "Strong, commanding."
Liam did not answer.
Ice Queen drifted past them all, frost curling beneath bare feet, gaze fixed on the empty sky, as if waiting for the next threat to announce itself.
The system pulsed, sharp and cold.
> [System Alert]
Territory Secured, Zone Nine
Bond Loyalty, 71 percent, Stable
Buffs Active, Unbreakable Core, Vexa, Veil's Insight, Elyra, Frost Dominion, Ice Queen, Blade Mastery, Kaelith, Duel Guard II, Rena, Assassin's Reflex, Kaelyn, Trapfield, Sarya
Warning, Zone Ten Signal Detected
Enemy Overlord, Unknown
Threat Level, Severe
"We rest one hour," Liam said, turning. "Then we move."
Vexa arched a brow. "To where, we just broke a raid. You want to chase their friends."
"Zone Ten," Liam said. "I do not let enemies regroup."
Kaelith rose, stretching, the grin already back. "Good. I was getting bored."
"Of course you were," Sarya said, sighing.
"We are pushing too fast," Rena murmured, though her hand stayed near her hilt.
Ice Queen's voice was pure winter. "Power is not earned slowly. He understands."
Liam looked at each of them. "We move together, or not at all."
Elyra's fingers traced his jaw, a fleeting touch. "We follow," she murmured, "because you make us want to."
From the ridge, Sarya stiffened. "Movement. Zone Ten's border. I have a second signal."
Kaelith's hand slid to a dagger. "Already."
"They never learn," Vexa said, standing.
The system pulsed again, harder.
> [System Alert]
Bond Opportunity Detected
Target, Kaelith's Twin, Kaelithra
Status, Rogue Bond, Unstable
Combat Type, Mirror Blade, Aggression
Warning, Duplicate Bond Thread Detected
Outcome Uncertain, Proceed with Caution
Liam's eyes narrowed. Kaelith went still.
"What," she breathed.
"The system says she survived," Liam said. "Kaelithra."
The smirk fell from Kaelith's mouth. "I did not think she would."
"Another blade dancer," Vexa said. "Great."
Elyra's voice turned silk. "How will you choose."
"I do not," Liam said, tightening his grip on his sword. "She joins, or we break her."
Kaelith stared toward the heat haze, silent.
The wind changed.
They reached the border of Zone Ten, dust coiling in slow spirals, heat trembling on the air. The canyon narrowed into a corridor of broken stone, perfect for traps, perfect for ambush, perfect for the wrong kind of reunion.
A figure walked out of the dust.
Same height. Same red braid. Same twin blades catching the light. Not the same eyes. Kaelithra carried a thin scar over the right brow, a cut that never quite healed.
Kaelithra smiled like a blade. "Sister," she called. "Did not think you would run with a pack. Always figured you would die alone."
"Not dead," Kaelith said, stepping forward, "and not alone."
Kaelithra's eyes slid to Liam. "So you are the Overlord she bent for."
"Careful," Elyra said, smiling. "He does not bend."
"Let me kill her," Vexa said, already flexing.
"No," Liam said, raising a hand.
Kaelith did not look away. "This one is mine."
Kaelithra laughed. "Good. I would hate for your little harem to get in the way."
The system struck like a drum.
> [System Alert]
Duel Initiated, Bond Conflict Class
Combatants, Kaelith vs Kaelithra
Outcome A, Victory, Bond Loyalty Reinforced, Buff Upgrade
Outcome B, Defeat, Bond Loyalty Broken, Buff Loss
Warning, Interference Voids Trial
Liam's jaw set. He could not help her.
Kaelith moved first. Lightning and steel. Kaelithra met her step for step. Blades flashed, sparks leapt, dust billowed. The sound of metal and breath and grit filled the canyon.
"I cannot even tell them apart," Sarya muttered.
"She fights for more than a win," Rena said, knuckles whitening.
"She fights to belong," Ice Queen answered, calm as ever.
Kaelith feinted low, cut high, drew blood. Kaelithra hissed, then drove her back, slammed her into stone, pressed close.
"You have gotten soft," Kaelithra whispered. "You found a man and forgot how to cut."
"I found strength," Kaelith said, and cracked an elbow across her sister's jaw.
They locked again, forearms straining, blades grinding, sweat mixing with dust. Kaelithra pushed. Kaelith bared her teeth.
"You still cannot beat me," Kaelithra hissed.
"No," Kaelith said, breath hot, eyes wild, "I will break you instead."
Her knee snapped up, brutal and clean. Kaelithra folded, one blade dropping to stone. Kaelith turned the bind, flipped her sister, pinned her shoulder to the ground, dagger kissing throat.
"Submit," Kaelith growled.
Kaelithra stared up, breath ragged, disbelief flickering across her face. "You are serious."
"I follow him," Kaelith said, low and sure. "I choose this."
Kaelithra's gaze flicked to Liam, to the others, to Kaelith again. "Then kill me."
Kaelith looked at Liam.
He said nothing.
She pressed harder, then stepped back. "Live with losing."
Kaelithra lay in the dust, stunned, furious.
The system flared like heat in a forge.
> [System Alert]
Duel Outcome, Victory, Kaelith
Buff Upgrade, Blade Mastery II, Critical Damage Increased
Bond Loyalty, Maximum
Kaelithra Status, Bond Candidate, Unstable
Kaelith turned, chest rising, jaw set. "She is yours, if you want her."
Kaelithra sat up slowly, blood at her lip, pride refusing to die. "You think I will follow him."
"You will," Liam said, stepping forward, "or you will fall."
"Try me," she said, standing, eyes burning beneath the scar.
Kaelith's voice came quiet, dangerous. "Bond her, or I will."
Elyra's smile sharpened. "This will be interesting."
"You are kidding," Rena growled.
"Enough," Liam said. He stopped a breath from Kaelithra. "I am not here to play games."
"Good," Kaelithra said, stepping in, close enough to taste the heat. "I do not like to lose."
She held out a wrist, defiant, daring.
"Claim me, if you can."
The system answered.
> [System Alert]
Bond Trial Triggered, Kaelithra
Condition, Chain of Command, Physical Submission Required
Reward, Twin Synergy Buff, Speed plus Reflex Boost
Warning, Loyalty Tension Imminent
Liam's fingers closed around her wrist, firm, final. She did not pull away. Her eyes flared.
She did not kneel… not yet.
The system waited.