The forest opened into a narrow gorge, jagged rocks rising like teeth from the earth. Mist hung low, curling around ancient trees whose roots were gnarled like the hands of old sorcerers. Aeloria's legs ached, but she didn't dare falter. Every step brought a strange mixture of fear and anticipation that she couldn't name.
The vampire walked silently ahead, eyes scanning the darkness, senses alert to dangers unseen. The dragon flanked her, heat radiating in waves that made the cold night air feel like spring, yet his golden eyes never left the shadows. Behind them, the Beastborn prowled with a predator's patience, muscles coiled, ready to strike at any moment.
Aeloria felt exposed, vulnerable, and yet—unexplainably—safe in a way she had never known. Their presence was heavy, demanding, protective, and intoxicating all at once.
"Do you always move like this?" she asked, breaking the tense silence. "All three of you… like shadows hunting together?"
The vampire glanced back, crimson eyes glinting. "We move as the situation demands. And tonight, it demands that no one survive who dares come near you."
The dragon chuckled softly, a low, warm rumble that made her stomach flutter. "He's exaggerating. Mostly."
Aeloria frowned, clutching her wrist as the sigils pulsed faintly beneath her touch. "Mostly?"
The Beastborn growled, a sound that vibrated in the earth beneath their feet. "Mostly means you should never test him."
Her heart skipped.
A sudden rustle in the underbrush made all three men stiffen. Aeloria froze, breath hitching. Shadows moved faster than the eye could follow. Then, from between two massive tree trunks, a figure emerged.
Not human. Not fully. Its body shimmered like liquid darkness, eyes glinting silver in the moonlight. A whispering hiss escaped its lips.
"You are the Celestial Bond," it said. The voice seemed to crawl inside her mind, cold and invasive. "We have been waiting… and we will not be denied."
The vampire moved first, in a blur. His movements were so fast Aeloria barely registered them. He intercepted the figure, blocking its path with a speed that made her chest ache with awe.
The dragon shifted, wings unfolding in a fluid motion that lifted mist and dust into the air. He exhaled slowly, fire licking along his claws. "Bold," he said softly. "Too bold."
The Beastborn leapt, the forest trembling under his impact. Claws, teeth, and sheer strength collided with shadow. Growls, hisses, and the sound of metal tearing filled the gorge.
Aeloria stumbled backward, instinctively raising her hands. The sigils on her wrist flared with heat and light, sending ripples through the ground. Trees groaned and roots rose, coiling around the shadowy figure.
It screeched and slashed at them, but the combined strength of the three men held it at bay. The vampire's movements were precise, surgical. The dragon's fire was controlled and deadly. The Beastborn's claws tore through shadows with raw power.
And then… Aeloria felt it. A pull in her chest, her core, like a heartbeat resonating with hers. The sigils burned hotter. The power thrummed through her veins, wild and hungry, as if demanding she act.
Before she could think, before she could reason, her hands shot forward. Light erupted from her fingertips, golden, red, and green in a dazzling swirl. The shadow screamed as the energy hit it, exploding in waves of power that sent everyone reeling.
When the dust settled, the shadow figure was gone, leaving only scorched earth and a lingering chill in the air.
The vampire lowered his guard, eyes locking on hers. "Control it… that was incredible, but dangerous."
The dragon exhaled, smoke curling from his nostrils. "By the gods… little star, you truly are something else."
The Beastborn stepped closer, voice low and steady. "That pull you felt… that was your bond awakening. You cannot hide it, and you cannot ignore it. Every attack, every danger… it will respond to you."
Aeloria trembled, the energy still coursing through her hands. "I—I don't know if I can control it. I almost—"
The vampire cut her off, his crimson eyes fierce yet protective. "You will control it. I will see to that."
The dragon's golden gaze softened for a brief moment. "And I will make sure you learn to embrace it."
The Beastborn's amber eyes locked on hers, unwavering. "And I will make sure you survive it."
Aeloria's breath caught. Survive it. Embrace it. Control it. Three promises. Three fates intertwined with hers.
And somewhere deep inside, a whisper in her mind, ancient and calling, said: The path of shadows is only the beginning.