The bond woke hungry.
Elira felt it first — a low heat curling beneath her ribs, spreading slowly, deliberately. Not pain. Not pleasure.
Need.
She pressed her palm to her chest, breathing shallowly as silver light flickered beneath her skin like a pulse searching for release.
"Kael," she whispered.
He was already awake.
He always was when she felt like this.
Shadow coiled around him as he turned, eyes glowing faintly in the dark. One look at her and his jaw tightened.
"It's the bond," he said. "It's deepening."
Her throat went dry. "It feels like—"
"Like if you don't anchor it, it'll burn you alive," he finished.
The serpent stirred, restless.
> Do not deny it.
Suppression weakens you both.
Kael moved closer — stopped himself a breath away.
"This is where it becomes dangerous," he said quietly. "Because the bond doesn't care about patience."
Elira's pulse thundered. "And you do?"
His laugh was rough. "Barely."
She reached for him — fingers brushing his wrist.
That was all it took.
The bond flared.
Heat surged through both of them, sharp and overwhelming. Shadow wrapped instinctively around silver light, not consuming — shielding. Elira gasped, knees weakening as Kael caught her, arms iron around her waist.
For a moment, there was nothing but breath and closeness and restraint stretched to its breaking point.
"Kael," she murmured, forehead pressed to his collarbone, voice shaking. "If I don't feel you, it hurts."
His hands flexed, then stilled — control white-hot.
"You don't get to say things like that," he growled softly. "Not when I'm trying not to lose myself."
She looked up at him — eyes glowing faintly, starfire threading through her gaze.
"Then don't lose yourself," she whispered. "Hold me."
He did.
Arms tightening, presence grounding, power contained. The bond settled — not satisfied, but soothed.
And then—
The fortress screamed.
Not alarms.
Fear.
The sky outside shattered with blinding white sigils as something tore through the firmament — wings slicing the air, body wreathed in celestial fire warped into weaponry.
Elira felt it instantly.
"A hunter," she whispered. "They sent a hunter."
Kael's expression went cold.
"For you."
The windows exploded inward as the being landed in the courtyard below — humanoid, armored in star-metal, eyes void-black with divine purpose.
> Star who fell, the hunter's voice echoed, layered with a thousand others.
You are sentenced to erasure.
The bond screamed.
Pain lanced through Elira as the hunter locked onto her presence, bypassing walls, wards, distance.
Kael snarled, shadow surging violently.
"You're not touching her."
The hunter smiled.
> You are no longer relevant.
Kael felt it then — the intent.
Not to kill him.
To separate them.
"No," Elira breathed, gripping Kael's armor as the bond strained violently, pulling — tearing.
The serpent roared, furious.
> She is bound. You will not take what is anchored.
Elira gasped, silver light erupting outward as instinct overrode training.
The hunter recoiled — surprised.
> You should not be able to resist.
She lifted her head.
"I chose this bond," Elira said, voice steady despite the pain. "And I will not be unmade for your convenience."
Kael stepped beside her, sword forming fully from shadow.
"You came for war," he said calmly. "Congratulations."
The serpent coiled tight around his spine.
"You found it."
Above them, the sky cracked further — more eyes watching now.
Judging.
Calculating.
The hunter lowered its stance.
> Then die together.
Elira laced her fingers through Kael's — power synchronizing instantly.
"Together," she agreed.
The bond burned bright.
And heaven finally understood—
This star was no longer alone.