Aria's POV
His hand was warm.
That was the first coherent thought I had after the world stopped exploding with light.
The dead Alpha King—who shouldn't be moving, shouldn't be breathing, shouldn't be alive—had a warm hand wrapped around my wrist.
You're touching me, he repeated, his voice rough like gravel. How are you touching me?
I yanked my arm, trying to break free. His grip tightened.
Let go!
I can't. His golden eyes were wild, desperate. If I let go, I'll fade. I'll go back to—
He released me.
Immediately, his entire body flickered. One second he was solid and real, the next I could see through him like a ghost. His face twisted in agony.
No! He reached for me again, but his hand passed through my shoulder. Come back! I'm losing it. The void—I can't go back there. I CAN'T
The terror in his voice shocked me more than anything else. This powerful, ancient being—an Alpha King—was afraid.
His form flickered violently. He fell to his knees, clutching at nothing. Please, he gasped. The darkness. Five years in the dark. I can't do it again. Please
Something in his broken desperation made me move.
Against every survival instinct screaming at me to run, I grabbed both his hands.
He became solid instantly.
The change was dramatic. Color flooded back into his pale skin. His form stabilized. He gasped like someone who'd been drowning and finally broke the surface.
For a long moment, we just stared at each other. His hands gripped mine so tightly it almost hurt.
Thank you, he breathed. Thank you.
I tried to pull away, but his grip held firm.
Wait. Please. Just... give me a moment. He closed his eyes, breathing hard. Five years. Five years since I've felt anything real.
Five years since what? My voice came out sharper than intended. You're supposed to be dead. The Alpha King died in the Blood Moon War.
His eyes snapped open. The fear was gone, replaced by cold fury.
No. The Council wants everyone to believe I died. The truth? His smile was bitter. They poisoned me with wolfsbane silver and buried me here to suffer.
My blood went cold. Poisoned?
During the war. Councilor Matthias himself served me wine laced with wolfsbane silver at a strategy meeting. His hands tightened on mine. The poison didn't kill me. It trapped me between life and death. Conscious but paralyzed. Aware of every agonizing second.
Horror crept through me. You've been awake? This whole time?
Every. Single. Second. Each word was sharp with pain. Unable to move. Unable to scream. Alone in absolute darkness. They made sure I'd suffer forever for discovering their corruption.
I understood that kind of torture. Different from mine, but the same in the ways that mattered—betrayal from those you trusted, suffering designed to break you completely.
Why? I asked. Why would the Council do that?
Because I discovered their secret. His eyes blazed brighter. The Council has been suppressing true mate bonds for decades. Forcing arranged marriages to maintain their power structure. When I found proof and threatened to expose them, they eliminated me.
My mind raced. Suppressing mate bonds. Arranged marriages. Control through corruption.
It fit. It fit too well with everything that had happened to me.
Who are you? he asked suddenly, studying me with sharp intelligence. You're the first person to touch this tomb in five years. The first anchor I've had to the living world.
Anchor?
Your touch keeps me solid. Without it, I fade back into the void. He inhaled deeply, and his eyes widened. You smell like Alpha blood. Strong Alpha blood. But it's sealed. Suppressed. His gaze sharpened. The Council did this to you, didn't they?
I laughed bitterly. The Council threw me into the Forsaken Lands to die. But they didn't seal anything. I'm just
You're not 'just' anything. He interrupted. I can smell dormant power in your blood. Ancient bloodline magic barely contained. Those seals are breaking. You must feel it.
The pressure in my chest. The blue light around my hands. The superhuman strength that came in bursts.
What's happening to me? I whispered.
Your true nature is awakening. He studied me like I was a puzzle. How old are you?
Twenty-three.
Perfect timing. His smile was grim. The Council seals children to suppress dangerous bloodlines. Those seals fail at twenty-three. That's why they exiled you now instead of just killing you. They needed you to die here, where your awakening power would dissipate harmlessly instead of threatening them.
My legs went weak. I tried to pull my hands free, needing space to think.
He held tight. Don't. Please. I need the contact to stay solid.
That's not my problem!
It will be. His voice turned urgent. Those seals breaking inside you? Without training, that power will tear you apart. You'll burn from the inside out within days.
Fear spiked through me. You're lying.
Am I? He tilted his head. The pressure in your chest. The strange strength. The moments when your senses explode and you can hear heartbeats from miles away. The blue light that sparks around your hands when you're emotional.
My face must have shown my shock because he nodded.
That's your Alpha nature breaking free. Uncontrolled, it will kill you. He paused. But I can teach you. Show you how to channel it properly.
Why would you help me?
Because I need you. Simple. Honest. Your touch anchors me to life. Without you, I return to five years of conscious torture. And you need me—without training, you die screaming as power shreds you apart.
He stepped closer, still holding my hands.
But there's more, isn't there? His golden eyes searched mine. You didn't come to this forbidden tomb just by accident. You came looking for power. Which means someone hurt you badly enough that you'd risk death to get revenge.
My throat tightened. That's none of your business.
The Supreme Councilor who ordered your exile—let me guess. Matthias Ironjaw?
I jerked back. How
Because he's been orchestrating the Council's corruption for decades. Because he's eliminated everyone who threatens their system. His voice turned cold. Who betrayed you? Who helped him destroy you?
My stepsister, I said before I could stop myself. And my fiancé. They framed me as fraud. Stripped my name. Threw me here to die. Rage burned through the words. And now they're getting married. Living my life while I rot.
Understanding flashed across his face. Then we have the same enemies.
What?
Matthias's grandfather led the coup that poisoned me. The Ironjaw family has been suppressing true bonds and eliminating threats for three generations. He smiled, sharp and dangerous. Your stepsister married into the Council system. Your ex-fiancé serves them. They're all part of the same corrupt machine that destroyed both of us.
Hope and rage tangled in my chest. You want revenge.
I want to burn the entire Council to ash. His grip on my hands tightened. And I think you do too.
I did. Gods help me, I wanted them to suffer the way they'd made me suffer.
What are you proposing? I asked carefully.
Partnership. His eyes gleamed. I teach you to control your power. You keep me anchored to life. Together, we get strong enough to take back what was stolen from us.
And then what? You reclaim your throne and I'm still an exile?
No. He shook his head. You're descended from True Keepers—a bloodline that can bond with Alpha Kings as equals. The Council hunted them to extinction. They thought your line was dead.
What does that mean?
It means you're not just powerful. You're dangerous to everything the Council built. His smile widened. It means together, we could challenge their entire corrupt system.
My heart pounded. This was insane. Trusting a dead king I'd just met. Making deals with someone who admitted he needed me to survive.
But what choice did I have?
Without him, I'd die when my power tore me apart. With him, I had a chance—not just to survive, but to make them all pay.
I have conditions, I said.
His eyebrows rose. Bold.
You teach me everything. No holding back. And when we're done destroying the Council, you help me get revenge on my sister and Damon personally.
Agreed. He released one of my hands and held out the other. Partners?
I hesitated for only a second before gripping his hand.
Partners.
The moment I agreed, something exploded between us.
Power erupted from our joined hands—blue and gold light swirling together. It burned up my arm, across my chest, settling over my heart.
I screamed and tried to pull away, but he held tight.
Don't fight it! he shouted over the roaring magic. It's the bond forming!
What bond?!
True Keeper bond! The connection between us!
The light seared into my skin. When it finally faded, a glowing mark remained over my heart—intricate patterns of blue and gold that pulsed with each heartbeat.
I stared at it in horror. What did you do to me?
I didn't do anything. The bond formed naturally when you agreed to the partnership. He showed me his own chest, where an identical mark glowed. We're connected now. Your heartbeat sustains my existence. My power protects your awakening.
How do I break it?
His expression turned grim. You can't. Not without killing us both.
WHAT?!
The True Keeper bond is permanent once formed. Breaking it would stop both our hearts instantly. He had the audacity to look apologetic. I should have mentioned that before you agreed.
You THINK?! I shoved him hard.
He stumbled back, and immediately his form started flickering.
I lunged forward and grabbed his arm. He solidified.
See? he said quietly. We're bound now. For better or worse.
I wanted to scream. To rage at him for tricking me. But as I stood there feeling his heartbeat through the bond mark, I realized something.
I wasn't alone anymore.
For three months, I'd been completely alone. Fighting to survive with no one watching my back, no one caring if I lived or died.
Now I had someone who literally couldn't survive without me.
It was twisted. Possibly insane.
But it was also the first real advantage I'd had since the betrayal.
Fine, I said through gritted teeth. We're bonded. But if you pull anything like that again, I'll let you fade and watch.
He smiled—genuinely this time, not cold or bitter. Fair enough.
Thunder crashed outside. The storm was getting worse.
We need to move, I said. My friend Raven is out there. And once the Council realizes someone awakened this tomb, they'll send hunters.
Let them come. His eyes blazed with anticipation. I've been waiting five years for this.
He moved toward the entrance, but his form flickered violently after two steps.
I caught his arm. What's wrong?
I'm still weak. The further from you I go, the harder it is to maintain form. Frustration crossed his face. I can manifest near you, but I can't stray far. Not yet.
So I'm stuck with a ghost boyfriend?
I'm not your boyfriend. But amusement flickered in his eyes. I'm your bonded Alpha King. There's a difference.
You're definitely a ghost though.
A very powerful, very annoyed ghost.
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
Then the crypt entrance exploded with light. Guards' voices echoed outside.
They're here already, I breathed.
Kael's expression turned predatory. Good. Time for your first lesson.
In what?
Not dying. He placed his hand over my bond mark. Power surged through me—his power, mixing with mine. Trust me. Let me guide you.
I barely know you!
Then learn fast. Because they're coming, and we're not running.
The guards burst through the entrance.
And for the first time since my exile, I stopped being prey.