The elves moved with effortless grace, their magic seamlessly blending with the forest.
Glowing flowers bloomed at whispered spells, vines curled around wooden archways, and the air filled with the crisp scent of enchanted herbs.
The ritual preparations unfolded with centuries-old precision, each movement a testament to their deep connection with nature.
The scene was breathtaking, yet despite the beauty surrounding me, a strange unease prickled at the back of my mind.
It was an intangible feeling, something lurking just beneath the surface—like the sensation of being watched, though no eyes were visible.
My fingers twitched at my sides as I tried to shake off the feeling.
Oregon stood a few feet away, his arms crossed as he watched his people work. His expression, usually so composed, was unreadable.
But I noticed the subtle tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw tightened as his silver eyes scanned the clearing. He felt it too.
"Are you alright?" I asked softly, stepping closer.
His gaze flicked to me, the silver depths clouded with something I couldn't quite decipher.
"There's something… not right."
A frown tugged at my lips.
"You sense it too?"
Before he could respond, a voice—smooth yet laced with sharp edges—cut through the tranquil air.
"How touching," it drawled from behind us.
I turned swiftly, my pulse quickening.
An unfamiliar elf stood at the edge of the clearing. He was tall and striking, his long silver hair cascading over his shoulders, eerily similar to Oregon's.
But while Oregon carried an air of strength and unwavering steadiness, this man's presence was different—something coiled and waiting, like a serpent poised to strike.
He wore emerald robes that shimmered unnaturally, faint traces of dark magic pulsing through the fabric. But it was his eyes that truly unsettled me—deep violet, swirling with something ancient and sinister, like a storm brewing beneath the surface.
Oregon stiffened beside me.
"Erevan," he said, his voice flat, yet laced with a tension that vibrated in the air between them.
His entire posture shifted, his body subtly angling in front of mine in a protective stance.
The stranger—Erevan—smiled slowly. It was a careful, practiced expression, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Cousin," he said, his voice dripping with false warmth.
"What a surprise to find you here, preparing for a wedding, sacred ritual."
My gaze flickered between them, realization clicking into place. So this was Oregon's estranged cousin.
Oregon inhaled sharply through his nose, clearly restraining something dangerous. "Why are you here?"
Erevan tsked.
"Is that really how you greet family?" He tilted his head slightly, his violet gaze sliding to me.
"And you must be Leighton."
The way he said my name—it was almost a caress, a slow savoring of each syllable. I tensed instinctively, though I didn't know why.
How did he know who I was?
"Erevan, you are not welcome here," Oregon said, stepping forward, his presence radiating quiet fury.
"State your business and leave."
Erevan ignored him, his eerie smile never faltering.
"I must admit, I find this entire ordeal fascinating. A Prime Apex, willingly binding herself to an elf?"
His eyes glinted with something unreadable.
"I wonder, Leighton, if you've been given all your options."
He knew about Prime Apex too.
My muscles tensed.
"What do you mean?"
His smirk widened.
"Only that bonds are not always as permanent as they seem. If one match is not to your liking, another can be arranged." His gaze darkened.
"I, for instance, could offer you something far greater than a mere connection to a nature spirit."
Little did he know, I didn't need greater power—I needed only what the ritual required. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Oregon's energy crackled beside me, his anger barely restrained.
"She is not interested in whatever deception you're selling, Erevan."
Erevan let out a dramatic sigh.
"So quick to assume. I was merely offering choice—something you seem to have taken from her."
I crossed my arms.
"I chose this path."
He studied me, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
"For now."
A chill ran down my spine.
Before I could question him further, he took a slow step back.
"Good luck with your ritual nuptials, dear cousin." His eyes flickered to mine again. "And, to remind you, Leighton, fate is ever-changing."
Then, just like that, he vanished into the trees, as if he had never been there.
The ceremony was set for the following evening, yet as the hours passed, I felt… off. It started as a mere fog in my thoughts, a slight sluggishness in my movements.
Then, as dusk approached, the sensation worsened. My emotions felt distant, as if I were observing myself from outside my own body. My limbs were heavier than usual, my mind clouded.
Xander, Vlad, and Dylan arrived just as the final preparations were being made, their presence usually grounding—but this time, even with them near, the unease within me only grew.
"You don't look well," Xander murmured, pulling me aside.
His crimson eyes scanned me with concern.
I pressed a hand to my temple.
"I just feel… weird. I don't know how to explain it."
Vlad's gaze darkened.
"Something has tainted your aura."
Dylan stepped closer, nostrils flaring. His sharp canines peeked through as he frowned.
"You don't smell right."
Oregon appeared then, his silver eyes sharp with worry.
"Erevan," he said, voice tight with realization. "He did something."
I stiffened. Could he have?
Holumis entered, her gaze immediately locking onto me.
"You are under a spell," she said simply.
"A dark enchantment, meant to alter your will."
The revelation struck like a blow. Erevan was trying to control me.
Oregon clenched his fists.
"We need to break it. Now. I'll go ask mother."
That night, as I waited for Oregon to return, I knew Erevan had made his move.
I didn't feel like myself anymore.
While the others discussed strategies, an invisible force tugged at me—a whispering urge, a command laced with magic.
My feet moved of their own accord, leading me away from the safety of the others, deeper into the forest.
And there he was. Waiting.
"Good girl," Erevan murmured as I stepped into the moonlit clearing.
His violet eyes gleamed as he reached for my hand.
"Come with me, Leighton. Leave this foolish bond behind."
I tried to resist, but my body refused to obey. The spell bound me like invisible chains.
"With me, you'll be stronger, my dear," he whispered, his voice smooth as silk.
"I will give you power beyond your wildest dreams."
I wanted to scream, to fight—but instead, the words tumbled from my lips, hollow and unbidden:
"From now on, I am yours, Erevan."
Why did I say that? I didn't mean it.
Erevan smiled, his grip tightening.
"Good," he purred.
"You only need to obey me, and everything will be fine."
His words were poison, yet they sounded so enticing.
Suddenly everything went blurry.