Elira woke to the rhythmic sound of footsteps outside her room. Her heart thumped against her ribcage, and she experienced the familiar pressure of the bond, a mute call that somehow seemed to tug at her even in sleep. For an instant, she lay still, trying to determine whether she had dreamt the entire encounter with the Council the night before. Perhaps it was just a nightmare, a creation of her mind running wild with fear and confusion.
But as the footsteps drew closer, and the beat of Kael's power coursed through their connection, she knew it was real. The danger they faced, the twisted threads of fate that had tangled them together—they were all too real.
She threw off the bedclothes and dressed hastily, the strained, rhythmic pull of the bond urging her to move faster. She stopped at the door, a second's hesitation. What did Kael need now? What had happened since their fight with the Council?
Before she could dwell on it further, the door swung open, revealing Kael, his expression as unreadable as ever. His silver eyes locked onto hers, a flicker of something she couldn't quite place in their depths.
"Get ready," he said, his voice low and controlled. "We're leaving."
Elira blinked, stunned. "Leaving? Where?"
"Somewhere safe. You'll understand soon enough," he replied, not waiting for her response as he turned to leave. "We can't afford to stay here any longer."
She followed him quickly, her mind racing. They had barely spoken since their argument the night before, and now he was telling her they needed to leave? Was it because of the Council's threat? Or something more?
The academy had always been a place of learning and heritage, but now it was more like a gaol. Elira could well feel the walls closing in upon her, their bond pressing upon her, smothering her without her knowing how. Kael, for his unemotional demeanor, looked no less burdened.
They walked the twisting corridors of the academy, the soft light of the magical candles casting long shadows against stone walls. There was a heavy scent of old books and magic in the air, but Elira took no comfort from familiar surroundings. Instead, a chill dread settled heavy in the pit of her stomach.
When they neared the outer gates, Kael halted, his body swinging round toward her. His fingers skimmed across her arm, and Elira sensed briefly the burnished flood of their connection—the one that had been both blessing and blight.
"Elira," he whispered, now with an air of tenderness verging almost on vulnerability. "Something I need to tell you before we enter."
She gazed into his eyes, her own breath caught in the back of her throat. His eyes were full of a sorrow she had never seen, a sadness tracing back to something ancient, something he had never spoken of. "What is it?" she breathed.
Kael clenched his jaw, hesitating. "I don't know how much longer we can run from the Council. They won't quit, Elira. They'll hunt us. And when they do. " He trailed off, unable to continue.
Elira stepped closer, her heart aching for him. "You're not alone, Kael. I'll stand with you, whatever happens."
His expression eased, but for only a moment. "I'm not the one you need to be afraid of," he whispered. "It's you. You have no idea how much danger you're in."
The words stung, though she'd known they'd been meant to protect her. She hadn't asked for this bond. She hadn't asked to be part of a prophecy she didn't understand. And yet there she was, bound to Kael in ways she couldn't even escape.
"I understand the risk," she said, firm.
"I'm not frightened."
Kael's face flashed, his expression torn. "You should be. We both should be."
Before she could respond, there was a loud crash, followed by a low growl that made her blood run cold. Her pulse quickened, and instinctively, she reached for the magic that had been simmering inside her, growing stronger each day.
"What was that?" Elira demanded, her eyes darting around the courtyard.
Kael's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her closer. "Stay close," he ordered. "We're not safe here."
Elira barely had time to shift when the ground trembled beneath them. The air above them darkened, the sun eclipsed by an unnatural shadow. Magic—black magic—hung thick in the air.
Out of the shadow, a figure emerged. Tall and black-robed, with red eyes that burned like coals in the dark. The Voidsworn.
Elira's breath was caught. She recognized this figure from last night, the one who had spoken of the Aetherion, the one who had cautioned them both.
"You shouldn't have come here," the Voidsworn snarled, its voice a low, menacing growl. "This is your final offer, Prince Kael. You and the girl. Surrender now, and maybe we will release you."
Kael positioned himself between Elira and the Voidsworn, his body a shield to protect her. "I won't give her up. You'll have to kill me first."
The Voidsworn cackled, the sound causing Elira to shiver. "As you desire, Prince."
Suddenly, the figure attacked, a burst of shadowy energy shooting from its outstretched hand. Elira didn't even have time to react before Kael jumped in front of her, the magic splashing into him with such force that he was sent sliding across the earth.
"Kael!" Elira cried out, her heart dropping as she crouched beside him. His body was twisting in convulsions, the dark magic gripping him.
"Kael, no!" she screamed, fear rising in her chest. She moved on instinct, reaching out with a hand, her own magic bursting forth as she called on the power inside her.
Lightning crackled around them, and a brilliant light shot from Elira's hands, pushing back the dark magic long enough for Kael to heave himself to his feet. The Voidsworn growled, falling back into the shadows.
"Run," Kael rasped, his voice strained with effort. "Now."
Elira hesitated for only a moment before she grasped Kael's arm and pulled him towards the forest beyond the academy gates. They could not stay here. Not with the Voidsworn lurking in the shadows.
They fled, the wind tangling Elira's hair as they plunged further into the forest. The bond between them pounded in her chest, and she sensed Kael's fatigue, the toll that the dark magic had taken from him.
She glanced at him, concern growing. He was hanging on by a thread, and she could feel his energy waning.
"We have to keep moving," Elira urged, but Kael just shook his head.
"I can't. not much longer," he said, his voice strained. "You have to go. You have to get to safety."
Elira's eyes flashed with determination. "I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together."
Kael spoke nothing further, but his grip tightened on her hand, and they proceeded on into darkness.
Far down the way, the sounds of the pursuit were closing in.