Cass screamed, a guttural sound torn from her throat as the Keeper's mark seared itself onto her chest.it wasn't just the pain of a brand; it was as if an icy tendril of shadow had burrowed into her very soul, claiming a piece of her.the vision of the shadowed fortress, its spires clawing at an angry, red sky, flickered behind her eyelids, a terrifying preview of a destiny she never asked for.
she collapsed, the strange, starlit surface of the void feeling suddenly cold and hostile beneath her.dante was instantly at her side, his vampire speed a blur.he knelt, his dark eyes wide with alarm as he saw the pulsing, twisted symbol over her heart.the mark glowed with a malevolent light, mirroring the one that had just branded her.
he reached out, his hand hovering, unsure if he could even touch it without being burned.A low growl rumbled in his chest, a sound of raw, protective fury."What did he do to her?"
lysander, ever the fae prince of grace, moved with practiced ease, his usual playful smirk replaced by a grim set to his jaw.he knelt opposite Dante, his fingers brushing against Cass's forehead, trying to gauge the depth of the magical assault.
"This isn't just a mark, Dante. It's a conduit. I can feel the Keeper's essence within it, a chilling echo of his will."
he looked at Cass, his eyes filled with a rare, profound concern."Cass, can you hear me? What do you feel?"
Rowan, still wincing from the aftereffects of their previous struggles, dragged himself over, his warlock senses prickling with dread.he didn't need to touch her; he could feel the shift in her aura, the dark, invasive presence now coiling within her own chaotic magic.
"He's claimed her, in a way. Not entirely, not yet, but he's laid a claim. This mark… it's a leash. And a window for him."
panic began to claw at Cass, a cold, suffocating dread.she could feel it—the Keeper's presence, a faint, insidious whisper at the edges of her mind, a feeling of being watched, owned.
Her own magic, usually a wild, untamed river, now felt… tainted, a dark current running through it.she tried to speak, but only a choked sob escaped.
"He's… inside. I can feel him."
Dante, his jaw clenched, carefully scooped her into his arms."We need to get out of here. Now. Before he decides to pull the leash."
Lysander nodded, his gaze sweeping the void."The portal… it must have been a temporary gateway, a test. But how do we return?"
Rowan, his eyes narrowed in thought, focused on the pulsating mark on Cass's chest."The mark… it's a two-way street. He can see through it, yes, but it also anchors her to his power. And if it anchors her, it might just be the key to pulling us back. Cass, focus on the warmth, on the strength of the bond we share. Not his claim, but ours."
it was a desperate gamble, but Cass, clinging to Dante, focused on the familiar thrum of their combined magic, the raw, chaotic energy that had always been hers, now intertwined with theirs.
she pushed against the invasive cold of the Keeper's mark, pouring her own desperate will into the bond she shared with the three men.A surge of collective power erupted from them.
the illusions shrieked, dissolving like mist,the oppressive atmosphere lifted.they stood together, panting, but whole.
the bond still thrummed, but now it felt less like a chain and more like a lifeline, a shared heartbeat.
"We… we did it," Dante gasped, looking around at the dissipating shadows."We broke their hold."
"No," Rowan corrected, his eyes scanning the chamber, "we passed the first test. The 'due' is more than just illusions. He's opened a door. This chamber… it's no longer just a ruin. It's a gateway. And he's made Cass the key."
Cass felt a fresh wave of fear.
A key to what?and what would he unlock?
they needed to leave, to find answers, but where? eldoria, their city, suddenly felt like a distant, fragile memory.
they moved through the city's sprawling, enchanted streets, but the vibrant magic that usually crackled in the air now felt… muted, as if a shadow had fallen over it.the dark alleys seemed darker, the hidden magical academies more secretive.
the bond, a constant thrum beneath Cass's skin, connected them, a shared awareness of each other's presence, their fear, their determination.it was a strange comfort, a lifeline in a world that now felt utterly alien.
Cass kept touching the mark, a constant itch, a cold sensation that spread from her chest.
she felt watched.
every shadow seemed to hold a pair of unseen eyes, every whisper on the wind carried a hint of the Keeper's insidious presence.dante, ever vigilant, walked closest to her, his senses heightened.he could feel the subtle shift in her heartbeat, the way her breath hitched when the cold sensation from the mark flared , he didn't comment, but his hand instinctively went to the hilt of his dagger, his gaze constantly sweeping their surroundings.
Lysander, meanwhile, tried to soothe Cass, conjuring small, shimmering lights that danced around them, trying to dispel the oppressive gloom that clung to her."We'll find a way, Cass. We always do. This bond… it's a burden, yes, but it's also a shield. We're in this together." Cass leaned into his touch, finding a fleeting moment of peace.
but the peace was shattered when Rowan suddenly slammed a heavy tome shut, a grim expression on his face."I found something. It's not good. The Keeper… he's not just an ancient evil. He's a collector. He collects powerful magic, powerful beings, and he binds them to his will. And this mark… it's more than a leash. It's a siphon. It will slowly drain your magic, Cass, until you're nothing but a shell, a puppet for his power."
cass felt her blood run cold.
A siphon?
her powers, the very essence of her being, would be stolen?she looked down at the glowing mark, a horrifying realization dawning on her.it wasn't just a brand; it was a slow, agonizing death sentence.before she could even process this new horror, a chilling whisper, clearer than before, echoed directly in her mind, a voice that belonged to no one in the room.
"Soon, little witch. Soon, you will be mine." And then, the mark on her chest flared, not with pain, but with a surge of his power, momentarily overwhelming her senses, forcing her to see through his eyes.
she saw a sprawling, opulent ballroom, filled with masked figures dancing, their laughter echoing,and at the center, a woman with eyes like chips of ice, a cold, calculating smile on her lips—Lady Seraphine, surrounded by dark sorcerers, raising a toast.
"To the Keeper, and to the power that will soon be ours." The vision snapped away, leaving Cass gasping, choking on the implications.
the Keeper wasn't just draining her; he was using her to see,and Lady Seraphine… she was working with him.they were already here, already plotting, and Cass was unwittingly their spy, their unwitting tool.
the mark wasn't just a siphon; it was a window, and she was trapped on both sides of the glass.
Cass's heart racing as she whispered, "We need to act before it's too late."