The storm had passed, but the ruins were still humming with the remnants of fire. Sparks clung to the cracked stones, glowing faintly crimson as if the earth itself remembered the heat of their bond.
Arjun stood by the broken archway, his chest still heavy with the memory of the kiss. His lips burned as if the stranger's mouth lingered on them, impossible to erase. He wanted to deny it, to push the thought away, but the mark on his wrist pulsed again—each throb reminding him that the connection was real.
"Why do you look like you're running from yourself?" The voice drifted behind him, low, teasing, intoxicating.
Arjun turned sharply. The man leaned against a shattered pillar, arms crossed, eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight. That smirk—that dangerous curve of his lips—made Arjun's stomach twist with something between desire and dread.
"I told you not to come near me." Arjun's voice was firm, but his body betrayed him—he didn't move an inch backward.
The stranger pushed off the pillar, walking slowly, every step echoing with authority. "And yet, here I am. And tell me, Arjun…" His gaze swept over him, lingering, making Arjun's breath falter. "…did you really want me to stay away?"
Arjun's pulse raced. He wanted to shout yes, but the truth stuck in his throat. His silence betrayed him.
The stranger chuckled, closing the distance. His hand brushed against Arjun's wrist, and instantly the mark blazed, red threads sparking between them. Arjun gasped, trying to pull back, but the warmth was overwhelming.
"See?" the man whispered, voice brushing against Arjun's skin. "You can't escape me. The flame doesn't lie."
Arjun clenched his teeth. "This flame… it'll destroy me."
The stranger's smile deepened, though his eyes softened with something raw. He leaned closer, lips grazing the shell of Arjun's ear. "Or maybe it will show you who you truly are."
Arjun shivered violently. His knees weakened, his chest tightening as heat spread through every nerve. He hated this man's control—hated the way his body responded—but gods, he craved it.
Suddenly, the air around them shifted. A cold wind slashed through the ruins, carrying with it a whisper—faint, eerie, like voices of the dead. Arjun froze, his senses on fire.
The stranger stiffened, his hand tightening around Arjun's arm. "They've found us."
Arjun's eyes widened. "Who?"
Before the man could answer, shadows erupted from the broken walls, slithering into the shape of cloaked figures. Their eyes glowed sickly green, and their weapons gleamed with the faint edge of poisoned steel.
Arjun's breath hitched. "What are they?"
"Hunters," the stranger spat, pulling Arjun behind him. Crimson fire flared to life in his palm, casting a deadly glow across the ruins. His voice turned sharp, commanding. "Stay behind me. No matter what."
But Arjun's wrist burned hotter, reacting wildly to the threat. Threads of flame burst from his skin, wrapping around his arm like a living serpent. His heart pounded. "It's… happening again—"
The stranger turned, eyes wide with shock and hunger. "You're awakening."
The hunters advanced, weapons raised, hissing like demons.
The man smirked, his voice dark with promise. "Good. Let them come. Tonight, they'll witness the fire that binds us."
He grabbed Arjun's hand, and the world erupted in crimson flames....