The castle pulsed weakly, like a gigantic heart recognizing its own blood.
Sofia had barely taken a step toward the steps when a warm hand gripped her wrist.
Firm. But not hard.
Familiar.
Dragoș.
He pulled her aside, into the narrow space between two massive stone pillars, where the torchlight did not reach. Shadows covered them, as if the place had been made specifically to hide moments that should not be seen.
Dragoș's breathing was short, hurried, and the Moon sign on his arm vibrated weakly, like a warning.
— "Sofia… wait a minute."
She looked at him. His eyes were restless, but gentle.
— "Tell me."
Dragoș looked around, as if he feared the walls might hear.
Then he spoke slowly, slowly, choosing his words.
— "Something is wrong. Nothing is connecting."
Sofia tensed her shoulders.
— "What do you mean?"
Dragoş held up two fingers.
— "First: Codrión showed us the past... but not everything. He left out parts. On purpose."
— "Second: Miral knows a lot more than he's saying. A lot. And he hides everything under this title of protector."
Sofia felt a tightness in her chest.
She had noticed it too.
Dragoş took another step closer. They were now a few centimeters apart.
— "And there's something else. Something that's eating me."
— "Say."
— "The Moon Sign. Mine. Why did he wake up only now? When the danger is at its peak? And…"
He stopped.
Her lips trembled.
— "And why… your sign of Light… never appeared?"
Sofia closed her eyes for a moment.
— "I don't know…"
— "Exactly. We DON'T know. NOBODY knows."
Dragoș ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
— "And what does Nicolae have to do with it…? Why doesn't he have any sign? And yet… Raul wants him too
Sofia felt the air between them become charged.
— "Do you think… that something… blocked him?"
Dragoș nodded slightly.
— "I think someone else awakened the evil in Raul."
Sofia flinched. That made sense.
— "And that someone… is looking for signs. Ours."
Dragoș held his breath for a second.
— "From what Miral said… there are three targets: you, because of the Light… me, because I carry the Moon… and Nicolae, because he is the connection between the two of you."
Sofia instinctively pressed herself against the wall.
It all made sense. And yet… she felt like a piece was missing.
— "But what does Nicolae have to do with all this?"
— "That's the problem," Dragoş replied. "We don't know. But evil is looking for him. I felt something following us on the road… something other than Raul."
Sofia tilted her head slowly.
— "I felt it too. A cold shadow, that didn't have Raul's scent. Something else. Older."
Dragoş's eyes widened.
— "Exactly. That's what I wanted to tell you."
The air between them seemed to pulse.
Dragoş moved even closer.
— "Sofia… that's what we wanted to talk about before we entered the castle. Because, if it's true…"
Her voice broke for a moment.
— "You and Nicolae are in the greatest danger. And I need to be with you."
Sofia took a deep breath.
— "Why… you?"
Dragoș blushed. He looked away for just a second.
Then, slowly, sincerely:
— "Because… I'm your knight."
— "Yours and Nicolae's. And I'll never leave you alone."
Sofia's heart clenched, then heated so much that she felt like it was going to burst from her chest.
A smile trembled on her lips, unable to stop it.
— "In the end… yes. You are my knight."
Dragoş froze for a second.
Then he smiled – a small, ashamed, almost childish smile.
— "Until the end."
He gently let go of her wrist.
— "Go. Nicolae is definitely looking for you. See you tomorrow… okay?"
Sofia nodded slowly.
— "Okay…"
And he climbed the stairs.
In the castle, the corridors were warm, the torchlight danced like a breath.
In the large room, Nicolae was already sleeping, supported by Alexandra, who held a protective hand on his forehead.
— "Sophie…" he murmured in his sleep. "Don't go…"
Alexandra smiled at him wearily.
— "I'll stay with him. Go and rest."
Sofia nodded, but her heart wouldn't let her stay.
She went out and headed for her room.
The room was silent.
Too silent.
Sofia sat on the edge of the bed.
But Dragoș's face…
His breathing, his voice, his gestures…
They held her soul captive.
— "Why… do I feel this…?"
A brief pain pierced her chest.
— "Ouch!"
She stood up, scared, and ran to the bathroom.
And pulled her shirt off her shoulder
and froze.
THE SEED OF LIGHT.
A small, bright sun.
But next to her…
A heart.
Sculpted in light. Vibrating faintly, like a living pulse.
— "What… what does this mean…?"
The flashlight flickered.
It went out.
Only the light of the sign on her chest remained.
And then, from the cold air of the bathroom, a voice rang out.
Not a whisper.
Not even a weak one.
An old woman's voice, sure, strong.
— "To break the curse… Sofia."
The sign and the heart pulsed at the same time