**EPISODE 18 — *"Kael's Shadow"*
The air shifted — sharp, tense, electric — as soon as the words left Lucian's mouth.
**"Kael knows where you are.
And he's coming."**
Isha felt the warmth of their kiss vanish, replaced by a cold dread tightening around her ribs.
"But… how?" she whispered.
Lucian stepped back, every muscle in his body tight, preparing for battle already.
"The wraith didn't attack randomly," he said. "It was following your scent. Meaning Kael knows you survived that night in the alley."
He turned away, jaw clenched so hard she could hear the faint grind of bone.
"He wants you, Isha."
His voice cracked under the weight of his anger.
"And he'll kill anything that stands in his way."
Her heart squeezed painfully.
But she stepped closer anyway, touching his arm gently.
"So he'll have to get through you first."
Lucian whipped around, his eyes blazing.
"That's exactly what terrifies me."
She swallowed. "Lucian—"
"No," he cut her off sharply, gripping her shoulders. His voice trembled with something raw. "I almost lost control last night. The wraith poisoned me. I attacked Kael's spies. If anything had happened to you—"
Tears pricked her eyes.
He looked away, breathing hard, trying to steady himself.
"I won't let Kael get close," he forced out. "I'd rather die than see him touch—"
His words choked off, unfinished.
Isha reached up, cupping his face in both hands.
"Lucian."
He froze.
Her touch always made him freeze.
"You won't die," she whispered. "Not for me. Not because of me."
He shook his head, eyes dark.
"I don't get a choice. That's the curse of loving—"
He stopped as if the word burned his tongue.
The silence pulsed.
Isha's heart stuttered.
"…loving?" she echoed quietly.
Lucian closed his eyes, breath shaky.
"I didn't mean—"
"Lucian."
Her voice was barely a breath.
"You can't take it back."
His eyes opened — silver burning, tortured, afraid.
"Isha…" he whispered, "I can't say it. Not when you don't know what it means for someone like me."
Her voice trembled.
"Then show me what it means."
Before he could respond, a low rumble of thunder shook the windows.
Lucian stiffened.
"Isha, get behind me."
Her stomach flipped.
"Is it Kael?"
Lucian inhaled deeply — and his expression changed instantly.
"No." His voice hardened. "His men. They're on the territory line."
He moved so fast she barely saw him grab the sword resting against the wall.
"Lucian—wait!"
He didn't.
He stepped out before she could grab his sleeve.
Isha cursed under her breath and ran after him.
She burst into the clearing outside the safehouse—
And froze.
### **Eight vampires stood waiting.**
Tall.
Armored.
Marked with Kael's black insignia — the crest of a serpent choking a rose.
They were not attacking.
They were waiting.
The leader stepped forward, lips curled into a cold smile.
"Lucian Draven," he sneered. "The fallen prince finally crawls from hiding."
Lucian didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
His grip tightened around his sword.
The guard continued, eyes flicking toward Isha.
"And the girl."
His smile widened.
"The human with the forbidden Mark."
Lucian moved instantly — positioning himself directly between the guard and Isha.
"Say her name again," Lucian growled, voice dropping to a deadly whisper, "and I'll rip out your tongue myself."
The guard chuckled.
"So protective. Does she even know what she is?"
Isha's heartbeat faltered.
Lucian's jaw clenched.
"You're not taking her," he said.
"We don't need to," the guard said, shrugging. "Kael simply sent a message."
He raised a hand.
Another guard stepped forward, holding something wrapped in cloth.
Lucian moved subtly, shielding Isha even more.
The guard unwrapped the cloth—
Isha's breath stopped.
A dagger.
Black as night.
Dripping with faint red residue.
Lucian went absolutely still.
Isha recognized that dagger.
She had seen it before.
Sticking out of Lucian's side during the alley fight.
"He wants you to know," the guard said, tossing the dagger to the ground, "that the next time he cuts you, he won't miss your heart."
Lucian didn't so much as blink.
"And for the girl…"
The guard smirked at Isha.
"Kael says he enjoyed the taste of her blood that night."
Lucian snapped.
One second he was standing still.
The next he had the guard pinned to the trunk of a tree, sword pressed to his throat.
"If you say her name again," Lucian growled, voice shaking with fury,
"I will send your head back to Kael as a souvenir."
The guard didn't flinch.
He smirked.
"Hit a nerve, did I?"
Lucian's blade pressed deeper.
"Leave," Lucian said, "before I stop holding back."
The guard signaled his men.
"All right, Prince. We'll play Kael's little game."
They vanished into the woods.
Leaving only silence.
The moment they were gone, Lucian dropped the sword.
It hit the ground with a metallic thud.
His whole body was trembling.
Not from fear.
From rage.
From something deeper — something he was trying desperately to bury.
Isha walked to him slowly.
"Lucian."
He didn't turn.
"Lucian, look at me."
When he finally faced her, his eyes were burning red.
"You're not safe anymore," he said in a broken whisper. "You're not safe anywhere near me."
"I don't care."
"You should," he snapped. "Kael tasted your blood, Isha. He can track you from anywhere now. He knows you're bonded to me."
She froze.
"…bonded?"
Lucian exhaled shakily.
"It's why your birthmark glows when I touch you. Why you feel pain when I'm hurt. Why I feel your heartbeat even when you're far away."
"But we never— I mean— we didn't—"
"It doesn't require touch," he whispered.
"Only destiny."
Her breath trembled.
He stepped closer, slowly, gently, as if she might break.
"You are marked for me," Lucian whispered, "and I… am marked for you."
The world paused.
Silence stretched between them, heavy and molten.
"But that means," he continued quietly, "Kael will hunt you until one of us dies."
She swallowed.
"I'm not leaving you, Lucian."
"You don't understand—"
"No." She grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer.
"You don't understand. You're mine too."
His breath caught.
His hand slid up her waist, fingers trembling.
"You shouldn't say things like that," he whispered.
"Why?"
"Because I'll believe you."
She stepped closer, chest against his.
"I want you to."
Lucian exhaled sharply — losing the last of his control.
He pinned her gently against the wooden pillar beside the house, hand beside her head, lips barely brushing her cheek.
"Isha…" he whispered, voice deep and rough,
"I won't survive losing you."
"You won't have to."
He closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against hers.
Her hands slid up his chest, fingers curling into his shirt.
His lips touched hers again — soft, desperate, claiming — when—
A crack echoed through the trees.
Both froze.
Lucian stiffened instantly.
"Someone's here."
"Kael?" she whispered.
"No." Lucian's voice hardened. "Something worse."
Before she could ask — Lucian grabbed her, lifted her in his arms, and vanished into the trees in a blur of supernatural speed.
Isha clung to him.
"Lucian—what's happening?!"
His voice was ice.
"Kael didn't send guards to threaten us."
He dodged between trees, moving faster.
"He sent them to distract me."
"From what?"
Lucian's grip tightened.
"From the creature he just released."
"What creature—?!"
Lucian's eyes glowed bright crimson.
"The one that can kill even me."
**EPISODE 18 COMPLETE**