The world felt unreal.
Aria's heartbeat thundered in her ears as Kael's arms remained around her—warm, strong, and terrifying. She pushed against his chest.
"Let me go!"
Kael didn't tighten his hold, but he didn't release her either.
"Calm yourself," he said gently. "The mark is still unstable."
"I don't care about the mark!" Aria snapped. "I don't even know what it means!"
He lowered his eyes to the faint glow still pulsing on her skin.
"It means," he said softly, "that your life is no longer ordinary."
Aria stumbled out of his grasp, breathing hard.
"Stay away from me," she warned.
A faint smirk curved Kael's lips, as if the threat amused him.
"Aria… I saved your life twice tonight. Do you truly think I wish you harm?"
"Yes!" she shot back, voice shaking. "You're a demon. Demons kill humans."
Kael stepped closer.
"And yet," he murmured, "you are still alive."
Aria's breath caught in her throat.
She hated how close he stood.
She hated the warmth that rolled from him.
She hated how his eyes looked at her—as if he had waited centuries for this moment.
"Why do you… look at me like that?" she whispered before she could stop herself.
Kael's expression changed.
The arrogance faded.
The calm cracked.
Something ancient and painful flickered in his eyes.
"Because," he said quietly, "I've searched for you longer than you can imagine."
Aria felt her knees weaken.
"Searched… for me?"
Kael didn't answer. Instead, he held out his hand.
"Come with me."
Aria's eyes widened. "Are you insane? I'm not going anywhere with you!"
His gaze hardened.
"Aria, the moment your mark awakened, every demon within a thousand miles felt it. They will come for you."
Her pulse stopped.
"W-what do they want with me?"
"The same thing I do," Kael said.
"Your mark. Your power. Your life."
Aria backed up so fast she nearly tripped. "No… I can't— I have to go home. My mother—"
Kael moved faster than her panic.
In a heartbeat, he stood inches from her.
His hand gently cupped her cheek—not possessive, but protective.
"Your mother is fine," he said softly. "But if you go back now, you won't be."
Aria's eyes burned with tears. "Why me? Why is this happening?"
Kael brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
"Because fate chose you."
Aria slapped his hand away. "Stop saying fate! I don't believe in any of this!"
Kael sighed—a quiet, frustrated sound.
"If you stay here, you will die. If you come with me, you live. Those are the only choices."
Aria shook her head violently. "No! I'm going home!"
She turned to run—
But the forest shifted.
Dozens of red eyes opened in the darkness.
Growls.
Claws scraping bark.
Wings beating the air.
They were surrounded.
Aria froze.
Kael's expression turned cold, deadly.
"So they came."
Demons crawled out from every shadow—feral ones, mindless ones, hungry ones.
All of them staring at her.
Aria trembled.
"W-why are they looking at me?"
"Because of the mark," Kael said. "You shine to them like a star."
The nearest demon lunged.
Aria screamed—
Kael moved like a storm.
Red fire erupted from his palms, slicing through the air.
The demons were burned to ash in seconds.
But more kept coming.
Kael grabbed Aria's waist and pulled her close.
"Hold onto me."
"I—I can't—"
He wrapped his cloak around her as flames burst around them.
"You can," he whispered in her ear.
"If you want to live… hold on to me."
Aria clung to him, shaking violently.
The world blurred—
Darkness folded around them—
A burst of heat engulfed them—
And the forest vanished.