LOGINLiana’s POVThe glow spread.It started from the center of the mark and slowly traced every carved line, like something invisible was breathing life into it.“Kieran…” I whispered.“I need you to step back,” he said immediately, his voice sharp and controlled. “Now.”“I cannot,” I replied.“Liana, this is not a request.”“I know,” I said, my eyes still fixed on the symbol. “But something is holding me here.”His expression changed instantly. “Holding you how?”“Not physically,” I said. “It is… inside.”“That is worse,” he muttered.The glow pulsed again, brighter this time.And then—The voices came back.Not faint.Not distant.Clear.Layered.Powerful.Finish what was started…I sucked in a sharp breath.“They are louder,” I said.“What are they saying?” Kieran asked, stepping closer again despite his earlier hesitation.“They want me to finish something,” I replied.“That does not mean you should listen,” he said.“It feels like I already started it,” I whispered.“When?” he demand
Liana’s POVThe silence in the room felt different now.It was no longer heavy with fear. It was… waiting.Kieran had not let go of my hand.Not since everything settled.“Say something,” he finally said, his voice low but firm.I looked up at him. “What do you want me to say?”“I want you to tell me exactly what you are feeling,” he replied.I hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. “It is calm now.”“That is not reassuring,” he said immediately.“I know,” I admitted. “But it is not chaotic anymore. It is like… it is part of me.”“That is exactly what I was afraid of,” he muttered.I tightened my grip on his hand. “Why is that so scary to you?”“Because I do not know what it is,” he said. “And anything I do not understand that can affect you like this is a threat.”“It does not feel like a threat,” I said quietly.“That does not mean it is not one,” he countered.I sighed softly. “You always assume the worst.”“And you are starting to assume the best,” he replied. “Th
Liana’s POVI could not stop thinking about what he said.You are remembering.It replayed in my head over and over again like it was stuck on a loop.“What are you remembering, Liana?” Kieran asked quietly.I blinked, realizing he had been watching me the entire time.“I do not know,” I admitted.“That is not good enough,” he said, his voice low but controlled. “Something just broke into my home, surrounded us, and told you that you are… what did he call it? A catalyst?”“I heard him,” I said softly.“Then help me understand,” he pressed.“I wish I could,” I replied, frustration creeping into my tone. “You think I enjoy not knowing what is happening to me?”“I did not say that,” he said quickly.“You did not have to,” I muttered.He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair again. “This is exactly what I was afraid of.”“That I might be something you cannot control?” I asked, raising a brow.“That you might be something that can be used against you,” he corrected immediately.
Liana’s POVDarkness.Complete, suffocating darkness.“Kieran?” I said quickly, my voice sharper than I intended. “Kieran, where are you?”“I’m right here,” he answered immediately, his voice low but steady. I felt his hand find mine in the dark, gripping tightly. “Don’t move.”“I’m not moving,” I said, even though my heart was racing. “What just happened?”“The lights went out,” he said. “Stay close to me.”“That is not comforting,” I muttered.“I am trying,” he replied.Somewhere in the darkness, I heard movement. Not just one person. Multiple.Footsteps.Slow.Intentional.“Kieran,” I whispered, tightening my grip on his hand, “we are not alone.”“I know,” he said quietly. “I can hear them.”A voice broke through the darkness.Calm.Too calm.“You should not have resisted,” the man said. “It would have made this easier.”My chest tightened instantly. “That is him.”“I know,” Kieran said, his tone dropping into something dangerous. “Stay behind me.”“I am already behind you,” I repl
Liana’s POVI shouldn’t have gone near the mark.I knew that now.But it was too late to undo it.“What were you thinking?” Kieran’s voice cut through the room as soon as we got back inside. He was pacing now, running his hands through his hair, his frustration barely contained. “You could’ve been hurt.”“I was fine,” I said, even though my voice came out weaker than I intended.“That didn’t look fine to me,” he snapped, stopping in front of me. “You froze, Liana. You couldn’t even hear me.”“I heard something else,” I said quietly.He clenched his jaw. “That’s exactly the problem.”I took a step closer to him. “You don’t understand what it felt like.”“Then explain it to me,” he said, his voice dropping but still intense. “Because from where I was standing, it looked like you were being pulled into something we don’t understand.”“That’s because I was,” I admitted.Silence.Kieran stared at me, searching my face like he was trying to find something he could hold on to. “Say that agai
Liana’s POVI couldn’t breathe properly until we were out of that room.The door had barely shut behind us before I pulled my hand away from Kieran and paced the hallway, my heart racing like it was trying to escape my chest.“Liana—”“Don’t,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Just… give me a second.”He went quiet, but I could feel his eyes on me, tracking every step, every uneven breath.“That man,” I said finally, stopping and turning to him, “he knew things he shouldn’t know.”Kieran’s jaw tightened. “He was trying to get into your head.”“He already did,” I snapped. “You heard him. The mark, the memories, the feeling—he described it perfectly.”“That doesn’t make it true.”“Then explain why it feels true,” I challenged.Silence.Kieran exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t have all the answers right now.”“That’s the problem,” I said, my voice dropping. “Neither do I. And I’m the one this is happening to.”He stepped closer, his voice softer now. “You’re not a
Liana's POV I couldn't sleep, and if you really thought about the reason why, then I wasn't sure anyone would be able to blame me. I'd heard a lot of things could keep you from sleeping when you wanted to. They ranged from anxiety, to being restless, down to being sick and
Chapter 152Kieran's POV I wouldn't say I was quick to anger, but recently, I wasn't so sure I could agree with that sentiment any longer. Growing up, I'd always taken pride in the fact that not everyone could get under my skin, and it was that way thanks to two different reasons. One; I hardly
Liana's POV I didn't know what was happening, and if I was being honest, I wasn't sure I wanted to know. A groan slid past my lips as pain blossomed all around me. It started from the center of my skull, before spreading down and into places I didn't even know was possible. My lungs were on f
Kieran's POV I hated waiting, more than I hated anything, but right now, I wasn't sure I had any other choice than to do one of the things I hated the most. In fact, I wasn't sure which was worse, the fact that I literally didn't have a choice here, or if I did decide to leave, it would actua







