MasukLiana’s POVFire surrounded me.Real fire.Not like before.Not flashes.Not memories.This felt real.“Kieran!” I shouted, spinning around desperately. “Kieran, where are you?”There was no answer.Only screams.Loud. Terrified. Everywhere.My chest tightened. “Hello? Is anyone here?”A figure ran past me.Then another.They did not even look at me.“Wait!” I called out, reaching for one of them. “What is happening?”My hand passed right through.I froze.“What…?” I whispered, staring at my hand.“You cannot touch them.”I turned sharply.The man.He stood a few steps away, calm as ever.“You brought me here,” I said, my voice shaking. “Take me back.”“I did not bring you here,” he replied.“Yes, you did,” I snapped. “You triggered this.”“I only opened the door,” he said. “You walked through it.”“That is not how this works,” I said.“That is exactly how this works,” he countered.I shook my head, backing away slightly. “This is not real.”“It is real,” he said. “Just not in the way
Liana’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 POV My heart thundered madly in my chest, so hard I thought the vital organ was going to burst through the chest and onto the pavement. It sounded gruesome, but in a way, maybe it wasn't going to be all that bad. At least, that way these men would scurry away and leave me alone. I hop
Liana's POV If someone had told me this was how my night was going to end, then best believe I would have laughed hysterically in their face and told them to go jump in the river or something if they were that bored. My life had been turning out great, and by my life, I really meant the past c
Chapter 46 Liana's POV I leaned against the glass balcony of our room, the warm breeze brushing over my skin. I took in the scene in front of me, and I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said I wanted to stay here forever. I had the picture perfect view of the beach crashing down on the rocks that
Liana's POV Time seemed to slow to a halt as I took in the man in front of me. I stared at him, unable to move, unable to breathe. Perhaps it had to do with the shock of actually seeing someone come to my rescue.Up until a couple of minutes ago, I had totally resigned to my fate. That I was go







