004

“Kaelen!”

Ellion’s voice broke through the tension first, bright with something that didn’t belong in that room—relief. Genuine relief. It was so out of place that Elowen’s head turned toward him instinctively.

He was already on his feet.

The others didn’t move.

Why on earth don't they all look alike? Each unique to his personality. Why?

Kaelen stepped fully into the room, the chains dragging behind him in a slow, grating rhythm that seemed to scrape against the silence itself. Every step he took echoed, not because the room demanded it, but because everyone else had gone still enough to let it.

He didn’t look restrained.

That was the unsettling part.

Despite the chains around his neck, wrists, and ankles, despite the guards flanking him, Kaelen carried himself like none of it mattered. Like this was a walk he had chosen, not one forced on him.

A crooked smile rested on his lips, lazy and sharp at the same time. His gaze swept across the room once, taking everything in, dismissing most of it just as quickly.

The moment his eyes passed over Elowen, something in her chest tightened.

Not fear.

Something worse.

Recognition of danger.

Zevrian shifted slightly, just enough for Elowen to notice the subtle movement of his hand. A signal.

Ellion saw it too.

He hesitated.

It was small, almost invisible—but it was there. His fingers tightened briefly at his sides before he reached into his coat and pulled something out.

A bracelet.

Metal. Sleek.

But the way he looked at it. Wary

“El—” Ellion started, then corrected himself, forcing a small smile as he stepped forward. “Hey… Kaelen.”

Kaelen’s eyes flicked to the bracelet, then back to Ellion’s face. The smirk didn’t fade, but something behind it sharpened.

“It’s okay,” Kaelen said casually, lifting his wrists slightly despite the chains. “Do what you have to do.”

Ellion exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction. He stepped closer, slow and deliberate, like he was approaching something unpredictable.

“You know it’s just temporary,” Ellion added quietly, almost like he was reassuring himself.

Kaelen didn’t respond. He just held out his wrist.

Ellion slipped the bracelet on.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then, a soft click. It locked into place.

Ellion stepped back immediately and Zevrian snapped his fingers.

The chains dropped.

Metal hit the floor in a heavy, echoing crash, the guards stepping back instantly as if released from an invisible command.

Kaelen rolled his shoulders once, flexing his hands as if testing the absence of weight.

Zevrian spoke, his voice even. “The bracelet suppresses your abilities. If you attempt to use them, it will retaliate.”

Kaelen glanced down at it briefly, turning his wrist as if examining a piece of jewelry rather than a restraint. “So I’ve been told.”

He started walking further into the room, each step slow, measured, completely unbothered by the eyes tracking his movement.

“These lights,” he muttered, glancing up. “Unnecessary.”

Zevrian didn’t respond.

Kaelen stopped beneath one of the bulbs, tilting his head slightly as he looked at it.

Then—

Pop.

The bulb shattered. Not violently.

Just a small, controlled burst, glass cracking with a faint snap as the light above flickered out.

Elowen flinched, her shoulders tensing as her body jerked slightly against the chair.

Kaelen noticed and his head turned slowly.

His eyes landed on her and this time, they stayed.

A smile spread across his face again, slower now.

“Well,” he said, his voice low, almost amused. “So this is her?”

Ellion nodded from behind him. “Yes.”

Kaelen took a step closer. Then another.

“She matched with us." Ellion added. " All of us.”

Elowen’s pulse spiked, her fingers curling instinctively even though the ropes held them useless.

Something in the air shifted again.

That same pressure. That same pull.

She had felt it with the others.

But this—

This was different. It was stronger.

More violent.

Kaelen stopped in front of her.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then, his eyes darkened slightly, his expression tightening just a fraction. Elowen saw it—saw the way his jaw clenched, the way his fingers twitched like he was fighting something.

Resisting.

“What—” he started, his voice lower now, strained in a way that didn’t match his earlier ease.

His eyes shut briefly and his shoulders tensed.

“No,” he muttered under his breath.

Elowen stared at him, confusion flickering through her fear.

What is happening?

His eyes snapped open again and locked onto hers.

And whatever fight had been there, snapped.

“Mate.”

The word came out like a verdict.

Draven let out a low breath, leaning back slightly. “Finally.”

Ellion’s lips curved faintly, something like quiet triumph in his expression.

Zevrian didn’t smile—but the tension in him eased.

Like something had just been confirmed.

Kaelen stepped back abruptly. The change was instant.

His expression twisted.

Disgust flooded his features as he looked at her properly now, like the word he had just said had finally settled into his mind.

“She’s human.”

The way he said it, like it was offensive.

Like it was wrong.

Elowen’s stomach twisted.

“Get away from me…” she started, her voice sharp despite the tremor in it but she didn’t get to finish.

His hand shot out.

Fast. Too fast and his fingers wrapped around her throat before she could react, squeezing just enough to cut off her breath.

Her body jerked, a choked sound escaping her as her hands strained uselessly against the ropes.

Her vision blurred for a second.

His eyes…

They weren’t normal. They were black.

Completely. And empty.

Something inhuman.

Draven was on his feet instantly. “I thought you said the bracelet worked!”

Zevrian moved just as fast, grabbing Kaelen’s arm and trying to pull him back. “Release her.”

But Kaelen didn’t budge. His grip tightened slightly.

Elowen gasped, her chest heaving as panic surged through her.

Ellion stepped forward, his voice strained. “It is working! He can’t shadow walk—that’s what it was designed for!”

Draven shot him a furious look. “You said it would suppress his abilities!”

“It’s suppressing most of them!” Ellion snapped back, frustration breaking through his calm. “I didn’t anticipate…”

“You didn’t anticipate?” Draven’s voice rose. “You were told exactly what to do!”

“I did it!” Ellion shot back. “This shouldn’t be happening!”

Kaelen’s grip tightened for a split second more.

Elowen’s body trembled, her lungs burning as she struggled for air.

Then, he let go.

Just like that.

She collapsed forward slightly, gasping harshly as air rushed back into her lungs.

Before she could even fully recover, he spat at her.

The saliva hit her cheek, sliding down slowly.

The room went still again.

Draven straightened, his posture shifting completely. Sorrian’s expression hardened, his stance changing just enough to show he was ready.

Ready for a fight.

Kaelen didn’t care.

He looked at her like she was something beneath him.

“Don’t come near me,” he said, his voice cold now. Final. “Ever.”

Elowen’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her throat burning, her eyes stinging—not from tears, but from the force of everything hitting her at once.

“Or I will rip your head off.”

She could see he meant it.

He turned and walked out.

Just like that.

The doors shut behind him with a heavy sound that echoed longer than it should have.

Silence followed.

Elowen sat there, shaking slightly, her breath uneven as she tried to steady herself.

Her throat hurt.

Her skin still felt like his hand was there.

Zevrian looked down at her.

For a moment, something passed through his expression. Not pity, not quite.

But something close enough to an apology that it made her stomach twist.

Then it was gone.

The door opened again.

An elderly maid stepped in quietly, her posture respectful but firm.

Zevrian spoke without looking away from Elowen. “She will take you to your room.”

Elowen’s head snapped up slightly.

Room?

“Prepare her,” Zevrian added. “She will meet elders.”

Her stomach dropped.

Draven moved toward her, crouching slightly as he reached for the restraints.

The ropes loosened quickly under his hands, falling away from her wrists and ankles.

She winced as circulation returned, her muscles stiff and sore.

He helped her up.

Carefully.

“Easy,” he muttered, his tone lower now. Less sharp. “You’re fine.”

She jerked her arm slightly away from him, not fully pulling back but not accepting the help either.

“I don’t need your help,” she said hoarsely.

He ignored that, steadying her anyway. “Kaelen’s… like that.”

“That doesn’t excuse anything,” she snapped.

“No,” he agreed simply. “It doesn’t.”

Ellion stood a few steps away, his expression tight, guilt written clearly across his face.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

Elowen didn’t look at him. Everything was too loud in her head.

The maid stepped closer. “Come,” she said gently.

Elowen hesitated for half a second.

Then she moved.

Because what choice did she have?