Chapter 22Third POVSolas had been watching Elara for hours, his gaze never straying from her frail form as she sat by the pond. She was a sight to behold, even in her weakened state—a fragile human, caught in the web of gods, yet still clinging to life with a tenacity that both fascinated and frustrated him. The pond’s surface shimmered with the faint light of the magical barrier he had placed around her, a protective cocoon to shield her from Helios’s draining magic. Yet, even with that protection, Elara was barely holding on.His bride.The thought of her as his bride was a bitter pill to swallow, a reminder of the chain of events that had led to this moment. Elara had been chosen—no, sacrificed—by her village, sent to him as an offering. But Solas hadn’t accepted her as a mere offering. He had claimed her, bound her to him with a vow that was both a blessing and a curse.But what was the point of claiming her if she couldn’t even survive? The fleeting triumph he had felt in freei
Chapter 23Third POVElara sat on the cold stone slab, feeling the warmth of the food settle in her stomach, the energy coursing through her veins like a lifeline. For the first time since her arrival in this dark, oppressive place, she felt a small measure of strength return to her body. The meal had done more than just sustain her physically; it had given her a fleeting sense of normalcy, a brief escape from the nightmare that had become her reality.Closing her eyes, she let herself sink into that feeling, allowing the memories of her past to wash over her like a comforting tide. She drifted back to a time when life was simple, when her biggest concern was choosing the freshest produce at the village market, and her greatest joy was cooking a hearty meal to share with others.In her mind, she saw herself walking through the village, her feet moving over the familiar cobblestone streets. She was dressed modestly, as always, in a simple dress that allowed her to blend in with the othe
Chapter 24Third POVSolas stood in the shadows, his dark form barely distinguishable against the cavern walls. His eyes never left Elara as she lay on the cold stone slab, shifting restlessly. He watched her, his gaze sharp and unyielding, as she struggled to find sleep. The exhaustion was evident in every line of her body—her limbs heavy, her eyelids fluttering shut only to open again moments later.And yet, there was a stubbornness in her, a quiet resilience that refused to give in, even to the pull of sleep. Solas found himself intrigued, as he so often did when it came to Elara. What was it about her that made him linger in the shadows, watching her every move with such intensity?He had never been one for such idle curiosity. He had seen countless mortals, all of them weak in one way or another, succumbing to their emotions, their fears, their mortality. Yet there was something different about Elara. Something that made it impossible for him to turn away.Finally, after what seem
Chapter 25Third POVElara reveled in the hazy remnants of her fond memories, lingering on the comforting images from the village—the farmers’ market, the warm smiles exchanged over fresh produce, the laughter of children in the square. It was a fleeting moment of solace, a time when life was simpler and unburdened. But as she sank deeper into her slumber, those happy images began to fade, replaced by a chilling void.The darkness came swiftly, like a predator stalking its prey, creeping closer with every breath. Elara felt its weight pressing down on her, suffocating her. She couldn’t see, couldn’t hear—just the overwhelming sense of emptiness gnawing at her core. Panic surged through her as the shadows loomed closer, tightening their grip around her fragile form. Her body trembled in the dream, helpless against the suffocating abyss, her mind screaming for escape that never came.Just when she thought she could bear no more, a sudden wave of warmth enveloped her. It was like being wr
Chapter 26Third POVSelene sat atop her celestial throne, bathed in the pale glow of her moon as its silver light poured through the open arches of her ethereal home. She watched the waves below, feeling their pulse as they rose and crashed against the shorelines of a distant village. The tides were erratic tonight—wild, untamable—and no matter how hard she focused, she couldn’t subdue them. Her brow furrowed in frustration as she tried once more to ease the waters, her divine power coaxing them into serenity.But it was no use.A heavy sigh escaped her lips as realization settled over her. This wasn’t nature acting on its own. No, the tides were responding to something darker—someone darker. She clenched her fists as her suspicions grew certain.Solas.Her brother. The mere thought of him sent a bitter chill through her veins. It had been centuries since they had last crossed paths, but his presence lingered like a shadow on her realm, dark and consuming. He was still there, beneath
Chapter 27Third POVElara awoke to a faint sliver of light filtering through the darkened cave, its soft glow reflecting off the still pond. She blinked, adjusting her eyes to the gentle shimmer as she slowly sat up, confusion momentarily clouding her thoughts. The last thing she remembered was collapsing into sleep, her body aching and sore from the torment of hunger and exhaustion. But now, as she stretched her limbs, she felt nothing but strength, as though the fatigue and pain had been swept away by some unseen force.She rose to her feet, expecting her muscles to protest, to feel the cold stiffness from sleeping on the hard stone slab. But there was none of that. No soreness, no discomfort. Just an overwhelming sense of energy coursing through her veins, as if she were somehow renewed.Elara frowned, running her hands over her arms, her brow furrowed in thought. How is this possible? She had been on the brink of collapse the day before, barely able to think straight, let alone fe
Chapter 28Third POVSolas sat in the corner of his dimly lit chamber, his eyes never leaving the form of Elara, who lay curled up in his bed. He had kept to the shadows, hidden behind the dark veil that cloaked him, but his gaze had not wavered, watching her sleep through the long, quiet hours of the night. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, soft little exhales escaping from her parted lips, and Solas found himself leaning forward slightly, almost without realizing it.She was serene, entirely at peace in her sleep. The lines of tension that had marred her face earlier were now gone, replaced by a sweet, almost innocent calm. Her brow furrowed occasionally, her lips curling into a faint smile at times, and Solas couldn’t help but wonder what she was dreaming about. Was it something pleasant? Was it him? The thought sent a shiver through him, one he couldn’t explain.Why am I so enamored by her?It was a question that had haunted him since the moment he laid eyes on her, and to
Chapter 29Third POVElara ran her fingers through her damp hair, now freshly washed and braided, as she stood near the edge of the pond. The familiar sense of guilt still weighed heavily on her after the bath, and despite feeling physically renewed, her mind was troubled. She had made up her mind to apologize to Solas for her behavior the previous day, but now she couldn't seem to find him.Where could he be? she wondered as she glanced around the cavern.Pulling the simple, flowing dress she had found from the neatly folded pile onto her body, she felt a determination to put things right. Even though Solas had tormented her with his coldness and power, he had never gone beyond what she could handle. His care, hidden behind a mask of indifference, was becoming clearer now that she was rested and fed. She realized that she may have misunderstood him, and after all these centuries of isolation, maybe he, too, was struggling.“Solas?” she called, her voice soft at first, hesitant, then