Chapter 6: The Bargain in the Shadows

ARIA'S POV

The temple reekd of scorched stone. Aria staggered back from the altar, her knees weak, her arm still burning from the sigil's glow. Below, in the crypt, Kael's laughter reverberated, rich and hungry, as if the breaking of his chain had given him life again.

The High Priestess stood rigid, staff clutched so tightly her knuckles whitened. She hissd a prayer under her breath, sealing wards across the craked floor. "He's feeding on you," she spat, her voice venomous. " Every breath, every wealness, makes him stronger. You've doomed us all."

Aria opened her mouth to deny it--but the truth coiled in her chest. She had called. She had whispered his name like plea. And he answered.

Mine, Kael purred in her head, vlvet and fire. Don't listen to her lies, witch. You feel it, don't you. The heat, the hunger. You need me as much as I need you.

Aria clutched her head, stumbling away from the prietess. "Get out of my mind!"

But his presence only pressed closer, intoxicating. You wanted me in your dreams. You wake wet with my name on your lips. Why deny what already binds us?

Her breath caught, heat flooding through her veins at memory of the dream--the way his lips had branded her in place untouched, the way her body had begged for more even as her mind screamed danger.

The High Priestess grabbed Aria's shoulders, shaking her hard. "Fight him! If you surrender, he'll consume you whole."

But Aria wasn't sure what terrified her more-- being consumed, or never felling this heat again.

Later, back in her chamber, the whispers didn't stop. Shadows curled against the walls, his voice spilling from them like smoke.

I can protect you, Aira. They will burn you alive if you stay. You saw it in her eyes--they've already judged you guilty.

Aria squeezed her eyes shut, but she couldn't dent it. The Priestess had looked at her like a weapon, not a daughter of the coven.

Free me, Kael urged. Break the second rune. Do that, and I'll stand between you and their ire. I'll show you what it means to be untouchable.

She shook her head, pressing her fist to her temples. "And what? Be enslaved to you instead?"

Kael chuckled, dark and low. Not enslaved. Dersied. Claimed. There's a difference, witch--and you've already felt it.

Her cheeks flamed. She hated that he was right.

A knock jolted her. She spun, heart leaping. It was her oldet friend--Lysander. His green eyes flicked to her glowing arm, then narrowed. "You've been near the crypt, haven't you?"

Aris stiffened. "I-I was searching for answers."

"Answers?" His jaw clenched. "You're feeding him! Do you even realize what you're risking?"

"I'm not-"

Lysander's expression hardened. "I'll tell the council."

Panic sliced through her. Before she could speak, Kael's voice thundered in her mind. Don't let him take you from me. Stop him.

Her body trembled with heat and fury, the bond twisting tighter, urging her to act. Lysander reached for her arm-then hissed as the glowing sigil burned his skin.

"Aria," he whispered, horrified, "you're... already his."

The words hit like a blade.

But worse was Kael's laughter in her veins, triumphant. Yes. Already mine.

Aria ripped her arm back, torn between pleading with her friend and succumbing to the bond's call. But Lysander's face had already gone plae with resolve.

He would expose her.

And if he did-- the coven wouldn't just cleanse her. They'd kill her.

The bond pulsed hot, Kael's vice silken and mericless. Choose, Aria. Them--or me.