All Chapters of Torn Between Two Moons: Chapter 41 - Chapter 43

Akira stirred, waking to the soft flicker of firelight, her body feeling as heavy as stone. For a moment, she wondered if she was still trapped inside the seal, enveloped in suffocating darkness. Then she heard the distinct sound of crackling wood—sharp and undeniably real. As she moved, a blanket slipped off her shoulders, and her surroundings started to come into focus. She found herself in a neglected room of a villa, its walls cracked, with a faint light flickering from the hearth in the corner. Someone was approaching. “Easy now,” Kaidën said, stepping into view. His coat was torn, dirt smudged on his face, but his eyes held a steady, watchful gaze. “You were out for hours.” Her throat felt raw and scratchy. “The monster—?” “Sealed. For now,” he replied, placing a cup of water on the low table next to her bed. “But your father said—” He paused, his jaw tightening. “He said it won’t hold forever.” Memories crashed over her like waves—the shadows writhing, the metallic taste

Akira’s chest rose and fell as the whispers dug deeper into her mind, weaving through her thoughts like tendrils of smoke.You fight… but you’re already mine.She pressed her nails into her palms hard enough to draw blood, but even that pain couldn’t drown out the voice. It wasn’t loud at all—it didn’t need to be. Each word resonated through her bones, coaxing and tempting her.“Akira, stay with me.” Kaidën’s voice sliced through the fog, sharp and urgent. He gripped her shoulders tightly, holding her steady, his presence anchoring her against the storm brewing inside.She shook her head fiercely. “It’s inside me—I can hear it—”“Then fight it,” he urged, his tone fierce, though his eyes reflected fear. “You’ve battled worse and come out on top.”The shadows swirled around her, writhing like snakes, brushing against Kaidën’s arms as he held her. But instead of pulling away, he clenched his grip, letting the darkness scrape against his skin. “Look at me, Akira. Don’t listen to it. List