He touched her.
Not with gentleness, but with reverence. Like she was a secret the world had buried deep. His fingers traced her shoulder, following the blood script like reading holy scripture.
"You think you can control it," she whispered.
"I must."
"But you can't."
The air between them crackled. Her chains burned hot, and her body ached—not from pain, but from hunger. Something primal stirred in her. Something forbidden.
She reached up, closing her hand over his.
"You want to know what I am?" she whispered.
He nodded.
She leaned in. "Then free me."
His breath caught. And in a moment he would regret and crave forever, Kaelen unshackled her wrists.
She rose.
They didn't speak again that night.
Only moaned, growled, gasped—
As fate consumed them both.