The Temple's doors slam shut behind us with a deep, echoing boom that vibrates through my bones.
For a moment, I just stand there—
breathing in air that feels older than time itself.
Soft moonlight fills the hall even though there is no visible moon inside. Silver dust drifts lazily across the floor like glitter suspended in slow-motion.
It's beautiful.
Peaceful.
And terrifying.
Aiden stays close—so close his arm brushes mine with every breath.
"Are you hurting anywhere?" he asks softly, eyes scanning my face for any twitch of pain.
"No," I whisper. "Just… overwhelmed."
His hand slowly rises and touches my cheek with the gentleness of someone afraid I might break.
"Stay with me," he murmurs. "Don't drift away again."
My heart flips.
"I'm not going anywhere," I reply, voice low.
"Not without you."
His fingers still.
For a second, he just… looks at me.
Not the Shadow King's heir.
Not a witch.
Not a danger.
Just me.
Liyana.
His Liyana.
"Good," he breathes, stepping closer. "Because I can't lose you."
My pulse stutters at the way he says it—like a confession he's been holding inside for too long.
Then—
The Temple hums.
A strange, soft vibration runs under my feet.
Aiden's wolf senses spike; I can feel it through the bond.
He instinctively grabs my waist and pulls me against him.
"Stay close," he says.
"I am close," I murmur.
His arm tightens around me.
"Closer," he says quietly.
My breath catches.
His forehead dips toward mine—
And for a second, the world stops.
The First Kiss We Almost Have
He's inches from my lips.
My heart races so loud I'm sure the entire Temple can hear it.
"Aiden…" I whisper.
He inhales sharply, the tips of his fingers brushing up my spine, pulling me even deeper into his body heat.
"You have no idea," he murmurs, lips hovering above mine, "how long I've wanted to do this."
"What's stopping you?" I breathe.
He exhales shakily.
"You're hurt. There's danger. You just walked into a Temple that nearly tore you apart—"
"Then kiss me before something else tries."
His breath catches.
That's all it takes.
He leans in—
Lips brushing mine—
just a ghost of a touch—
a promise—
A spark shoots down my spine.
Magic flares under my skin, golden veins lighting up.
Aiden groans softly, fingers sliding into my hair.
"Liyana…"
The way he says my name sounds like prayer + hunger.
But—
Just as his lips finally press fully against mine—
The Temple floor trembles violently.
A shockwave of light bursts outward.
Aiden jerks me behind him instantly, fangs flashing in half-shift.
"Someone's here," he growls.
We Are Not Alone
A staircase lights up ahead.
Silver symbols glow across the distant walls.
The Temple doors behind us lock… magically.
Aiden tries the handle—
Nothing.
"Of course," Kai mutters from behind.
Wait—what?
We spin around.
Kai and Ethan stand inside the Temple doorway.
"When—how—what?" I gasp.
Ethan lifts his hands. "Doors opened for us. We walked in. No dramatic barrier explosion. Kind of disappointed, to be honest."
Aiden frowns. "It shouldn't have accepted anyone else."
"Maybe it felt generous," Kai shrugs.
"It doesn't get generous," Aiden snaps. "It chooses."
Before we can question further—
A voice echoes from the darkness.
"You were summoned."
The temperature drops.
A figure emerges slowly:
A tall woman draped in white robes stitched with symbols of the moon.
Her skin glows faintly.
Her eyes—not normal.
Silver.
Bright.
Unblinking.
Whoever she is…
she is not fully human.
A Keeper.
Aiden stiffens.
"This place still has guardians?"
She ignores him and looks directly at me.
Straight into my glowing veins.
Then she kneels.
KNEELS.
Kai squeaks. "I was not prepared—"
Ethan elbows him. "Shut up."
The Keeper bows her head.
"Shadow Heir.
Moon-Touched.
Marked Child of Two Realms.
We have awaited you."
My breath stops.
Aiden's grip on my wrist tightens protectively.
"You don't touch her," he says coldly.
The Keeper rises, emotionless.
"I do not harm the one the prophecy named."
"Which prophecy?" I whisper.
She steps closer, gliding across the floor without sound.
"'When the Moon's blood binds the Shadow's flame…
the worlds will tremble.'"
My heart drops.
Aiden snarls. "She is NOT bound to the Shadow King—"
"No," the Keeper interrupts, eyes flickering to our joined hands,
"She is bound to you."
Aiden freezes.
"What?"
The Keeper lifts her hand, pointing to my mark.
"It glows silver in his presence.
Golden in the Shadow's.
The mark chooses which bond it answers…"
She looks between us.
"And it chooses the wolf."
My chest tightens.
Aiden's breath hitches.
For a moment—
a rare, fragile moment—
his hard expression breaks.
He looks stunned.
Disbelieving.
Full of emotion he never says out loud.
"Liyana…" he murmurs, voice rough.
But the Keeper isn't done.
She moves closer—circling me.
"This temple accepted you because you chose Moon over Shadow.
But…"
She stops behind me.
I feel her breath on my ear.
"You carry both inside you.
Eventually… you must decide which world you will rule."
RULE?
My knees weaken.
Aiden immediately wraps an arm around my waist.
"She's not ruling anything," he growls. "She's staying with me."
The Keeper smiles faintly.
"A wolf's wish.
A king's desire.
A witch's fate."
Her eyes lock onto mine.
"Whom will you choose when the final door opens?
The wolf who loves you…
or the father who owns your blood?"
I shiver.
Aiden's grip hardens.
"She's not choosing him—"
The Keeper holds up a hand.
"You misunderstand, Alpha."
Her voice deepens.
"The prophecy says she may choose neither."
A cold wind blows through the hall.
And the Keeper whispers:
"The true danger…
is who she might become."
The walls tremble.
The air warps.
A door appears in the stone behind her—
glowing violently.
Aiden growls.
Kai mutters, "Well. I hate that."
Ethan whispers, "Same."
The Keeper steps aside.
"You may rest here.
But at moonrise, the Temple will test the Shadow Heir.
Survive…
and the path will open."
I swallow hard.
"And if I fail?"
The Keeper looks straight into my soul.
"Then the Temple takes your life."
Silence crashes.
Aiden pulls me to his chest instantly, breath harsh against my hair.
"Over my dead body."
The Keeper only bows.
"That, Alpha King…
may also be tested."
The last of her glowing robes disappears into the shadows.
And the echoing voice remains:
"Prepare."
Aiden holds me tighter.
His forehead presses against mine again.
His voice is raw, trembling with a fear he never shows:
"Liyana… I swear I won't let this place take you."
I lift my hands to his jaw.
"You won't lose me," I whisper.
He exhales shakily.
"Say it again."
"You. Won't. Lose. Me."
His eyes burn.
His lips lower—
And this time—
He kisses me.
Slow.
Deep.
Desperate.
Full of everything he's been holding back.
Magic flares between us—
silver and gold—
twisting, merging, burning.
He breaks the kiss only when I gasp for air, foreheads pressed together.
"Moonrise," he whispers.
"I'll fight the Temple itself for you."
But outside the hall—
something moves in the shadows.
Watching.
Waiting.
And smiling.