The assassins charged from every direction.
Kael grabbed Lira's hand, pulling her back as blades slashed through the air. The weapon hit the ground hard, making a sharp sound and a few sparks. The closest assassin swung at Lira's throat—
Kael stepped in front with a snarl, catching the blade with his bare hand.
Dark blood streamed down his wrist, but he didn't let go.
He twisted.
Bone cracked under his grip.
The assassin screamed and fell back.
Lira gasped as pain surged through her chest—she felt the injury through the bond.
Kael tightened his jaw. "Don't focus on my pain. Use your light."
She nodded shakily and raised her glowing palm.
The nearest assassin lunged—
Her pendant flashed.
A blast of silver hit him square in the chest, throwing him off the mountain ledge.
But the next assassin was already behind her.
Kael spun, catching the attacker by the throat and slamming him into the ground. His shadows rose around his arm, forming a jagged spike.
He thrust it down—
Lira gasped and grabbed his arm.
"Kael, wait!"
He froze.
Her eyes widened with fear—not of the assassin, but of him.
Kael's shadows trembled.
He withdrew his hand.
Only knocked the assassin out.
Didn't kill.
Lira whispered, "Thank you."
But Kael's expression tightened.
"You shouldn't stop me," he said darkly. "If they take you, you'll suffer worse than death."
Lira didn't look away. "I know. But you don't have to become something you hate."
Kael's breath paused in his chest.
He had no answer.
Another assassin jumped from above.
Lira lifted her hand instinctively. The pendant shined—but then something strange happened.
A tendril of darkness curled from Kael's shadow…
and wrapped around her arm…
without hurting her.
Their powers linked.
Lira gasped as her light fused with Kael's shadow—
a twisting spiral of black and silver lighting up the cave.
Kael's eyes widened. "You're controlling my shadow."
"I'm not!" Lira said, panicked. "It's moving on its own!"
The combined force lashed out at the assassin like a whip of flame.
He hit the wall with enough force to leave a crater.
Kael stared at her, stunned.
"You can use my darkness."
Lira stared at her hands, shaking. "I don't know how I did that…"
Kael grabbed her wrist gently. "Then learn. Now."
The assassins regrouped, forming a tight circle around them.
One raised his blade. "The Emperor will pay handsomely for the girl! Kill the boy!"
Kael stepped forward, his shadows flaring violently. "Try."
Two assassins rushed at him from opposite sides.
He dodged the first, letting Lira fire a silver flash that caught the attacker's shoulder.
The second assassin slashed Kael across the ribs. Blood sprayed across the stones.
Lira cried out and grabbed her stomach—the shared pain ripping through her like a knife.
Kael froze.
Her knees buckled.
He caught her instantly. "Lira!"
She clutched his shirt, gasping. "We share everything… even when they hurt you…"
Kael's expression shifted.
Something cold.
Something deadly.
He placed Lira behind him and rose slowly.
"Touch her again," Kael whispered, "and I'll end every one of you."
The assassins paused.
Not because of the threat.
But because Kael's shadows were rising on their own—
not controlled, not shaped, but instinctive.
Alive.
Lira reached out. "Kael… your shadows—"
He stepped forward.
They followed instinctively like hunting beasts.
"Lira," he said quietly. "Stay back. If my darkness loses control… it will harm everything near me. Even you."
Lira's throat tightened. "Then use me to anchor it."
Kael's head snapped toward her.
"What?"
She grabbed his hand. "If the bond connects us… then let my light keep your darkness steady. Don't push me away."
Kael stared at her, breathing hard.
Her hand—warm, trembling—held his like a lifeline.
The assassins charged again.
Kael squeezed her hand.
And something aligned.
Black surged from him.
Silver surged from her.
Their powers intertwined again, brighter than before.
Kael's voice lowered.
"Together."
Lira nodded.
"Together."
The assassins rushed in.
Kael and Lira stepped forward as one.
Shadow-light exploded outward in a sweeping wave.
Blades shattered.
Masks cracked.
Bodies flew backward like leaves in a storm.
It wasn't perfect.
It wasn't controlled.
But it was powerful.
And every assassin knew it—
Kael and Lira were no longer two separate threats.
They were a single force.
A forbidden one.
The remaining assassins staggered to their feet, rattled.
One hissed between sharp breaths:
"This is not natural… not possible…"
Another shook with fear. "Their bond is increasing—"
A third interrupted, pointing a trembling finger at the girl.
"No… hers is increasing."
Lira stared down at her own hands—
the swirling black veins faintly visible beneath her skin.
Kael moved toward her instantly.
"Lira. Look at me. What's happening?"
She clutched her chest.
"I can feel your shadows… inside me… moving."
Kael's blood ran cold.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
The bond wasn't supposed to cross this far.
He grabbed her shoulders, panic breaking through his usual control.
"Lira—fight it. Don't let my darkness take root. It will destroy you."
But Lira shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
"It's not destroying me…"
She lifted her head.
Her eyes glowed silver mixed with black.
Shadow-light.
"It's changing me."
Kael stared.
The assassins stared.
The mountain air thickened.
Kael stepped back, shock crawling across his face.
"Lira…"
Her voice trembled.
"Kael… what am I turning into?"