Liana woke up slowly, the memory of last night's strange dream still clinging to her mind like smoke.
A woman running… a child… a warning… "Make sure he's safe…"
The images made her chest tighten, but Kael's warm hand resting over her marked shoulder pulled her back to the present.
Kael was sitting beside her, already fully awake, watching her with that intense, unreadable expression he always wore when he had made a decision.
"Liana," he said quietly. "We need to talk."
She sat up, brushing her fingers over the faint glowing mark on her skin — a mark Kael had placed on her while she slept. It didn't hurt. It felt warm… grounding… almost like her soul recognized it.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Kael inhaled deeply. "Your powers awoke yesterday… and you still can't control them. That means you need guidance. Real training."
She frowned. "Training? From who? Your warriors?"
"No." His eyes flickered with something serious. "From the Immortal Academy."
Her heart skipped. The academy Kael created himself — a place where immortals of every kind learned to control abilities: wolves, witches, mages, shadow-bearers, light-weavers…
It was a dangerous place, but also the safest.
"You want to send me there?" she asked quietly.
Kael shook his head and touched her cheek gently.
"No. I want to take you there. I won't leave you alone in a place like that."
Her chest warmed a little. Kael protecting her always felt… right.
But then he added softly:
"And you will train there
she blinked.
He nodded. "Two weeks… because after that, we're getting married."
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"ohh
"Yes." Kael's voice was firm. "Enemies already know you exist. The elders already started their nonsense. And last night proved your power is strong enough to attract anything wandering near the kingdom."
He moved closer, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Marrying you isn't just about love, Liana. It's about protection… unity… and claiming what is mine before someone tries to take you."
Her cheeks flushed, but she looked away quickly.
"I don't want anyone in the academy to know I'm your Luna," she whispered.
Kael went still.
Then a slow smirk touched his lips — the dangerous one she had only seen a few times.
"Why?" he asked softly. "You don't want them to respect you?"
She shook her head. "No. I want to learn like everyone else. I don't want the students scared of me because I'm your mate. I want to understand my power — not hide behind your name."
Kael sighed, but he admired her determination. He cupped her chin and lifted her face.
"Fine," he agreed. "No one will know you're my Luna… yet."
A spark of relief entered her eyes.
"But," Kael added with a dark grin, "the moment those two weeks pass, Liana… every immortal in this world will know exactly who you belong to."
Her cheeks burned again.
He leaned closer, brushing his thumb over her mark.
"In two weeks," he whispered, "you will stand beside me as my wife… and my Luna."
Liana swallowed, breath shakier than she expected.
"And until then," Kael continued, "you'll train, you'll grow stronger, and you'll learn what you truly are."
She nodded slowly… then smiled faintly.
"Okay… I'll go."
Kael pulled her into his arms, relieved.
"You're doing this for us," he murmured. "For our future."
She hugged him back — unaware that outside the door, the elders whispered.
Unaware that in a distant kingdom, shadows stirred.
Unaware that someone was coming for her soon.
Because her dream the night before…
was not a dream.
It was a memory.
A warning.
And the beginning.