Kael carried Amelia back to the deepest chamber of the Sanctuary, his stride steady but his hands trembling—something he would never allow anyone else to see.Only her.
Her head rested against his shoulder, breaths uneven, skin fever-warm as if the Devourer's shadows still clung to her.
When he laid her gently onto the bed, she winced.
Kael's heart dropped.
"What hurts?"
Amelia swallowed, lifting a shaking hand to her collarbone.
"It… burns."
He leaned closer—
—and froze.
A mark had appeared on her skin.
Faint. Luminous.A small spiral of red and silver light, pulsing like a second heartbeat.
The Devourer's colors.
Kael's chest tightened with a mix of fear and fury.
"No," he whispered. "No, he didn't—"
Amelia glanced up at him, terrified.
"Kael… what does it mean?"
His jaw clenched.
"He tried to claim you."
Her breath hitched, and she covered the mark with her hand as if that could hide it.
But it pulsed again—warm, seductive—almost comforting.
Almost familiar.
Amelia gasped."I can feel him."
Kael's hand shot forward, grabbing hers, pulling it away from the mark.
"Don't listen," he said sharply. "He'll twist your thoughts. Your emotions. Even your memories."
Her eyes glistened.
"But why does it feel like… like he knows me? Like I know him?"
Kael looked away.
Because he feared the truth.
Because he feared losing her.
Because he feared fate was crueler than either of them deserved.
Instead, he forced steady words:
"You only feel that because he wants you bound to him. The Devourer manipulates the soul. He always has."
Amelia's voice broke.
"But what if it's not manipulation? What if we really—"
Kael's voice snapped loud and raw.
"Amelia."
She flinched.
He closed his eyes—took a slow breath—softened his tone.
"You're here. With me. That's what's real."
She nodded, but her fingers drifted to the mark again.
It beat beneath her touch.
Will you deny me, little light?
Amelia gasped, jerking her hand back.
Kael reacted instantly.
He cupped her face in both hands, forcing her eyes to meet his.
"Listen to me. He cannot reach you unless you let him. Fight it."
Her lashes trembled.
"I'm trying. I just… don't know who I'm fighting. Him… or myself."
Kael's throat tightened.
Because he had no answer.
Because he feared the Devourer wasn't lying.
Because Amelia's fate might already be written in a language older than angels.
A knock rattled the heavy door.
Kael stiffened—shielding Amelia instinctively.
The High Guardian entered, face grim.
"We need to talk," he said, eyes landing on the mark."We recognized that symbol."
Kael turned cold.
"You know what it is?"
The Guardian nodded slowly.
"It is not a mark of possession."His voice dropped, heavy with dread.
"It is a mark of recognition."
Amelia whispered, "Recognition of what?"
The Guardian's gaze met hers.
"Of a soul-bond. One formed long before this lifetime."
Kael's entire world went silent.
Amelia's heart pounded.
And deep below the city…
A chain snapped.