The door thudded shut behind them.
Silence fell — thick, intimate, dangerous.
Kael leaned heavily against the stone wall, breath shallow, one hand pressed hard against his side. The healing Elira had forced into him on the battlefield had saved his life… but it hadn't spared him pain.
Elira turned to face him, heart hammering.
"You're still bleeding."
"I've bled worse," he replied.
"You're lying."
A corner of his mouth twitched — not quite a smile. "You're learning."
She stepped closer before fear could stop her. The room was small — meant for soldiers, not warlords and captured stars. One bed. A narrow table. A single brazier casting flickering shadows across his armor.
"Sit," she said, firmer than she meant to be.
Kael raised a brow. "That an order?"
"Yes."
For a moment, she thought he would argue.
Instead, he exhaled slowly… and obeyed.
He sat on the edge of the bed, shoulders tense, jaw clenched as Elira reached for the fastenings of his armor. Her fingers hesitated.
"Tell me if it hurts."
"It already does."
She swallowed and slid the armor free inch by inch. Beneath it, his shirt was soaked crimson, torn where the Abyss creature's claw had struck. Angry bruising spread across his ribs, dark and violent.
Elira sucked in a sharp breath.
"That should have killed you."
"It nearly did." His voice lowered. "Until you decided I wasn't allowed to die."
Her hands shook as she pressed her palm to his skin.
Light gathered — not explosive this time, but soft and warm, like moonlight poured into flesh. Kael hissed, muscles tightening beneath her touch.
"Elira—"
"Stay still."
The starlight seeped into the wound, knitting torn muscle, calming the serpent's furious thrashing beneath his skin. She could feel it now — not just his pain, but something vast and coiled deep inside him.
Watching her.
Waiting.
Kael's breath hitched.
His hand closed around her wrist — not to stop her, but to ground himself.
"If you keep doing that," he said hoarsely, "you're going to see things you shouldn't."
"I already have," she whispered.
The light flared once more.
And the room went cold.
.The Serpent Speaks.
Elira gasped — not aloud, but inside.
The world tilted.
She was no longer standing in the chamber.
She stood in darkness — endless and alive. Gold eyes opened around her. Scales the size of shields scraped against unseen stone. Heat and hunger rolled over her in waves.
> Star.
The voice was everywhere.
Not Kael's.
Older. Deeper.
> You bind what should be free.
Elira's heart pounded, but she did not run.
"What are you?" she demanded.
A low, amused sound rippled through the dark.
> I am what keeps him alive.
And what will destroy him if you fail.
The serpent's massive head lowered, golden eyes blazing inches from her face.
> You soften him.
You make him hesitate.
"I saved him," she said fiercely.
> For now.
The serpent circled her, heat licking at her skin.
> If you love him… I will feast.
If you fear him… I will break him.
Elira clenched her fists, light flaring instinctively.
"You don't get to choose."
The serpent froze.
Slowly… it smiled.
Ah.
You are finally remembering.
Elira staggered, nearly collapsing.
Kael caught her instantly — arms solid, protective, real.
"Elira." His voice was sharp with fear. "What did you see?"
She looked up at him — really looked.
Not the warlord.
Not the monster.
Just a man holding onto control with bloodied hands.
"The thing inside you," she whispered. "It knows me."
His arms tightened — once, instinctively — before he forced himself to loosen his grip.
"That thing," he said carefully, "does not speak to anyone."
"It spoke to me," she said. "And it's afraid."
Kael went very still.
"Of what?"
She swallowed, pulse racing.
"Of losing you."
Silence stretched — heavy, charged.
His thumb brushed unconsciously over her wrist, right where her pulse jumped.
"That," he murmured, "is the most dangerous thing I've heard yet."
Their faces were close. Too close. Breath shared. Heat coiling low and slow between them.
If he leaned in…
If she tilted her head…
A knock shattered the moment.
"Warlord," a voice called tensely from outside. "The council demands your presence. Now."
Kael closed his eyes briefly — then stood, forcing distance between them like a wound torn open.
"This isn't over," he said quietly to Elira. "Not the council. Not the serpent."
Not us, hung unspoken in the air.
Elira watched him leave, her hand still glowing faintly where it had touched his heart.
And somewhere deep beneath the fortress…
Something ancient hissed in anticipation.