Keal stood frozen in the doorway, his fists clenched so tightly the veins along his arms bulged. Moonlight spilled across Kyra's neck, catching the curve of her pulse. It danced—teasing him—with every beat.
"Don't come any closer," he growled, his voice frayed at the edges.
Kyra stepped forward anyway, her brows furrowed in worry. "What's wrong? Talk to me."
He turned his head, jaw tight, eyes burning like embers trying not to catch fire. "You smell like... like fire and sweetness. Like something I was never meant to touch."
She paused. "Is it... my blood?"
Keal nodded slowly, his eyes glinting with restrained hunger. "Ever since I met you... it's like your scent clings to my mind. I dream of it. I wake up needing it. And that terrifies me."
Kyra's voice was soft, trembling. "But you'd never hurt me."
"That's the problem," he snapped, stepping back into shadow. "I don't know if I can promise that anymore. You're changing. And I can feel the monster inside me waking every time you're near."
She didn't move. Didn't flinch. "Then don't run. Fight it. For me."
His eyes met hers, wild and beautiful and afraid. "I'm trying. God, Kyra, I'm trying. But blood between us... it's not just a bond. It's a curse if we let it control us."
Kyra's breath hitched as Keal's gaze deepened, his eyes flickering with an ancient power that made her pulse race. The room around them, dimly lit by the flickering firelight, seemed to grow even quieter, the world shrinking to just the two of them.
Keal stepped closer, his presence commanding, yet not oppressive. The air crackled with an invisible force, something intangible that tugged at her very soul. "You feel it, don't you?" he whispered, his voice smooth like velvet, yet carrying an edge that sent a shiver down her spine.
Kyra nodded, her heart thudding in her chest. The intensity in his eyes was almost too much to bear, but she couldn't look away. There was something magnetic about him—something that felt both familiar and terrifying at the same time.
He reached out, his fingers brushing gently against her cheek, his touch sending a rush of warmth through her, even though his skin was cold as stone. "This," he said softly, "is the bond we share. It will never fade, no matter the distance, no matter the time."
Her lips parted, but words eluded her. The bond was more than just a connection—it was a promise. A promise that stretched far beyond the physical, deep into the very essence of who they were.
Keal's thumb traced the line of her jaw, his gaze never leaving hers. "You have chosen this path, Kyra. You are mine, just as I am yours."
Kyra's breath caught, a mixture of fear and something darker swirling inside her. She didn't fully understand what this meant, what it would cost her, but part of her already knew: there was no going back.
The room seemed to close in on them, the flickering flames casting long shadows across the walls as their bond pulsed between them like a living thing. It was raw, undeniable, and she felt her heart beat in sync with his.
"I will protect you," he vowed, his voice low and sincere. "Always."
In that moment, Kyra felt herself unraveling, her walls crumbling beneath the weight of his words. For better or worse, this bond between them was unbreakable. And somewhere deep within her, she realized that she was no longer just Kyra. She was something more now. Something entwined with him—forever.
As they stood there, the flickering fire casting its light on them, the weight of the world seemed to ease ever so slightly. There would be trials ahead, and the bond between them would be tested in ways they couldn't yet comprehend. But in this moment, there was a fragile, sustainable peace—a foundation upon which they could build.