Marked by vengeance

Chapter eight

The First Seal

Lydia couldn’t breathe properly anymore.

The thing in the corner of her room didn’t fully take shape, but it didn’t need to. Whatever it was, it made the air feel heavier—like the room itself was shrinking.

Kael didn’t move away from her this time. If anything, he stepped closer.

“Listen to me carefully,” he said, voice low. “If I tell you to run, you run.”

Lydia nodded quickly, even though her legs already felt weak.

The shadow shifted again.

This time, it moved toward them.

Slow.

Patient.

Like it knew it had time.

Kael exhaled sharply, then lifted his hand slightly. Lydia noticed faint markings lighting up along his arm—golden, like fire trapped under skin.

Her eyes widened. “What are you—”

“Don’t talk,” he cut in.

The shadow reacted immediately to his movement, pulling back slightly like it recognized him.

That alone made Lydia’s stomach twist.

Kael noticed too.

“So you do remember me,” he muttered.

The air around him changed.

It felt heavier. More dangerous.

The shadow pulsed once, almost like a response.

Then it lunged.

Everything happened fast.

Kael shoved Lydia backward just before the thing reached them, and she stumbled into the wall. The lights flickered violently, and a sharp sound filled the room like glass cracking.

Lydia covered her ears.

“Kael!”

He didn’t answer.

When she looked up, he was already standing between her and it, completely focused.

For the first time, Lydia saw it clearly.

Not a creature.

Not a man.

Something in-between.

Kael raised his hand again, and the markings on his skin brightened.

“Back off,” he said coldly.

The shadow stopped.

For a moment, everything was still.

Then it spoke.

Not with a mouth.

But inside her head.

Marked girl… finally found.

Lydia froze completely.

Kael turned slightly toward her, his expression tightening.

“So it can talk to you,” he said quietly.

Her voice shook. “I didn’t hear anything until now…”

The shadow shifted again, circling them.

Kael’s jaw clenched.

“This isn’t random,” he said. “It’s a seal tracker.”

Lydia blinked. “A what?”

He glanced at her briefly. “Something was placed on you.”

Her hand went instinctively to her wrist again.

The mark.

Kael nodded once.

“First seal,” he said. “And now it knows where you are.”

The shadow moved again, closer.

Kael’s voice dropped.

“Which means we don’t have much time before the rest come looking.”