THE SHADOWS STRIKE AGAIN
The forest quaked under the weight of unseen forces. Night had deepened into an oppressive black, pierced only by the occasional flash of Nara’s crimson magic or Kael’s shadow claws. The trial was far from over—the first waves of illusions had been merely an appetizer.
Kael’s curse writhed within him, tendrils of darkness lashing out involuntarily. “I can feel them… pushing me,” he muttered, amber eyes glinting in the dim light. “If I lose control, they’ll overwhelm us both.”
Nara placed a trembling hand on his chest, feeling the rapid pulse of his shadow-bound heart. “Then don’t fight it alone,” she whispered. “Let the bond guide you. We’re stronger together.”
He looked down at her, a mixture of frustration and awe in his gaze. “You’re… remarkable, Nara. Even
