BORN FOR LUCIAN DRAVEN

Bound by Fire

POV: Aria

Lucian kissed her like he was sealing fate itself. Like heaven, hell, war, prophecy, none of it mattered. Only her. Only this. Only them.

The moment his mouth touched hers, Aria's whole body lit up from the inside. Not pain. Not fear. Something hotter. Something sweeter. Something terrifyingly addictive. Golden fire exploded through her veins like liquid sunlight, racing beneath her skin until every nerve in her body burned with impossible heat.

Her knees weakened. A soft gasp escaped her lips, and Lucian swallowed the sound like it belonged to him. His hand tightened around her waist, pulling her trembling body harder against his chest. Hard muscle. Dark warmth. Dangerous comfort. Everything about him screamed run, yet every part of her leaned closer. Wanted more. Wanted him.

Then a blinding flash exploded behind Aria's eyes.

Visions crashed into her mind. A throne of black fire. Lucian kneeling before her, not as ruler, but as something deeper, devoted. A child with golden eyes and burning white wings laughing in a garden made of flame. Then blood. War. Lucian lying lifeless in her arms with the world burning around them.

A voice whispered through the fire, One love will save him. One love will destroy him.

Aria tore away from the kiss with a sharp cry. Her body shook violently. "What, what was that?"

Lucian's breathing was rough. Dark. Hungry. His golden eyes glowed brighter, fixed on her lips like he was fighting himself not to close the distance again. "The bond," he said hoarsely.

Aria's heart raced. "What bond?"

Kael's amused voice drifted through the smoke. "The mating bond."

Her face turned red instantly. "No."

Seraphina screamed in fury above them. Dark power exploded wildly around her. Her beautiful face twisted with madness as she stared at the glowing matching marks on Aria and Lucian.

"You marked her?!"

Lucian slowly stood despite blood running freely down his side. He pulled Aria firmly behind him, shielding her, claiming her, and his voice became deathly calm.

"She is mine."

Those words hit Aria strangely. She should have hated them. She should have fought them immediately. So why did part of her chest feel warm hearing them? No. Absolutely not. She barely knew him. He was dangerous, arrogant, controlling, and unfairly beautiful. Very unfairly.

The Heavenly King's face turned cold as stone. "This cannot happen."

Lucian laughed darkly. "It already has."

The sky thundered violently.

Then something changed.

Orion's silver eyes widened in horror. He looked straight at Aria. "No…"

Her glowing crown of fire had changed. Black flames now twisted through the gold. Heavenly light and dark power were merging inside her, bleeding into each other like ink dropped in water.

Kael smiled slowly. "The prophecy is accelerating."

Aria looked down in panic as dark gold fire swirled over her skin. "What's happening to me?"

Lucian turned sharply, and for the first time, fear crossed his face. Not for himself. For her. His voice lowered urgently. "The bond awakened your dormant power too quickly."

Her chest tightened painfully, like something inside her was clawing to break free. She dropped to her knees screaming as fire exploded outward around her, and then a pair of glowing wings burst from her back. One wing white as heaven. One wing black as midnight flame.

Everyone froze.

Half light. Half darkness.

The Heavenly King whispered in shock" She inherited both…"

Aria's breath caught. Both? Lucian's jaw tightened. Kael stepped forward slowly, eyes blazing with fascination.

"Well… now we know her mother's secret."

Aria looked up, shaking. "What secret?"

Kael's smile turned wicked. "The Queen of Heaven once loved a demon."

Silence crashed over everything.

Aria's world shattered again. No. That couldn't be true. Lucian's voice turned lethal. "Kael." A single word of warning. But Kael ignored him entirely and looked straight at Aria.

"You're not only Heaven's daughter, little flame…"

A slow smile.

"You're half demon."

Shock ripped through her body. Then a powerful force exploded from her chest, throwing everyone backward. Lucian. Orion. Seraphina. Even Kael. The earth split wide open beneath Aria's feet. Darkness swallowed her whole. She screamed as she fell, only to land not on earth, but inside a massive ancient throne room made of black crystal and golden fire.

Seated on the throne was a woman who looked exactly like Aria.

The woman slowly opened glowing eyes and smiled.

"Welcome home, daughter."