chapter 22
878 Words
The forest was no longer silent.
It trembled.
Not from wind.
Not from movement.
But from him.
Kael stood at the center of the разрушed clearing, his chest rising and falling slowly, his eyes darker than they had ever been.
Luna was gone.
Taken.
Ripped away from him.
And the bond…
It was still there.
Faint.
Distant.
But alive.
He could feel her.
Weak.
Restrained.
His jaw clenched tightly.
“They’re suppressing her power…”
His voice was low.
Deadly calm.
That calm—the kind that came before complete destruction.
Around him, the ground cracked slowly under the pressure of his aura.
The curse inside him stirred violently.
Not chaotic.
Not unstable.
Focused.
Raging.
Hungry.
“They touched what is mine…”
His fingers curled slowly into fists.
A dangerous glow flickered beneath his skin, the curse mark reacting to his emotions.
“They shouldn’t have done that.”
A sudden presence appeared behind him.
Fast.
Silent.
But Kael didn’t turn.
“I told you not to follow me.”
A familiar voice responded.
“And I told you you wouldn’t do this alone.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly as he finally turned.
A group stood at the edge of the разрушed clearing.
Rogues.
Strong ones.
Warriors.
At the front stood a tall figure with sharp eyes and a calm but firm presence.
“You’re losing control,” the man said.
Kael stared at him coldly.
“Leave.”
The man didn’t move.
“No.”
Silence.
Tense.
Heavy.
“You think you can take them all by yourself?”
Kael’s lips curved slightly—dark, dangerous.
“I don’t need to take them all.”
A pause.
“I just need to find the one who took her.”
The man studied him carefully.
“And then what?”
Kael’s gaze hardened completely.
“I end everything.”
The answer sent a chill through the air.
Because it wasn’t just anger speaking.
It was truth.
The rogue leader exhaled slowly.
“Then you’ll destroy more than just them.”
Kael stepped forward slightly.
“Move.”
But the rogues didn’t move.
Instead, more stepped forward.
Standing with him.
Not against him.
“With you,” the leader said.
Kael paused.
His eyes flickered slightly.
“I didn’t ask for help.”
“You didn’t need to.”
Silence.
Then the leader continued.
“You saved us once.”
A beat.
“Now we return that.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
He didn’t like this.
Didn’t want this.
Because this wasn’t just a fight.
This was personal.
But time…
Time wasn’t on his side.
He could still feel Luna.
Faint.
Weakening.
His chest tightened.
“…fine.”
The word came out low.
Controlled.
“But you follow my lead.”
A faint smirk appeared on the leader’s lips.
“Of course.”
Kael turned away again, his gaze locking onto the dark forest ahead.
“They’re not far,” he said.
“They moved fast, but not far enough.”
The rogues exchanged looks.
“You can track them?”
Kael’s eyes glowed faintly.
“I can feel her.”
The bond pulsed again.
Weak.
But there.
Alive.
And that was all he needed.
“Then we move now,” the leader said.
“No,” Kael replied immediately.
They froze.
“No?”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“If we rush in blindly, we lose.”
Silence.
Because he was right.
“They were prepared,” he continued. “They knew exactly what they were doing.”
His mind was already working.
Analyzing.
Calculating.
“This isn’t a random attack,” he said.
“It’s planned.”
The leader crossed his arms.
“Then what’s the plan?”
Kael’s gaze sharpened.
“We hunt them.”
A pause.
“Not as prey…”
His voice dropped.
“…as predators.”
A faint, dangerous smile appeared on his lips.
“They think they captured her.”
The air grew colder.
“They think they have control.”
His aura flared slightly again.
“But they just started a war.”
The rogues behind him straightened.
Ready.
Waiting.
“For now,” Kael said, “we track their movements.”
He knelt slightly, placing his hand against the ground.
His senses extended outward, the curse enhancing every detail, every trace left behind.
“They left a trail…”
His eyes narrowed.
“…and they didn’t even try to hide it.”
The leader frowned.
“That’s not normal.”
Kael stood slowly.
“No.”
A pause.
“It’s a trap.”
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
“Then we don’t walk into it,” one of the rogues said.
Kael shook his head.
“We do.”
They all looked at him.
“But on our terms.”
His gaze turned cold again.
Strategic.
Precise.
“We split into groups,” he continued.
“They expect me to come alone… or blindly.”
A faint smirk returned.
“Let’s disappoint them.”
The leader nodded slowly.
“Alright.”
Kael looked toward the forest again.
Toward where he could feel Luna.
Faint.
But still there.
“Hold on…” he whispered under his breath.
His fist tightened.
“I’m coming.”
And this time—
Nothing would stop him.
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