Bound to the devil's crown

Chapter 6 Run or Belong to Me

Elara POV

I stared at the beautiful stranger.

She stared at me like I was dirt on expensive shoes.

Rain fell between us in silver lines, yet somehow none of it touched her. Not one strand of pale hair moved out of place. She looked like the kind of woman who had never spilled coffee on herself or cried in public.

I disliked her immediately.

“Replaced you with?” I repeated.

Seraphina folded her hands elegantly. “Yes. I was promised to Kael before he disappeared into exile.”

I turned slowly toward him.

“You were engaged?”

Kael looked deeply unimpressed by the entire conversation.

“No.”

Seraphina arched a brow. “You accepted the alliance.”

“I accepted a military treaty.”

“Attached to me.”

“I ignored that portion.”

I almost smiled.

Seraphina did not.

Her gaze sharpened at the coat around my shoulders.

“You gave her your coat.”

“It was raining.”

“You once let me freeze during a snowstorm.”

“You were insulting me.”

“You deserved it.”

I blinked between them.

This was somehow more confusing than monsters.

Kael stepped forward, placing himself slightly between us.

“Why are you here?”

Seraphina’s expression cooled. “Because the city shook, beasts poured through portals, and rumors spread that the Devil’s Crown has awakened.”

Her eyes dropped to the object in my hands.

Then widened for the first time.

“You actually let her touch it.”

“I did not let her,” Kael said. “It chose.”

Her face hardened.

“That is impossible.”

“Apparently not,” I muttered.

She ignored me.

“Then kill her now,” Seraphina said calmly. “Before it bonds fully.”

I went still.

Kael’s voice turned deadly quiet.

“No.”

Seraphina’s eyes snapped to his.

“You would risk the realms for a human?”

“She is not merely human.”

I would have appreciated being told that sooner.

Seraphina stepped closer, studying me as if trying to find hidden value.

“All this trouble for her?” she said. “She smells mortal.”

“I’m standing right here,” I said.

“And speaking too much.”

I smiled tightly. “I can do worse.”

A spark of cold light formed in her palm.

Kael moved so fast I barely saw it. One moment she stood free, the next his hand was around her wrist, forcing her magic to extinguish.

The alley darkened.

“Touch her,” he said softly, “and I remind your family why they fear mine.”

Even the rain seemed to pause.

Seraphina looked at him, then at the hand gripping her wrist.

Something like hurt flashed across her face before it vanished.

Interesting.

He released her.

She smoothed her sleeve as if nothing happened.

“You defend her already.”

“I protect what the crown carries.”

Her laugh was brittle. “Keep telling yourself that.”

I looked at Kael.

He refused to look back.

Oh.

Oh no.

This night was becoming unbearable.

A roar thundered somewhere across the city.

Then another.

Seraphina glanced toward the skyline.

“The barriers are failing,” she said. “More creatures are crossing.”

Kael cursed under his breath.

I rubbed my temples. “Can someone explain barriers, realms, crowns, or literally anything?”

“No time,” Kael and Seraphina said together.

I threw up my hands. “Of course.”

Kael faced me fully.

“You need to leave the city.”

“Great. I’ll call a taxi.”

“You are coming with me.”

“No.”

“It was not a request.”

“I noticed.”

His silver eyes locked onto mine.

“If you stay here, hunters will kill you, beasts will track you, and governments will imprison you. If you come with me, you may survive.”

“Your sales pitch needs work.”

Seraphina smirked.

Kael ignored her. “Choose.”

I tightened my grip on the crown.

Every instinct screamed not to trust him.

He lied by omission. He dragged me through shadows. He answered questions like a brick wall.

But he had also saved me.

Repeatedly.

And when Seraphina said kill her

He said no.

Before I could answer, pain speared through my palms.

The crown blazed red.

I gasped.

Symbols of fire crawled over my skin, racing up my wrists.

“What is happening?” I cried.

Kael was at my side instantly.

“It’s bonding deeper.”

“That sounds bad!”

“It is.”

Seraphina took a step back. “If it reaches her heart, she’ll either ascend… or explode.”

I stared at her.

“Why are those the only options?”

The alley trembled.

Bricks cracked overhead.

A giant claw tore through the rooftop above us.

I screamed as a monstrous head lunged down, jaws wide with rows of black teeth.

Kael grabbed my waist and yanked me backward.

The creature slammed into the ground where I’d stood, shattering concrete.

Seraphina cursed and hurled ice-spears into its eyes.

It roared.

Kael shoved me behind him and drew his black blade.

Then, without looking back, he spoke.

“Run with me now…”

He sliced upward, black fire exploding from the sword.

The creature shrieked.

Kael glanced over his shoulder, eyes burning silver.

“…or belong to me when they catch you.”