The air in the clearing turned to ice. For a moment, the only sound was the chilling wind rattling the macabre bone chimes hanging on the porch. The suffocating scent of sulfur grew heavier, pressing down on them like a physical weight.
"No," Kael’s voice was a low, lethal growl that shook the very earth beneath their feet. His golden eyes flared with a violent, unrestrained intensity as he stepped protectively in front of Elara, shielding her from the witch's piercing gaze. "Find another price, witch. That is not on the table. Ask for my blood, my territory, my life—but not the bond."
The Shadow Weaver simply smiled, her violet eyes gleaming with cruel, ancient amusement. "It is the only thing on the table, Alpha. Dark magic is not a negotiation; it requires absolute balance. A soul for
