Marked by the enemy

Chapter Four

Lira’s POV

“Bring her to me.” The words echoed through the forest like a command that didn’t belong to any living voice. His voice stayed calm. The kind that didn't need volume to be feared.

And at the same breath, every single warrior who was controlled stopped moving entirely. My heart banged against my ribs hard enough for breath to come through my lungs. Each beat felt forceful, jagged, as if my body knew something I hadn't dared to face.

“That’s impossible,” I whispered to only my hearing because they were not thinking twice but obeying swiftly.

Kael stepped slightly in front of me again, but this time his posture had changed to become tighter and more cautious.

“Stay behind me,” he said again. I despised how that word was coming out more often.

“I don’t need..” I was caught short by a hasty crack of power brought through the open space, not lightning but something intense, something…not right. The atmosphere itself carried weight and depth like an unseen hand smashed the forest down.

The warriors that were close to us suddenly dropped to their feet, and my breath caught.

“What is happening to them?” I demanded. He didn't give me an answer directly but his gaze was set on the treeline. On her.. The figure from before had stepped fully into the clearing now, quiet and carefree. She stopped a few feet from us giving us this dangerous smile but warm.

“I told you,” she said softly. “It’s already begun.” My stomach tightened. A hard knot twisted deeper with every passing second until it ached.

“Who are you?” The words I've been holding onto finally came out sharp enough to cut. Her gaze caught mine and instantly something discomforting slowly crawled to me like she was looking through me, not at me.

“You don’t recognize me?” she asked gently. I didn’t give her an answer but Keal did.

“Nyra,”. His voice didn't rise; his emotion was empty and he stayed calm. So he knew her. That alone made my grip tighten on my blade.

Nyra tilted her head slightly, studying him with quite curiosity.

“You still move like that,” she said to him. “Always placing yourself between danger and things you refuse to understand.”

“Why are you here?” A faint smile appeared on her lips small enough to notice.

“To prevent a mistake.” I looked at her puzzled.

“A mistake?” I repeated, looking at me properly again, and this time soft almost pitying.

“Yes,” she said. “You're standing too close to him by the way.” Something in me awakened.

“I don’t even know him,” I said dashingly. Nyra grinned slightly.

“That’s not what your bond says.” My cloak hung flat against my legs, even the breeze held its breath.

“How do you know about that?” I demanded but didn't give me an answer immediately but instead she raised her hand slowly and the warrior obeyed her movement.

Kael moved slightly closer to me. He was not touching but blocking. Always blocking.

“You’re not supposed to interfere,” he said coldly. Nyra sighed warmly.

“I’m not interfering,” she replied. “I’m correcting.” My pulse quickened as if blood stuck in my throat, too fast to count.

“Correcting what?” I asked. Her stares shifted between us. Then she said something that made my blood run cold.

“The bond was never meant to form like this.” My breath couldn't echo. Everything absolutely went silent. Even the controlled warriors seemed to pause at that. Kael’s expression didn’t change but I saw it. A flicker. Just a fraction of tension.

“You’re lying,” I said with immediate effect.

Nyra shook her head gently and gave a smile.

“No,” she said. “I’m the only one here telling the truth you haven’t been allowed to see.” My hands clamped down too tightly.

“Enough riddles. Say what you mean.” She took a step forward and Kael immediately shifted again, blocking her path. Nyra stopped and gave him a stare and for a second, something passed between them…History.

“You’re disrupting her perception,” Kael said quietly. Nyra scoffed.

“I’m restoring it.”

My head started to spin slightly like what the hell is going on here. Nothing made sense. I turned slightly toward Kael.

“You know her,” I said. It wasn’t a question. He paused just long enough and that hesitation hit harder than I expected.

“Yes,” he admitted. Nyra, watching us carefully like she was noticing a fracture forming. I swallowed a deep lump in my throat.

“Then explain,” I said sharply. “All of this. Now.” He didn't give me an explanation immediately but Nyra did give me one.

“He won’t,” she said as though soft. “Because if he does, the bond he’s relying on will collapse.” A cold weight settled low on my stomach leaving everything inside me to sink.

“What are you talking about?” Nyra's eyes formed a fraction.

“Your bond,” she said. “Is not pure.” The world seemed to be changing colours in my eyes, and my stomach began to ache. Kael’s voice cut in instantly.

“Stop.” but she didn't stop, even barely

“It was influenced,” she continued calmly. “Weakened boundaries. Forced proximity triggers. Designed alignment.” I couldn't feel my hand anymore.

“No,” I whispered under my breath. “That’s not possible.” Nyra looked at me with false pity as if she was really sorry for me.

“It is,” she said. “And someone inside your pack made sure it happened.” My breath seized at that moment. I was really trying to overlook it but then a memory occurred… My father’s affirmation of Kael’s involvement in border disputes. The way he spoke about him before I even met him.

“No…” I said again, this time lower. Kael finally spoke up.

“Lira,” he said carefully but I did not pause to listen to what he wanted to say and that was where I made a mistake because the warriors started forming a circle around us. I became alert.

“What is this?” That was a question to myself. Nyra was not surprised at all but Keal was, which mattered more. Kael moved closer to me but it was too late. The control changed and I felt it immediately. My shoulder felt heavy, my breath slower, I felt it but it wasn't toward Keal. It was away from him toward another her thing deeper than what we felt and something deeper in the forest. I was trying to catch my breath.

“No…” I let it out a little. Myra bent her head to the side.

“ There it is, the real anchor “. Kael's eyes began darkening instantly. “You're forcing it”. He said.. Nyra shook her head. “I’m revealing it.” I felt as if the ground beneath me started shaking and it shifted. Then I heard a voice, not Keal, not Nyra but inside my head, smooth and something I had known.

Ronan.

My body felt this chill sensation and I could barely stand properly, I was finding my balance. That was something that could never happen. I pinched my skin to check if I was dreaming but I wasn't.

He was dead and gone, still trying to find my stance.

“Lira…” the voice repeated. My breath hitched painfully.

“No,” I whispered. “No…” Kael moved toward me trying to get a hold of me but Nyra stopped that by lifting her hands up and he froze instantly. My eyes widened as if I was electrified.

“What did you do?” I snapped at her. She didn't take a blink to look at what she had done to Kael but she looked at me.

“Now,” she said quietly, “you decide which truth breaks you first.” The voice in my head spoke again closer and clearer. It wasn't an illusion nor a memory. It was real.

“Come find me.” And just like that, the bind in my chest exploded into chaos with not just a pull but with two-– Keal and something else. Something buried and drawing me closer to home.