The Devil King did not summon them.
He pulled.
Elara felt it first—a sharp, intimate tug deep in her chest, as if an invisible hook had sunk into her heart and yanked hard. She cried out, staggering.
Kael caught her instantly.
"Stay with me," he growled, already furious.
"I—I can feel him," she gasped. "He's… calling."
The air around them warped. The corridor bled into fire and shadow, and the world folded in on itself.
They were back in the throne hall.
The Devil King sat reclined upon his throne of living flame, one finger tapping lazily against the armrest. His eyes gleamed when he saw Elara clutching Kael's coat, breathing hard.
"Ah," he said. "There it is. The dependency."
Kael stepped forward, placing himself between them. "Don't touch her."
The Devil King laughed softly. "I already am."
Elara's knees buckled as pain flared—sharp, precise—cutting through her like a blade drawn slowly across skin. She whimpered, clutching her chest.
Kael snarled, flames erupting along his arms. "Stop."
"Or what?" the King asked mildly. "You'll burn my throne again?"
He stood.
The pressure slammed down on the hall, forcing Kael to one knee despite his resistance.
"Elara," the Devil King said, voice silk and poison, "tell me what you feel."
She shook her head, tears burning her eyes. "Please."
"You feel empty," he continued calmly. "Hollow when you don't feed. Aching when you're near him. Isn't that right?"
Her silence was answer enough.
The Devil King smiled. "You've begun to anchor through my son. How… convenient."
Kael fought against the pressure. "This ends now."
"Oh, no," the King replied. "This deepens."
He flicked his wrist.
Pain tore through Elara's veins—then twisted.
Relief flooded her instead, sudden and overwhelming, as power surged back into her body like breath after drowning. She gasped, clinging instinctively to Kael.
The Devil King watched closely.
"See?" he murmured. "I control the pain. I control the release."
Kael went still.
Understanding dawned—and horror with it.
"You're using her to leash me," he said slowly.
The Devil King inclined his head. "At last. You see."
Elara's fingers tightened in Kael's coat, trembling. "Kael… I don't want to hurt you."
His voice softened instantly. "You aren't."
But the Devil King wasn't finished.
"From now on," he said, "the Blood Witch trains only under my authority. Her feeding will be regulated."
Kael roared. "No."
"You will obey," the King snapped—and Elara screamed as pain flared again, sharper this time.
Kael broke.
Flames tore through the throne hall, cracking pillars, shattering chains as he surged forward, power screaming loose.
"STOP!" Elara cried.
Her voice cut through the chaos.
Kael froze.
She turned to the Devil King, shaking but resolute. "If you want control," she whispered, "then take it from me."
Silence fell.
The Devil King studied her with renewed interest.
"Very well," he said. "Then you will learn what it means to choose hunger."
He waved his hand.
The pressure vanished.
Kael rushed to her side instantly, gripping her shoulders. "Don't ever do that again."
She looked up at him, eyes dark with fear—and something else.
"I chose," she said softly. "That's the problem."
The Devil King's laughter echoed through the hall.
"Excellent," he purred. "Because now, my dear Blood Witch… every choice you make will bind you tighter to him."
And as they were dismissed, Elara felt it settle deep within her bones—
The leash wasn't around her neck.
It was wrapped around both of them.