The palace gardens were empty. Or at least, they appeared so.
Silver moonlight poured over the carefully manicured hedges and stone paths, casting long shadows that swayed gently with the wind. Elara's bare feet made no sound on the cold marble tiles as she moved to the center of the clearing, her pulse quick with anticipation.
Kael stood a few paces behind her, arms crossed, his silver eyes unreadable in the moonlight. He hadn't touched her yet. He hadn't even spoken since they arrived. His presence alone, heavy and protective, was enough to keep her aware of every breath, every heartbeat.
"Begin," he said finally, voice low, controlled.
Elara closed her eyes and focused. The bond pulsed faintly beneath her skin, a tether between her and Kael, whispering strength and warning in equal measure.
Her hands rose. Silver light began to seep from her fingertips, delicate at first, like wisps of smoke. The air hummed with power.
Kael stepped closer. "Control it. Not like a weapon, like an extension of yourself."
Her chest tightened. Memories of her past life surged—moments when her power had betrayed her, when the bond had torn and she had been left bleeding, broken, afraid.
She forced the memories down, grounding herself in the present.
A spark of silver jumped from her hand to the stone path, carving glowing sigils into the marble. The bond throbbed, drawing Kael's attention. He nodded, approving.
"Good. Keep your focus."
Elara inhaled deeply, feeling the lunar energy swirl inside her, coiling like a living thing. She extended both hands, weaving the power in tight, controlled loops. The sigils on the ground grew brighter, pulsating rhythmically with her heartbeat.
"You're channeling it too tightly," Kael cautioned. "Let it flow with you, not against you."
She hesitated. The temptation to unleash it fully was enormous. She could feel her magic begging to break free, to explode. The memories of her near-death during the council's last attempt screamed in her mind.
Kael stepped closer, close enough that the heat radiating from him brushed against her arms. "You're not alone, Elara. Trust me. Trust the bond."
The words sent a shiver down her spine. The bond reacted instantly—tightening, pulsing with urgency. Her chest ached, a mixture of pain and warmth, as if the energy itself were alive.
She exhaled slowly, letting the power adjust to her will. The sigils beneath her stabilized, glowing steady instead of flaring violently.
"Better," Kael murmured. "Now, move them."
Elara focused, and the glowing sigils lifted from the ground, spinning in midair around her like silver moons. The bond pulsed again, drawing Kael's eyes down to her hands.
"You're stronger than you know," he said quietly. "And faster than anyone expects."
Her lips curved into a faint smile. "Stronger because I've learned what happens when I'm not careful. Faster because I have to be."
Kael's eyes softened, just a fraction, as he studied her. "And the bond?"
"I… feel it," she admitted. "It's different now. Less like a chain, more like a tether. It's… listening."
Kael nodded slowly. "Good. Let it guide you, not bind you."
The air around them vibrated. Elara raised her hands again, and the sigils shot outward like stars exploding, arcs of silver light flashing across the garden. The wind whipped her hair around her face, but she didn't flinch.
Kael stepped forward quickly, catching a floating sigil before it could strike the stone wall. "Control, Elara!"
"Yes!" she shouted, bringing the remaining sigils back under her control. She felt a rush of triumph, a surge of pride she hadn't allowed herself before.
Kael studied her carefully. "Not enough," he said finally. "You hesitated when you should have trusted yourself. Control is not enough—you need conviction. Power without fear."
Elara swallowed, meeting his gaze. The bond flared stronger this time, answering to both of them, reacting to their proximity, their shared focus. It was terrifying. And intoxicating.
She took a deep breath. "Teach me," she said simply.
Kael stepped closer, shoulder brushing hers. "I will," he whispered. "But you have to be willing to follow me… and to challenge me."
She felt her pulse quicken. Not just from the proximity, not just from the bond, but from the unspoken tension in his voice. She nodded.
"I'm ready," she said.
Kael's silver eyes softened, but the danger in them remained. "Then we start now."
He moved behind her, placing his hands lightly over hers as they shaped the lunar energy together. At first, her instinct was to resist—old habits die hard—but the bond pulsed insistently, guiding her. Slowly, cautiously, she allowed him to lead, their magic intertwining.
The sigils on the ground glowed brighter than before, spinning in perfect formation. The air shimmered, alive with the hum of raw power.
"You feel that?" Kael asked, voice low.
"Yes," she breathed. "It's… ours."
"Not yours. Not mine. Ours."
The words struck her in a way nothing else had. She felt the bond pulse, violent and strong, answering to that simple truth.
And then, for the first time since her rebirth, she allowed herself to feel something she hadn't allowed before: a faint, thrilling sense of hope.
Outside the palace, the council was already stirring. They would come for her again. The danger was not gone.
But inside the moonlit garden, Elara Nightwind was no longer afraid.
And Kael Blackthorn had finally realized that protecting her wasn't just about power—it was about survival, for both of them.