Chapter 15: What He Serves
The door opened.
Elara stepped inside, and for a second I felt something close to relief. It wasn't a guard. It wasn't Seraphina. It wasn't Isolade returning to finish what she started.
It was Elara.
Her eyes widened when she saw Kael on one knee in front of me, his hand braced against the floor, breath uneven.
"My lady—"
"Close the door," I said quickly.
She did. No questions. The latch clicked into place.
I turned back to him. The bond in my chest was frantic, pulling at me, urging me closer. His pain wasn't sharp anymore. It was heavy. Pressing. Like something was forcing him down from the inside.
"I can help," I said, already reaching for him.
My palm pressed against his chest and I felt it immediately.
Something coiled around his heartbeat. Not natural. Not his. It tightened every time he tried to push through it.
My hand began to warm. The familiar sting crawled up my fingers. I could burn it out. I knew I could.
