The plains outside the Dark Kingdom were eerily silent before the first clash.
Elena watched from the castle balcony, her chest tight as Kael's army lined up against Seraphine's forces. The wind tugged at her hair, carrying the distant clash of steel and the roar of beasts.
Her hand instinctively touched the mark on her wrist. The golden glow pulsed faintly.
"Focus… trust yourself," a soft voice whispered in her mind—Kael's voice.
Her heart skipped. He was on the battlefield… and she was watching. She wanted nothing more than to be at his side.
The battle began with a deafening roar.
Seraphine unleashed her magic first, sending a wave of dark flames across the front lines. Soldiers screamed, some falling instantly. Kael's shadows rose like a living wall, shielding his army.
But Elena couldn't just watch. She closed her eyes and focused on the warmth in her chest—the pulse of magic the mark had awakened. Slowly, a soft golden light began to radiate from her palms. She whispered, "I can do this…"
A wave of energy surged outward, intercepting Seraphine's flames. The dark fire sizzled and dissipated. Soldiers on Kael's side froze for a moment, staring in awe.
Her heart pounded. She had done it. Her magic had helped the army. But she could feel something deeper—an intensity, a surge, a connection pulling her toward Kael.
On the battlefield, Kael noticed it instantly.
The golden light, faint yet brilliant, spread from the castle.
"Elena…" he muttered under his breath. His silver eyes softened for just a moment before hardening again.
The battle raged on, but Kael's thoughts kept returning to her. His hands itched to hold her, to pull her close, to protect her from everything—even from herself.
Finally, the first wave of Seraphine's forces broke. Kael's army surged forward, led by him personally. He moved like a shadow across the battlefield, striking with precision and terrifying strength.
And then…
A flying creature—a massive black war beast with Seraphine atop it—swooped toward the castle.
Elena froze.
Kael's gaze snapped toward her in an instant.
"Stay inside!" he roared, but Elena's hands glowed golden. She wasn't about to be useless.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped to the balcony edge. The mark pulsed brighter than ever. She raised her hands, focusing every ounce of her magic.
A beam of golden energy shot toward the sky, splitting the clouds. It struck the war beast square in the chest. The creature screamed, wobbling mid-air. Seraphine nearly fell—but Kael's shadow flung itself upward, grabbing the beast before it could recover.
He landed beside her on the balcony in a swirl of shadow.
"Elena!" His voice was both furious and relieved.
"I'm fine!" she shouted, her cheeks flushed with adrenaline.
Kael's silver eyes softened. He stepped closer, his shadow swirling around her protectively.
"You could've been killed," he said quietly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"I didn't care!" she said, her voice trembling—not from fear, but from the rush of standing beside him, being so close.
Kael's hands cupped her face gently. His eyes bore into hers with a fierce intensity.
"You have no idea what you do to me," he whispered, his thumb brushing her lips.
Elena's heart raced uncontrollably. She leaned instinctively closer, her forehead resting against his.
"I could say the same," she murmured.
The golden mark on her wrist pulsed warmly against his shadow-covered hands. Their magic intertwined, a connection that even the battlefield couldn't sever.
Kael's lips brushed her temple softly—intimate, protective, and hungry all at once.
"You're mine," he said quietly, voice low and commanding.
Elena's hands pressed against his chest, feeling the warmth and strength beneath the black armor.
"And you're mine," she whispered back.
For a brief moment, the war, the magic, and the darkness of the battlefield faded, leaving only the two of them—bound together by something stronger than fear, stronger than power, stronger than the Dark Lord himself.
But far beyond the horizon, Seraphine grinned.
"So the bride is powerful…" she murmured. "How delicious."