Chapter Ten – She’s Mine!

Kaidon stood tall on the edge of the highest rooftop in town, his cloak rippling in the sharp wind that swept through the air.

His gaze scanned every street, every crowded stall, every person below in the bustling marketplace.

But still—he didn’t see her. The ache in his chest twisted tighter, an invisible chain pulling at something ancient and primal within him.

“Where are you?” he growled low, his voice dark and rough.

He tilted his head back, inhaling the air sharply, desperately—trying to catch even the faintest trace of her scent. Nothing. Still nothing. And it was driving him mad.

Rylan stood silently beside him, wrapped in a cloak of his own, watching his master come unhinged bit by bit.

“Perhaps she isn’t here.” Rylan said cautiously.

The glare Kaidon shot him was enough to silence a hundred voices.

“She is here.” Kaidon hissed, his tone final. “I can feel her.” His hands clenched at his sides, and then, without another word, he leapt from the building.

Rylan tensed but sighed, watching Kaidon land perfectly like a shadow reborn from the sky.

“I have never seen him this restless…” he muttered under his breath, and then jumped after him, landing with a quiet thud.

Meanwhile…

Taliya walked through the market street, her eyes sparkling with awe as she admired the strange stalls, foods, and handmade trinkets that lined both sides of the dirt road.

She smiled at a child who offered her a flower, and the woman selling fruit who called her “pretty” in a thick accent.

These people are so sweet

But her thoughts were far too loud to ignore.

“With everything I’ve seen so far… I’m starting to think the black hole didn’t send me to the past,” she mumbled to herself, frowning softly. “This isn’t the 1800s—no way. Not with that beast, or the magic Javen used. This place… it’s not a different time—it’s a different world.” Her eyes wandered, unfocused. “A whole different universe, and mine… mine still exists somewhere. This has to be magic.”

She rubbed her temples and groaned quietly. “God, my head hurts so much.”

Just then, a shadow fell across her path.

She blinked and looked up, coming face-to-face with a middle-aged man whose grin made her stomach twist with revulsion. His eyes were glassy and crawling over her body like they had no business being there.

“H-hi,” she stuttered, taking a cautious step back. “Can I help you, sir?”

“You're one rare kind to find around here.” the man said, licking his lips slowly, his voice slurred with hunger that had nothing to do with food.

Taliya shivered in disgust. “Creep…” she mumbled under her breath.

“Um, excuse me. I have to go.” she said quickly and turned to walk away, but he moved faster than she expected.

His hand clamped around her wrist, yanking her back. Her breath hitched as she stumbled into his arms and felt his sweaty hand settle on her waist.

“You even smell so beautiful.” he whispered against her ear.

Disgust and fear flared in her chest like a wildfire.

With every ounce of strength she had, she shoved him away—his weight causing him to stumble. And without a second thought, she turned and bolted, heart pounding, weaving through the crowd.

♧♧♧

Kaidon moved through the market like a shadow wrapped in flesh—his cloak billowing behind him, boots thudding softly against the stone ground.

No one dared glance twice at him, his mask hiding the terror beneath. To them, he was just another cloaked traveler.

But then—he stopped.

His entire body froze as he sniffed the air, a low rumble vibrating in his chest.

His eyes—already glowing faintly—lit up even more as the familiar, intoxicating scent curled around his senses like a lover’s whisper.

“She’s close..” he muttered under his breath, his voice thick and laced with hunger.

“She’s here… my soulmate.” The way he said it wasn’t sweet—it was like a man deprived for centuries had just seen water.

He started walking faster, eyes scanning every face, every figure, every hint of movement. But it wasn’t enough.

He needed more. He needed her.

His steps turned to aggressive strides. Then came the growls. He pushed past people with no apology, shoving them aside, his chest rising and falling erratically.

Rylan followed close behind, eyes darting around as if trying to stop the chaos that was about to be unleashed—but Kaidon was beyond stopping now.

“Mine.” he growled low.

“Mine.”

The scent was stronger now—so close it felt like he could reach out and touch her.

---

Taliya’s chest burned as she sprinted through the street, her breath coming out in quick gasps. She glanced back and her heart nearly stopped—three guardsmen and that disgusting pervert were chasing her like wolves after prey.

She turned sharply down another path, dodging a wooden stall and ignoring the startled shouts of merchants. Her legs screamed, but she didn’t stop.

Then—

A strange chill danced across her spine, as she passed by a man in black, like a warning… or something else.

And then a voice cut through the crowd.

“TALIYA!”

Her head snapped up.

There—across the square—Javen stood like a damn hero pulled out of a dream, his brows furrowed, his dark eyes locked on her with concern and fury.

She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t question it. She just ran to him, throwing herself into his arms and burying her face into his chest, clinging tight like she was drowning and he was air.

Javen stiffened at first, caught off guard—but his arms circled her tightly, protectively, his jaw clenched as he looked up. His eyes found the ones chasing her, and his entire expression darkened.

“Hey! You hand that maiden over to me!” the breathless man shouted, his voice wheezy but still demanding as he stumbled toward them, pointing a fat, accusing finger at Taliya—like she was some lost property he was entitled to.

Javen’s jaw clenched so tight it could’ve cracked bone. His fists were already tingling with the urge to release his magic, to set the man ablaze right where he stood—but he knew better.

The town was already afraid of people who use Magic. One wrong move and there’d be chaos.

“Damn it.” he hissed under his breath, his hand tightening around Taliya’s. Without another word, he turned and bolted, dragging her with him through the crowded market street.

“Hey! Stop right there!” the man yelled, but Javen didn’t stop. He pushed through the crowd, shielding Taliya with his body. But then—

A sharp silence fell behind them.

The man's shouts turned into choking gasps. Footsteps halted.

Javen heard it but he didn't turn.

And so did Taliya, she heard it too.

She glanced back over her shoulder—and what she saw made her freeze for a second.

The man and the guardsmen were standing still—no, not standing, they were frozen.

Their hands clawed at their throats, mouths open, eyes bulging as if some invisible force was squeezing the air out of them. One dropped to his knees, gasping. Another's eyes rolled back.

And then she saw him.

A figure stepping out of the crowd like a phantom. Cloaked in black, his mask covering most of his face—except his eyes.

Glowing, blood-red eyes.

They were locked on her, glowing hotter than fire, colder than death. His entire aura screamed danger—power—something raw and ancient that made her skin crawl and her heart pound.

Wait, he looks like the man I saw yesterday he thought

His fists were clenched, his breathing heavy, and he was furious.

Javen didn’t stop to look. He yanked her again. “Don’t look back.” he muttered sharply, “just run.”

And they ran. But Kaidon watched.

Watched her slip away again.

And this time, he wasn’t letting her go far.