Chapter Five – Kaidon.

A deep, guttural growl ripped through the dimly lit chamber, vibrating against the cold stone walls. Kaidon paced back and forth, his movements restless, predatory. His bare feet barely made a sound against the smooth floors, but the sheer weight of his presence filled the space like a suffocating storm.

With a snarl, he stormed toward the balcony and wrenched the doors open, the force nearly shattering the glass. The night air rushed in, cold and sharp, but it did nothing to cool the fire raging inside him. He stepped forward, gripping the railing tightly as his piercing red eyes scanned the distant town below.

The scent had faded.

That intoxicating, delicate scent that had burrowed into his mind like a curse.

His fingers dug into the stone, cracking it beneath his grip as another low, furious growl tore from his throat. His muscles tensed, his control slipping—he needed to smell her again.

Then it began.

A slow, searing burn spread through his chest, growing hotter, more unbearable with each passing second. His jaw clenched, his entire body stiffening as the familiar agony took hold.

That cursed pain. That wretched, unrelenting torment that came with the dark power coursing through his veins.

The demon in him was clawing its way out.

Kaidon’s breathing turned ragged as he clutched his bare chest, right over the glowing, pulsating mark on his skin. The red light flickered wildly, searing into his flesh like molten fire, sending sharp tendrils of pain ripping through him. He let out a violent roar, the sheer force of it making the very air tremble.

The door to his chamber burst open.

"Kaidon!"

A man rushed in, his eyes darting to Kaidon's trembling form.

Kaidon gritted his teeth, his breath coming in short, heavy pants. "Chain me up." His voice was dark, strained. "NOW!"

The man hesitated for only a moment before nodding.

Within seconds, more guards stormed in, moving with practiced urgency. They knew the drill. This wasn’t the first time.

Kaidon didn’t resist as they dragged him down to the dungeon—a place built specifically to contain him. The heavy iron chains, reinforced with runes, hung ominously from the stone walls. They weren’t meant for a man.

They were meant for a beast.

As soon as they secured him, the storm inside him broke loose.

A violent shockwave of raw energy exploded from his body, sending a pulse through the dungeon. The air thickened, and the stone walls trembled under the force.

The guards weren’t fast enough.

One by one, they fell—lifeless. Blood splattered across the floor, soaking into the cracks.

Only one man remained standing.

A shimmering field of magic surrounded him, the only thing that kept him from sharing their fate. His expression was grim as he stared at Kaidon’s chained, heaving form.

"Rylan…" Kaidon’s voice was guttural, almost unrecognizable. His glowing red eyes flickered as his head tilted forward, shadows dancing across his sharp features. "Find… her."

Rylan exhaled sharply, his gaze flickering to the dead men on the floor before settling back on Kaidon.

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, with a quiet sigh, he turned and stepped out of the bloodstained dungeon.

"Her?" he thought as he walked through the dim corridors, the scent of death lingering in the air.

"Who the hell is she?"

♥︎♥︎♥︎

The morning light spilled through the wooden shutters, casting a warm glow across the small home. Elara yawned as she stepped out of her room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She was barely awake when she collided with something solid.

A chest.

Javen.

She scowled, ready to snap at him, but then her gaze shifted—and she froze.

Taliya stood in the center of the room, illuminated by the golden light of dawn.

For the first time, they could see her fully, and what they saw stunned them.

Her skin, a rich caramel tone, gleamed under the sunlight, giving her an almost ethereal glow. It wasn’t just her delicate features or the way her dark waves cascaded over her shoulders—it was her skin.

Rare. Unfamiliar. Almost…otherworldly.

Elara and Javen exchanged a look, momentarily speechless.

Meanwhile, Taliya, oblivious to their stares, had been sweeping the floor, lost in thought. But the weight of their silence made her pause. Sensing a presence, she turned—and nearly jumped.

“Oh, shit!” she gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. “You guys scared me.”

Elara opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out, Javen’s hand landed firmly on her shoulder. She clamped her mouth shut, eyeing him in confusion.

Without saying a word, Javen strode toward Taliya.

She blinked at him, surprised when he reached out and effortlessly took the broom from her hands.

“You’ll hurt yourself,” he said simply.

Taliya frowned.

It was the same thing her boyfriend used to say.

Back in her world, people treated her like she was delicate—too fragile to lift a finger, too precious to do anything strenuous. Her boyfriend never even let her carry her own bags.

She hated it.

Her frown deepened. “It’s just a broom,” she muttered.

But Javen ignored her protest. Without another word, he turned and handed the broom to Elara, who looked between them in confusion.

“I’ll make breakfast.” he said, his tone firm. “Elara, clean the place.”

Then he walked away.

Elara let out a frustrated groan, shooting a glare at his retreating back. “Unbelievable.” she muttered under her breath before begrudgingly getting to work.

Taliya stood there for a moment, feeling awkward.

She wasn’t used to this.

She wasn’t used to Javen.

Finally, deciding that standing around felt even weirder, she let out a small sigh and followed after him.

If he was going to take over breakfast, she might as well help.