Lysandra's eyes glittered dangerously in the torchlit gloom, victory twisting her features into a cruel, satisfied smile. Soldiers advanced, blades drawn, closing like a tightening noose around Elara and Kael. Thunder echoed violently outside, lightning flashing vividly through the cracked windows, illuminating desperate faces and raised weapons.
Kael stood unsteadily, his grip tightening fiercely around Elara's hand, strength slowly returning to his weakened limbs. His voice was low, edged with a dark, commanding authority that pierced through the tension.
"Touch her, and your death will be slow."
Lysandra laughed softly, disdain dripping from her voice like venom. "Empty threats from a dying wolf."
Elara lifted her chin defiantly, voice trembling yet fierce. "His threats are never empty."
Lysandra's gaze hardened, jealousy and fury flaring vividly within her eyes. She lifted a delicate hand, signaling the soldiers forward. "Kill them both."
The soldiers lunged, blades glinting lethally. Kael moved instantly, raw fury surging through him, pain forgotten beneath primal rage. He hurled himself forward, catching the nearest soldier by the throat, snapping his neck with brutal efficiency.
"Run!" he shouted desperately to Elara, even as he fought fiercely, claws emerging, silver-tainted blood dripping as his skin seared from within.
But Elara refused, instead snatching a fallen soldier's sword from the ground, gripping it tightly, eyes blazing fiercely. She swung violently, blade slicing deep into the arm of an attacker, blood spraying grotesquely. Adrenaline surged through her veins, desperation and survival overriding exhaustion and fear.
Kael's battle cry echoed through the chamber, feral and terrifying. He tore through their attackers ruthlessly, his movements primal yet precise. Blood soaked the ancient stones, staining murals crimson as bodies collapsed in twisted, lifeless heaps.
Yet even as they fought desperately, the odds pressed cruelly against them. Lysandra watched coldly from the shadows, expression darkening with growing impatience. Abruptly, she lifted a vial, uncorking it swiftly and flinging its contents toward Kael's exposed flesh.
Kael roared in agony, silver poison splattering across his chest once more, searing his already wounded flesh. He staggered violently, falling to one knee, breath ragged, muscles trembling uncontrollably.
Elara spun sharply toward him, heart stopping painfully. "Kael!"
In that moment of distraction, Lysandra lunged forward, seizing Elara's hair roughly, yanking her backward, blade pressing sharply against her throat.
"Stop!" Lysandra shouted coldly, eyes fixed venomously upon Kael. "Or watch her die!"
Kael froze instantly, breath heaving, golden eyes blazing with murderous fury, chest rising and falling raggedly. His voice trembled dangerously, barely controlled. "Hurt her, and you'll suffer endlessly."
Lysandra laughed bitterly, pressing the blade deeper, drawing a thin trickle of blood down Elara's pale skin. "I've already suffered—watching you obsess over her."
Elara struggled weakly, breath shallow, pulse hammering painfully. Her gaze locked desperately onto Kael's tortured eyes, silently begging him to act.
Kael straightened painfully, lifting his hands slowly in surrender, agony etched deeply into his features. "Release her," he rasped quietly. "Take me instead."
Lysandra's eyes flickered triumphantly, lips curving cruelly. "Finally, a sensible offer. Bind him!"
Soldiers moved swiftly, securing Kael's wrists tightly with silver-edged chains, dragging him harshly forward until he knelt before Lysandra. Elara's heart twisted violently as Kael raised his eyes, their gazes locking desperately, helpless fury raging in his molten depths.
"Let her go," Kael growled dangerously, voice trembling with restrained rage and despair.
Lysandra smiled bitterly, eyes glittering cruelly. "No—I want her to watch."
With terrifying swiftness, Lysandra drew her blade across Kael's chest, blood spraying vividly, splattering Elara's face as she screamed in anguish.
"Stop!" Elara begged desperately, tears streaming uncontrollably. "Please—don't hurt him!"
Kael remained defiantly silent, eyes never leaving Elara's anguished gaze, even as blood soaked his torn clothes, pooling darkly upon the stones.
"Now you see," Lysandra whispered darkly into Elara's ear, voice dripping with venom. "The price of loving a Thorne."
Elara's vision blurred with helpless rage. She struggled fiercely against Lysandra's grip, every muscle screaming in protest, yet desperation lent her strength. Her fingers brushed Kael's dagger hidden within her dress, swiftly pulling it free.
With a final surge of strength, she drove the blade sharply backward, burying it deep into Lysandra's thigh.
Lysandra shrieked sharply, stumbling backward, releasing Elara in shock and pain. Elara spun instantly, blade trembling violently yet defiantly within her grip.
"Never touch him again," she hissed fiercely, heart racing.
Kael moved suddenly, snapping free from his captors in a surge of raw fury, chains clattering broken to the ground. He lunged, tearing brutally through soldiers standing between him and Elara, their bodies collapsing grotesquely around him.
Bloodied, wounded, yet utterly unstoppable, Kael reached her side, pulling her fiercely into his protective embrace.
"Leave now," Kael snarled dangerously toward Lysandra, who stared in shock, bleeding and terrified. "Or die."
Lysandra hesitated briefly, eyes narrowed hatefully. Finally, she retreated swiftly, soldiers scrambling after her, leaving Kael and Elara standing amidst carnage and silence, hearts hammering fiercely.
Exhaustion overtook Kael swiftly, his knees buckling. Elara caught him desperately, lowering him gently to the blood-stained stones, holding him close, tears falling silently.
"You should've run," Kael whispered weakly, blood-streaked fingers trembling as they brushed softly against her tear-stained cheek. "Why risk yourself for me?"
Elara pressed her forehead tenderly against his, heart breaking. "Because there is no me without you."
Kael's breath shuddered painfully, eyes slipping closed briefly. "Then I've cursed you."
"No," she whispered fiercely, voice shaking. "You've freed me."
Their eyes met, fierce vulnerability shining between them. Kael's grip tightened possessively upon her trembling hand.
"Promise you'll survive," he rasped desperately, voice breaking beneath raw emotion.
Elara shook her head gently, tears slipping silently. "Only if you do."
Outside, the clouds parted briefly, revealing the scarlet glow of the blood moon rising high above—a merciless omen hanging heavily in the sky. Yet beneath its deadly gaze, Elara felt only fierce determination, gripping Kael's bloodied hand tightly.
Together, bound by fate, blood, and choice, they faced whatever darkness awaited next.
Because now, neither would survive without the other.