Chapter 3 Fire and Shadows

Rain pelted their faces as Rion dragged Avalora through the forest just beyond the village. The wind howled around them, carrying whispers that weren't entirely human. Avalora's heart raced, not just from fear, but from the heat that always flared whenever he was near.

"You need to trust me," Rion said, his voice low and sharp. "If you don't, you'll die before we even reach the Court."

"I don't even know what you are!" Avalora shouted, shivering despite the heat that pooled uncomfortably in her chest.

Rion didn't answer. Instead, he pushed forward, the shadows bending around him like loyal servants. Each step left a scorch mark on the wet earth, a subtle proof of his power. Avalora's eyes widened. He wasn't human, or at least, not entirely.

Something moved in the darkness ahead. A hiss, low and guttural, echoed between the trees. Avalora froze.

"Stay close," Rion warned. His hand brushed hers as he pulled her behind him, an accidental, electric touch that made her breath catch. The mark on her wrist flared in response, bright gold this time, almost like it was screaming for something she didn't understand.

The creature stepped from the shadows: a hulking, black-furred beast with eyes like molten lava. Its claws scraped the ground, sparks flying. Its growl rumbled through her chest, primal and terrifying.

Avalora stumbled, fear clawing at her throat. "What...what is that?"

Rion's lips curved in the slightest of smirks. "Your first real lesson. And possibly your last if you don't learn quickly."

Before she could protest, he raised a hand. Shadows erupted from the ground, coiling around the beast. It yelped, struggling, but Rion's power was absolute. Still, the creature lunged, forcing Avalora to duck behind him.

"You have power too," he said, glancing at her wrist. "Use it. Now."

Avalora blinked. Power? Me? Panic surged, but she felt it-the energy under her skin, responding to the mark, responding to him. Slowly, hesitantly, she lifted her hand.

A spark of golden light shot from her palm, striking the beast. It screamed, recoiling as her magic burned its fur. Her mark flared brighter, feeding off her fear, her anger, her desperation.

Rion's eyes widened slightly, approving, though his face stayed stern. "Good. Again."

Summoning all her strength, Avalora sent another burst of energy at the creature. It collapsed, writhing, then dissipated into smoke. She sank to her knees, trembling.

Rion stepped closer, his cloak brushing hers. His silver eyes studied her, dark, intense, unreadable. "Do you feel that?" he asked softly, almost a whisper.

She looked at him, chest heaving. "Feel what?"

"The bond," he said, fingers brushing hers again, this time intentionally. "It's stronger than I expected. And...so are you."

Avalora's heart skipped. Stronger? Me? Heat pooled in her stomach, betraying her fear. She hated that she felt drawn to him, hated the way her body reacted to him, hated the pull she couldn't resist.

"I...don't understand any of this," she admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

He bent closer, his face inches from hers, shadows dancing over his features. "You don't have to understand," he murmured. "You just have to survive. And stay with me."

Something primal stirred in her. Fear. Desire. Confusion. She tried to step back-but her mark flared again, golden fire tracing up her arm. And when she looked into his silver eyes, she realized...she couldn't stop herself from staying.

Not now. Not ever.

The storm roared louder, shadows twisting around them, and Avalora knew one thing for certain: the world she had always known was gone. And in its place...there was Rion. Dangerous, dark, magnetic. And terrifyingly irresistible.