Chapter 5 The Awakening of Power

The dawn in the Shadow Court was never bright. Light filtered through jagged black towers, casting long shadows across the stone floors. Avalora rubbed her eyes, feeling both exhausted and strangely alive.

Rion stood across the hall, arms crossed, watching her with that silver-eyed intensity that made her pulse jump. "You slept enough," he said, voice low and commanding. "Time to train."

"Train?" Avalora groaned. "You mean...fight magic? I don't even know where to start!"

His lips curved into the faintest smirk. "You know more than you think."

Before she could protest further, he extended his hand. "Come. Control the mark. Control yourself, or you will die."

Her wrist throbbed at the thought. The golden lines beneath her skin seemed to pulse in anticipation. She hesitated, but his gaze...that magnetic, impossible gaze...pulled her forward like a tide she couldn't resist.

Rion led her to a shadowed training chamber. The walls were alive with faint whispers, echoes of ancient power. A circle of runes glowed faintly on the floor.

"Stand here," he instructed, pointing to the center. "Focus on your mark. Let it guide you. Don't fight it."

Avalora swallowed hard and lifted her hands. A tingling warmth spread from her mark up her arm, reaching into her chest. She took a deep breath, trying to listen to the pulse beneath her skin.

"Good," Rion murmured, stepping close. "Now, feel it. Don't think. Feel."

A surge of energy burst from her mark, bright gold, and the circle of runes flared. Shadows inside the chamber twisted and writhed, reacting to her presence. Her heart hammered-not just from exertion, but from the closeness of Rion behind her.

"You're...stronger than I expected," he said, voice softer now, almost reverent. "And yet...dangerous."

Avalora spun around, fists raised. "Dangerous? Me?"

"Yes," he said, stepping closer. His hand brushed hers again, accidentally or maybe not. Sparks of warmth ran up her arm, making her gasp. "To those who underestimate you. And...to me."

Her chest tightened. She hated the pull she felt. Hated the heat rising in her body. And yet, she didn't step back.

Before she could respond, the chamber darkened further. Shadows gathered in the corners, forming snarling shapes with glowing red eyes. Avalora froze, fear and exhilaration mixing.

"Focus!" Rion commanded, grabbing her shoulders. "You can do this. Together."

Her mark flared, golden light spilling across the floor. Shadows shrieked and twisted, recoiling as the power surged outward. Rion stepped beside her, and instinctively, their hands brushed. Avalora's breath hitched at the contact, heart hammering.

"You're doing well," he said, silver eyes locking on hers. "Don't be afraid. Channel the energy. Let it flow through you, not against you."

She nodded, trembling, and let the power surge from her mark. Shadows exploded into smoke, retreating from the combined force. When the last tendril vanished, Avalora sank to her knees, gasping.

Rion knelt beside her, face close enough that she could feel his warmth. "See?" he murmured. "You are powerful. And you will learn to control it...with me."

Avalora's heart raced. She wanted to deny it, wanted to pull away, but a strange, magnetic force held her there.

"With you?" she whispered, almost against her will.

"Yes," he said, voice low, dark, and commanding. "Whether you want it or not."

The air between them pulsed-dangerous, intoxicating, and impossible to ignore. And Avalora realized something terrifying: she didn't want to pull away.

Not now. Not ever.