Chapter 4 Shadows That Binds

The air in Thornvale Manor turned feral, sharp with the bite of iron and frost, as if the house itself had drawn a blade. Auren's boots pounded the stone corridor, her pulse a war drum in her ears. Gavric led the way, his sword glinting like a promise of violence, while Kael flanked her, his presence a storm at her side-silent, electric, and far too close.

Her magic churned, a wildfire fed by the manor's awakening, and the echo of her brother's voice-Rowan, alive-clawed at her mind like a ghost refusing to stay buried. "Stay away from him, Auren." The words were a brand, searing her with questions she wasn't ready to face."Faster," Gavric barked, his scar twisting as he glanced back. The torches along the walls flickered, their flames shrinking as if afraid.

"The wards are failing. Whatever's awake, it's not friendly."Auren's lips curled, her sass a shield against the fear coiling in her gut. "Oh, sugar, I didn't come for friendly," she said, but her voice trembled, betraying her. The locket from her vision burned in her mind-silver, blood-soaked, her initials carved like a curse. Her scar throbbed, and she felt Kael's gaze, heavy as a touch, tracing her every move. He hadn't spoken since the greenhouse, since her magic and his curse had collided, blooming roses only to burn them to ash. But his hand hovered near her elbow, not touching, as if he feared breaking her-or himself."Stay close," Kael said, his voice low, a velvet blade slicing through the tension. His gray eyes were storm clouds, flickering with something raw-fear, maybe, or longing. "Whatever's coming, it wants you."Auren's heart stuttered, but she shot him a look, her amber eyes blazing.

"Wants me? Darlin', I'm not that popular." Her bravado was thin, stretched like gossamer over the truth: her magic was a beacon, and whatever stirred in the manor's shadows was answering its call.They reached the great hall, a cavern of stone and sorrow, its vaulted ceiling lost in darkness. Stained-glass windows loomed, their colors muted by the storm outside, depicting warriors and lovers locked in eternal struggle. The air grew colder, the torches guttering, and Auren's magic surged, painting a vision: a man, cloaked in blood, his eyes her brother's, raising a blade over a locket.

She gasped, clutching her chest, and Kael's hand grazed her arm, steadying her. His touch was fire, not death, and her magic sang, a hymn of gardens and blood-red moons."What did you see?" he demanded, his voice urgent, his fingers lingering on her sleeve.Auren pulled free, her breath ragged. "Nothing you'd like," she snapped, but her eyes betrayed her, wide with fear. Rowan's voice, his warning-it was real, and it tied her to Kael's curse like a noose. She wanted to tell him, to spill the truth about her brother, but the words stuck, heavy as guilt. Rowan's dead, she'd told herself for years.

But dead men didn't speak.Gavric stopped at the hall's center, where a mosaic floor gleamed, its tiles forming a rose wreathed in thorns. "Here," he said, his sword raised. "The wards are anchored here. If they break-"He didn't finish. The shadows moved, not cast but alive, pooling like ink at the mosaic's edge. A low hum rose, a dirge that vibrated in Auren's bones, and her magic roared, unbidden, light spilling from her hands. The shadows hissed, recoiling, but they didn't retreat.

They grew, forming claws, eyes, a shape that was neither man nor beast but something older, hungrier."Get back!" Kael roared, shoving Auren behind him, his hand reaching for a dagger at his belt. But the shadows lunged, faster than thought, and Gavric swung, his blade passing through them like smoke. Auren's magic flared, and she acted on instinct, thrusting her hands forward. Light erupted, a golden tide that burned the shadows back, but not before a claw grazed her arm, cold as a grave.

Pain seared her, and she stumbled, her vision swimming. Kael caught her, his arms a cage of warmth, and for a moment, the world was just him-his heartbeat, his breath, his eyes wide with terror. "Auren," he said, his voice breaking, and her name in his mouth was a prayer, a plea. Her magic pulsed, merging with his curse, and the shadows screamed, retreating into the walls."I'm fine,"

Auren gasped, though her arm burned, the wound shallow but pulsing with something dark, like poison seeping into her veins. She pulled free, her sass snapping back. "You gonna fuss over me, or are we fighting this thing?"Kael's jaw tightened, but his eyes softened, a flicker of admiration breaking through his torment. "You're impossible," he said, almost a whisper, and the ghost of a smile touched his lips.Gavric cursed, his sword still raised. "The wards are cracked," he said, pointing to the mosaic, where the rose's tiles were splintered, oozing a black ichor that smelled of decay. "We need to seal them, or the manor's done for."Auren's magic hummed, guiding her to the mosaic. She knelt, her fingers brushing the tiles, and a vision struck: Rowan, his hands glowing with dark magic, chanting over this very floor, his eyes wild with grief. "For her," he'd said, and the locket gleamed in his palm. Auren's breath hitched, and she felt Kael's gaze, heavy with questions he didn't ask."My magic," she said, her voice steady despite the pain.

"It can seal the wards. But I need..." She hesitated, glancing at Kael, her heart pounding. "I need you."His eyes widened, and for a moment, the hall was silent, the shadows holding their breath. "Me?" he said, his voice raw, as if the word were a wound. "Auren, my touch-""Doesn't kill me," she cut in, her amber eyes fierce. "It makes me stronger.

I felt it in the greenhouse. We're tied, Kael, whether you like it or not." Her words were a challenge, but her voice softened, vulnerability slipping through. "I can't do this alone."Kael's scar twitched, his hands flexing as if fighting a war within. "You don't know what you're asking," he said, but he stepped closer, his presence a tide pulling her under. "If I hurt you-""You won't," Auren said, and the certainty in her voice surprised her. She reached for his hand, her fingers trembling, and when they touched, her magic roared, a golden flame that danced with his curse's shadow.

The mosaic glowed, the cracks sealing, but the shadows fought back, their claws slashing at the air.Auren's vision blurred, and Rowan's voice echoed again: "Stay away, or you'll die." Her magic faltered, the poison in her wound spreading, and she swayed, her knees buckling. Kael caught her, his arms wrapping around her, and their combined power surged, a supernova of light and dark that burned the shadows to nothing. The mosaic sealed, the hum fading, but Auren's strength ebbed, her body cold, her scar burning like a brand."Stay with me," Kael said, his voice a lifeline, his hands cupping her face. His touch was fire, grounding her, and she saw it in his eyes-fear, love, a truth he couldn't speak. Her magic pulsed, weaker now, and a final vision struck: the locket, open, revealing a portrait of her, but older, in a crimson gown, Kael's hand on her cheek.

She gasped, her eyes fluttering open, and Kael's face was inches from hers, his breath ragged. "Auren," he said, and her name was a vow, a wound, a confession."I'm here," she whispered, but her voice was faint, the poison spreading. Gavric knelt beside them, his face grim."The wound's cursed," he said, his voice low. "We need a ritual, or she's gone by dawn."Kael's eyes darkened, his scar stark against his pale skin. "Then we do it," he said, his voice steel, but his hands trembled as he lifted Auren, cradling her like something precious, something he'd already lost.As he carried her through the hall, the manor's shadows stirred again, softer now, but alive. Auren's magic flickered, and Rowan's voice whispered, closer this time: "You can't save her, Thorne." Her eyes met Kael's, and she saw the truth he hid-a past they shared, a love that had burned them both.

The locket's weight was real now, heavy in her pocket, though she hadn't seen it. And as Kael carried her into the unknown, the manor's doors slammed shut, locking them in with a secret that could break them-or bind them forever.