Chapter 2 IN KAEL TERRITORY

Amara was led to her quarters-if they could be called that.

A tall chamber of stone and shadow, its single window was sealed with thick iron bars, and the bed-though clean-felt more like a prison than a place to rest. A basin of water waited, warm and fragrant with herbs she recognized, but hadn't asked for.

He knew.

Kael Ravencroft knew more than he should. About her. About her purpose.

And yet he let her live.

Amara didn't sleep. She sat at the edge of the bed, still in her cloak, dagger resting against her thigh. Her fingers itched to use it, to slip into the prince's chamber and finish what she came to do.

But something held her back.

Not fear. No, it was the feeling-the hum of the castle, the way it breathed beneath her skin like it knew her name. Like he did.

A knock.

Soft. Not a servant's knock.

She rose.

When the door opened, Kael stood there, alone.

No armor this time-just black linens, half-laced at the throat. His hair was damp, as though he'd just bathed, and there was a jagged scar running down the side of his neck that hadn't been there when he'd left the throne.

Amara's eyes locked on it.

He caught her stare.

"Curious?" he asked, stepping inside uninvited. His gaze swept the room, then settled on her with something unreadable. "Or just pretending again?"

She didn't step back. "You're the one who asked for me."

"I didn't ask for anything," he murmured, circling slowly. "But the keep did."

The hairs on her neck rose.

"The keep?"

"It chooses who stays. Who dies. Who tempts the shadow."

She turned to face him. "Is that what I'm doing, Kael? Tempting it?"

He stopped behind her. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, the pull like a tether wound around her ribcage.

He exhaled-soft, amused. "No."

Pause.

"You tempt me."

Amara's pulse stuttered.

Kael's fingers ghosted over the side of her arm-barely a touch, more suggestion than contact, but it felt like fire.

"You wear hate like a second skin," he whispered, "but underneath it, there's something far more dangerous."

She turned sharply, facing him. "And what's that?"

"Desire," he said. "You hate me so much, you forgot how much you want me."

Silence. Heavy. Hot.

Her breath caught in her throat, every instinct screaming at her to shove him away. Run. Kill. Escape.

But instead...

She stepped closer.

Their chests brushed. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt.

"And what happens," she said, low, "if I let it win?"

His mouth hovered over hers. His voice was a rasp now. Raw. Honest.

"Then you become mine."

The shadows stirred again-darker, hungrier.

But it wasn't fear that clenched in her belly. It was anticipation.

And when Kael leaned in, his lips brushing the corner of her mouth, she didn't stop him.

She kissed him.

This time, slower. Possessive. Like claiming territory neither of them should hold.

His hand tangled in her hair, the other pressing against the small of her back, drawing her in until there was no space between them.

She moaned softly-more betrayal than pleasure-and he drank it in like a promise.

But then-

The candlelight died.

The air chilled. Something black moved behind Kael, curling from his spine like a living shadow.

He pulled away just enough to whisper against her lips.

"You need to leave. Now."

She blinked. "What?"

"I want you," he said, voice shaking. "But it wants you too-and it doesn't share."