12. Lucian

12

LUCIAN

T he air has shifted, thickening with a dark energy I haven’t felt in centuries. Something prowls at the edges of my domain, a presence older than time, ancient and malicious. I feel it pulling, drawn to the spark of power in this keep, to the bond I share with Elara. It’s as though our pact has become a beacon, calling to forces that should have remained buried.

I grit my teeth, feeling the weight of the pact settle heavily in my chest. This was meant to be a temporary solution, a way to keep her safe while she learned to control her power. But now, it’s more than that. It’s a link, binding me to her fate in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

I make my way to the armory, where dark relics and weapons rest, each one imbued with magic and memories of past battles. As I gather what I need, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a cracked mirror. The face staring back at me is hardened, resolute. But there’s something else in my eyes—a hint of something I thought I’d purged centuries ago. Attachment.

Damn her. She’s only been here a short while, and already she’s become more than just a nuisance. There’s a part of me—small, buried deep—that wants to protect her, not just out of duty, but out of something… dangerous. I shake my head, forcing the thought away. This is about my realm, my responsibility. Nothing more.

A low growl echoes through the keep, and I turn, sensing the creature drawing closer. It’s prowling on the edge of my territory, testing the boundaries, as though waiting for an invitation. I tighten my grip on the weapon in my hand, my magic simmering just beneath the surface, ready to be unleashed.

I step outside, the shadows bending around me as I prepare to face whatever dares challenge me. The darkness thickens, and then, like a shadow given life, the creature emerges. Its form is twisted, monstrous, with glowing eyes that burn like embers. It’s ancient, powerful, and radiates an energy that makes the air vibrate with malice.

“Well, well,” it hisses, its voice like gravel scraping over stone. “The mighty Lucian, bound to a mortal. How the mighty have fallen.”

I narrow my eyes, my voice cold. “You’re trespassing. State your purpose before I send you back to the shadows.”

It chuckles, a low, sinister sound. “Oh, I have no desire to hide in the shadows. I’m here for her—the human with the spark of power. Surrender her, and I may spare you.”

The audacity of the demand fuels my anger, the protectiveness I’ve tried to deny rising to the surface. “She’s under my protection,” I say, voice laced with menace. “You won’t lay a hand on her.”

The creature laughs, the sound grating and mocking. “Protect her? A mortal? You truly are lost, Lucian. She’s nothing more than a spark, a brief flicker of light. And you would risk everything for that?”

My jaw tightens, fury igniting within me. “That spark is mine to protect. And if you threaten her, you’ll face the consequences.”

The creature snarls, and in an instant, it lunges, its massive form bearing down on me. I raise my weapon, channeling my magic through it, unleashing a surge of dark energy that slams into the creature, forcing it back. But it’s relentless, recovering quickly, its eyes gleaming with hatred.

The battle is fierce, each blow a clash of shadows and magic, a contest of strength and will. The creature is powerful, more than I anticipated, and every strike sends a shockwave through the ground, reverberating with the force of ancient magic. But I refuse to yield.

I tap into the dark energy of the Underworld, letting it flow through me, filling me with a strength as relentless as the shadows. Each strike grows stronger, fueled by a protectiveness I can no longer deny. She’s become more than just a responsibility—she’s a spark in this endless darkness, a fragile light that I won’t let be extinguished.

Finally, with a surge of power, I deliver a blow that sends the creature sprawling back, wounded and snarling. It glares at me, hatred burning in its eyes, but it knows it’s been defeated. With a hiss, it fades into the shadows, retreating, but not before casting one last look of contempt in my direction.

“This is not the end, Lucian,” it growls, its voice fading into the darkness. “The Underworld will come for her, and not even you can protect her forever.”

I watch as it vanishes, my breath heavy, my pulse racing. The threat lingers in the air, a promise of more battles to come. This was only a taste of what’s waiting, a warning of the forces that will be drawn to her, to us.

As I regain my breath, I feel the sting of injuries—a reminder that even I am not invincible. This was no ordinary foe, and it won’t be the last. The pact has made her a target, and by extension, it’s made me one as well.

I curse under my breath, feeling the weight of responsibility settle heavily over me. Elara is more than a passing nuisance; she’s a force that’s drawing the attention of powers even I cannot control. And if I’m to protect her, to protect my realm, I’ll have to be ready for whatever comes next.

As I turn back toward the keep, I catch a glimpse of her in one of the windows, watching with a mixture of fear and something else, something defiant. She doesn’t understand the dangers she’s facing, the threats lurking just beyond the shadows. But she will. Soon enough, she’ll realize that this world does not forgive weakness, and neither do I.

I steel myself, vowing to prepare her, to harden her until she’s strong enough to face whatever comes her way. I may be bound to her by a pact, but this is no mere alliance. If she survives, it will be because I’ve forced her to become more than she ever thought possible.

The Underworld will test her, will try to break her. But I won’t let it. Not yet.

As I step back into the shadows, I can’t shake the feeling that this is only the beginning, that the bond between us is more powerful, more dangerous, than I ever imagined. And for the first time in centuries, I feel a spark of something that’s both thrilling and terrifying—a sense of purpose beyond myself.

Whatever this is, whatever it means, I’ll face it. I’ll face it for her.