3. Serena

My heart pounds wildly as Kael rises, his massive form looming over me. Those glowing amber eyes bore into mine, filled with an ancient, primal hunger that both terrifies and excites me.

"If you're going to kill me, just do it," I spit out, my voice raw. "I'm sick of waiting."

A low rumble escapes his chest. Is he... laughing?

"Kill you? After all the trouble I went through?" His voice is like gravel, deep and rough. "That would be wasteful."

I swallow hard, trying to steady my breathing. "Then what?—"

"You belong to me now, little human." His words send a shiver down my spine.

Before I can protest, stone-like arms scoop me up. I yelp, clinging to his chest as he launches into the air. The ground falls away, trees shrinking to mere specks.

A scream tears from my throat. Wind whips my hair, stinging my eyes. But as we soar higher, my fear gives way to awe.

Kael's wings stretch out, majestic and powerful. Moonlight glints off the leathery membrane, creating an ethereal glow. Each beat sends ripples through the air, carrying us effortlessly through the night sky.

I can't tear my gaze away from the spectacle. Despite everything, a part of me marvels at the impossible beauty of this moment. Soaring above the world, cradled in the arms of a creature who came to life to save me.

The world below shrinks as we soar through the night sky. My heart races, a mix of fear and exhilaration coursing through my veins. Ahead, a massive stone structure looms against the starry backdrop - a manor, carved from the very mountain itself.

Kael descends, his powerful wings creating gusts that ruffle my hair. We land on a balcony, and without a word, he carries me inside. The room is cavernous, dominated by an enormous bed that could easily fit five people.

He deposits me unceremoniously onto the plush surface. A sharp pain shoots through my arm as it hits the mattress.

"Ow! Watch it!" I hiss, cradling the injured limb.

Kael's eyes narrow. He reaches out, grasping my arm with surprising gentleness. His touch sends tingles across my skin as he examines the wound.

Without warning, his tongue darts out, lapping at the blood. I jerk back instinctively, but his grip tightens. Those glowing amber eyes lock onto mine, a clear warning in their depths.

"What the fuck?" I sputter, trying to ignore the heat rising in my cheeks. My heart races, a mix of fear and something else I can't quite name. The warmth of his tongue lingers on my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

"Your blood awakened me," he growls, his voice deep and rumbling. "Stop resisting. It's too late." His words carry a finality that makes my stomach clench.

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. The enormity of the situation crashes over me like a wave. "I-I don't understand," I stammer, hating how small my voice sounds.

"The elves," he presses, leaning closer. His scent envelops me - stone and earth and something wild. "Why were they hunting you?"

The memory of betrayal stings worse than any physical wound. Anger flares hot in my chest, momentarily overriding my fear. "My boyfriend," I spit out, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "He sold me to them. To pay off his gambling debts."

"A boyfriend?" Kael roars, his powerful voice shaking the very walls around us.

The fury in his tone makes me flinch. Instinctively, I curl into myself, trying to shield my naked form from his wrath. My skin prickles with goosebumps, and I wish desperately for something to cover myself with.

Those glowing oceanic eyes narrow dangerously, pinning me in place. "Tell me who this pathetic male is and where he hides," he demands, his words dripping with menace, "so that I may rip off his cock with my bare claws."

I gulp, torn between fear of Kael's rage and a perverse satisfaction at the thought of my ex getting his comeuppance. The gargoyle's protectiveness is both terrifying and oddly comforting.

A shocked gasp escapes my lips. "You're insane!" I cry out, scooting back on the massive bed. Kael's gaze is terrifying, filled with an ancient rage that threatens to consume me whole.

He advances, each step heavy and purposeful. "You dare court a boy?" he snarls, his stony features twisting with disgust. "When you are mine?"

My back hits the headboard as I scramble away from him. "I didn't ask for this!" I shout, my voice trembling. "He sold me, okay? To pay off his gambling debts! And you were still a damn statue, you can't be mad at me!"

Kael freezes, those smoldering eyes boring into me. "He sold you?" His words drip with venom. "Like cattle to be slaughtered?"

I give a jerky nod, unable to tear my gaze away.

A low growl rumbles from Kael's chest, the sound so primal it chills me to the bone. "Whatever pathetic worm you dared to court will suffer a most agonizing death." His claws flex menacingly. "To sell a woman for his poor gambling skill? I will make his end twice as agonizing as the elves'."

My heart thunders in my ears as his words sink in. Part of me wants to plead for mercy, but something in Kael's expression warns me it would be futile.

And something in me wants to see Berand suffer.