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The moon hung high over the forest, casting silver light over the clearing where Kai and Lucien stood. The night air was thick with the scent of pine, moss, and something sharper—power. Kai could feel it buzzing just under his skin, hot and restless. It had been building all day, ever since Lucien had gently touched his wrist during training. Ever since their eyes had locked a moment too long.
They stood barefoot on the soft earth, surrounded by glowing runes Lucien had carved into the ground. The markings pulsed with a faint gold light, forming a wide circle around them. Lucien's expression was calm but focused, his black coat laid aside, sleeves rolled up, his chest rising steadily with each breath.
"This is a bond ritual," Lucien said softly. "It's not the full thing—not yet. But it'll help you channel your power through me, and me through you. If the magic agrees." Kai shifted uneasily. "And if it doesn't?"
Lucien looked at him—really looked—and stepped closer. "Then we try again. But I believe it will." Kai swallowed. His heart was thudding loud in his ears. "What do I have to do?" Lucien took his hand, warm and firm. "Just trust me."
He guided Kai's hand to his own chest, placing it over his heartbeat. "Feel that?"
Kai nodded, his fingers trembling slightly. "Good. Now close your eyes. Focus on your own heartbeat… then try to match it with mine."
Kai did as he was told, eyes fluttering closed. At first, he felt nothing but nerves and confusion. But slowly, slowly, a warmth bloomed in his chest. Lucien's presence curled around him—not just his body, but his energy, his soul.
Then it happened.
A spark.
Like a flame catching on dry wood.
Kai gasped as heat shot through his body. Not just heat—power. It surged from his chest, down his arms, into his fingertips. He felt the connection as it bridged between them like lightning. Lucien didn't flinch. Instead, he held firm, pulling Kai closer, pressing their foreheads together.
"Let it flow," Lucien whispered. "You're doing it." The runes lit up in a cascade of gold and red. Magic danced in the air around them, crackling like a storm was gathering. Kai couldn't stop it. His knees buckled, but Lucien caught him, arms wrapping tight around his waist.
"I can't… it's too much—" Kai gasped.
"You can," Lucien said, his voice like silk and fire. "You're not alone anymore."
Their bond flared. Something old and locked away inside Kai's mind broke free. A rush of memories flooded in—fragments of visions, whispers in a forgotten tongue, and a face… a woman's face, cloaked in silver, holding a scroll. Kai's eyes flew open. He stumbled back, breathless, heart pounding.
"I saw something," he panted. "I think I… I remember. There was a scroll—something about fire and bond, a prophecy—"
But before he could say more, the air shifted.
Lucien stiffened. "We're not alone." From the trees, a cold wind swept through the clearing, killing the warmth in an instant. The runes dimmed. Kai felt it—a presence. Watching. Pressing.
Then it appeared. A tall, shadowy figure cloaked in black smoke, its eyes glowing like coals.
A Watcher.
Lucien shoved Kai behind him and threw out his arm. A wall of flame erupted from his palm, illuminating the night, but the Watcher was fast. It darted through the fire like mist, slamming Lucien back with a wave of dark energy.
"Lucien!" Kai screamed.
The Watcher lunged for him, tendrils of shadow reaching out—but something inside Kai snapped. His fear twisted into something sharper. Deeper. "Don't touch him!" he shouted.
A wave of flame exploded from Kai's body, pure and white-hot. It struck the Watcher head-on, burning through its smoky form. The creature shrieked and dissolved into ash and embers, leaving only silence behind. Lucien coughed, pushing himself up, eyes wide. "Kai… that was—" Kai turned to him, panting. His clothes clung to his damp skin, sweat glistening under the moonlight. "I didn't mean to. It just… happened."
Lucien smiled slowly, walking over. "You protected me." Kai looked away, flustered. "You've done that for me plenty." Lucien reached out and cupped Kai's cheek, his thumb brushing just under his eye. "We protect each other now."
The moment stretched. The runes flickered dimly around them, casting a soft golden glow on their faces. Their bodies were still humming from the magic, from the fight… from the closeness. Lucien leaned in, pausing just before their lips met.
"May I?"
Kai nodded, eyes fluttering shut.
Their lips met, soft at first, then deeper, hungrier. The kiss was a slow burn—tender and intense, like the fire they both carried inside. Lucien's hand slid down Kai's back, pulling him close until there was no space left between them. Kai's fingers tangled in Lucien's shirt, holding on as if he might fall apart. They pulled away only when breathless.
Kai smiled, flushed. "I didn't see that in the training manual." Lucien chuckled, voice low. "Must be in the secret section." They laughed, the sound cutting through the tension like fresh air. But the mood shifted as Kai glanced at the charred remains of the Watcher. "Why now? Why was it watching us during the ritual?"
Lucien's jaw tightened. "They know something's changing. Our bond—it's not just strong. It's rare. Dangerous, to some." Kai bit his lip. "And the scroll I saw… the woman… I think she was trying to tell me something." Lucien looked thoughtful. "Then we need to find that scroll. Whatever it holds—it could explain everything. Your power. The curse. Us."
Kai nodded. "Let's go back to the library tomorrow. We'll look together."
Lucien pulled him close again, their foreheads touching. "Together," he echoed.
As the runes faded and the forest quieted, they stood wrapped in each other, the scent of smoke and pine thick around them. The night wasn't over—but neither was their story.
Not even close.