Chapter 3

As Kael led Elara through the forest, his hand firm on her arm, the initial sense of safety she had felt began to fade. Something about the way he moved, the way his grip tightened every so often, unsettled her. His voice had shifted too — less gentle, more curt.

“We’ll be out of this mess soon enough,” he muttered, almost to himself. There was no longer the warmth or concern she’d heard before. Instead, his tone carried an edge, something dark and cold lurking beneath the surface.

Elara was too exhausted to question it at first. Her body ached, and her mind was still reeling from the horror she had narrowly escaped. But as they walked deeper into the woods, unease crept through her. The forest, once her sanctuary, now felt suffocating. And Kael’s presence was beginning to feel more like a threat than protection.

They reached a small clearing, and Kael abruptly stopped. His grip on her arm tightened to the point of pain. Elara winced, trying to pull away.

“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Kael let out a low chuckle, but there was no humor in it. “Somewhere you’ll be safe,” he said, though the way he said it sent a chill down her spine.

Before she could react, Kael spun her around to face him. She couldn’t see his expression, but she could feel the shift in the air, the menace radiating from him. His hand moved to her chin, tilting her head up.

“You know, you’re a lot of trouble for someone who can’t even see,” he sneered. “But you’re lucky. You’ve caught my attention.”

Elara’s stomach twisted. His earlier kindness had been a façade, a trick. She tried to pull away again, but Kael held her in place, his grip unrelenting.

“I saved you back there,” he continued, his voice low and dangerous. “Now you owe me.”

Elara’s heart raced. She could sense the shift in power, the way he enjoyed holding her captive, just like her former captors. “I didn’t ask for your help,” she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.

Kael chuckled again, this time dark and predatory. “No, you didn’t. But that doesn’t matter. You think you’re free now? You’re in my world, and I decide what happens next.”

Elara’s breath caught in her throat. The truth of who he really was crashed down on her. He wasn’t a savior — he was worse than the men who had captured her. The forest had delivered her into the hands of a monster.

“You’re coming with me, Elara,” Kael said, his voice soft but laced with menace. “And if you’re smart, you won’t fight it. You don’t know who I am, do you?”

Elara shook her head, terrified of his answer.

“I’m Kael Volaris,” he said, a cruel smirk in his voice. “And I run this part of the world. You belong to me now.”

Elara’s blood ran cold. She had traded one prison for another, and this one might be even harder to escape.

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