Page 21 of Demon's Claim

“I’ll fight too,” I say, my voice steady, though my heart races. “I can’t just stand by and let you do this alone.”

He raises an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. “You’re stubborn,” he says, though there’s a note of approval in his tone. “But understand, Elara—this isn’t like anything you’ve faced before. They’ll come with power, with intent. They won’t stop until they have what they want.”

I nod, swallowing my fear. “Then let them come. I’m not afraid to fight.”

He’s silent, studying me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle. And just as he opens his mouth to speak, the ground beneath us trembles, a low rumble that echoes through the keep. I tense, sensing the shift, the surge of dark energy gathering around us.

A chill fills the air, and I see shadows ripple, thickening and coiling like serpents. The darkness beyond the windows grows deeper, a pitch-black void that seems to pulse with a life of its own. And then, I see them—creatures emerging from the shadows, their eyes glowing with malevolence, their forms twisted and monstrous.

“They’re here,” Lucian mutters, his expression hardening. “Stay close.”

I feel a surge of fear, but I force myself to stay calm, focusing on the power within me, that familiar spark that I’ve come to rely on. Lucian steps forward, his presence like a shield, his stanceprotective and unyielding. But I won’t be a bystander. I take a deep breath, steeling myself, and let the spark within me ignite.

The first creature lunges, and I raise my hand, a surge of light bursting forth, striking it back. It shrieks, retreating into the shadows, but more take its place, a relentless wave of darkness bearing down on us. Lucian moves with deadly precision, his magic lashing out, a storm of shadow and fury.

We fight side by side, our bond pulsing with every strike, every movement. I feel his power resonate within me, a steady rhythm that fuels my strength, that gives me the courage to face each creature that comes our way. It’s like a dance, an unspoken connection that guides us, binds us, makes us stronger.

A creature lunges at me, claws gleaming, but I raise my hand, releasing a burst of light that sends it sprawling back. I can feel the power flowing through me, more controlled than ever before, and for the first time, I don’t fear it. I let it guide me, let it become a part of me.

Lucian glances at me, a glimmer of pride in his eyes, but there’s no time for words. The creatures keep coming, each one more vicious, more determined. They’re drawn to us, to the bond, to the power that pulses between us, and they won’t stop until they’ve claimed it.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the last creature falls, dissolving into shadows that dissipate into the air. I’m breathing hard, my body exhausted, but there’s a fierce satisfaction in the air, a sense of victory that we share in silence.

Lucian turns to me, his gaze intense. “This was only the beginning,” he says quietly. “There will be more, stronger than these. They’ll come, Elara, and they won’t relent.”

I nod, the weight of his words settling over me. “Then we’ll face them together,” I reply, my voice steady. “I’m not going to run. I’m not going to give up.”

He watches me for a moment, and I feel the depth of our connection, the bond that’s woven itself into my very soul. It’s a part of me now, a strength that fills me with both fear and determination. Whatever lies ahead, I know that I won’t face it alone.

As the silence settles around us, I realize that Lucian and I are bound in ways I never could have anticipated. This realm will test us, will try to tear us apart, but I know that together, we’re stronger than any threat it can throw our way.

The darkness may rise, but so will we.

20

LUCIAN

The air is thick, saturated with shadows that seem to pulse with anticipation. The Underworld feels alive, as if it’s watching, waiting for what’s to come. I can sense it—a shift in the realm itself, an energy that hums through the walls of the keep, a warning that our final confrontation is imminent. This will be the battle that defines us, the test of everything we’ve fought for, everything I’ve promised to protect.

I make my way to the armory, gathering every relic, every weapon imbued with dark magic that I’ve collected over the centuries. I know what we’re about to face isn’t like the creatures we’ve fought before. This is something ancient, a force woven from the very shadows of the Underworld, and it’s come to end the bond I’ve risked everything to preserve.

As I move through the keep, I find Elara standing in the center of the hall, her gaze unwavering, a quiet determination in her eyes. I stop, watching her, feeling the pulse of our connection thrumming between us. We don’t need words; the bond says everything. She knows the risks, understands the cost we might both pay, and still, she stands ready, unyielding.

“Elara,” I say quietly, my voice filled with a resolve I’ve never felt so deeply. “Whatever happens, stay close. We’ll face this together.”

She nods, stepping closer until we’re only a breath apart. “I’m not leaving your side,” she replies, her voice steady. “No matter what.”

In that moment, the weight of our bond settles over us—a promise, an unspoken vow that binds us more deeply than any pact ever could. She’s become a part of me, a force I can no longer deny, and as much as I’ve tried to fight it, I know now that I would sacrifice anything to keep her safe.

A low rumble echoes through the keep, and the ground trembles beneath our feet. Shadows pool and gather, thickening, swirling, as a presence far greater than anything I’ve felt approaches. I feel it pressing against my mind, a dark, malevolent force born from the heart of the Underworld, its sole intent to sever our bond, to claim her light.

“It’s here,” I say, my voice hard, every instinct sharpening. “Stay close.”

The darkness surges forward, and from its depths, a figure emerges—an ancient entity, its form twisted, monstrous, its eyes blazing with a hunger that chills even me. It’s as if the shadows themselves have taken life, a force that cannot be reasoned with, one that seeks only to consume.

The first wave of creatures descends upon us, and we move as one, our powers weaving together in a harmony I hadn’t thought possible. Her light, my darkness—they intertwine, creating a force that resonates through the hall, forcing the creatures back. I strike with the precision of centuries of battle, each move a calculated blow, but I feel her beside me, her power a fierce, unyielding blaze that fills me with strength.

The entity watches, its gaze locked on Elara, and I feel a surge of protectiveness, a fierce need to shield her from its grasp.It steps forward, its presence oppressive, and I feel it pressing against the bond, testing it, seeking a weakness.

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