Page 22 of Chains of Nightshade

Behind me, Aurel dispatches the last guard with a brutal efficiency. His massive form coils around the corridor as he turns to me, his eyes widening at the sight.

"Your magic," he breathes, moving closer. "It's changing."

I lift my hands, watching the silver light pulse in rhythm with my heartbeat. "I've never felt like this before. This strength..." My voice catches. "Humans can't do this, can they?"

Aurel's expression shifts, something like recognition flickering across his features. "No," he says slowly. "They can't."

The dead elf's blood mingles with my own on the floor, and I notice something strange – where they meet, both shimmer with the same silvery sheen. My stomach lurches.

"What am I?" The words come out barely above a whisper.

Aurel's hand brushes my cheek, turning my face toward him. His eyes search mine intently. "You're something far more interesting than a mere human," he murmurs. "And now I understand why we connected so easily."

The magic surges again, stronger this time, making me gasp. It feels right, natural, like something long dormant finally awakening.

"Enough of this." Aurel's voice cuts through my racing thoughts. His muscled arms slide beneath me, lifting me against his chest. "You did well, little one. Better than I expected."

The praise warms something inside me, despite the pain radiating from my side. The arrow shifts as he adjusts his grip, making me gasp.

"Stay still," he orders, his chest rumbling against my cheek. "And try not to bleed all over me."

I manage a weak laugh. "Sorry to ruin your dramatic escape."

"You've made it far more interesting, I'll give you that." His massive form coils through the corridor, movements fluid despite carrying me. "Now shut up and focus on staying conscious."

My fingers curl against his skin, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat. It's strange how safe I feel in his arms, even with dark elf soldiers in pursuit and an arrow in my side. The magic still crackles beneath my skin, but it feels distant now, overshadowed by exhaustion.

"I didn't know I had it in me," I murmur, thinking of the dead elf. "To kill someone."

"You're full of surprises." His grip tightens as he navigates a sharp turn. "We'll discuss your hidden talents later. For now, stay quiet and let me get us out of here."

I press my face against his chest, breathing in his scent of stone and ancient magic. The world spins less when I close my eyes, so I do, trusting him to carry me to safety.

11

AUREL

Icradle Vera in my arms as we rush through the dark corridors, my serpentine body propelling us forward with fluid grace. The scent of fresh blood lingers on her—dark elf blood. My gaze flicks to her face, studying the crimson spatters across her pale skin and the wild gleam in her eyes.

Who would have thought this frail human harbored such darkness within? The way she stabbed that dark elf... There was no hesitation, no mercy. Just pure, unbridled rage finally breaking free after years of oppression.

"That was... impressive back there," I murmur, feeling her small form tremble against my chest. Not from fear, I realize, but from excitement. The magic radiating from her pulses stronger now, like a heartbeat finding its rhythm.

She looks up at me, blood still dripping from her chin. "I felt... powerful."

"You did well." My lips curl into a satisfied smile. Perhaps I've underestimated her potential. This broken slave has teeth after all. "How does it feel, finally striking back?"

"Good." Her voice comes out barely above a whisper, but there's an edge to it I've never heard before. "Really good."

I tighten my grip on her as we navigate another turn. The violence I witnessed has changed my perception of her. She's not just some weak pawn to be manipulated—there's something more primal, more dangerous lurking beneath that fragile exterior.

The elves ready their weapons. Steel brandishes against steel, echoing through the din of the corridors. Vera hangs limp in my arms, but we push on.

Power surges through my body, raw and untamed after decades of suppression. The familiar hum of magic tingles beneath my skin as I cradle Vera against my chest. Her blood seeps into my clothes, warm and sticky.

"Hold tight," I tell her, my tail whipping out to slam a dark elf into the wall. The satisfying crunch of bones brings a smile to my lips.

More guards pour in from the corridors, their weapons raised. The air crackles with defensive spells, but they're nothing compared to my unleashed might. I bare my fangs, feeling truly alive for the first time in centuries.

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