Page 6 of Chains of Love

"Lirien..." Darak's warning hangs in the air.

"Trust me." The words catch in my throat. When did his opinion start to matter so much?

The creature's darkness ripples as I approach. With each step, its massive form seems to fold in on itself, condensing like storm clouds before rain. The bond exposes with Darak's confusion and... concern?

"What are you doing to it?"

"Breaking the illusion." My fingers spark with energy. "Sometimes the most terrifying things are just..." The beast shrinks further, its shape becoming more defined. "...lost and afraid."

The darkness peels away like old paint, revealing sleek fur beneath. Where moments ago stood a monster, now sits a small shadow-feline, its tail flicking back and forth with curiosity. Its eyes still hold that bottomless depth, but there's intelligence there now. Recognition.

"Well," Darak pushes himself to his feet, brushing dirt from his armor, "that's certainly one way to handle it."

The feline winds around my ankles, purring loud enough to vibrate through my boots. I can't help but smile. "Sometimes the best way to fight darkness is to understand it."

Darak meets my gaze, a silent intrigue passing from him to me. I stand straight and offer him my hand. Of course, he doesn't take it. But I can feel that we've made progress despite that.

4

DARAK

Iroll my shoulder, wincing at the sharp twinge. The shadow beast—or what I thought was a beast—left its mark, even if not the way I expected. The leather of my armor creaks as I stretch, checking for other injuries.

Behind us, padded footsteps and a rumbling purr follow in our wake. The small shadow-feline trots after Lirien like a devoted pet, its dark fur rippling with each graceful movement.

"Made yourself a friend, I see."

"Jealous?" Lirien glances over her shoulder, a knowing smile playing at her lips.

I scoff, but the memory of that moment floods back unbidden. When she faced down the creature, something... shifted. The bond between us had surged with warmth, wrapping around my senses like a blanket fresh from summer sun. Comfort. Peace. Everything she'd projected at the beast had washed over me too.

"That thing could have killed you." The words come out harsher than intended.

"But it didn't." She reaches down to scratch behind the feline's ears. "Sometimes strength isn't about how hard you can swing a sword."

My jaw clenches. She's right, and that irritates me more than it should. Just like this nagging desire to feel that warmth again, to let the bond fill with her magic and wash away decades of battle-worn edges.

"The bond," I say, keeping my voice neutral. "It felt different when you were... doing whatever you did."

"Did it?" Her tone is light, but there's a weight to her gaze when she looks at me. "I hadn't noticed."

Liar. But I let it pass, focusing instead on scanning the twisted trees ahead. Anything to avoid dwelling on how much I want to chase that feeling again.

The feline chirps, butting its head against Lirien's leg, and I push down a surge of irrational jealousy. This is ridiculous. I'm a warrior, not some magic-starved child seeking comfort.

But the memory of that warmth lingers, taunting me with what I'm missing.

What I've been missing.

A crumbling stone structure looms ahead, its partial roof promising shelter from the increasing chill. My skin prickles with an unmistakable sensation. "Is that your magic I'm sensing?"

Lirien shakes her head, silver hair catching the dying light. "No, but you're not wrong about the magic. Old places like this hold onto power, like wet clothes hold water." She runs her fingers along the weathered stone. "Seems this old shrine's been soaking it in for centuries."

I gather fallen branches while she clears a space near the intact portion of the wall. The shadow-feline curls up in a corner, watching us with gleaming eyes.

"So." I arrange the wood as she conjures flames with a flick of her wrist. "Were you made this way? A Purna?"

"We're born, not made." She settles cross-legged by the fire, her face softening in the warm light. "Though many never know what they are. Most live their whole lives thinking they're just... lucky. Or cursed, depending on how it manifests."

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