"You'll never be enough for him, Princess."
The words cut through the air like a blade. Seraphina's breath hitched as she stared at the towering shadow, its glowing red eyes gleaming with malice. It stood over Caelan, whose bound figure seemed smaller, more fragile than she'd ever imagined.
"What did you say?" Seraphina demanded, her voice trembling but fierce.
The shadowy figure chuckled darkly, its laugh reverberating through the cavern. "You heard me. You are not his savior. You are not strong enough to bear the weight of his curse. Just like the others."
"The others?" Seraphina repeated, her stomach twisting.
The shadow leaned closer, its presence oppressive. "Did you think you were the first to try? The first to claim his heart and break his chains? No, little princess. Many before you have stepped into these shadows, only to be swallowed whole. Do you wish to see their faces?"
Before she could respond, the air around her shimmered, and figures began to emerge from the darkness. Women, their eyes hollow and lifeless, their forms flickering like dying flames. They encircled her, their whispers echoing in her mind.
"We failed..."
"We were not enough..."
"He is doomed..."
Seraphina staggered, her hands pressing against her ears to block out the haunting voices. "No!" she shouted. "I won't be like you. I won't fail him!"
The shadow laughed again, its form shifting and expanding until it seemed to fill the entire cavern. "Bold words, but actions speak louder. Do you have what it takes to save him, or will you crumble like the rest?"
Seraphina's gaze darted to Caelan. His head hung low, his shadowy form barely visible. She could feel his pain, his exhaustion, and yet he still radiated a quiet strength.
"I will save him," she said firmly, stepping forward.
The shadow's red eyes narrowed. "Then prove it. The price of his freedom is not just your heart—it is your soul. Are you willing to give up everything for him?"
Her heart pounded. "What does that mean?"
"It means," the shadow hissed, "that to break his chains, you must take his place. You will bear the curse, become the shadow, unseen and unloved, until another bride comes to claim you. Do you accept this fate?"
Seraphina froze. The weight of the shadow's words crushed her resolve like a hammer. Take his place? Could she truly give up her freedom, her future, for someone she barely knew?
But then she looked at Caelan again. His shadow flickered weakly, but she could feel the truth of him—the kindness, the strength, the quiet hope that he tried so hard to hide.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling but resolute. "I'll do it."
The shadow's laughter was deafening. "How noble. But words mean nothing here. You must act."
With a flick of its hand, the chains binding Caelan glowed brighter, and a dark, pulsing energy surged toward Seraphina. She braced herself, expecting pain, but instead, a memory flooded her mind.
She was in the palace gardens, a child again, watching as her mother tended to the roses. Her mother's voice echoed in her ears: "Love is not just about what you feel, Seraphina. It's about what you are willing to give, even if it costs you everything."
The memory faded, leaving her trembling but determined. "What do I need to do?"
The shadow's red eyes gleamed with amusement. "Step into his chains. Bind yourself to the shadows, and he will be free."
Seraphina nodded, her steps slow but steady as she approached Caelan. His head lifted slightly, and she thought she saw a flicker of light in his shadowy eyes.
"Seraphina," he rasped, his voice weak but filled with urgency. "Don't. You don't understand what this curse does. It will destroy you."
She knelt before him, her hand reaching out to touch his face. Her fingers passed through his shadowy form, but she felt a warmth that startled her. "I'm not afraid," she said softly.
"You should be," he whispered, his voice breaking.
Before she could respond, the shadow's voice boomed again. "Enough sentiment. Make your choice, Princess."
Seraphina straightened, her gaze fierce as she turned to the shadow. "I've made my choice. Release him."
The shadow extended a hand, and the chains binding Caelan began to unravel. At the same time, dark tendrils snaked toward Seraphina, wrapping around her wrists and ankles.
Pain seared through her as the tendrils tightened, their darkness sinking into her skin. She bit back a scream, her vision blurring.
Caelan's voice broke through the haze. "No! Stop this!"
The shadow laughed. "It is done. Your savior has claimed her fate."
Seraphina collapsed to the ground, the darkness coursing through her veins like fire. She could feel herself changing, her form becoming less solid, less human.
"Seraphina!" Caelan's voice was desperate, and she felt his shadowy arms wrap around her.
"It's okay," she whispered, her voice faint. "You're free now."
The cavern trembled, and the chains holding Caelan shattered completely. His form began to solidify, the shadows retreating to reveal a man with piercing gray eyes and dark, tousled hair.
But before Seraphina could see more, the darkness engulfed her completely, pulling her into the void.
Caelan knelt on the ground, his newly freed form trembling as he stared at the spot where Seraphina had disappeared.
"No," he whispered, his voice raw with anguish.
The shadow's laughter echoed through the cavern, its red eyes glowing brighter. "She has taken your place, Shadow Lord. And now, the curse begins anew."