Elena stared at the window, her pulse thundering in her ears. Kael stood motionless outside, his face illuminated faintly by the glow of the moon.
"Go away," she called, her voice trembling.
"Elena," he said again, softer this time. "It's not safe for you. Please, let me in."
She hesitated, her hand hovering over the window latch. Every instinct screamed not to trust him, yet something about his voice—low, urgent—made her pause.
"Why are you here?" she demanded, her words sharper than she felt.
"To help you." His answer was immediate, unwavering. "There are things you don't understand. About yourself. About your mark."
Her breath caught, and her hand faltered. No one had ever spoken of the mark—not directly, not without fear or disgust.
"How do you know about it?"
"Because I've been sent to find you." His dark eyes locked on hers, and she saw no hint of deception in them. "Please, let me explain."
With shaking hands, she unlatched the window and pushed it open. Kael climbed in with a feline grace, his presence filling the small room.
He stood there for a moment, his eyes scanning her room—a mixture of curiosity and something else she couldn't name. Then his gaze fell on her, heavy and piercing.
"You shouldn't have let me in," he said softly, almost regretfully.
Elena frowned. "What?"
"I'm dangerous, Elena."
Her heart skipped a beat. "Then why are you here?"
"To warn you." He stepped closer, and she instinctively backed away, bumping into her desk. "There are others coming for you. Worse than me."
"Coming for me? Why? What do they want?"
Kael exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. "It's not what they want—it's what you are. That mark isn't a curse. It's a beacon. A key to something ancient. Something powerful."
Her knees felt weak. She sank into the chair by her desk, her thoughts spinning. "You're not making any sense."
"I know," he said quietly. "And I can't tell you everything. Not yet."
"Why not?"
"Because the truth would destroy you."
His words hung in the air, heavy and final. Elena clenched her fists, anger rising to mask her fear. "Then why bother warning me? Why come here at all?"
Kael's expression softened, a flicker of something almost human passing through his eyes. "Because I don't want to see you hurt."
The vulnerability in his voice caught her off guard. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words died on her lips as a strange sound reached her ears—a low, guttural growl, coming from outside.
Kael's head snapped toward the window, his entire body tensing like a predator sensing danger.
"They're here," he muttered.
---
"What do you mean, they're here?" Elena whispered, rising from her chair.
Kael moved to the window, his movements quick and fluid. He peered into the darkness, his jaw tight.
"Elena," he said without turning around, "you need to stay close to me. No matter what happens."
Her stomach churned. "What's out there?"
Kael didn't answer. Instead, he turned to her, his eyes darker than she'd ever seen them. "Do you trust me?"
"Trust you?" she echoed, incredulous. "I don't even know you!"
The growl came again, louder this time, closer. Kael cursed under his breath.
"Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Before she could protest, the window shattered, glass spraying across the room. Elena screamed, stumbling backward as a shadowy figure lunged through the opening.
It wasn't human.
The creature stood hunched and twisted, its glowing red eyes fixed on her. Its skin was black and leathery, its claws sharp enough to slice through bone.
Elena's mind screamed at her to run, but her feet wouldn't move.
Kael stepped in front of her, his body radiating a strange, almost otherworldly energy. "Back off," he growled, his voice laced with a power she didn't recognize.
The creature hesitated, snarling, but didn't retreat.
Kael glanced over his shoulder at Elena. "Close your eyes."
She shook her head, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "What are you going to do?"
"Close them!"
She obeyed, squeezing her eyes shut just as the air around her seemed to explode. A wave of heat washed over her, and the sound of something ripping through the air filled her ears.
When she dared to peek, the creature was gone. All that remained was a pile of ash near the window and Kael, his hands still glowing faintly with a crimson light.
Elena stared at him, her voice trembling. "What...what are you?"
Kael turned to her, his expression guarded. "The only one who can keep you alive."