Valeria POV
The world seemed to pulse in the aftermath of the binding, every nerve in my body alive with the energy still coursing through Adrian and me. Our breaths mingled in the stillness, and I could feel his heartbeat in sync with mine, grounding me amid the whirlwind we had just unleashed. His warmth, his presence, became an anchor as the powerful sensation of our bond settled over us—a silent promise, fierce and undeniable.
But before we could even savor the moment, the air shifted, crackling with an otherworldly charge. Shadows lengthened, bending to welcome the presence of an ancient figure as she emerged from nothingness—the Oracle. Cloaked in the muted light, she appeared as if sculpted from the darkness itself, her eyes sharp and all-seeing, studying us with an intensity that made the weight of our newfound bond feel almost fragile under her scrutiny.
"It is done," she said in a voice that echoed, rich with timeless knowledge and authority. Her gaze flicked between Adrian and me, lingering on the marks now etched upon our chests—symbols of a claim that bound us deeper than any mortal vow.
I opened my mouth, an unspoken question on my lips, but in an instant, the ground beneath us shifted. A wave of energy surrounded Adrian and me, a force so swift that the world blurred. And just as suddenly, the room materialized around us—my office, with its polished mahogany and walls lined with ancient tomes and artifacts from a dozen worlds I had conquered. It was familiar yet laced with an unsettling silence, as if it alone knew the gravity of what had just transpired.
The Oracle drifted to the window, her gaze distant as she observed the city sprawled beneath us. For a heartbeat, she looked almost… weary. But the softness vanished as she turned to face us, her expression hardened, determined.
"Do you know why I brought you here?" she asked, her voice measured but piercing, cutting through the thick quiet between us. "This office, within the walls of your empire, is perhaps the only place where the two of you can remain hidden—for now. Here, Talon's reach cannot penetrate."
The name hung in the air like a storm cloud, and the reality of it settled over me. Talon would never let us rest, not now. His hatred would hunt us like a shadow, relentless and consuming.
The Oracle's eyes moved to Adrian, her gaze piercing. "He won't relent, Adrian. The bond you share has shattered his plans, destroyed his illusion of control. He sees it as a threat to everything he has plotted for—perhaps even his very existence."
Adrian's hand tightened on mine, his silent promise, his strength, passing through the bond that now connected us. His jaw was set, his stance unyielding. I felt his determination, his unbreakable loyalty, in every glance and every beat of his heart.
"There's more you need to know," the Oracle continued, her tone sharpening as if bracing us for a revelation. "The bond you've formed is no mere connection. By binding yourselves to one another, you've activated powers that neither of you fully understands."
Adrian turned to look at me, a flash of wonder and uncertainty passing through his eyes. I could feel his question resonating through the bond, laced with an excitement we barely dared acknowledge.
"What does that mean?" I asked, steadying my voice, although I could sense the tremor of anticipation in every syllable.
The Oracle's gaze softened, her tone shifting from its typical detachment. "In binding with Adrian, Valeria, your power is now interwoven with his. And Adrian, the light you wielded to protect Valeria—that light is rare, a force born of purity and unwavering intent. It's a power that exists within you both now, though neither of you understands its magnitude yet."
Adrian glanced down, his brow furrowing in contemplation. I could feel his wonder mingling with my own. The light—the one that had shielded us in that critical moment, like a fortress surrounding us, impenetrable even to Talon's darkness—had been his. But somehow, I knew it was ours now, a strength drawn from our union, a shield we both carried.
The Oracle's voice pulled us back, her tone a warning, resonating with caution. "Together, you're something Talon and others of his kind will fear—a bond that defies their control, a power they cannot touch. But understand this: you've become a target, and Talon is only the beginning. The supernatural world watches, and many will not welcome what you have become."
My fingers brushed the mark on my chest, a brand that still pulsed with the warmth of Adrian's claim. The realization hit like a cold wave—we were hunted, even more so than before. But in this mark, in this bond, I felt the defiance, the protection, that no one could sever.
Adrian took a step forward, his voice unwavering, every syllable lined with fierce intent. "Then tell us what to do. How can I protect her?" His gaze never wavered, his words a testament to his resolve.
The Oracle's expression shifted, something like approval flashing in her eyes. "Your light, Adrian, is your shield. It's a weapon against darkness, a force that Talon cannot penetrate. But it must be honed. You'll need to learn to wield it consciously like you did today during the consummation. You will learn to summon it as armor for both of you. Talon will try to break it—he'll try to sever the bond you share with his darkness."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. I saw the hint of a smile, almost a whisper of admiration. "But remember, it is more than protection. It is an amplification of both your powers, a force that defies what Talon understands. Together, you're stronger than either of you are alone especially you Adrian."
Her gaze shifted back to me, sharp and unyielding. "Valeria, your powers are vast, volatile, dangerous even to those who would dare to wield them. The bond may be your strength, but it also makes you vulnerable in new ways. The supernatural world is watching, and you're no longer invisible to its gaze."
I held her stare, unflinching, the fire in my chest matching the weight of her words. I had been a target before, but this was different. This bond was both a gift and a danger—a call to something larger than either of us.
"We'll face it," I said, my voice strong, meeting the Oracle's unwavering gaze. I felt Adrian's presence beside me, his hand clasping mine, steady and unyielding. "We'll fight whatever comes our way."
The Oracle nodded, the faintest hint of a smile flickering across her face. "Good. But understand, there's much you don't yet know, powers within you both that haven't been awakened. Trust each other, lean on each other's strengths. Together, you are beyond what any supernatural has anticipated."
Her form began to fade, dissolving into shadows, but her words lingered, wrapping around us like an invocation. "Be vigilant. You are no longer simply Valeria and Adrian—you are something more, something that will reshape everything it touches."
And then, just as swiftly as she had arrived, she was gone, leaving us alone in the soft, dim light of my office, her warnings echoing in the silence.
Adrian pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me as if shielding me from the storm that was yet to come. I felt the mark on our chests pulse, a reminder of the bond that now defined us.