Adrian's POV
When I woke, it was to the feeling of Valeria's gaze on me, her silhouette framed by the first rays of morning. Her expression was unreadable, eyes a shade darker than usual, like shadows pulled from some forgotten place.
"You're watching me," I murmured, still heavy with sleep.
She didn't look away. "You think I'd leave you here unguarded?" There was a flicker of a smirk, but beneath it lay something unspoken, something far heavier.
Slowly, I sat up, stretching. "You make it sound like I need guarding."
"There are things coming for us, Adrian. Things you can't yet imagine." Her words hung in the room, still as the morning air, and for a moment, I felt the raw weight of her world. I'd known she was protecting me—she'd made that clear—but the intensity in her voice was new. There was a depth in her eyes I couldn't quite reach, like staring into an endless night.
"So tell me," I urged, leaning forward, "if I'm in danger, I need to know what I'm dealing with."
Valeria's gaze softened, but her lips twisted as if tasting something bitter. "You've seen what the Elders can do—how they tore me from you in the blink of an eye. They think they can wield power without consequences, that they have the right to judge, to sever any bond that threatens their control." Her fists clenched, her tone sharpened with a simmering anger I'd only seen glimpses of before.
"And they think we're… a threat?"
A bitter laugh slipped from her, low and dangerous. "To them, you're an anomaly, a mistake in the order they've crafted over centuries. They see our bond as a disruption, and they'll do everything in their power to keep that order intact."
I tried to process what she was saying, to understand the scope of what we were up against. The Elders—ancient, unstoppable beings with a reach that extended beyond life and death. And somehow, we'd drawn their attention.
"Then why didn't they… break the bond outright? Why summon you instead?"
A faint smile curved her lips, as dark as midnight. "Because even they have rules. And loopholes. I was summoned because our bond skirts the edge of their laws—it's unusual, unpredictable, but it doesn't outright defy them. Not yet." Her voice dropped, becoming something almost reverent. "And they can't sever a connection that hasn't fully awakened. Not until it does."
Her words settled around us like the quiet promise of a storm, and I felt my pulse quicken. "So we have… time?"
"Time is a luxury," she replied, her eyes narrowing. "And it's running thin."
---
Valeria stood, moving to the window. Sunlight spilled in, illuminating her face with a harsh contrast, making her look more powerful, yet untouchable, like a queen surveying her kingdom.
"If they come for you," she said, her tone almost casual, "there will be nothing to negotiate. They'll strip the power from you, even if it takes your life. That's why…" She trailed off, an edge of uncertainty in her eyes. "That's why I need you to be ready."
"Ready for what, exactly?" I asked, a strange thrill running through me. "You're talking about this power inside me—if I'm going to keep it, to survive… I need to learn how to control it."
For a heartbeat, silence filled the room, and then Valeria nodded, the fire back in her gaze. "Exactly." Her voice was barely a whisper, but it echoed with a fierce determination. "You'll need to train, Adrian. To learn restraint, discipline—so that when the Elders test you, you won't be at their mercy."
She crossed the room, standing over me, her presence filling every inch of the space. "And we're not going to do it alone."
I blinked, trying to process the implications of her words. "What do you mean?"
"There are beings older than you could imagine, creatures with grudges against the Elders that span lifetimes." Her eyes gleamed, dark with purpose. "If we're going to survive this, we need allies. Supernatural beings who'll defy the Elders if given the chance."
The weight of her plan settled over me, intense, electrifying. She was talking about building a force, an army, of creatures from the shadows—beings who would defy ancient power, challenge it, all for the chance of revenge.
"And you think they'll just… help us?" I asked, wary.
"They'll help if we make it worth their while. And trust me," she said, her voice low, deadly, "I know exactly what to offer."
---
Valeria's POV
The darkening sky stretched endlessly above as I led Adrian down shadowed streets, our path obscured from human eyes. This realm was ours alone, a hidden world overlapping theirs, filled with whispers and watchful eyes. I could feel the creatures lurking in the shadows, their presence a constant, silent reminder of the precarious alliances we'd come to make.
"What are we looking for?" Adrian's voice was a hushed murmur, the tension in his gaze belying the curiosity beneath.
"We're seeking Nyx."
He looked at me, confused. "Nyx?"
"Nyx is… one of my kind, a Primordial force, though far less… benevolent. He exists on the edge of the supernatural realm, a master of shadows. And he's very… territorial."
The look he gave me was one of incredulity mixed with trepidation. "And you think he'll just work with us?"
I stopped, turning to face him fully. "Nyx won't 'work' with us, Adrian. He's a creature of obsession. He's ruled by his desire, and that's what makes him both powerful and unpredictable. But he's an asset we need."
The unease in Adrian's expression deepened, but he nodded, his resolve unwavering. Whatever doubts he had, he buried them, and I couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride.
Together, we continued down the path until the world shifted, the shadows pooling into a dense fog that obscured everything but the narrow ground beneath our feet. And then, like a dark mirage, he appeared.
Nyx stepped forward, a tall, lithe figure cloaked in an aura that seemed to drink in the light around him. His eyes gleamed, a colorless void that felt like staring into eternity. The air thickened, wrapping around me in a heady mix of power and anticipation.
"Valeria," he purred, his voice a deadly whisper, his gaze flicking to Adrian with a glint of distaste. "You bring a human to my domain?"
"He's my bond," I replied smoothly, holding his gaze. "We come with a proposal, one I know will interest you."
Nyx's gaze lingered on me, his interest piqued, the intensity of his fixation palpable. "And what, exactly, would that be?"
I took a step closer, matching his dark smile with my own. "A chance to disrupt the balance. To strike against the Elders."
For a brief, intense moment, the world seemed to still, the gravity of the offer settling between us. Nyx's smile widened, predatory, his gaze flickering with a sinister delight.
"Oh, Valeria," he murmured, his tone as dark as midnight. "I do so love a good war."