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Chapter 10 - Chapter 9

THE COUNCIL OF SHADES

The morning light filtered weakly through the dense canopy of trees surrounding the cabin. Amara stirred from her restless sleep, the mark on her wrist faintly throbbing. Lysander was already awake, leaning against the far wall, his expression distant and brooding.

"You didn't sleep," she said softly.

He glanced at her, his features shadowed with worry. "I don't need sleep. Not when I know what's coming."

"What's coming?" she asked, sitting up, her heart already racing.

Before he could answer, the room darkened abruptly, the sunlight outside extinguished as though swallowed by an unseen force. The temperature dropped, and a deep, resonating hum filled the air.

Lysander stiffened, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at his side. "They're here."

"Who's here?" Amara asked, her voice rising with panic.

Before Lysander could respond, the shadows in the room coalesced into a swirling vortex at the center. From the darkness emerged a tall figure clad in flowing black robes, its face obscured by a hood. Others followed, their forms just as ominous. The room filled with their oppressive presence, suffocating and cold.

"The Council of Shades," Lysander said grimly, stepping protectively in front of Amara.

The lead figure's voice was like a low growl, echoing unnaturally. "Lysander, you have defied the laws of our kind. The bond with the Catalyst is forbidden, yet you have allowed it to grow."

Amara's pulse thundered in her ears as she clutched Lysander's arm. "What do they mean?"

Lysander's jaw tightened. "The Council governs the balance between the shadows and the mortal world. They don't tolerate… attachments."

Another figure stepped forward, its voice sharp and commanding. "The bond between you threatens everything we stand for. You were meant to guide the Catalyst, not claim her."

"She's not claimed," Lysander snapped, his voice defiant. "She's her own person, and I've done nothing to endanger the balance."

"Lies!" the lead figure hissed. "We have felt the surge of power from your union. The mark on her wrist grows stronger, binding her fate to yours. You know what this means."

Amara stepped forward, her fear overridden by anger. "If you're so worried about the bond, then help us! Tell us how to stop it."

The Council members laughed, their voices cold and mocking.

"Foolish girl," one of them said. "The bond cannot be stopped now. It can only be severed—through death."

Lysander growled, his shadows flaring around him like a protective barrier. "You will not touch her."

"You misunderstand, Lysander," the lead figure said. "It is not her death we seek. It is yours."

The room fell silent, the weight of the Council's words pressing down on them.

"What?" Amara whispered, her heart sinking.

"The curse is clear," the figure continued. "The shadow guardian who allows the bond to grow must pay the price. You have failed, Lysander, and now you will atone."

"No," Amara said, stepping in front of Lysander. "You can't do this. He's been protecting me—saving me! How can you punish him for that?"

The Council ignored her, their attention focused solely on Lysander.

"You have until the next full moon to break the bond," the lead figure decreed. "Fail, and we will come for you both."

With that, the shadows began to recede, the figures melting back into the darkness. Their parting words echoed in the room.

"The balance must be maintained."

As the light returned to the room, Amara turned to Lysander, her eyes wide with fear. "What do they mean? How do we stop this?"

Lysander ran a hand through his hair, his expression bleak. "They're right. The bond has grown too strong. If it isn't severed…" He trailed off, unable to finish.

Amara grabbed his arm, forcing him to look at her. "There has to be another way. We'll figure it out. We'll find someone who can help."

"There is no one," he said bitterly. "The Council's power is absolute. If they've made their decision, there's no escaping it."

Amara shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "I won't let them take you. I don't care what it takes—I'll fight them if I have to."

Lysander's gaze softened, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "You're braver than you should be," he said quietly. "But this isn't a fight we can win."

"We'll see about that," Amara said, her voice steely with determination.

Later that night, as Amara sat by the fire, staring into the flames, an idea began to form in her mind.

"What if we confront them?" she said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Lysander frowned. "Confront the Council? That's suicide."

"Not if we have leverage," she argued. "They want the bond severed because they think it's dangerous. But what if we prove that it's not? What if we show them that we can control it?"

Lysander looked skeptical. "You're talking about defying the Council of Shades. They've existed for centuries, enforcing the laws of the shadows. They won't just listen to us because we ask them nicely."

"Then we'll make them listen," Amara said firmly.

Lysander studied her for a long moment, his expression conflicted. Finally, he nodded. "If this is the path you want to take, I'll stand by you. But you need to understand the risks. If we fail…"

"We won't fail," she said, her voice filled with determination.