Aiden's POV I could feel the blood pulsing in my head, a dull ache settling in my skull. The pain from Sarah’s attack had left me reeling, my vision blurred and my mind clouded. The world around me was a haze of colors and sounds that didn’t quite make sense, but I fought to steady myself.“Dammit,” I muttered, trying to blink away the fog. But every movement made my head spin. I reached for the ground to steady myself, my hand trembling as it brushed against the dirt.Wyatt’s voice cut through the fog. “Aiden, are you okay?”I wanted to say yes. I wanted to assure him, to reassure myself, that I was fine. But I wasn’t. I wasn’t fine at all. Not since Kael’s influence began to suffocate us, not since the bond with Mila started to slip from my grasp. And now… Sarah."She betrayed us," I rasped, my voice hoarse. “How could she?”Wyatt stood next to me, his face shadowed with concern. He’d been injured in the struggle to reach the Grove, his side still bleeding from a cut that refused

Aiden's POV The air in the Grove was suffocating, thick with shadows that pressed in from every angle. The towering trees, ancient and wise, seemed to groan under the weight of the power swirling around us. It was as if the very earth beneath us was aware of what was coming, as if it could feel the tremors of Kael’s approach. I could barely see straight, my vision blurring as the connection to Mila flickered like a dying ember. Every moment that passed without her felt like a blade digging deeper into my chest. I clenched my fists, trying to hold onto whatever remained of the bond we shared. She’s out there, I reminded myself. I will find her. I will save her. But the weight of Kael’s magic—the darkness that had consumed everything it touched—was too much. Even my body was betraying me, growing weaker with each step I took, the strain of the journey and the damage to the bond taking their toll. My head throbbed, a dull ache that would not subside. "Are you okay?" Sarah’s voice

Aiden's POV The wind howled through the trees, sending shivers down my spine. Every branch seemed to groan under the pressure of the approaching storm, and the sky overhead had turned a bruised shade of purple. I could feel the tension building, thick and suffocating. The air was heavy with something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, something ancient and threatening. It wasn’t just the storm that was coming; there was something else, something darker, rising from the depths of the earth itself.Mila stood beside me, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the storm clouds were gathering like an army preparing for battle. Her hand was tight in mine, and even though I could feel the warmth of her touch, it did little to ease the cold terror spreading through my chest.“Do you feel it?” I asked, my voice low, barely above a whisper.She didn’t look at me, but I could sense her nod. “It’s like the land is holding its breath, waiting. Whatever is coming, it’s not the storm. It’s something

Aiden's POV The creature was like nothing I had ever seen. A shifting mass of darkness that swallowed the light, its form constantly changing, writhing in a grotesque dance of shadow and malice. It towered over us, its tendrils of darkness stretching out like claws, reaching for anything they could tear apart. I could feel its hunger, its need to destroy, and it was coming for us."Get back!" Wyatt shouted, his voice strained as he staggered backward, his injuries clearly taking their toll. But none of us were ready for what we faced.I took a step forward, gripping my sword tighter, but even as I moved, I could feel the weight of its presence. It was overwhelming, suffocating. My mind raced, searching for any kind of plan, any way we could stand a chance against this abomination. But it wasn’t just its strength that was terrifying—it was the dark magic that clung to it, seeping into the castle’s walls and floorboards like a poisonous fog.“This is insane,” Mila muttered beside me,

Aiden's POV “Do it, Mila,” I growled through clenched teeth, the pain from the creature’s dark magic seeping through my veins like poison. My whole body burned, and my vision was blurry, the edges of the world distorting as if everything was slipping away from me. But I couldn’t—no, I wouldn’t—let it end like this. Not when Mila was still here, not when the creature was still alive.Mila stood beside me, her face pale, her breath shallow. The bond between us was now fully realized, our energies intertwined, but it wasn’t enough. The creature was too powerful, and we were running out of time.“Aiden, you’re—" Her voice faltered as she reached for me, her hands trembling. “I can’t... If I use my power now, I might lose you forever.”I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus, to breathe through the agony that threatened to overtake me. “You won’t lose me,” I said hoarsely, my voice raw. “Not if you do this. We can end it. Together.”Her gaze met mine, and for the first time since everyt