Page 17 of Beyond the Treaty

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Page 17 of Beyond the Treaty

“What is it?” I ask, leaning closer, unable to suppress the tremor in my voice.

He doesn’t respond immediately. When he finally speaks, his tone is serious. “It’s about the bond. How it’s formed, its purpose... and its consequences.”

My stomach drops. “Consequences?”

Azrael turns the book toward me, pointing to a passagewritten in flowing, ornate script. As I read the words, a chill seeps through my body, much colder than the night air.

The bond isn’t merely a connection or a unifying tool. It’s a siphon, a meticulously crafted mechanism designed to extract the life force of the bonded pair, channelling it into the Council’s magic. The stronger the bond, the more power they harness. And when the pair has nothing left to give? Destruction is the only result.

“They’re using us,” I whisper, my voice trembling with fury. “Kaelen and I, we’re nothing more than fuel for their power.” Azrael clenches his fists at his sides, his fiery energy barely

restrained. “They are parasites, Elara. They hide behind treaties and prophecies while draining the life of others for their own gain.”

A surge of defiance rises in me, sharp and unrelenting. It burns hotter than fear and stronger than doubt. “We have to stop them,” I say, my voice steadier now. “If we don’t, they’ll keep doing this, destroying lives, tearing people apart, just to maintain their power.”

Azrael nods, his determination mirroring my own. “Then we start here.” He taps the crimson tome. “Their secrets are their greatest weapon. Now, they belong to us.”

As the moonlight filters through the trees, a strange calm envelops me. The Council believed they could control and bind me to their will. They were mistaken.

The fight is far from over, but for the first time, I am prepared to confront it.

ACT II

AZRAEL

CHAPTER 11

Iwatch Elara closely as the fire in her gaze sharpens into something more intense than anger, resolve. It’s a quiet, unyielding thing I’ve seen only in those who have confronted despair and chosen to fight instead of fall. For a moment, I feel almost proud.

Good. The Council has no chance against that fire, not if I fan it into something they cannot control.

I shift my attention to the crimson tome in my hands, its edges catching faint streaks of moonlight. Its weight is more than physical; this book holds the proof I’ve spent years hunting, the ugly truth about the Council’s treachery laid bare. I always knew they were ruthless. What I didn’t expect was this: a siphon disguised as a bond, a death sentence wrapped in prophecy. It was worse than I had imagined.

“They’ll pay for this,” Elara says, her voice low and sharp. “But we need more than this tome. It’s a start, but we must gather evidence, enough evidence to tear their foundation

apart.”

She’s already thinking ahead. Good. She understands the

scope of what we’re stepping into, and instead of flinching, she embraces it.

“We will,” I promise, my voice unwavering. “This changes everything. Their power is founded on fear and secrets. If we expose those secrets, their grip will shatter.”

I stand and offer her my hand. She hesitates for only a moment before taking it, her grip firm despite the tremor in her fingers. I pull her up and instinctively scan the grove. The torchlight flickering beyond the trees remains distant, but I know better than to trust time. We need to move before the palace locks down.

“We can’t stay here,” I say, letting her hand go. “The grounds will be crawling with guards before long. We need distance.”

Elara glances toward the distant palace walls. “Where do we go?”

I already have the answer. My mind has been mapping routes and options since we slipped into the archives. “The only place they won’t think to look is Obsidia.”

“And then?” she presses. Her voice has a sharp edge, one born of anger and urgency. She doesn’t appear to question why we are heading to my realm.

I meet her gaze steadily. “Then we strategise. This isn’t a conflict we can rush into blindly, Elara. The Council’s influence stretches wide, but that makes them predictable. If we proceed carefully, we can dismantle their power piece by piece.”

She exhales sharply, tension releasing from her shoulders only to return. “Fine. But I won’t hide while they keep using Kaelen as a pawn. The moment we’re ready, I want to strike.”

A dark smile tugs at the corner of my mouth.She’s poised for battle. “We will strike,” I assure her. “But not just yet. Attacking too soon would work to their advantage. You must trust me.”