Page 55 of Beyond the Treaty
The words shimmered on the page, twisting like living embers before settling into a clear message. I read aloud, my voice scarcely rising above a whisper.
“The beast is bound in chains unseen. The fortress of night shrouds his soul. Only blood will open the way.”
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Darius exhaled sharply. “Fantastic. Ominous riddles. Just once, I’d like some straightforward instructions. Something like ‘Go here, stab this, problem solved.’”
Azrael ignored him, his gaze was dark with understanding. “Blood magic, Ebonshade Keep has always been locked to those who carry the lineage.”
I swallowed hard, my fingers still resting on the tome. “But Kaelen and I are bound. My blood... might be enough to open the way.”
Azrael studied me, his expression unreadable. “It will be dangerous. Blood magic is not to be taken lightly. If this book demands it, the cost may be higher than expected.”
Darius rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re already marching into what’s likely a death trap. Might as well add a little blood sacrifice to the mix.”
I forced myself to meet Azrael’s gaze. “If my blood is the key to reaching him, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Azrael exhaled, nodding slowly. “Then we move at dawn. We’ll need to reach the Keep’s outer perimeter before the Council’s forces do. If they’re gathering in the barren lands, they may already suspect Kaelen’s location.”
Darius crossed his arms. “To summarise, infiltrate a cursed
fortress, bypass ancient blood wards, and retrieve Kaelen before he completely loses himself. Oh, and let’s not forget avoiding execution by the Council.”
“Correct,” Azrael said. “Now get some rest. We have a long night ahead.”
Darius muttered something under his breath but didn’t argue. He turned and strode towards the hall, disappearing down the corridor towards the bedrooms.
Azrael hesitated before following. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice quieter now that we were alone.
I looked down at the tome, the glow of the runes fading back into stillness. “I don’t know. It feels like everything is slipping through my fingers.”
He stepped closer, his presence grounding. “You’re not alone in this. Whatever comes next, we face it together.”
I nodded, the weight of his words settling into my chest. For now, that would have to be enough.
Because tomorrow, we would walk into the dark, and there would be no turning back.
The night passed in restless silence. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling of my chamber, the weight of everything pressing down on me. The truth of the Blood-Bound Curse and the urgency of Kaelen’s fate loomed over me, relentless and suffocating.
I turned onto my side, my fingers brushing the edges of the tome resting beside me. The runes glowed faintly, pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat. Was Kaelen still in there, somewhere beneath whatever the Council had done to him? Would he even recognise me?
Or had we already lost him?
The thought sent ice through my veins. No. I refused to accept that.
A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called quietly.
Azrael stepped inside, closing the door behind him. His pres-
ence filled the space, his crimson eyes intense but unguarded. “You should be sleeping.”
I let out a soft laugh. “As should you.”
I met his gaze, searching his expression. There was some- thing deeper in his eyes, not just concern, but something else, something unspoken. “Azrael, ”
He closed the distance, his fingers brushing against my cheek, his hesitant and possessive touch. “No matter what happens tomorrow, Elara, you must know... I would tear the world apart for you.”
My breath hitched. “And I for you.”
