Ariaxa barely had time to gasp before the iron gag was slammed over her mouth.
Harsh metal bit into her skin.
Her words, her cries, her spells — silenced.
Cold restraints clamped around her wrists and ankles, each one etched with sun-suppressing runes soaked in Triarch blood. She tried to summon light, even a spark—
Nothing.
She was hauled toward a massive cage shaped from living shadow. Its bars twisted like vines, dripping darkness. When she was thrown inside, the shadows curled around her like chains.
Her Sun-silks dimmed instantly.
Her magic guttered like a dying candle.
The cage door sealed with a thunderous clang.
Ariaxa gasped through the gag, vision swimming, heart thundering.
Rhaelle rode alongside the cage on a bone-white mare, her expression dripping with smug satisfaction.
“My dear Sun Pretender,” she purred, “you look far more fitting behind bars.”
Ariaxa lunged forward, fingers straining toward the bars—
And the shadows recoiled, tightening around her throat like claws.
Rhaelle smirked.
“Do try again. I enjoy watching you choke.”
Ariaxa’s chest burned.
Her knees hit the floor of the cage.
Her breath turned shallow.
Every heartbeat whispered the same terror.
Kaedan.
Kaedan.
Kaedan.
The Triarchs turned their horses.
“Move!” Vaelen commanded, voice ringing like a blade striking ice.
The entire Triarch army shifted as one. War beasts snarled. Mages raised shields. Soldiers tightened ranks.
And then—
The army began to retreat.
Into the mountains.
Dragging Ariaxa with them.
Farther from Vharon.
Farther from safety.
Farther from the man she’d just promised to return to.
Ariaxa clawed at the gag, at the bars, at anything—
Her magic flickered like sparks on wet stone.
Nothing.
The shadow-cage suppressed every attempt, stealing her strength with each breath.
She forced herself upright, pressing her face to the bars, glaring at Rhaelle with pure hatred.
Rhaelle leaned down, stroking the bars as though petting a beast.
“Oh, don’t give me that look. You have no idea the gift you’re giving us.”
Ariaxa stilled.
Vaelen’s voice cut through the cold morning air.
“Once the Emperor sees we’ve taken her, he’ll chase us.”
Brakus snorted, beast-teeth gleaming. “He’ll run right into the trap.”
Rhaelle’s smile sharpened like a blade.
“And when he does… we end him.”
Ariaxa froze.
Her stomach dropped.
Her blood turned to ice.
Her heart slammed painfully against her ribs.
Rhaelle continued, stroking her mare’s mane.
“Without him, Vharon will fall back into line. The Sharing Law will be restored. The empire will remember its place.”
Brakus licked his lips. “The Sun Princess will be our offering.”
Vaelen added calmly, “And once the bond breaks, her power will be ours.”
Ariaxa’s vision blurred.
They planned to use her as bait.
They planned to kill Kaedan.
They planned to tear her soul apart to restore their dominion.
She shook violently, tears burning behind her eyes.
But not for the empire.
Not for Vharon.
For him.
For the man who confessed he loved her only hours ago.
Her Kaedan.
Her bondmate.
Her Emperor.
She slammed her fists into the bars, a raw, muffled cry tearing from her throat.
The shadows pulsed, shocking her back.
She slumped down, chained and powerless, chest heaving with silent sobs.
Kaedan… don’t come.
Please… don’t come for me.
Not into this.
Not into death.
But she knew him.
And she knew the truth.
He would tear the world apart to reach her.
***
Hours later, deep within the mountains, the Triarch army continued its march.
Ariaxa huddled in the corner of her cage, hands trembling, chest aching, the bond flickering weakly like a faint heartbeat.
Kaedan.
She could feel him on the edges of her mind — frantic, storming, breaking.
Searching.
She tried to send a whisper through the bond, even bound, even gagged.
Don’t come. Don’t come. Don’t—
But the shadow-cage swallowed her plea.
And then—
A distant roar shook the ground.
Triarch soldiers turned, startled.
Another noise followed.
Louder.
Broken.
Raw.
A scream.
Not human.
Not vampire.
Not beast.
A sound of pure agony and fury.
The bond erupted in her chest, flooding her lungs with heat, pain, desperate grief.
Kaedan.
He had found the empty parley field.
And he knew.
He knew she was gone.
Vaelen’s smile sharpened.
Rhaelle’s eyes glittered.
Brakus growled with excitement.
But Ariaxa—
Ariaxa felt her heart break in half.
Kaedan’s scream echoed through the mountains.
A sound so powerful even the shadows trembled.