Bound by the Dark Prince

Evelyn sat by the dying embers of the chamber's torches, the weight of exhaustion pressing heavily on her shoulders. The battle with the Forgotten had drained her, yet sleep refused to claim her. The dagger still pulsed faintly in her grip, a silent reminder that she had barely begun to understand its power.

Kael stood a few feet away, his gaze fixed on the flickering runes along the chamber's walls. He had been silent since the fight ended, but Evelyn could feel the tension in the air between them. Finally, she broke the silence. "What did you mean when you said there was no turning back?"

Kael's crimson eyes flickered toward her. "You've awakened something ancient, Evelyn. The bloodline that runs through your veins is not just any lineage—it is the key to a power long thought lost."

She frowned. "But I don't even know what that means."

Kael moved closer, his voice quieter now. "Then it is time you learned."

He extended a hand, and as soon as she placed hers in his, the air around them shifted. Darkness curled at the edges of her vision, and in an instant, the chamber was gone.

Evelyn gasped as she found herself standing in an unfamiliar place. The sky above was deep violet, streaked with gold like molten fire. Towering structures of dark stone loomed around her, their spires etched with glowing symbols she somehow recognized. The scent of something ancient filled the air—smoke and magic, power and blood.

A city. A kingdom long forgotten.

Evelyn turned to Kael. "Where are we?"

"This," he said, his gaze sweeping over the scene, "is the past. A memory buried deep within your blood."

She looked around, her heart pounding. The streets were empty, yet she could hear whispers carried on the wind. Shadows moved in the distance, figures barely visible in the haze. The echo of footsteps—her own, but not quite.

And then she saw her.

A woman stood at the edge of a towering balcony, her dark cloak billowing in the wind. Her posture was regal, commanding, and when she turned, Evelyn felt the breath leave her lungs.

The woman had her face.

Evelyn stumbled back. "That's—"

"You," Kael finished. "Or rather, who you once were."

Evelyn shook her head. "No, that's impossible. I've never been here before."

Kael's expression softened, just slightly. "Your soul has."

The realization settled over her like a heavy shroud. This wasn't just a vision. It was a memory. A part of her past—one she had forgotten.

The woman in the vision lifted her hand, and the city trembled at her command. Flames erupted in the sky, spiraling like living creatures, responding to her will. At her feet, a line of warriors knelt, their heads bowed in reverence.

"She was a queen," Evelyn whispered.

Kael nodded. "And she was feared."

A sudden, sharp pain struck through Evelyn's chest, and she gasped as the vision warped. The queen's face twisted in anguish, her hands clutching at an unseen wound. The warriors turned on her, their loyalty shattering in an instant. Blood soaked the balcony's stones, and the once-mighty city burned.

The vision faded, and Evelyn found herself back in the chamber, her breath ragged. She clutched her chest, the phantom pain lingering. "What happened to her?"

Kael's jaw tightened. "She was betrayed."

Evelyn's fingers dug into the fabric of her cloak. The echoes of that past life clung to her, whispering secrets she wasn't ready to hear. But one thing was clear—this was no ordinary lineage she had inherited.

She met Kael's gaze, determination burning through the confusion. "I need to know everything."

Kael's lips curved into a dark, knowing smile. "Then we continue."

The past was no longer just a mystery.

It was a warning.