Bound by the Dark Prince

Evelyn's heartbeat pounded in her ears as she held the Dark Prince's gaze. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but she knew better. There was no escaping a man like him—no, not a man, a force beyond mortal comprehension.

The Mark of Shadows on her wrist pulsed in time with her racing heart, its glow a silent acknowledgment of the bond now tethering her to this forbidden place. She clenched her fists, willing herself to stay calm.

Kael's eyes flickered to her wrist, and for a fleeting moment, something like recognition crossed his face. "Do you even know what you have done?" he asked, his voice a low murmur, laced with something she couldn't place—curiosity or quiet amusement.

"I crossed the threshold," she answered, feigning confidence.

A ghost of a smirk played at the edges of his lips. "And in doing so, you have sealed your fate."

A gust of wind swept through the clearing, and Evelyn felt a surge of magic ripple through the air. The archway behind her shimmered for a brief moment before vanishing into darkness, leaving only an empty void where it once stood.

Panic gripped her chest. "What just happened?"

Kael stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "The gateway does not remain open for long. You entered freely, but the path back is closed."

Her stomach twisted. "You mean—I'm trapped here?"

His gaze bore into hers. "You are bound to this realm now, little mortal."

Evelyn took a shaky step back, her mind racing. There had to be a way out. There was always a way out.

But Kael only watched her, as if waiting for her to realize the truth herself.

"Come," he said at last, turning toward the shadows. "There is much to discuss."

Evelyn hesitated. Every fiber of her being told her not to follow him. But what choice did she have? Alone, lost, and tethered to an ancient magic she didn't understand, she had only one path forward.

With a deep breath, she stepped into the darkness after him.