**Chapter 14 — The Long Night**
They had been walking for hours.
The forest was dense and unforgiving. Thick branches scratched at Liora's arms and face as they pushed through. Her legs burned with every step, but she didn't dare complain. Cairis still held her hand in his larger, clawed one, pulling her forward whenever she slowed down.
The moon was high above them, casting pale light through the trees. Every shadow looked like it could hide a wraith or a Church knight.
Liora's breathing was ragged. "How much farther do we have to go tonight? I don't know if I can keep this pace."
Cairis didn't slow down. "We keep moving until I say we stop. Nyxara's people could be tracking us already. If we rest too early, they will catch up."
Liora stumbled over a root but Cairis's grip kept her from falling. "I'm sorry… I'm trying. My legs feel like they're on fire. I've never run this much in my life."
Cairis finally stopped and turned to face her. Even in the moonlight, he looked imposing and dangerous. "You are weak because you lived a soft life. That life is gone now. You will grow stronger or you will die. There is no middle ground."
Liora leaned against a tree, trying to catch her breath. "I know I'm weak. You remind me every day. But I'm not used to this. I'm scared every second. Scared of Nyxara, scared of the Church, scared of the things in the dark… and sometimes scared of you too."
Cairis stepped closer, towering over her. "Good. You should be scared of me. I am not your friend. I am not your protector by choice. The bond forces me to keep you alive. Do not mistake that for kindness."
Liora looked up at him, her voice small. "Then why did you protect me back at the gate? You could have handed me over to Nyxara and made things easier for yourself."
Cairis's eyes narrowed. "Because you are mine. No one else gets to take what belongs to me. Not Nyxara. Not my brothers. Not the Church. You stole my heart — now you carry the consequences."
He let go of her hand and looked around the dark forest. "We rest here for a short time. No fire. We cannot risk being seen."
Liora sat down on the ground, her back against a tree trunk. Her whole body ached. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself. "Thank you for letting me rest, even if it's only for a little while."
Cairis remained standing, his eyes scanning the trees. "Do not thank me so often. It makes you sound pathetic."
Liora stayed quiet for a while, listening to the sounds of the night. After some time, she spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Do you think Nyxara will really come after us?"
"Yes," Cairis answered without hesitation. "She is ambitious. She sees the power in our bond and she wants it. If she cannot have you willingly, she will try to take you by force."
Liora hugged her knees. "What if she catches us? What if she drags me away for that ritual she talked about?"
Cairis turned to look at her. His expression was hard and cold. "Then I will kill everyone who tries to take you. I have already spilled blood for you once tonight. I will do it again if necessary."
Liora shivered at his words. "You say things like that so easily. Like killing doesn't mean anything to you."
"In my world, it doesn't," he replied. "The Abyssal Courts are built on blood and power. Weakness is punished. Mercy is rare. You are lucky I have not killed you yet for what you did to me."
Liora looked down at the ground. "Sometimes I wish I had never done the ritual. Then I remember the vision — you dying because of me. I thought I was saving you… but I only made everything worse."
Cairis crouched down in front of her so they were closer to eye level. "The ritual is done. There is no undoing it. The only thing left is to survive what comes next."
He paused, then added in a lower voice, "The bond is growing stronger every day. Soon you will feel more than just fear when you are near me. You will feel other things. Heat. Hunger. Need. You should prepare yourself for that."
Liora's cheeks burned. She looked away quickly. "I don't want to feel those things. Not with you. Not when I'm still so scared of you."
Cairis gave a dark, quiet laugh. "Want has nothing to do with it. The bond does not ask for permission."
He stood up again and scanned the forest once more. "Rest for a little longer. We move again soon. The deeper we go into the wilds, the harder it will be for Nyxara's trackers to follow us."
Liora closed her eyes, trying to rest even though her mind was racing. The bond between them felt heavier tonight. She could sense Cairis's presence even with her eyes closed — his strength, his anger, and something darker underneath.
After what felt like only a few minutes, Cairis spoke again.
"Time to move."
Liora forced herself to stand. Her legs protested, but she didn't complain.
Cairis took her hand once more, his grip firm. "Stay close. The night is far from over."
They continued walking through the dark forest.
Liora was tired, sore, and terrified of what tomorrow would bring.
But she was still alive.
And for now, with Cairis's hand wrapped around hers, that was all she could ask for.
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