Chapter 143
The moment Kael's power shifted, the clearing no longer held its shape the way it had before. The air bent under the pressure, not from an outward surge, but from something collapsing inward into a force that felt heavier and far more dangerous.
Ariana felt the difference immediately.
The pull inside her did not disappear, but it weakened just enough for her to draw a full breath again. Her fingers tightened against Kael's chest as she grounded herself in him, holding on with more certainty than before.
"Kael," she said, her voice unsteady but stronger.
He did not answer right away.
His arm remained locked around her, steady and firm, but the tension in his body had changed. His breathing had deepened into something rougher, uneven in a way that made it clear he was no longer fully in control.
Vaelor watched them without moving.
"You are closer than you have ever been," he said, his voice calm but deliberate.
Kael lifted his head slightly.
