Morning arrived with a weight Seraphina could feel in her bones.
The palace bells rang once—slow, heavy, ominous. A summons.
Kael appeared at her door moments later, fully composed, his expression unreadable. Only his eyes betrayed him—dark, alert, protective.
"The council," he said quietly. "They sensed the shift last night."
Seraphina's heart tightened. "Our bond?"
"Yes," he replied. "And your power."
They walked together through the grand hall, shoulders nearly touching, tension coiled tightly between them. Whispers followed in their wake—servants, guards, nobles. Everyone felt it now. Something had awakened.
The council chamber doors opened with a deep echo.
The High Elders sat in a semicircle, their expressions grim. Lady Mirella stood among them, her lips curved in a knowing smile that made Seraphina's blood run cold.
"Seraphina," the High Elder began, voice reverberating through the chamber, "your power has evolved far faster than predicted."
Kael stepped forward instantly. "She passed every trial."
"And exceeded them," another elder said. "That is precisely the problem."
Mirella's gaze slid to Kael. "Power does not grow unchecked without a catalyst."
The room went still.
Seraphina felt Kael's hand brush against hers—brief, grounding, a silent promise.
"You are bonded," the High Elder continued. "Not by ritual… but by resonance. A forbidden connection."
Gasps rippled through the chamber.
Seraphina lifted her chin. "I didn't choose this power," she said calmly. "But I choose how I use it."
"And him?" Mirella asked softly. "Did you choose him too?"
Kael's aura flared, the temperature in the room shifting. "Careful," he warned.
The High Elder raised a hand. "This bond amplifies both strength and emotion. Desire. Loyalty. Rage."
Seraphina swallowed. "Then teach me control."
The elders exchanged uneasy looks.
"There is only one way," the High Elder said at last. "Separation."
The word hit like a blade.
Kael's voice dropped, lethal. "No."
"For a time," the elder insisted. "If you remain this close, the bond will deepen beyond containment. Kingdoms have fallen for less."
Seraphina turned to Kael, her heart pounding. "We'll survive this."
His jaw tightened. "I won't let them break you."
Mirella smiled. "How romantic," she whispered. "Let's see how strong your devotion truly is."
The High Elder stood. "At dawn tomorrow, Seraphina will be sent to the outer sanctum. Alone."
Silence fell.
Kael leaned close to Seraphina, his voice meant only for her. "This changes nothing," he said fiercely. "Distance won't break what we are."
She met his gaze, fire burning bright. "It will only make us stronger."
As they turned to leave, Mirella's eyes gleamed with quiet triumph—but beneath it flickered fear.
Because for the first time, she understood the truth:
This bond was not a weakness.
It was a threat to everyone who stood against them.