The Stolen Heir’s Bond

Heat surged through Elaria's veins as she called on her magic, pushing against the iron's grip. The shackles burned in response, trying to smother her power—but she was stronger.

Sparks flickered at her fingertips, and the metal trembled. The bindings groaned, the enchantments resisting, but she forced more magic into them.

Crack.

The chains split apart with a sharp, ringing sound.

She gasped, her head spinning from the effort, but there was no time to recover. She turned to Kael, hands still tingling with raw energy.

His eyes gleamed with something unreadable.

"You are full of surprises," he murmured.

"Less talking, more fighting." She reached for his shackles, pressing her fingers to the metal. This time, the magic came faster, fueled by urgency. The locks shattered, and Kael tore free, rolling his wrists with a satisfied smirk.

Outside, footsteps crunched against the frozen ground.

"They heard that," Kael said.

Elaria wiped the sweat from her brow. "Then we need to move. Now."

Kael was already on his feet, scanning the tent for weapons. He grabbed a dagger from a crate in the corner, flipping it easily in his grip.

Then—shouting.

The hunters had noticed.

Kael grabbed Elaria's hand, pulling her toward the tent flap. "Hope you're good at running."

She barely had time to glare before they burst outside into the cold night.

The camp was chaos. Hunters shouted, scrambling for weapons. Someone rang a bell, an alarm splitting through the trees.

Damn it.

They wouldn't have long.

Kael didn't hesitate. He lunged for the nearest hunter, driving his dagger into the man's side. The hunter crumpled, and Kael yanked the blade free, already turning to the next attacker.

Elaria's mind spun. She didn't have a weapon. Her magic was still sluggish from the iron. But that didn't mean she was helpless.

A hunter charged at her. She ducked, twisting to the side, and grabbed a burning log from the campfire. With a sharp breath, she whispered a single word—

"Ignis."

Flames erupted, turning the log into a blazing weapon. She swung hard, catching her attacker in the chest. He stumbled back, cloak catching fire, and fell into the snow.

Kael let out a breathless laugh. "I'm really starting to like you."

Elaria ignored him. More hunters were coming.

They needed horses.

She scanned the camp, heart pounding. There—tied to a post, just beyond the firelight.

"The horses!" she shouted.

Kael followed her gaze and nodded. "Cover me."

He sprinted toward them.

Elaria turned back, raising her hands. The fire in the pit flared higher at her command, creating a wall of heat between them and the hunters. It wouldn't hold for long, but it was enough.

Kael reached the horses, cutting their reins with a swift slash of his dagger. He swung onto the nearest one, then reached for the reins of another.

"Elaria, move!"

She didn't need to be told twice.

She dashed toward him, vaulting onto the second horse just as the flames behind her died down.

A hunter raised a crossbow.

Elaria didn't think. She yanked on her magic one last time, sending a blast of wind surging forward. The hunter's shot went wide, the bolt vanishing into the trees.

Then Kael spurred his horse forward.

Elaria followed, gripping the reins as they thundered into the forest. The cold air stung her face, her pulse roaring in her ears.

Behind them, the camp erupted in furious shouts.

But they were free.

For now.