A Binding Link (2)

“Just call me Eldrich, and yes, I can… but why do I need to do that?” he wondered.

Valencia fiddled with her fingers and scratched the side of her forehead.

“Well… there could be someone who wants to reject it,” she paused. “I mean, two?”

“Two?” Eldrich echoed.

“Princess and Prince of the Galali?” Valencia guessed.

“Yes, they most likely would want to say no and find holes,” Kael added.

Eldrich nodded, rubbing his chin.

“I see. Let me seal a magical bond between the two of you, so that if they try anything, nothing can change,” Eldrich explained.

Kael’s brows furrowed as he turned his gaze to Eldrich.

“You would do that just for us?”

“Not you… her,” Eldrich claimed.

Kael chuckled, baffled. “I guess I’m just nonexistent between you two.”

Eldrich jumped from his chair and ran toward Valencia, pushing Kael aside.

“Did he do anything to you? Because if he did, I could punish him for you before we start,” Eldrich declared.

Valencia giggled and shook her head.

“He didn’t. We can start,” she replied, warming to the idea.

Eldrich took a deep breath and nodded.

“Very well!” he exclaimed. He pointed at Kael and told him to move closer to Valencia, and Kael happily did so. “Once this bind is made, the only way to reverse it is if one of you dies.”

“Oh, so I’ll have to die for her to be freed from me?” Kael asked.

Eldrich frowned and looked at him, dumbfounded.

“That’s a joke. Don’t be dramatic, Young Duke. I’m just telling you to protect her,” Eldrich said, turning away and brushing his shoulder. He looked at his book, magically flipping through the pages. I need to make sure I can link them together without the Royal Palace finding out. This will hide her real identity from anyone and anything.

Valencia bit her lower lip, hoping Eldrich could find what she needed. Once he faced them with the book, he flicked his hand, pushing Valencia’s and Kael’s hands together. They both looked at their joined palms.

“Magic Tower—”

“Sh!” Eldrich interrupted, focusing on the ancient letters in the textbook. Symplokē tōn asterōn.

Two colored lights flashed between their palms—purple and yellow. Dark and Light.

The magic pressure between Eldrich and them began to blow against each other.

Kael’s aura flowed through his core to the palm of his hand that connected with Valencia.

Kael’s brows furrowed as the colors blended into grey. Although there was a sting between their palms, Kael held her hand tightly. Valencia tightened her jaw, her heart thudding rapidly as she stared at their hands. Then—

The shadow cackled by her ear.

She gasped, eyes widening. The laughter faded and reappeared in the other ear, back and forth each second.

“This won’t help him as much as it would help me…” the shadow murmured in its distorted voice behind her.

Valencia’s hand trembled as she slowly loosened her grip and tried to pull away. No… I can’t do this. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the darkness that swallowed her whole.

Kael noticed her sweating hand and gripped it tighter. He stared at her, seeing her frightened expression. What’s wrong? He moved in front of her and went behind her, wrapping her completely in his arms.

She snapped out of the darkness, feeling his warmth. The shadow’s laugh vanished.

“Breathe,” Kael whispered.

Valencia drew a deep breath and leaned her head back against his chest. Her cheek twitched as her jaw clenched. A tear fell, struggling to escape from her inner void.

Eldrich held his hand firmly over them to steady the magic and keep everything intact, yet he nearly flinched seeing Valencia struggle. Valencia gritted her teeth—

GRAB.

“You thought I would leave you alone?” the shadow laughed in her ear.

Just before the bind finished, an orb of condensed void lunged toward Eldrich’s face—only to evaporate mid-flight.

A flicker of black light flashed. Valencia’s eyes turned purple within the second before the lights returned to normal.

Eldrich gasped as he stared at Valencia, panting. What… was that?

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