Eclipsed Destiny

Celia's world tilted as the shard's energy surged through her, a torrent of light and shadow that seemed to tear at the very fabric of her being. Her mark burned with searing intensity, its power clashing with the malevolent force emanating from the core. She gasped, her vision blurring as the ground beneath her feet seemed to dissolve into darkness.

"Celia!" Kael's voice was far away, panicked as if coming from the other side of a chasm.

The light surged, blinding and overwhelming, and then everything went still.

\---

When Celia opened her eyes, she found herself in a void, much like the one she had seen during her vision at the altar. The air was thick with a sense of foreboding, and the shadows around her shifted like living things. In the distance, she saw a figure—a silhouette cloaked in darkness, its presence suffocating.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the fear curling in her chest.

The figure stepped closer, its features coming into focus. Celia's breath caught as she recognized the face-it was someone from the pack, someone she had trusted. Her heart clenched as the realization hit her like a physical blow.

"You," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're the one."

The betrayer's smile was cold, their eyes gleaming with malice. "It took you long enough to figure it out, Luna," they said, their voice dripping with mockery.

"Why?" Celia asked, her voice cracking with emotion. "Why would you do this?"

"Why?" the betrayer repeated, her face twisting into bitterness. "Because I was sick of being nothing. The blessing, the power-it was all for someone like me. Instead, it went to you. A stranger. A foreigner. An outcast."

Celia's mark flared, the blessing's energy surging in response to the betrayal. "You think this is about power?" she said, her voice steadying. "You think the blessing is a gift? It's a burden-a responsibility. And you're not strong enough to bear it."

The betrayer's smile faltered, their expression darkening. "We'll see about that." \---

Celia's eyes snapped open, the darkness receding from the familiar shapes of the clearing. Kael knelt next to her, his face paling with anxiety.

"Celia, do you feel well?" he questioned, his voice shaking.

She nodded, despite the ache that filled her chest as if it carried the weight of what she was forced to behold. "We need to get back to camp," she said steadily. "Now.

Kael hesitated, his eyes flicking to the shard still glowing faintly on the ground. "What about—"

"Leave it," Celia said sharply. "It's too dangerous."

Kael nodded, his face grim as he helped her to her feet. Together, they made their way back to the camp, their tension heavy with unspoken fears.

7---

Back at the camp, Celia found Aziel near the central fire, his blue eyes scanning the clearing with the sharp focus of a leader always prepared for the worst. He turned to her as she approached, his expression softening for a moment before hardening again.noveldrama

"What happened?" he asked, his voice low but urgent.

Celia hesitated, her gaze flicking to the warriors moving through the camp. The betrayer could be anyone. She couldn't risk revealing what she knew until she was

sure.

"Later," she said softly, her hand brushing against his. "In private."

Aziel's jaw tightened, but he nodded, his hand lingering on hers for a moment longer than necessary. "We'll talk tonight."

The warmth of his touch was still on Celia as she pulled away. Her heart pounded with a mixture of fear and longing. She could not permit herself to even think about what might happen if the betrayer succeeded-not now when so much was still at stake.

That night, when the camp grew quiet with uneasy silence, Aziel found Celia sitting by the fire, her face vacant. He sat down slowly, his presence an anchor as he sat beside her.

"You have been carrying too much," he said softly, his voice cutting through her thoughts.

Celia looked at him, her chest tightening at the concern in his eyes. "So have you," she whispered.

Aziel smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth lifting in a way that made her heart ache. "That's what we do. Carry the weight so the others don't have to."

Celia looked away, her fingers brushing against her mark. "Sometimes I wonder if it's too much."

"It's not," Aziel said firmly. "Not for you. You're stronger than you think, Celia.

She turned to him, her chest swelling with a mix of gratitude and longing. "I don't feel strong," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I feel like I'm falling apart."

Aziel reached out, his hand brushing against hers. "Then let me hold you together.

The air caught in Celia's throat as she met his eyes, their bond pulsing with warmth and light. For a moment, the weight of the world was forgotten, and only the steady rhythm of their hearts beat on.

The moment was shattered by a shout from the edge of the camp. Celia and Aziel sprang to their feet, their bond flaring with urgency as they moved toward the commotion.

A scout strayed into the clearing, a terrified look scaring his pallor. "Rogues are coming." they gasped for breath. "And brought even worse, along with them."