Eclipsed Destiny

The world was fire.

Celia drifted in the void, floating between consciousness and something darker. Flames crackled around her, licking at the edges of her awareness, but there was no heat- only an endless, suffocating cold.

Somewhere beyond the darkness, voices called to her. Distant. Muffled. Desperate.

Aziel's voice was the loudest.

Come back to me.

She wanted to. She wanted to claw her way back, to return to the warmth of his touch, to the safety of his arms. But something held her in place, an unseen force dragging her deeper into the abyss.

Her mark burned against her skin, the blessing inside her flaring wildly, unstable. It wasn't just her body that was fighting-it was her soul.

And it was losing.

The War Outside

Aziel had never been this scared.

Not when he first shifted. Not in battle. Not even when he faced down the rogue leader.

Because nothing of those things compared to watching Celia slip away.

She lay on the healer's table, her body still as death, her breath so faint it barely stirred the air. The deep gash across her ribs had been cleaned and bandaged, but it wasn't healing. It should be healing.

Wolves healed fast. Celia wasn't healing.

Aziel was pacing back and forth like a caged animal outside the tent, claws deep in his palms, and seething under the skin with anger. Marcus was standing near, his face serious, with Kaelen next to him. Golden eyes shone dimly, their gaze unreadable. "She must wake up," Aziel snarled. "She is strong. She-" He was suddenly speechless. "She is fighting," Marcus replied.

Aziel clenched fists. "She's not quick enough."noveldrama

Kaelen released air slowly. "It is the blessing."

Aziel snapped at him. "What are you saying?

His gaze snapped to the healer's tent, his expression unreadable. "The blessing isn't a gift. It's a test. She stands at a crossroads."

The wolf inside Aziel rose to its feet, snarling and snapping in desperation.

"Well, then, how do I get her back?"

Kaelen hesitated.

Aziel snatched up his collar, slamming him into the nearest tree. "Tell me.

Kaelen didn't flinch. "If she's lost in the flames, the only way to reach her is to go in after her."

Between Two Worlds

Celia drifted deeper into the void.

The flames around her shifted, forming figures-faces she almost recognized. Wolves. Warriors. Spirits of the past.

"You are not ready."

The voice came from everywhere and nowhere, deep and ancient, filled with power.

Celia turned to try to look for it but the darkness shut in around her.

"I need to go," she said more steadily than she felt.

Flames danced across the walls as a shape strode forward; it was wolf, massive,

luminous in the fire-glow, eyes silver, biting.

"You are the vessel," the wolf spoke, its deep voice vibrating right through her bones. "The blessing has not accepted you, however."

A constriction moved through Celia's chest. "I don't want to have it, anyway.

The wolf bared its fangs. "Power does not wait for permission."

She swallowed hard. "Then what does it want?"

The wolf studied her for a long moment. "A choice."

Celia's mark burned, the pain sharp and sudden. The flames around her roared higher,

the heat finally reaching her skin.

"What choice?" she demanded.

The wolf lunged.

The Ritual

Outside, Aziel wasn't wasting time.

"You're saying I can go in after her?" His voice was sharp, urgent.

Kaelen nodded. "In a way. But it's dangerous. If you get lost, you might not come back."

Aziel didn't hesitate. "What do I have to do?"

Kaelen gave him a long look. "You're her mate. The bond between you is strong enough to anchor her. If you open the connection fully, you can reach her."

Aziel set his jaw. "Then let's do it."

The healer hesitated. "Aziel, you could die—"

"I don't care.

The healer swallowed. Then she nodded.

They moved quickly, setting up a sacred circle around Celia's unconscious body. The

air grew thick with energy, the firelight flickering wildly. Kaelen stood at the edge,

murmuring words in the old tongue.

Aziel knelt beside Celia, taking her cold hand in his.

"Celia," he whispered. "I'm coming for you."

Then he closed his eyes.

And fell.

The Inferno

Aziel woke in fire.

The world was flames and shadows, an endless inferno that burned but did not consume. The air was thick, choking, but his wolf surged forward, undeterred. He felt her.

Celia.

He pushed forward through the burning landscape, his claws digging into the cracked earth. The fire roared around him, but he ignored the pain.

Then, through the smoke-

He saw her.

Celia stood frozen, her mark burning bright, her body wrapped in tendrils of shadow and fire. Trapped.

And in front of her, the massive wolf stood, silver eyes gleaming.

Aziel snarled. "GET AWAY FROM HER!"

The wolf turned, regarding him with ancient, knowing eyes.

"She must choose," it said. "Not you."

Aziel bared his fangs. "Like hell I'm leaving her."

He lunged.

A Battle of Wills

Aziel struck the wolf squarely, pounding into it with all his might. The shock waves

from the collision rippled through the inferno, sending the flames dancing wildly around him.

The wolf stumbled but didn't fall.

It snarled, its silver eyes flashing. "You fight for her."

Aziel straightened up, unyielding. "Always."

The wolf tilted its head. "Would you give your life for hers?"

Aziel's chest grew tight. But the response sprang out of him forthwith.

"Without hesitation."

Silence.

Then Celia gasped.

Flames licked around her, shadows recoiling. She raised her head and met Aziel's gaze.

"Aziel?" Her voice was raw, unbelieving.

Aziel reached out for her. "I have you."

Celia hesitated. Shadows clamped in closer to her.

Aziel felt his stomach sink.

She was still trapped.

The wolf spoke softly now. "She needs to let go of her fear."

Aziel turned back to Celia. "Celia," he said, voice urgent. "You have to fight. You have to come back to me."

Her lips opened. "I do not know how."

Aziel leaned in and touched her cheek. "Yes, you do. You're the strongest human being

I ever knew. You've been fighting since the first day I ever met you."

She shivered. "Aziel-"

"Come back," he said softly, pushing his forehead onto hers. "I need you."

Tears overflowed within her eyes.

And then-

Her mark erupted.

The darkness broke.

The Return

Aziel gasped as he shot up.

Celia was in his arms, her body shaking, her mark shining like molten silver.

Her eyes flickered open.

Aziel took a ragged breath, reaching out to touch her cheek. "You scared the hell out

of me."

A small, weak smile. "You always say that."

His chest hurt. He crushed her against him, holding her like he'd never let go.

Marcus let out a disbelieving laugh.

"She's awake," Kaelen murmured, wonder in his voice.

Pulling back, their eyes met; Celia. "Did you. come for me?"

Aziel cradled her face. "Always."

And then-

He kissed her.

The battle was hardly over. The enemy was not done with them yet. But in this

moment, what mattered most was her.

She had come home.