Kael Kael recognized that scream. It wasn't human. Nor was it the cry of a frightened creature. It was the sound of the palace guardians when the immortal-world seal began to open—the sound of flesh being torn from shadow, bones cracking beneath magic, and souls forced back into bodies that had long been dead. Seraphine had sent hunters. And they had come for Alya. “Don’t move,” Kael said. Alya was still standing in the middle of the corridor, surrounded by shards of mirror. Her face was pale, but her eyes were no longer empty. Anger had taken the place of fear. “So you’ve been waiting for me all this time?” she asked. “Yes.” “To hand me over to Seraphine?” “Yes.” “And now you want to take me and run?” “Yes.” “Why should I trust you?” “You don’t have to.” “Good. Because I don’t.” Kael looked at the shards of mirror on the floor. Some of them still reflected her mother’s shadow. But the woman’s face had become a faceless visage without eyes. “Then trust the fact that if you stay here, you’ll be in Seraphine’s hands in less than a minute.” “I can fight.” “You don’t even know how to use your power.” “I don’t have any power.” Kael turned to her. “Alya, you just opened a gateway that even the immortal guardians haven’t been able to open for two centuries.” “I only touched your hand.” “No. You awakened your blood.” Footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor. One. Two. Three. Kael reached for Alya’s hand. She immediately pulled away. “Don’t touch me.” “If I don’t touch you, we won’t be able to get out.” “Find another way.” “There isn’t one.” “Try harder.” Kael stared at her for several seconds. Alya was truly angry. She was no longer afraid of Kael, and anger was a far more dangerous emotion. But they were almost out of time. From the end of the corridor, black fog began creeping along the floor. The fog moved against the direction of the wind. Kael knew it. Seraphine’s hunters. They had no fixed bodies. They could take any shape from the memories of the people they hunted. If they entered Alya’s mind, they would find all her fears and grief—and turn them into weapons. Kael touched Alya’s wrist. This time, he didn’t wait for her consent. The contract mark lit up. Alya gasped and tried to pull free, but Kael’s shadow had bound both their legs together. “Let me go!” “No.” “Kael!” “If you want to hate me, do it after we’re safe.” “It’s too late. I hate you now.” “Good. That’ll keep you alive.” Kael pulled Alya toward the stone wall. There was no doorway there. Only a solid surface covered in ancient carvings. He pressed his palm against the wall. An eye opened among the carvings. It stared at him. “Name,” it whispered. “Kael Arveth.” “Debt.” “Blood.” “Purpose.” Kael turned to Alya. She stared at him with open hatred. “Protect the last guardian.” The wall trembled. The eye in the center of the carvings looked at Alya. “The last guardian does not know her own name.” Alya fell silent. Kael tightened his grip. “Open the way.” “The last guardian must pay.” “I’ll pay.” The eye turned toward him. “With what?” “One year of immortality.” Alya turned sharply. “What?” Kael didn’t answer. The wall opened, revealing a narrow corridor filled with white light. He pulled Alya inside just as the black fog touched the place where they had been standing. A scream shook the entire palace. Something slammed against the wall from the other side. Kael closed the stone door. In an instant, the world fell silent. Alya wrenched her hand free. “One year of your immortality?” “It doesn’t matter.” “You traded away your lifespan?” “Not my lifespan. My immortality.” “What’s the difference?” “Lifespan is the time you still have left. Immortality is something that never ends.” “And you threw away one year of something that never ends?” “Yes.” “Why?” “Because we had to get out.” “Don’t dodge the question.” Kael walked down the corridor. The white light on the walls reflected their shadows, but only Kael’s shadow was visible. Alya followed with heavy steps. “How many years of immortality do you have left?” “There is no limit.” “Then why is it considered a price?” “Because every year of immortality that’s lost takes a part of me with it.” Alya fell silent. Kael knew he shouldn’t explain any further. He didn’t want Alya to start feeling guilty. Guilt could become a stronger chain than the contract. But Alya wasn’t someone who could be left in ignorance. “What part?” she asked. “Memories.” Alya stopped walking. Kael stopped too. “So if you pay that price, you’ll lose your memories?” “Yes.” “Memories of what?” “Not always anything specific.” “Then how does it work?” “Immortality preserves everything I’ve ever experienced. When one year disappears, one part of my life disappears with it.” “Like someone’s face?” “Like someone’s face.” Alya looked at him differently. For the first time since learning that Kael had killed her mother, the anger on her face was mixed with confusion. “Have you ever forgotten someone?” “Many times.” “Even someone you killed?” Kael didn’t answer. That was answer enough. Alya started walking again. The corridor ended in a round room. At its center was a stone circle bearing the same symbol as the mark on Alya’s wrist. Kael stood at the edge of the circle. “Step inside.” “What is this?” “The way home.” “Can it take me back to the hospital?” “Yes.” “And you?” “I’ll follow.” Alya studied the symbols on the floor. “Is this safe?” “Not entirely.” “Your answers are starting to get boring.” “At least they’re honest.” She stepped into the circle. The stones beneath Alya’s feet immediately lit up. But before Kael could activate the gateway, a voice sounded behind them. “You always choose the same path.” Kael tensed. The voice belonged to Seraphine. The queen stood in the corridor doorway. Her black dress didn’t touch the floor. Her silver hair moved even though there was no wind. Behind her, black fog formed dozens of faceless figures. Alya turned around. Kael raised his hand, forming a wall of shadow between them. “Don’t come any closer.” Seraphine smiled. “Still protecting her?” “This is none of your business.” “Everything bearing guardian blood is my business.” Alya stepped forward. “If I really am a guardian, why did my mother run away with me to the human world?” “Because she knew I would kill you.” “And you sent Kael to find me.” “Not me. Kael came of his own accord.” Alya turned to Kael. Seraphine continued, “He carried my sword. He bore my mark. He killed your mother on my orders. Why do you think it took him one hundred twenty years to find you?” Kael clenched his fists. “Enough.” “Because your mother hid you well?” Seraphine said to Alya. “Or because Kael deliberately let you live in the human world?” Alya stared at Kael. Kael couldn’t deny it. Seraphine laughed softly. “He never truly searched for you, human girl. He knew that if he found you, he would have to bring you to me.” “Is that true?” Alya asked. Kael looked at her. “Yes.” That answer made Alya’s face grow even paler. “I knew you existed twenty years ago,” he said. “Twenty years?” “Your mother left a trail I could track. But I deliberately broke that trail.” “Why?” “Because you were still too young then.” “And now?” “Now you’re old enough to choose.” “Choose what?” “Whether you want to live as a human or carry out your mother’s legacy.” Seraphine raised a hand. “There is no choice.” One of the hunters behind her stepped forward. Its body changed. Black fog formed the figure of a woman. Long hair. A white dress. Alya’s mother’s face. Alya flinched. The creature looked at Kael. “Run,” it said in her mother’s voice. “He’ll kill you the way he killed me.” Alya turned to Kael. The hunter moved closer. Kael knew what would happen. The hunter would imitate her mother’s face, then use Alya’s memories to force her out of the circle. “Don’t listen,” Kael said. “She looks like my mother.” “That isn’t your mother.” “What if you’re wrong?” “I’m not.” “How do you know?” “Because your mother had green eyes.” Alya fell silent. The figure before them had brown eyes. Kael remembered Alya’s mother’s eyes with perfect clarity. He remembered the night the woman had stood on the bank of the Sungai Aster, holding a broken silver sword. He remembered the blood on her dress. He remembered how she had entrusted her two children to the human world. Alya and Raka. He also remembered how the woman had looked at him before Kael raised his sword. *Kill me before Seraphine finds them.* Kael had obeyed. But he had never told Alya that her mother had asked to be killed. He had never told her that he had promised to protect both children. He had never told her that Raka was not Alya’s biological brother. And he had never told her that Raka had immortal blood. “Step into the circle,” Kael said. Alya didn’t move. “Kael,” the imitation of her mother called, “tell her who Raka really is.” Kael closed his eyes for a moment. Seraphine smiled. Alya looked at him. “Who is Raka?” “Not now.” “Who is Raka, Kael?” “Step into the circle.” “You have no right to order me around.” “If you stay outside, Seraphine will take your soul.” “Answer me!” Seraphine stepped closer to the wall of shadow. “Raka is the reason your mother was willing to surrender herself.” Kael raised his hand. The shadows around him sharpened like thorns. “Be quiet.” “Raka is no ordinary human child,” Seraphine continued. “He is the last heir of an immortal bloodline.” Alya looked at Kael. “Is that true?” Kael couldn’t bring himself to lie. “Yes.” “Raka is an immortal?” “Half.” “And you knew?” “Yes.” “Since when?” “Since the first time I saw him.” Alya drew a shaky breath. “Why did you never tell me?” “Because if you knew, Seraphine would also know that you had found him.” “She already knows.” “Now, yes.” Alya looked back at the imitation of her mother. Its face had begun to change. Its skin peeled away into black fog, but those brown eyes continued to stare at Alya. “Raka is the key to the gateway,” Seraphine said. “Alya is the door. They’re both needed for the immortal world to enter the human world completely.” Kael stood in front of Alya. “Don’t believe her.” “Is she lying?” “Not entirely.” Alya looked at him with tears in her eyes. “You always answer like that.” “Because the truth is never simple.” “It’s simple to me. You killed my mother. You watched me for twenty years. You made a pact with me without explaining the full price. And now you’re telling me my little brother is the key to destroying the world.” “Raka isn’t the key to destroying the world.” “Then what is he the key to?” “Closing the gateway.” Alya fell silent. Kael looked at her. “Your mother didn’t run with you to the human world to hide from Seraphine. She hid Raka because he’s the only one who can close the gateway forever.” “Then why am I needed?” “Because only guardian blood can open that gateway from the human side.” “And Seraphine wants to force me to open it.” “Yes.” “By taking my memories?” “By erasing every reason you have to fight back.” Seraphine smiled faintly. “Kael has always been good at explaining the parts that make him look like a hero.” Kael turned toward her. “Seraphine.” “Correct me if I’m wrong. Didn’t you also want that gateway opened?” Alya looked at Kael. Kael’s silence had become an answer. “Why?” Alya asked. Kael felt the curse inside his body begin to stir. Black lines spread from his neck toward his jaw. Every time he tried to say certain things, the curse closed around his throat. He could say that he wanted to be free. He could say that he hated Seraphine. But he couldn’t tell her the whole truth. “I want the gateway open,” he said. Alya stared at him as if she had just been stabbed. “Because that’s the only way to break your curse.” “Yes.” “At the cost of the human world?” “No.” “Seraphine said—” “Seraphine wants the human world. I only need the gateway.” “There’s no difference.” “There is.” “Not to me!” Alya stepped out of the circle. Kael immediately grabbed her. “Don’t!” The faceless hunters moved as one. Kael stood between them and Alya. A massive shadow erupted from the floor and slammed into the hunters. Their bodies broke apart into smoke, but they didn’t die. They quickly merged back together. Seraphine raised one finger. All of Kael’s shadows froze. “Kael,” she said softly, “you’re violating your pact.” “My contract no longer belongs to you.” “Every contract made with my blood still belongs to me.” The mark on Alya’s wrist burned. Alya screamed. Kael felt the same pain pierce his body. He dropped to one knee. “Kael!” Alya tried to move closer, but the hunters blocked her. Seraphine watched them calmly. “Look, Alya. Every time you fight back, Kael will feel the pain.” “Don’t listen to her,” Kael said through clenched teeth. “If I surrender, will you stop?” “No.” “Then what am I supposed to do?” Kael looked at the stone circle. “Get inside.” Alya looked at him. Then she looked at Seraphine. Then toward the corridor where the hunters stood. At last, she stepped back into the circle. White light flared. Seraphine smiled. “Good girl.” Kael forced himself to stand. “Take me with her,” he said. “No.” “The contract binds us.” “The contract binds her to you. Not the other way around.” “If I don’t go with her, the gateway won’t open.” Seraphine frowned. Kael raised his left hand. On his palm, an old circular wound split open again. “I’m the second key.” Seraphine stared at the wound. For three centuries, Kael had hidden the final part of his curse. He knew Seraphine had once created a sword that could open the gateway, but he hadn’t known that the sword had left a fragment of magic inside Kael’s body. That fragment was why Kael could still cross between the two worlds. And why Seraphine had never been able to kill him. “If you go with her,” Seraphine said, “you’ll never return.” “I know.” “Kael,” Alya said softly. He looked at Alya. Her face was filled with fear and hatred, but beneath it all was something more difficult for him to face. Concern. Alya held out her hand. Kael stared at it. “I don’t trust you,” she said. “I know.” “I still hate you.” “I know.” “If you’re lying, I’ll find a way to kill you.” Kael took her hand. “If you kill me, you’ll die with me.” “Then don’t die.” The gateway opened. White light swallowed them both. Before Kael’s body vanished, he saw Seraphine standing outside the circle. The queen didn’t look angry. She looked satisfied. Kael realized why only when Seraphine’s voice sounded inside his mind. *Take her to the human world, Kael.* *Let her see her brother.* *Let her believe she’s won.* *Because when Raka fully awakens, not a single human will be able to close the gateway.* Light filled Kael’s vision. Beside him, Alya’s hand still gripped his. And for the first time in one hundred twenty years, Kael wished he could truly die. Because he knew he had just brought destruction to the human world.