The Stolen Heir’s Bond

The air in the cave was cold and damp, a sharp contrast to the bitter chill of the night outside. Elaria's breath came in shallow gasps, her heart pounding from the sprint. She didn't stop moving, though. The pain in her side—where the arrow had struck—was starting to burn, but she pushed through it.

Kael led the way deeper into the cave, his sword still drawn, every sense on high alert. They couldn't stay here long. The knights would search the area eventually, but this cave might offer them a few hours of reprieve.

Elaria limped behind him, her gaze scanning the shadows. It was dark—impossibly so, as if the cave itself swallowed all light. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, when she noticed Kael's expression.

He was pale, the wound on his side clearly bothering him more than he let on. But he didn't stop. He moved with determination, focused on finding safety.

"Kael…" Elaria's voice was weak, barely above a whisper.

He glanced back at her, his golden eyes dimming with concern. "I'm fine. Keep moving."

"You're not fine," she snapped, taking a step closer. Her hand brushed against his arm. "You're bleeding."

Kael glanced down at the fresh blood soaking through his tunic, but there was no surprise in his face. He had been wounded before. Still, his expression softened. "It's just a scratch. I'll be fine once we get some distance."

He was lying, but Elaria didn't have the energy to argue. She just nodded, following him deeper into the cave.

As they walked, the darkness seemed to press in around them, the air growing heavier with each step. Elaria shivered, and it wasn't just from the cold. There was something strange about this place.

The deeper they went, the more oppressive it became. The silence was thick, broken only by the sound of their footsteps echoing off the rough stone walls.

"Do you feel that?" Elaria asked suddenly, her voice a little more urgent.

Kael stopped, turning to face her. His brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"It's…" She hesitated, trying to put her unease into words. "The air. It's… alive."

Kael's expression turned serious. "What are you saying?"

"I don't know," Elaria admitted, her gaze flicking around the cave. "But I don't think we're alone in here."

Before Kael could respond, the ground beneath their feet rumbled.

Elaria's heart skipped a beat. The sound was deep, almost like a growl, coming from somewhere deep within the cave. The walls trembled, and dust fell from the ceiling.

Then, from the shadows ahead—a flicker of movement.

Something was there. Something big.

Kael's hand went to his sword instinctively, but Elaria grabbed his wrist, stopping him. "Wait," she hissed.

They stood in silence, listening to the sound of the earth shifting. The growl came again, but now it was closer.

And then—a low hiss.

A pair of glowing eyes emerged from the dark, two yellow orbs floating in the blackness.

Elaria's breath caught.

Something slithered forward, its shape becoming clearer. It was long and sinuous, its scales glinting in the dim light. It wasn't a snake, but it moved with the same fluid grace, its body coiled around itself like a serpent.

"Stay back," Kael muttered, his voice low but commanding.

The creature was nearly upon them now—its scales glittering like obsidian, its massive body winding through the narrow tunnel.

It was a serpent—but not like any Elaria had ever seen. It was enormous, its body long and thick, its head crowned with jagged horns, and its mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.

Elaria's hand went to her pouch again, but before she could reach for her herbs, the serpent's head lunged forward with incredible speed, striking at Kael.

Kael barely managed to raise his sword in time, the serpent's jaws clamping down on the blade with a sickening crack.

The serpent hissed, releasing the sword and pulling back, its glowing eyes fixed on Kael.

"We can't fight this." Elaria's voice was sharp, panic creeping in.

Kael's jaw was set, his eyes never leaving the serpent. "We can't run either."

The serpent swayed slightly, as if considering them both. Its tongue flickered in and out, tasting the air.

And then, in a voice that seemed to echo from the very walls of the cave, it spoke.

"Why do you disturb my slumber?"

Elaria's stomach dropped.

She had thought it was just a creature of the cave, but now… she wasn't sure what they were dealing with.

Kael held his ground, his expression unflinching. "We're just passing through."

The serpent tilted its head, studying them both. "Not many come this way. Not many are foolish enough."

Elaria swallowed hard. "We don't want to cause any trouble," she said quickly. "We're just trying to survive."

There was a long silence, and then the serpent spoke again.

"Survival, hmm? I know survival." Its voice was like the sound of thunder rolling over the mountains. "But why should I spare you?"

Elaria's pulse raced, but she didn't have an answer. She couldn't fight it. She couldn't outrun it.

But Kael's voice broke through the tension.

"We have no quarrel with you," he said, his tone measured but firm. "But if you kill us, you'll have to answer to my father. And he won't take kindly to the loss of his heir."

The serpent's glowing eyes flickered, but then it laughed.

"Your father's blood has been spilled long ago, boy."

Kael stiffened, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. "What do you mean?"

The serpent's laugh died down, and it moved closer, its massive body coiling around the cave.

"You carry a name that has no meaning here." The serpent's voice was filled with an ancient malice. "Your blood is not the one that should flow in this land."

The cave trembled again, and for a moment, Elaria wasn't sure if they were about to die there—or if the serpent would give them a chance to prove themselves.