Veilbound: The Hidden Pact

The rain pounded against the cracked pavement of Arcanova, neon lights reflecting in the puddles like shards of broken glass. Kai Sullivan hunched over the handlebars of his beat-up delivery bike, his knuckles white against the slick, rubber grips. He cursed under his breath as the storm picked up, the water soaking through his jacket and stinging his skin. This was supposed to be an easy job—a simple drop-off to one of the many nameless clients that made use of the magical black market. But, of course, nothing was ever simple in Arcanova.

"Late again, Sullivan," growled the voice on the other end of his earpiece, gruff and unmistakably annoyed. It was Mr. Greaves, his handler. "You think clients like waiting around in the rain?"

Kai rolled his eyes, even though Greaves couldn't see it. "Tell your clients to stop picking sketchy meeting spots, and maybe I'll be on time for once."

"Just get it done," Greaves snapped before the line went dead.

Kai sighed, skidding to a stop outside an alleyway that seemed darker than the others. The address Greaves had given him was just ahead—a rusted steel door set into the wall at the far end of the alley, nearly invisible in the dim light. He slid the package from his messenger bag, its weight unsettling in his hands. It pulsed faintly, the magic inside barely contained by the seals etched into its surface. Whatever was inside, it wasn't meant for ordinary hands.

The alley reeked of damp stone and something sharper, almost metallic. Kai approached the door, his boots splashing through shallow puddles. He knocked once, then twice, as instructed. No answer.

"Great," he muttered, glancing over his shoulder. The storm roared on, drowning out the distant hum of the city. Something about this felt... wrong. He had done dozens of these jobs, most of them shady, but this was different. The air was thicker here, heavier, as if the alley itself was holding its breath.

Before he could knock again, the door creaked open an inch. A sliver of golden light spilled out, illuminating a pair of glowing eyes peering out at him. Kai froze. They weren't human.

"You're late," the voice rasped, low and inhuman. It was layered, like multiple voices speaking at once.

Kai swallowed, holding out the package. "Yeah, well, traffic's a killer. Here's your—"

The door flew open, and before Kai could react, something lunged at him. He stumbled back, tripping over his own feet as claws slashed through the air where his head had been moments before. The creature was fast, faster than anything he'd ever seen. It wasn't human—it was a beast, shifting between forms as it charged at him, its glowing eyes locked onto the package.

"Not good, not good!" Kai scrambled to his feet, clutching the package to his chest as he bolted down the alley. He could hear the creature behind him, its growls echoing off the walls. He didn't dare look back.

The alley twisted and turned, but Kai knew these streets better than most. He skidded around a corner, ducking under a low-hanging pipe, and burst out onto the main street. Neon lights flickered overhead, the rain drumming against the pavement. He darted into the nearest building—a derelict warehouse he knew was usually abandoned—and slammed the door shut behind him.

He barely had time to catch his breath before the air in the room shifted. A low growl reverberated through the warehouse, and Kai realized with a sinking feeling that he wasn't alone. The creature from the alley hadn't followed him—it had herded him.

"Why does this always happen to me?" he muttered, backing up slowly. The package pulsed in his hands again, the seals glowing faintly. He glanced down at it, his pulse racing. Whatever was inside, it was reacting to the danger around him. Or maybe it was causing it.

Before he could think any further, the shadows shifted, and a figure stepped into the dim light filtering through the broken windows. It wasn't the creature from the alley. It was a man—or at least, it looked like one. He was tall, his crimson hair damp from the rain, and his golden eyes burned like fire. There was something about him, something otherworldly.

Kai tightened his grip on the package. "Who the hell are you?"

The man tilted his head, a small, almost amused smile playing at his lips. "That's an interesting question. But I think the more pressing one is... do you know what you're holding?"

Kai blinked. "A package?"

The man's smile widened, revealing sharp teeth. "Not just any package. That's mine."

Kai took a step back. "If it's yours, why didn't you pick it up yourself?"

The man didn't answer. Instead, he raised a hand, and the air around him shimmered. Suddenly, Kai felt the same heavy pressure from the alley, but this time it was suffocating. He fell to his knees, gasping for air.

The package pulsed again, brighter this time. The seals cracked, and a wave of energy burst out, sending both Kai and the man flying in opposite directions. When the light faded, Kai looked up to see the man staring at him with wide eyes.

"You... bonded with it," the man said, his voice barely above a whisper. "That's impossible."

"Bonded with what?" Kai asked, his head spinning.

The man didn't answer. Instead, he took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. "This changes everything."

Before Kai could react, the man grabbed his arm, and the world around them dissolved into light.

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