Chapter 12: Chapter Twelve – Found Her!

Kaidon's heavy boots thudded against the ground as he walked slowly—deliberately—toward Taliya. Every step was filled with dark, storm-like energy that pulsed through the air.

Taliya’s breath hitched in her throat. She tried to take a step back, but her legs wouldn’t move. Fear locked her in place.

His eyes… those red, glowing eyes never left her.

“I... I found you.” Kaidon breathed, his voice rough and trembling, almost like he’d been starved of something and had finally found it again.

And before she could run, before she could even scream—he yanked her into his arms.

His embrace was suffocating, not in strength alone but in desperation. His arms wrapped around her like he’d never let go again. His body shook slightly, as if holding her was overwhelming, a moment he had waited lifetimes for.

“Soulmate. I... I finally found you.” he whispered against her hair, his voice laced with obsession, reverence, and madness all at once.

Taliya’s entire body stiffened in terror.

“Let go of me!” she screamed, thrashing, trying to pry herself from his hold. Her fists hit his chest but he didn’t budge. “Let me go! Javen!”

The second she screamed that name—another man’s name—Kaidon snapped.

His eyes flared with fury. His body tensed. His hold on her tightened.

And slowly… he turned to face Javen.

“You took my beloved from me.” Kaidon said, his voice distorted with rage. “She is mine. MINE! I’ve waited for years—I have suffered through agony for this moment—and you dare take her from me?”

Dark energy rippled out of him like violent waves, making the ground tremble. The clouds above churned and darkened as if echoing the fury of the beast below.

“You fucking weak man think you can have her?” Kaidon growled, breathing hard, his eyes blazing as black veins began to spread across his skin like a curse surfacing.

“Never. NEVER!” he roared, and the wind howled with his voice.

Javen struggled against the force pinning him to the ground. He grit his teeth, eyes locked on Taliya who looked petrified in Kaidon’s arms.

“Taliya!” Javen shouted.

But Taliya—trembling, confused, overwhelmed—looked up at Kaidon with wide eyes.

“Y-you…” she stammered, her voice cracking. “I’ve seen you before… You were in the forest. You… you killed that beast.”

Kaidon’s eyes softened for a split second. “Yes,” he whispered. “It came close to hurting you. I couldn’t allow that. Never.”

He inhaling deeply—her scent, her presence, like an addiction feeding him.

“Soulmate.” he muttered again, like a broken record.

He reached for her hand again, touched it, and for a moment she let him.

But then—Taliya jerked away.

“Who the hell are you?” she demanded, her voice shaking. “And let Javen go!”

Kaidon’s entire body shook with restraint, his breathing harsh, chest heaving. “No. I will not let him take you from me again. You’re coming with me.”

Taliya’s eyes widened. “What?!”

“No one else will ever touch you. Look at me—feel this. You belong with me,” he whispered, stepping closer, completely ignoring Javen now.

But that was the final straw.

Javen clenched his fists, calling every ounce of strength and power he had. With a growl, he exploded the dark force around him, shattering it with his magic, staggering forward.

“She’s not going anywhere with you!” Javen growled, standing in front of Taliya now, shielding her.

Kaidon looked up slowly.

And that was it.

The war between them… had begun.

Kaidon’s eyes blazed like twin embers, wild and untamed, as rage surged through his veins.

With nothing but a snap of his fingers, thick, dark vines erupted from the ground—jagged, thorned, and alive with malicious energy.

They coiled around Javen in an instant, slamming him to the ground and tightening until sharp spikes tore through his skin.

“JAVEN!” Taliya screamed, her voice filled with terror as she watched him writhe in agony. Without thinking, she sprinted toward Kaidon, her palms outstretched in desperate plea.

“Please! Please let him go!” she cried, tears brimming in her eyes. “Please, you’ll kill him!”

Her voice cracked, raw with panic—and it only seemed to provoke Kaidon further. The vines tightened around Javen, blood seeping into his torn clothes.

“I’ll do anything.” she whispered now, her voice trembling as she stood before Kaidon, her body shaking with fear.

“Please… just let him go.”

Kaidon’s glowing eyes snapped down to her. The fury in his face faltered, replaced by something darker. Obsession. Possession.

His chest heaved with each breath as he stared at her, devouring every detail of her face.

“Anything?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous, laced with something primal.

Taliya’s throat dried, but she nodded. “Yes… just let him go.”

For a moment, the only sound was her heartbeat thudding in her ears. Then, Kaidon looked away from her, barely sparing Javen a glance before lifting a hand again.

With a flick of his fingers, the dark vines dissolved into smoke, and Javen collapsed to the ground, gasping and clutching his bleeding arms.

Taliya turned, ready to run to him—but Kaidon was faster.

He grabbed her and pulled her flush against his chest, one arm wrapped tightly around her waist. She gasped, her hands pressing against his chest, eyes wide in panic.

Kaidon didn’t look at Javen. His entire being was focused on her—like she was the only living thing in existence.

He raised a hand slowly, fingers brushing across her cheek with a reverence that made her skin crawl.

Taliya flinched, a soft whimper leaving her throat. His touch was gentle, but the madness in his eyes made her blood run cold.

“God.” she thought, “what have I gotten myself into?”

“T-Taliya…” Javen’s broken voice reached her ears, hoarse and filled with pain.

She twisted to look at him, but Kaidon immediately pulled her back, shielding her behind him like a dragon guarding its treasure. His glare toward Javen was vicious.

At that moment, Rylan appeared, stepping onto the scene and pausing at the sight of chaos before him.

“…Kaidon,” he muttered, a sigh in his voice.

Kaidon didn’t look at him. His body remained tensed, as if daring Rylan to come closer.

Rylan’s eyes landed on Taliya, peeking from behind Kaidon, her body trembling. His brows shot up.

“Wow…” he murmured in quiet surprise, taking in the wild-haired girl Kaidon was so violently protective of.

Kaidon let out a growl so deep it echoed through the earth. He angled his body, blocking Rylan’s view of Taliya completely.

Rylan swallowed hard and quickly looked away.

Then, his gaze shifted to Javen, now slumped on his knee and bleeding.

“Please…” Taliya’s soft, pleading voice made Rylan turn again. Her eyes met his from behind Kaidon’s shoulder, fragile and full of worry. “Help him…”

Kaidon tensed.

But he didn’t stop her.

Not this time.