Chapter 13: Chapter Thirteen – You are my soulmate!

“Help him.” Kaidon growled, his voice low and rumbling like distant thunder.

Rylan immediately bowed his head and walked over to Javen without a word.

“Taliya…” Javen murmured weakly, his voice barely audible, but Rylan heard it—and frowned. His eyes flickered to the girl still trembling in Kaidon’s grasp. She really was something… no wonder Kaidon had lost his mind.

But then Kaidon's burning glare caught him.

Rylan stiffened and quickly looked away.

“Tch… Done with this shit. Let’s go back to the castle.” Kaidon muttered and, without warning, scooped Taliya into his arms.

“No—wait!” she struggled gently, hands pushing against his chest. “Where are you taking me?”

Kaidon didn’t answer right away. He just stared at her, an unreadable smile curling on his lips.

“Home.” he whispered, and with that, he turned and began walking away.

Taliya's soft protests faded as Kaidon carried her off into the dark woods.

Rylan stood there silently, watching them disappear. But the small, broken whimper from behind made him turn.

Javen was still on the ground, bloodied, his hand twitching toward the empty space where Taliya had been.

“…Taliya…”

Rylan sighed and knelt again, placing a glowing palm over Javen’s chest. Power surged from him, and slowly, the wounds on Javen’s body began to close. His shredded skin healed, bruises faded, and his breathing grew steadier.

Once done, Rylan rose and dusted off his hands.

“You’re strong,” he said quietly. “Your wounds healed fast. Most wouldn’t survive that much pain.”

Javen didn’t reply—just kept breathing, his jaw clenched and his eyes wild with restrained fury.

Rylan observed him for a second, then exhaled and turned to leave.

“Taliya.”

That one name, spoken with such raw obsession, stopped Rylan in his tracks. He looked over his shoulder.

“You’re fond of that girl too, huh? I’d advise you let her—”

But he didn’t finish.

A powerful blast of energy erupted from behind him. Though Rylan moved fast, it still caught the edge of his shoulder, burning through his armor and making him wince.

His head snapped back.

Javen was on his feet, eyes glowing now—not just with magic, but with unbridled rage. Shadows licked the air around him, and power cracked at his fingertips.

“I will kill him myself.” Javen snarled. “Taliya is mine.”

Rylan’s eyes widened slightly.

“…Oh boy,” he muttered. “We’ve got another obsessed lunatic, who is this girl really.”

♧♧♧

The grand doors creaked open, revealing a massive hall draped in shadows and silence. Taliya gulped, her fingers tightening instinctively around the fabric of her dress as Kaidon stepped forward, pulling her along. The atmosphere was nothing like home—it was cold, ancient, and unsettlingly quiet, like the walls themselves were holding their breath.

Dark chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, casting dim light over the black marble floors. A grand staircase spiraled upward before them, and stationed around the hall were tall, heavily built men with expressionless faces and gleaming weapons. As Kaidon passed, each of them bowed without hesitation.

Taliya's heart pounded. What kind of place is this?

“Welcome home… soulmate,” Kaidon murmured into her hair, his voice low and rough as he held her close and inhaled deeply, almost like he was memorizing her scent.

Oh God. I’m so dead, she thought, panic swelling in her chest.

He led her up the staircase and down a long corridor, finally stopping at a set of intricately carved doors. The moment they entered, Taliya’s eyes darted around—the room was massive and dim, illuminated only by flickering flames from wall sconces. Deep crimson and gold draped the bed and walls, and the air smelled faintly of cedar and something darker… something primal.

Kaidon gently lowered her onto the velvet-covered bed, like she was something precious.

“Soulmate… I finally found you,” he growled, hovering just above her. His gaze burned with emotion, and she could feel the obsession in every syllable.

Why does he keep calling me that? she thought, swallowing nervously.

“M-My name is Taliya. Not… soulmate,” she corrected quietly.

At that, Kaidon’s dark eyes flickered, and his lips curved into a strange, amused smile. “Taliya,” he repeated, tasting the name on his tongue like it was the sweetest thing he’d ever said. “Taliya…” He smiled again, softly this time, but it still didn’t ease the pounding in her chest.

“Why… why am I here?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“You are here… for me. My love,” he said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“What?” Taliya blinked, stepping off the bed immediately. “I-I don’t know you.”

Kaidon followed, gently cupping her cheek. She flinched, but his touch was surprisingly soft.

“You were made for me,” he said. “You are my soulmate.”

Taliya’s pulse was thundering now. “What soulmate are you talking about?”

“You are my partner… my life, my beloved. I have waited for you… suffered for you.”

Taliya stepped back, heart racing, shaking her head.

Is this guy completely insane? Beloved? Life partner? I’m not even from this world! she thought, panicking.

“L-Listen, I think you’ve made a mistake, or you’ve got the wrong person. I am not your soulmate—”

The moment those words left her lips, the temperature dropped.

Dark energy crackled in the air like electricity, thick and suffocating. Kaidon’s whole body stiffened as he slowly rose to his full height. His muscles flexed beneath his black shirt, his chest rising with every heavy breath. His eyes—those glowing red eyes—flared with fury.

Taliya instinctively backed away.

“soulmate…” he growled, the very sound of his voice rumbling through the room like a brewing storm.

“Y-You’ve got it wrong—please…” she whispered.

Kaidon stepped forward, and the shadows around him moved with him.

“You are mine.” His voice was low, furious, dangerous.