---
Pain. Fire. Shadows.
The world blurred as Luna's body pulsed with celestial energy, waves of raw power crackling through the air like a storm waiting to be unleashed. Her breath was ragged, her vision swimming between reality and something far beyond.
Across from her, the Sun Prince stood, his golden eyes locked onto her, burning with fury. His aura clashed against hers—fire against the night, light against the abyss.
This wasn't just a battle.
This was a declaration.
A challenge.
Luna steadied herself, pushing through the ache in her muscles. The prince's blade gleamed under the sun's light, but she wasn't intimidated. Instead, she smirked.
"That all you've got, prince?" she taunted, voice laced with amusement despite the exhaustion creeping into her limbs.
His jaw clenched, irritation flashing across his sharp features. "You talk too much."
With a single step, he lunged.
Blades clashed. Sparks flew.
Luna met him strike for strike, her movements fluid, almost graceful as she dodged and countered. But the prince was relentless. His strength was raw, untamed, each attack meant to overpower her.
And yet, he wasn't fast enough.
Luna twisted, her dagger slicing toward his side—
Then it happened.
A single misstep. A moment too close.
His hand shot out to block, their skin colliding in an instant.
The effect was immediate.
A shockwave exploded between them, blinding light bursting forth as something ancient and unbreakable tethered itself between their souls.
Luna gasped, stumbling back. Heat seared through her chest, as if something had been ripped from her.
The prince staggered, his breath hitching. He clutched his chest, his body shuddering violently.
And then, through the torn fabric of his battle-worn shirt—
A mark.
Glowing. Pulsing. Silver celestial symbols burned into his skin.
His eyes widened in horror.
Luna barely had time to process it before her body gave out, her knees buckling beneath her.
Darkness swallowed her whole.
And for a fleeting moment—just before she lost consciousness—strong arms caught her.
---
The Hidden Mark
The Sun Prince paced inside his tent, his breath unsteady, his mind reeling.
He tugged at the fabric of his shirt, pulling it open to reveal the mark burned into his chest. The glow had dimmed, but its presence was undeniable.
Her mark.
His fingers brushed over it, and instantly, pain lanced through him—a deep, twisting agony that radiated through his bones.
It worsened when he thought about her.
It throbbed when she wasn't near.
A curse. A bond. A celestial tether.
He gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling beneath his skin. This was impossible.
She was his enemy.
And yet, his body craved her presence.
The mark pulsed again, this time with a burning intensity that made him hiss through his teeth. He pressed his palm over it, as if willing it to fade.
It didn't.
Instead, it reacted—glowing faintly, calling for the one who had placed it upon him.
Calling for her.
The realization sent a jolt of rage through him.
No.
He would not be bound to her.
Whatever this was, he would find a way to break it.
Even if it meant breaking himself in the process.
---
Awakening
Luna's eyes fluttered open, her breath catching in her throat as the world around her came into focus.
She was back in her tent. The scent of burning herbs filled the air, mixing with the faintest trace of something metallic—blood.
Ahava was beside her, his expression unreadable
"Finally," he muttered. "I was starting to think you were planning on sleeping forever."
Luna sat up, wincing as pain shot through her limbs. But it wasn't just physical exhaustion—something felt off.
Like a part of her had been… taken.
Or given away.
Her fingers curled over her heart, a strange ache blooming in her chest.
"What happened after I blacked out?" she asked.
Ahava hesitated. "The prince left. He didn't finish the fight."
Luna frowned. That didn't make sense. The Sun Clan wasn't known for mercy.
And yet, he had let her go.
A memory flashed in her mind—golden eyes meeting hers, the shock of their touch, the celestial light branding itself onto his chest.
No.
That was impossible.
Wasn't it?
"Luna?" Ahava's voice broke through her thoughts.
She shook her head. "Nothing. It's nothing."
But deep down, she knew the truth.
Something had changed between her and the Sun Prince.
And whatever it was…
It wasn't going away.