Chapter 4: The Forgotten Vow

The forest never slept. Serena moved through the shadows, her body trembling from exhaustion, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. The further she got from Lucien, the heavier the bond pulled at her chest, like invisible chains tightening with every step. She bit her lip until it bled. She welcomed the sting — anything to remind herself she was still in control of her body, even if her heart still throbbed with Lucien’s presence. “I’m going to break this,” she muttered, voice rough. “I swear, I’ll rip it out.” The forest whispered in response, the wind carrying faint echoes of laughter. The Hollow had always been cruel. Branches scraped against her arms like claws as she trudged through the undergrowth. Her breath fogged in front of her, and the cold seeped into her bones, but she pressed on. The blood moon was coming, and she had to be ready. But the forest wasn’t her only threat. A twig snapped behind her. Serena froze, her pulse skyrocketing. “You’re not even trying to hide,” a voice drawled, dripping with venom. Serena spun, baring her teeth. Evelyn stood there, leaning against a tree with her arms crossed, wearing a smug, predatory smile. “What are you doing here?” Serena growled, her voice low and dangerous. Evelyn tilted her head. “Looking for you, obviously. Lucien’s out of his mind with worry. I told him not to waste his energy, but, well... he never listens to me.” Serena’s fingers twitched, aching to claw that smug expression off Evelyn’s face. “Get out of my way.” Evelyn stepped closer. “Or what? You’ll kill me?” She laughed, sharp and cold. “You should thank me, you know. I made it easy for you. I was the reason he finally pushed you away.” Serena’s vision blurred with fury. “You ruined everything.” Evelyn’s eyes gleamed with malice. “No, darling. I freed him. Freed him from you. From this pathetic illusion of a bond.” Serena lunged. They crashed to the ground, clawing and biting like wild animals. Evelyn’s nails raked down Serena’s cheek, drawing blood, but Serena didn’t feel the pain. She pinned Evelyn, fingers tightening around her throat. “I should kill you,” Serena hissed, her breath ragged. “I should rip you apart for what you did.” Evelyn’s lips curled into a smile, even as she choked for air. “Go ahead,” she rasped. “It won’t change anything. He’ll still love me more.” Serena’s hands shook, fury and heartbreak crashing over her in violent waves. But she didn’t kill Evelyn. She shoved her away, chest heaving, and staggered to her feet. “You don’t matter,” Serena spat, wiping the blood from her face. “You never did. And when I break the bond, he’ll feel the emptiness you could never fill.” Evelyn coughed, rubbing her neck, but her smile never faded. “We’ll see.” Serena turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving Evelyn laughing in the dirt. --- Lucien sat in front of the hearth, his hands trembling around a glass of whiskey he hadn’t touched. The firelight flickered across his face, highlighting the dark circles under his eyes and the haunted emptiness in his gaze. “She’s alive,” he whispered, staring into the flames. “I can still feel her.” Evelyn, lounging on the couch, rubbed her bruised throat with delicate fingers. “She doesn’t want to be found, Lucien. Let her go.” Lucien’s jaw clenched. “I can’t.” Evelyn’s smile faded. “Why not?” Lucien closed his eyes. “Because she’s my mate.” The words cut through the room like a blade. Evelyn stiffened, her grip tightening on her wine glass until it shattered in her hand. “I thought you didn’t care about that,” Evelyn whispered, blood dripping down her fingers. Lucien finally looked at her, and for the first time, his expression was cold. “I lied.” --- Serena collapsed by an ancient stone altar deep in the forest, her chest burning as she tried to catch her breath. The altar was cracked and weathered, its surface covered in faded runes. This was it. She traced the runes with shaking fingers, her heart hammering against her ribs. The ritual required blood — Lucien’s blood. But she didn’t have that. She only had her own. Serena pulled her dagger from her belt, the blade glinting in the moonlight. She pressed the tip against her palm, closing her eyes. “I release you,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I release myself.” She dragged the blade across her skin, and blood splashed onto the stone. The forest went still. The runes ignited with silver light, and a low, guttural voice echoed from the earth itself. “Are you willing to pay the price?” it asked. Serena lifted her chin. “Yes.” The ground shook, and shadows erupted around her, swirling like a storm. The bond in her chest constricted, burning like fire, and she screamed as the magic tore through her body. Miles away, Lucien doubled over, clutching his chest as agony ripped through him. Serena collapsed against the altar, her vision fading as her heart pounded erratically. She didn’t know if the ritual had worked. She only knew one thing. She wasn’t afraid of the pain anymore. She welcomed it. --- Lucien staggered through the forest, bleeding and broken, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t. He had to find her before it was too late. Because if the bond was truly breaking... He wasn’t sure he’d survive it.