The Fire We Feed

The air grew colder as Taryn and Lucien followed the beast's trail deeper into the forest. Blood glistened on the leaves, a dark, viscous path glimmering under the faint moonlight. The forest seemed to grow tighter around them, the shadows lengthening, as if the trees themselves knew something terrible awaited just ahead.

Taryn gripped the hilt of her sword, her breath steady but every muscle in her body aching from the earlier fight. Her limbs felt heavy, exhaustion clinging to her like a second skin, but she refused to slow down. The monster was wounded. It was close. And she wouldn't stop until it was dead.

Beside her, Lucien moved in tense silence, his silver eyes flicking toward her with quick, unreadable glances. Taryn could feel the weight of his gaze, and it only fueled the burning anger still festering inside her. His betrayal clung to her mind, sharp and unforgiving, making every step beside him feel like walking with a blade pressed against her throat.

"If you ask if I'm okay," she muttered, not bothering to look at him, "I'll gut you."

Lucien let out a low, humorless huff. "Noted."

The forest thickened, pressing in on all sides as they descended into a shallow valley. Then they saw it—a jagged crack in the side of a cliff, hidden behind draping moss and gnarled roots. A foul stench oozed from the opening: rot, blood, and something far worse. It rolled over them in a wave, making Taryn gag.

"That's it," she whispered.

Lucien nodded, his expression grim. "Stay sharp. It'll be waiting."

The chain between them rattled softly as they approached the mouth of the lair, each step in sync despite the weight of unspoken tension hanging between them. Taryn's heart pounded in her chest, a steady drumbeat of fury and anticipation. Whatever anger burned between them would have to wait—there was only one way this night could end, and it started here, inside the lair.

Taryn ducked inside first, her sword raised. The darkness swallowed them whole.

The air inside the lair was thick with decay, the ground slick with mud and old blood. Bones littered the floor—some animal, others disturbingly human in shape. The walls pressed in, jagged and unforgiving, and every breath felt too loud in the oppressive silence.

Taryn's skin prickled, the fine hairs at the back of her neck rising in warning. The beast was close. She could feel it.

A low growl rumbled from the darkness.

The monster launched itself from the shadows with terrifying speed, a blur of black fur, claws, and rage.

Taryn barely had time to react. She threw herself to the side as the beast's jaws snapped shut, missing her by inches. The chain between her and Lucien yanked violently, dragging them both into an ungraceful roll across the slick floor. They barely managed to scramble to their feet just as the beast lunged again. They scattered in opposite directions, the chain jerking painfully as they moved. Taryn gritted her teeth, forcing herself upright just as the monster charged at her again. Its glowing eyes locked onto her with predatory fury, and it swiped with claws as thick as daggers.

Taryn met the strike head-on, her sword clashing against the beast's claws in a jarring impact that rattled her bones. The force sent her staggering, but she recovered quickly, slashing at its side with everything she had.

Lucien struck in an instant, his blade cutting deep into the creature's flank. Blood sprayed across the lair, steaming against the cold air. The beast howled, twisting violently as it lashed out at them.

"Duck!" Taryn shouted, yanking the chain to drag Lucien down just as the beast's claws swept through the air above them.

They hit the ground hard, pain shooting through Taryn's knees. Lucien rolled smoothly to his feet, and his blade flashed in the dim light as he slashed across the monster's shoulder.

The beast roared, staggering under the force of the blow, but it didn't slow. If anything, it grew angrier—faster. It lunged at Taryn again, its claws glinting like steel.

She dodged to the side, but the cursed chain snapped taut, pulling her off balance. She stumbled, and the beast seized the opportunity. It pounced, knocking her flat on her back, claws ripping into the ground beside her.

Lucien yanked the chain hard, dragging her away from the monster before it could strike again. The beast turned on him, jaws snapping, but Lucien danced out of reach, landing a swift slash across its face.

"Watch the chain!" Taryn snarled as she scrambled back to her feet.

"Do you think I'm trying to trip you on purpose?" Lucien snapped, slashing at the creature's legs.

The beast reared, roaring in frustration, and its glowing eyes locked onto them both. Blood poured from its wounds, but it was relentless, its fury refusing to fade.

Taryn gritted her teeth. "We need to end this."

Lucien gave a grim nod, wiping blood from his brow. "Together?"

"Together," Taryn echoed, her voice sharp with determination.

The monster crouched low, preparing to pounce one last time.

Taryn tightened her grip on her sword. "Now!"

They moved as one—a synchronized blur of blades and fury. Taryn slashed at the beast's chest while Lucien drove his blade deep into its ribs, his strike hitting bone. Blood sprayed from the wounds, hot and slick, drenching the cave floor and spattering across Taryn's arms. The beast roared in fury, thrashing wildly, the sound a gut-wrenching howl of pain and rage.

Taryn gritted her teeth, the vibration of the impact rattling up her arm. But she didn't let up. Not yet. Not until it fell.

The monster fought like a cornered predator—vicious, relentless. It twisted with terrifying speed, muscles coiling as it lashed out.

Its massive claws swiped across Lucien's side, the force of the blow sending him staggering backward.

"Lucien!" Taryn shouted, dragging the chain tight between them to keep him upright. The curse binding them flared with magic, the chain glowing as the magic sparked against their skin like fire. The pain was instant—searing bands tightening around her wrist. Taryn hissed, the curse biting deeper with every pull.

The beast's glowing eyes fixed on them, its body shuddering with rage. It roared again, the force of the sound vibrating in the air. And then, it lunged—not at either of them directly, but at the chain, its claws slicing through the glowing links with terrifying precision.

CRACK!

The cursed metal shattered with a deafening snap, shards of magic exploding outward in a burst of light. Taryn felt the force of the break like a physical blow. She gasped as the sudden release sent her stumbling forwards, the ground rushing up to meet her.

The magic's unraveling scorched her skin, and pain radiated through her wrists where the broken links had bitten deep. Her knees hit the dirt, sharp and jarring, and for a moment, everything tilted.

Lucien staggered beside her, clutching his side as he fought to stay upright. "Taryn!" he called, voice sharp with urgency, but she could barely hear him over the ringing in her ears.

The monster snarled, blood pouring from the gaping wounds along its chest and ribs. It shook its massive head, fur bristling as it prepared for another strike—its muscles coiling like a spring about to snap.

Taryn forced herself to move, her vision swimming. Her fingers curled around the hilt of her sword, her knuckles white with the effort.

"On your feet!" Lucien growled, grabbing her arm and hauling her upright. His voice was harsh, but beneath it was something raw—fear, maybe. Desperation.

The beast lunged again, claws sweeping low toward them in a final, desperate attack. Taryn gripped her sword tighter and swung upward with everything she had. The blade met flesh, cutting deep into the creature's front leg.

Lucien was there a second later, his blade flashing in the dim light as he struck across the beast's muzzle, slicing a jagged gash from its cheek to its brow.

The monster roared in agony, staggering back on trembling legs. Blood dripped from its open wounds, steaming against the cold night air. Its glowing eyes flickered with rage—and something else: fear.

It wasn't done yet, but it knew it couldn't win.

With a frustrated snarl, the beast spun on its haunches, crashing through the underbrush in retreat. Branches snapped beneath its weight as it fled into the shadows, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.

Taryn sagged forward, the absence of the chain around her wrist felt strange—like a phantom limb. She flexed her fingers, wincing at the raw burn the broken links had left behind.

Silence fell over the lair, broken only by the sound of their ragged breathing. Taryn dropped her hands to her knees, exhaustion pulling at every muscle in her body. Her heart pounded in her chest, the remnants of adrenaline still surging through her veins.

Lucien stood over her, equally battered. He rubbed his wrist where the chain had bitten deep, his expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the fading rustle of the beast crashing through the forest, and the heavy, uneven cadence of their breathing.

"We need to hurry," Taryn muttered, wiping sweat and blood from her brow. Her voice was hoarse, brittle with fatigue. "Find your relic, before it comes back."

Lucien nodded silently, the weight of everything that had passed between them hanging in the air like a storm about to break. He adjusted the grip on his sword, his expression grim.

Without the cursed chain binding them, they should have felt lighter—freer. But instead, the space between them felt heavier than ever, as if the shattered links had left something behind.

Taryn set her jaw, forcing herself to stand taller. There was no time to dwell on what had broken. The monster was still out there, and the hunt wasn't over.

Taryn forced herself to steady, swaying slightly as exhaustion clawed at her. The ache in her chest burned sharper than any bruise—his betrayal still fresh, cutting deeper than the monster's claws.

Lucien reached out to steady her, but she jerked away from his touch. "Don't."

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, stepping back without argument.

They fell into step without another word, the shattered chain on the ground behind them, glinting in the faint light—a reminder of everything broken between them.