The forest didn't sleep.
It watched.
Every step the fragment took sent a ripple through the land—trees bending, shadows stretching, the air itself tightening like it was preparing for something inevitable.
And at the temple…
That inevitability had a name.
Lyra.
Darius didn't leave her side.
Not for a second.
Even as the warriors moved, even as the elders argued, even as preparations for battle intensified—
His focus stayed on her.
"You need to rest," he said quietly, standing just behind her.
Lyra exhaled slowly. "I'm not tired."
"That's not the point."
She turned slightly, raising a brow. "Then what is?"
Darius stepped closer.
Too close.
"The point is," his voice lowered, "something out there is calling your name like it has a right to you."
A pause.
"And I don't like that."
Lyra blinked.
That wasn't just concern.
That was something sharper.
Possessive.
"It's not what you think," she said softly.
Darius let out a short breath, running a hand through his hair. "Then explain it to me."
"I don't fully understand it yet—"
"That's exactly the problem."
His voice came out firmer than intended.
The room fell slightly quieter around them.
A few warriors glanced over.
Darius noticed.
And immediately stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"This thing," he said, eyes locked on hers, "it's connected to you. It found you. It's moving toward you."
A beat.
"And you're standing here telling me you don't understand it?"
Lyra held his gaze.
Unshaken.
"I'm telling you I'm not afraid of it."
That did it.
Darius's jaw tightened.
"I am."
Silence.
That wasn't a word anyone expected from him.
Least of all her.
He stepped even closer now, his presence almost shielding her from everything else.
"You don't get to be fearless about something that wants you," he continued, voice low but intense.
"Not when I can see what it's doing to you."
His eyes flickered briefly—
To hers.
Silver and black.
Lyra's expression softened… just a little.
"It's not hurting me," she said.
"Not yet."
A beat passed between them.
Heavy.
Charged.
Then Lyra spoke again, quieter this time.
"You're overprotecting."
Darius gave a slight, humorless smile.
"I haven't even started."
Before she could respond—
A sudden pulse of energy slammed through the temple.
Stronger than before.
Closer.
Lyra stiffened instantly.
Her breath hitched.
"It's here…"
Darius's entire demeanor changed in a second.
No hesitation.
No argument.
Just instinct.
He grabbed her wrist,
Not rough.
But firm.
Grounding.
"Stay behind me."
Lyra frowned slightly. "Darius—"
"Not this time."
His voice cut through hers.
Sharp.
Final.
For a moment, she almost argued.
Almost.
But something in his eyes stopped her.
Not control.
Not authority.
Fear.
And something deeper.
Something that said:
I will not lose you.
Outside—
The forest had gone still.
Too still.
Then,
A figure stepped out from the shadows at the edge of the temple grounds.
Not fully solid.
Not fully shadow.
But present.
Watching.
The fragment had arrived.
Inside Lyra, something stirred again.
But this time—
It wasn't confusion.
It wasn't fear.
It was recognition.
The fragment tilted its head slightly.
Its ember eyes locked onto her instantly—
Ignoring everything else.
Everyone else.
And in that moment,
Darius moved.
Stepping fully in front of Lyra.
Blocking its view.
A low, dangerous energy rolled off him.
His wolf close.
His stance deadly.
"You don't get to look at her like that," he said, voice dark.
The fragment paused.
Then—
Slowly—
It smiled.