Heart Bound

Calling on the Council

Max's POV

My grip tightened on my coffee mug as I watched Kyrie slip out of the kitchen. I hadn’t been able to hide my shock when I’d seen her that Earlier this morning—the unmistakable silver in her hair, the glint of her newly awakened power. I knew the protection spell was breaking, unraveling bit by bit, and now the truth I’d worked so hard to conceal was beginning to come to the surface.

My hands shook slightly as I lifted the mug to my lips. Just as I forced a calm sip, the air around me seemed to shift. The kitchen felt colder, tinged with a familiar dread. She was near.

I gaze flickered to the doorway just as the Djinn walked in. She looked exactly like my wife, her face an eerie imitation of the woman I’d loved—long auburn hair, and a warm smile that had once been so genuine. But it was nothing more than a facade. The creature wearing my wife’s face had taken her place, filling my home with a hollow mockery of warmth.

“Good morning, I,” the Djinn said, her tone unnaturally sweet. She stepped closer, her gaze flickering with a strange intensity as she looked me up and down. “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”

I forced myself to smile, careful to keep my expression neutral. “Yes, a beautiful day, Honn” I replied, willing my voice to stay steady. Every fiber of my being wanted to turn away, to shove her out of my house, but I couldn’t risk tipping her off. Not yet.

“Did you sleep well?” I asked, keeping my tone casual as I set the coffee mug down and adjusted my stance, grounding myself.

The Djinn’s face softened into an imitation of a smile, but her eyes were sharp, assessing me. “Oh, perfectly,” she said. “And Kyrie? She seems… different today.” Her gaze lingered a second too long on the silver in my own hair, her smile faltering just slightly before she fixed it back in place.

I forced a slight shrug. “She’s fine, just tired. She’s got a lot on her mind, you know how she is.”

The Djinn tilted her head to study me, and the light in her eyes grew darker, almost predatory. “Yes, I do know how she is,” she said, a hint of venom creeping into her voice. “Make sure you keep an eye on her, I. After all, we wouldn’t want anything to… “happen” to her.”

I nodded, suppressing the rush of anger that threatened to surface. “Of course,” I murmured, my voice even. “I’ll make sure she’s safe.”

The Djinn’s smile widened, and for a chilling moment, she held my gaze, as if daring me to challenge her. Then, with a cold, lingering look, she turned and walked away, disappearing down the hall.

As soon as she was out of sight, I exhaled, my hands trembling slightly. The disguise, the smile, the empty shell that looked like my wife—it was all I could do to keep my composure. But now, with Kyrie’s awakening, everything was about to change. I needed answers, support, and a plan. And there was only one place I could go for that.

I quickly slipped out of the house and into the dense woods that surrounded the neighborhood, moving swiftly until I reached the secluded path that led to the Council of Elders. I moved with a purpose, my footsteps quick and silent, my heart pounding with a mix of dread and urgency. The council needed to know about Kyrie, and I needed their help to protect her.

The air grew colder as I entered the clearing where the Council met. The faint scent of old incense and magic lingered, and I took a steadying breath, preparing my for the confrontation that he knew was coming. As he stepped into the circle, I saw Audrey, the eldest and most respected of the council members, standing at the center. Her wise blue eyes met mine, a flicker of surprise passing over her face as she noticed the silver in my hair.

“I,” she greeted me, her voice calm but filled with concern. “What brings you here in such haste?”

I straightened, drawing myself up. “Kyrie’s awakening has begun. The Djinn’s spell over her is weakening, and she’s beginning to see through the illusion. Her wolf has emerged.”

A murmur spread through the council, the elders exchanging uneasy glances. Audrey’s eyes widened slightly, and she took a step closer to him, her voice lowering. “Are you certain?”

“Yes,” I replied firmly. “She’s beginning to remember. Her wolf has surfaced, and the silver has appeared in her hair.”

Before Audrey could respond, another figure stepped forward. Nigel. I clenched my jaw, keeping my face neutral as the other elder scrutinized him with narrowed eyes. Nigel’s expression twisted with something dark, something that sent a chill through I’s spine.

“Kyrie, you say?” Nigel’s tone was sharp, my voice dripping with disdain. “Then we must act quickly—contain her before she becomes a liability to us all. My girl’s awakening could bring us more harm than good.”

My anger flared and taking a step forward, my voice low and cold. “Kyrie is not a liability. She’s the heir—the last of the royal bloodline. We have a duty to protect her, not imprison her.”

Nigel’s lips curled into a sneer, my eyes flashing with disdain. “Protect her? Don’t be naive. The girl is a danger to us all. She carries power she can’t control, and if we let her roam free, we risk exposing ourselves and everyone we protect.”

My fists clenched at my sides. I’ve known Nigel’s ambition was dangerous, but this was treachery. “And what exactly would you suggest, Nigel?” I asked, my voice laced with barely restrained anger. “Lock her away? Experiment on her?”

A twisted smile played on Nigel’s lips, and he stepped closer, my gaze cold and calculating. “If that’s what’s necessary to protect our people, then yes.” He paused, letting the words hang in the air, his eyes glinting with a satisfaction that turned my stomach. “You, of all people, should understand that.”

My voice dropped to a low growl. “I understand more than you think, Nigel. I understand that your loyalty lies somewhere else.”

A flicker of unease crossed Nigel’s face, but he quickly masked it, my expression hardening. “My loyalty is to the council and the safety of our people. But if you’re too blinded by sentiment to see the threat Kyrie poses, then perhaps you’re the one who should be questioning your loyalties.”

“Enough,” Audrey interjected, stepping between them, her voice calm but commanding. She looked at Nigel, her gaze stern. “Kyrie’s safety is our priority. We will protect her, not control her.”

Nigel’s face darkened, my jaw clenched, but he gave a tight nod, my eyes flashing with resentment. “As you wish, Audrey. But mark my words—if she becomes a risk, I will not stand by and do nothing.”

I watched him, a cold realization settling over him. Nigel’s motives were more than just fear; he was hiding something, and I suspected that it was tied to a darker force. The shadow that had haunted the royal family for generations—the same force that had hunted them, torn them apart—was back, and it was using Nigel to carry out its bidding.

Audrey turned back to I, her expression softening. “Thank you for coming to us, I. We will do everything we can to support you and Kyrie. But you must proceed with caution. If the Djinn suspects anything, she will act swiftly.”

I nodded, my jaw tight. “I understand. Thank you, Audrey.”

As he turned to leave, Nigel’s voice drifted after him, quiet but filled with venom. “You can protect her all you want, I. But it won’t stop the shadow from finding her. And when it does…” He trailed off, my voice a soft, mocking whisper.

I didn’t look back, but every word burned into my mind, filling him with a sense of dread that settled in my bones. He left the clearing, my thoughts racing. The shadow—whatever force was working with Nigel—had set its sights on Kyrie. And if the Djinn realized that he and Kyrie were both aware to the truth, they would all be in grave danger.

I moved swiftly through the woods, my steps quiet and purposeful as I made my way back home. By the time I reached the house, my mind was made up. I could no longer rely on the council for Kyrie’s protection, not with Nigel working against them. I needed a plan—one that would keep Kyrie and Kade safe from the Djinn and the shadow.

As he entered the house, he found my face-to-face with the Djinn once more. She stood in the hallway, her face a perfect mask of my wife’s beauty, but her eyes held that dark, calculating glint he’d come to dread.

“Where have you been, I?” she asked, her voice syrupy sweet, though there was a cold edge to it.

I forced a smile, keeping my tone light. “Just went for a walk. Needed some fresh air.”

The Djinn tilted her head, her gaze narrowing. “You should stay close. With Kyrie… changing, I think it’s best if you keep a watchful eye on her.”

He nodded, my jaw tight. “Of course.”

As he made my way upstairs, my mind whirled with plans and possibilities. The