By the time the first Hound reached them, Riven was already gone.
Kael found the blood trail.
It led deeper.
“Coward,” Kael muttered.
Shade looked at him.
“You trusted him?” “No.” “Then why are you angry?” Kael stared at the blood.
“Because he left me alone with the problem.” A growl answered from the darkness.
Kael turned.
Three Hounds emerged.
Then five.
Then more.
The Abyss had become a sea of pale masks and black limbs.
Kael rolled his shoulders.
“Shade.” “Yes?” “Stay behind me.” Shade looked surprised.
“You are protecting me?” Kael glanced back.
“You’re mine.” The words left his mouth before he could think.
Shade went still.
Then something strange happened.
The Abyss reacted.
The mark on Kael’s palm pulsed.
A thin thread of darkness connected his hand to Shade’s chest.
Kael stared.
“What did I just do?” Shade looked down.
“You claimed me.” “Meaning?” “I belong to you.” Kael frowned.
“That sounds permanent.” “It is.” The Hounds attacked.
Kael moved.
Weightless Step carried him between them.
He struck one through the throat.
Another clawed his shoulder.
He ignored it.
A third lunged.
Shade intercepted it.
Black energy exploded from Shade’s body.
The Hound vanished.
Kael stared.
“You can fight?” Shade looked at him.
“You never asked.” Kael laughed.
For the first time in years, it was genuine.
Then the Abyss spoke.
Not the Ancient.
Something older.
**CLAIM ACCEPTED.** The Hounds stopped.
Every creature lowered its head.
Kael felt the pressure.
The darkness around him was changing.
The Abyss wasn’t merely testing him anymore.
It was recognizing him.
Above the world, Cairos suddenly collapsed against a wall.
Blood ran from his nose.
Serah caught him.
“What happened?” Cairos looked toward the western horizon.
“He claimed one.” “Who?” Cairos closed his eyes.
“Kael.” Serah’s expression hardened.
“Then the Council will move.” “They already have.” “How many?” Cairos wiped the blood away.
“All of them.” He looked at the horizon.
“And if they reach him before he remembers everything…” Serah finished the sentence.
“He’ll become their enemy.” Cairos shook his head.
“No.” His eyes darkened.
“He’ll become something they can’t control.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Okikiayo_Fadiji That bond was not supposed to happen this early… but Kael just changed the rules.
Shade isn’t simply a companion anymore.
And now the Council has a very good reason to be afraid.