Tavari opened his eyes slowly. Pain throbbed through his body.

  He was tied to a massive tree, rough bark cutting into his skin. Beside him sat Sarah, Serena, and Matt, all bound together. Their necks glimmered with Celestine Shackles, golden chains designed to silence all magic. No thread could pass. No element could respond.

  Tavari tried to summon even a spark. Nothing.

  In front of them stood a young man — calm, smiling, terrifyingly beautiful. Vaelis, the Watcher’s stepbrother, born of a demon father and a human mother who was a channeler. Behind him, creatures not quite human shifted in the shadows. Limbs bent wrong, eyes glowing faintly red.

  “You must be wondering who I am,” Vaelis said softly.

  Tavari glared.

  “My name is Vaelis. I am the Watcher’s brother, stepbrother. Our fathers are different — his angel, mine demon.”

  “How do you know my name?” Tavari asked.

  Vaelis’ eyes gleamed.

  “You are the Third Channeler. The first is our mother, Cassia. The second is the Watcher. You… are the third. That is why I am here — to forge you into something greater… or bind you completely.”

  He gestured to the Celestine Shackles and the men around him.

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  “My power? Soul Engaffment. I can rewrite a human with special blood, binding them to me. They obey me, even if they remember who they are. And you? I’ll make you obey… or break you.”

  Matt’s hands glowed faintly, fire flickering weakly. “Don’t touch them!” he growled, struggling against the chains.

  Vaelis sliced Tavari’s palm with a Rendblade, forcing pain to trigger channeling. He cut again — thigh, shoulder — but still, Tavari did not fully awaken.

  Vaelis moved toward Serena. Tavari screamed.

  Then — a rush of motion.

  Arie and his men appeared, moving like shadows through the trees. Arie’s presence alone made the air shift. His men followed perfectly, synchronized, each step precise, deadly.

  Without a word, they struck.

  Arie dodged a strike, weaving between enemies, knocking two men off balance.

  His men struck with coordinated speed, disarming and incapacitating Vaelis’ men.

  Branches splintered, leaves swirled, and cries of enemies echoed.

  Matt, finally breaking one chain with sheer will, unleashed a small burst of fire, burning anything in reach. Tavari’s threads stirred again, tangling and striking a few enemies, though the Celestine Shackles suppressed full power. Serena’s hands glowed faintly with water, Sarah’s wind tried to slice through the remaining attackers.

  In moments, Vaelis’ men were neutralized or fleeing, the forest chaos settling. Arie’s men formed a protective circle around Tavari and the siblings.

  Tavari collapsed, exhausted, fainting, whispering: “The Watcher…”

  From the Tower, calm and godlike, the Watcher watched. He sipped his wine, then smiled.

  “It’s time.”

  In the next heartbeat, he appeared in the forest. Vaelis froze. The Watcher’s eyes were cold, absolute, and terrifying.

  “Leave,” the Watcher said. “Before I kill you.”

  Vaelis bolted. His men were already defeated.

  The Watcher knelt beside Serena, healing her. She gasped, breath returning. Matt staggered, relief and frustration mixing on his face.

  The Watcher lifted Tavari carefully into his arms, then the others followed. In a blink, they were teleported back to the Tower, safe. The forest behind them lay quiet, littered with the remnants of the battle.