Page 97 of Daughter of the Serpent

“Isthatwhat you want to hear?” Haldor pressed, his voice rising, his eyes searing into hers, desperate and unguarded. “That every night I lie awake, haunted by the thought of losing you?”

He closed the space between them, his hands reaching out, meeting hers, rough and urgent. “You’re my only family, Sylvie. You always have been,” he said, his voice barely more than a hoarse whisper,but each word felt like a plea. “I can’t bear the thought of losing you... and if that makes me a hypocrite, then so be it.”

In one swift motion he pulled her into his arms, his touch gentle but desperate, as though he was holding onto the last piece of solid ground in a world that was crumbling beneath him. His breath mingled with hers, their lips just inches apart, and she wondered if he would kiss her.

For a heartbeat, the space between them seemed to vanish, there was only the heat of his body pressing against hers, and the endless tension that clawed along her skin.

She could see the war in his gaze - the ache, the hunger, and a fear so deep it threatened to drown them both.

A low guttural roar vibrated through the trees, the sound rippling through the air like a slingshot. Sylvie and Haldor instantly tore apart, reaching for their weapons.

“Thebear!” she whispered, her voice low and urgent.

Haldor’s grip tightened on his blade, his gaze locked on the swaying branches ahead, every muscle coiled like a spring.

“I told you!”

He shot her a look, sharp as a knife.

“Keep silent!” he ordered, voice barely concealing his irritation. His eyes flicked back to the shadows, a strange excitement overcoming him. “I want to see it.”

As if summoned, a pair of glowing eyes pierced the darkness, the undergrowth shifting with its tremendous size.

“Don’t move,” Haldor whispered, his voice taut.

Sylvie swallowed hard, nodding as she called upon her magic, feeling it quickly flare back to life. She was getting more practice each night she trained with Axel in the dreamtime, and she had been learning to draw on her emotions - which were in no short supply, especially tonight.

Beside her, Haldor’s hand rose, magic springing alive in his palm, his aura growing in a subtle orange color that seemed to pulse with electricity all around him.

The bear’s growl deepened in response, moving with a disturbing grace, each step closer revealing more of its hulking frame. Fur rippled under the thin shafts of moonlight that cut through the canopy, finally revealing its true girth.

“Prepare to fight!” Haldor said under his breath.

The bear’s roar split the night, its power vibrating through the air, its eyes fixed upon its target. Haldor’s breath hitched, his stance bracing as the beast crept closer. Sylvie’s heart hammered in her chest, her grip slick with sweat.

“It’s too close,” Haldor muttered, stepping in front of her, his shoulders squared. “Stay behind me!”

“Don’t attack!” Sylvie urged in a harsh whisper. “It didn’t hurt me. It may yet leave us alone - ”

But it was too late, Haldor leapt forward, meeting it midway. His sword lashed forward as his other hand mustered his power, curling an orange ball of light at his fingertips. The sword arched through the air in one violent swing, meeting the bear's flesh with lethal force.

With a thunderous roar, the bear reared up on its hind legs, towering over Haldor, blood dripping from its chest where his blade made contact. Its massive paw, adorned with razor - sharp claws, poised in the air, but Haldor’s aim struck true, his magic flying into its massive body with a thunderous force causing it to startle. For a moment the world stood still, and Sylvie thought it scared or defeated - yet as the bear regained its stance, its eyes only filled with more fire. Somehow Haldor’s magic hadn’t affected it, only angered it more. Its claws met skin, drawing a cry from Haldor’s lips as he tried to whorl away. Blood flew from his left arm, droplets flying to meet the ground in all but seconds.

Haldor drew back his sword arm ready to strike a blow that would surely pierce the beast’s heart, but before he could, Sylvie barreled forward. Drawing upon the latent energy within her, she extended her right hand, her fingers tingling with the raw power coursing through her veins. The air crackled with anticipation as she focused her will, channeling the energy into a tangible force ready todefend. With one curl of her fingers she summoned the energy to her, her magic a glittering force weidling at her command.

“Move!” Sylvie’s voice sliced through the darkness, sharp with urgency. Haldor dropped to the ground without a second thought, rolling through the underbrush just as a massive paw swiped through the air where he’d stood.

Sylvie’s focus snapped back to the bear, her heart hammering in her chest. She felt the raw energy coursing through her veins, gathering into a tight, burning knot between her hands. With a cry that echoed through the trees, she hurled a sphere of power directly at the creature. The night split open with a crack, electricity crackling through the air as the energy ball collided with the bear’s chest, showering the forest floor with sparks. The bear staggered, its massive form quaking under the impact. For a brief moment, Sylvie thought she saw a tremor of pain ripple through its body, a groan rumbling low in its throat. Her breath hitched with a flicker of hope - but then the ground beneath her seemed to shift. The air thickened, turning dense and heavy, pressing against her skin. The bear’s eyes glowed with a fierce, ancient light, something deeper and darker than anything she’d faced before. The creature’s energy surged like a wave, crashing against her power. Her attack, so strong and true a moment ago, was swallowed whole, the glowing sphere folding in on itself before vanishing with a soft pop.

Sylvie stumbled back, a chill running through her as the bear’s magic overpowered her own. Its gaze pinned her in place, primal and unwavering, and she felt her resolve waver.

“Haldor!” she shouted, her voice high and strained. “It’s not affected by our magic!”

Haldor, still catching his breath, pushed himself to his feet. “Looks like we’ll have to do this the old - fashioned way,” he growled, tightening his grip on his sword, eyes locked on the bear’s next move.

At her hesitation, Haldor lunged forward, his muscles coiled as he prepared to deliver another decisive blow, while the bear was distracted. Yet, he acted too soon. With a swift and determinedmotion, he swung his sword towards the massive creature, aiming for a vulnerable spot in its thick fur, but as the blade made contact with the bear's hide, a surge of unseen energy erupted from the point of impact, sending Haldor hurtling through the air. His body tumbled uncontrollably, limbs flailing as he crashed to the ground with bone - jarring force.

Sylvie watched in horror as Haldor's form arced through the moonlit clearing, his descent halted abruptly by the rough stones and gnarled roots that littered the forest floor. With a sickening thud, his head struck the ground, sending a shockwave through his skull.