The silence said everything.
My breath caught. I looked between them—one brother forged in fire, the other carved from shadow. Whatever world I had been dragged into… it was more dangerous—and far more complicated—than I ever imagined.
Kai stood tall with a quiet, commanding presence. His long, jet-black hair flowed past his shoulders, often tied back loosely, allowing a few strands to fall over his sharp cheekbones. His most striking feature was his eyes—golden, like molten amber, intense and mesmerizing, as if they held secrets of lifetimes past. There was an edge to his gaze, something primal and protective. His body was well-toned and lean, the kind of strength built from years of silent discipline rather than showmanship. When he moved, it was with purpose—graceful, calculating, and always in control.
Alex, on the other hand, was the more playful storm. Though they were twins, he couldn't have looked more different in demeanor. His hair was short, styled in a tousled way that suited his carefree charm, and just as black as Kai's—but more unruly, less refined. His emerald green eyes sparkled with mischief, curiosity, and a razor-sharp wit. Where Kai was brooding and calm, Alex was bold and flirtatious. He carried himself with an easy confidence, the kind that made people look twice—and stay wary. His smile could disarm or deceive, depending on his mood.
Though their bond ran deep, the contrast between them was like night and day—Kai, the shadowed flame; Alex, the gleaming emerald edge.
I started to rise from the bed, still wearing the oversized tunic that barely reached mid-thigh, but before I could stand fully, Kai glanced at me and shook his head once, a silent command that made me pause. He kept his eyes on Alex then, his voice low and edged with irritation.
"Why are you here, Alex?" Kai asked, golden eyes narrowing. "I know you didn't come just to meet my wife. So go ahead—say what you're really here for."
Alex leaned casually against the window frame, a smirk tugging at his lips as his emerald gaze flicked to me. His stare lingered just a bit too long, and I felt a chill crawl up my spine.
"Oh, Brother Kai, you caught me," he said smoothly, still smirking. "But I'm only a messenger this time. Father sent me. He wants to meet the mysterious woman the whole village has been whispering about—especially since she has long pink hair, just like the one foretold by our Ancestors."
I didn't like the way Alex looked at me—like I was something rare and dangerous, something worth chasing just to claim. His words echoed in my head, heavy with meaning I wasn't ready to unravel.
Kai shifted closer, subtly but surely, placing himself more in front of me. A silent shield.
I straightened, still seated but no longer silent. My voice came out steady, even if my hands were clenched tightly in the folds of the tunic.
"If your father wants to meet me, he can wait," I said, my gaze fixed on Alex. "I'm not some village rumor or prophecy for the curious to poke at. I decide who I meet and when."
The smirk on Alex's face faltered, just for a second. Enough for me to see that he wasn't expecting me to speak at all—let alone like that.
I added, this time more firmly, "Right now, I'd like to be alone. With my husband."
Kai's eyes flicked toward me, golden and burning, but there was a softness in them too—approval, maybe even pride.Alex chuckled low under his breath, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"Fiery and fearless," he murmured. "You always did have interesting taste, brother."Then he turned, pushing off the window frame. "Fine. I'll let Father know she's not exactly welcoming royal summons. This should be… entertaining."
And with that, he walked off, the tension lingering in the air like the scent of smoke.
As soon as Alex was gone, the silence he left behind felt heavier than his presence. The air still held the faint echo of his smirk and arrogance, but it didn't matter anymore.
Kai moved without a word, his expression unreadable. He walked over to the window, shutting it with a solid click before turning the lock. Then, with deliberate slowness, he reached for the curtain and drew it closed, shutting out the outside world—and everyone in it.
I watched him, my breath caught somewhere between nerves and anticipation.
When he turned back to me, there was something darker in his gaze. Something that made my pulse quicken.
He crossed the space between us in a few steps, and before I could speak, he reached down and pulled me gently into him, one arm wrapping around my waist with quiet possession.
His lips found my neck, brushing over my skin like a whisper, warm and electric.
Then I felt him inhale slowly, deeply—breathing in my scent, as if grounding himself with it.
"You smell like wildflowers and trouble," he murmured against my skin, voice low and full of heat. "I should've thrown him out the second he looked at you."
"I have a question—how did he know I came through the portal?" I asked, my gaze locked on Kai as he continued to hold me close.
He let out a quiet sigh, his golden eyes dimming with tension."Because he has the same powers I do," he said carefully. "But his reach is stronger—he can travel farther, stay longer. Just like I pulled you from your timeline… he can do the same." He looked away briefly, voice tightening. "But unlike me, he doesn't care what he destroys to get what he wants. That includes anything—or anyone—you love."
A strange chill ran down my spine, and that's when I noticed it—a faint blue light pulsing at the edge of my vision. I turned my head, my breath catching in my throat.
The shard. The blade. It was still lying on the floor where I had dropped it, glowing brighter now—steadier, like it was responding to something… or someone.
"The blade..." I whispered, stepping toward it slowly. "It's reacting again." I crouched down, reaching for it with trembling fingers."My mother once told me," I continued softly, more to myself than to Kai, "when the shard glows, it means the other pieces are near… or danger is."
I looked back at Kai, my chest tightening. "He's not just after me, is he? He's after the Blade of Time."
Kai's expression shifted. His jaw clenched, and his gaze flicked away, avoiding mine.
"No," he said sharply—too sharply. Then, after a pause, his voice dropped, rough with something heavier. "At least… not in the way you think."
I stared at him, waiting, heart pounding.
"I've known about the blade for a long time," he admitted reluctantly. "Not because I wanted to. Because my bloodline has always been tied to it. My ancestor... he was in love with someone named Lisa."
The name lingered in the air like a forgotten melody. Kai looked back at me, his golden eyes shadowed by something that felt like centuries of pain.
"She wasn't just anyone. Lisa was the first bearer of the Blade of Time. And when she vanished, he spent his life searching for her—searching for answers, leaving behind warnings, maps, pieces of truth buried in stories." He paused, voice barely audible. "Now it's all come back again. Through you."
I swallowed hard, the weight of everything pressing down on me. "Then why didn't you tell me?"
He met my eyes, expression unreadable. "Because knowing too soon can break you… and I couldn't risk losing you before you were ready."
I tried to pull away from him, but his grip tightened around my waist. I gasped and accused, "So you knew who I was all along—and you lied to me? You pretended not to know that I'm the holder of the Blade of Time. You wanted to keep me as your wife just so you could control the blade!"
Kai's eyes darkened, pain flickering across his golden irises. He loosened his hold just slightly but kept me close."No, Anna," he said, his voice low and strained. "It wasn't like that. I never wanted to control you or the blade. I wanted to protect you—from everyone who would use you, from the danger that comes with it." He searched my face, desperate for understanding. "I lied because I was scared. Scared that telling you the truth would put you in more danger—or that I'd lose you."
That's no way to earn someone's trust—especially after taking them from their timeline. And now, that timeline is in danger." I pushed against Kai's grip, and this time, he let me go. His hands fell to his sides, but I didn't look back.
I walked across the room, my steps sharp and determined, until I reached the closet. I flung the door open and began rifling through the clothing inside—anything that didn't make me feel like I still belonged to a life he had chosen for me. A life built on half-truths and silence.
"I'm done standing still, Kai," I said, my back still to him as I pulled out a fitted tunic and cloak. "You had your chance to be honest with me. Instead, you chose to wrap me in your protection and lies, like I was something fragile." I turned around to face him, eyes burning. "But I'm not. I'm a princess. And I'm the holder of the Blade of Time."
I stepped away from the closet, the glow of the shard on the floor casting faint shadows around us. "I have a duty to my kingdom and the people still trapped in that timeline you tore me from. Whether you meant to or not—you've set something in motion. And I can't let someone else find the rest of the blade before I do."
Kai took a step toward me, but I held up my hand to stop him.
"You say you care. Then let me go. Let me do what I was born to do—not what you want me to do." I looked down at the blade, now pulsing like a heartbeat. "Because this isn't about us anymore. It never was."
I got dressed in something similar to his clothing, though mine fit differently—my top clung just enough to expose the curve of my breasts, and my legs were left bare beneath the shorter hem. The fabric was a shade darker, adorned with delicate red flowers that almost looked hand-stitched. But it was my hair—long, vibrant, and unmistakable—that stood out the most. Something rare. Something no disguise could hide.
As I finished adjusting the outfit, I bent down to pick up the glowing shard of the Blade of Time, its pulse warm against my palm. I turned toward the door, ready to leave—but Kai was already there, blocking the exit.
His eyes held firm, voice calm but resolute."I won't let you leave," he said. "Not unless you help me fix this timeline too. It's in just as much danger as yours. So don't walk away—let's work together."
I stared at him for a long moment, the shard warm in my hand, his words hanging heavy in the air. He meant well—maybe he always had. But it was too late for maybes.
Without a word, I turned away from the door. Kai's expression flickered with confusion—until he saw me heading toward the window.
"Anna—" he started, but I was already unlocking the latch.
"You said you wouldn't let me leave through the door," I said over my shoulder, my voice steady. "You didn't say anything about the window."
Before he could reach me, I threw the window open. The cool wind rushed in, lifting strands of my hair as I climbed onto the ledge. One last look over my shoulder—and then I jumped.
Kai's thoughts:
Kai stood frozen for a moment, the curtains whipping around him in the wind as he stared out the window. His eyes followed the faint blur of her figure as she disappeared into the dense trees below.
"Damn it, Anna," he muttered under his breath, pushing away from the window.
He moved fast, grabbing the cloak from the nearby hook and strapping the twin daggers to his sides. He didn't need a map—he could feel where she was going. The Blade of Time shard she carried still pulsed with a frequency only someone like him could trace. Their connection—bound by fate, magic, and bloodlines—wasn't so easily severed.
She thinks she's doing this alone, he thought as he darted down the hallway and out through the side entrance of the fortress. But she has no idea who's already looking for her—or what they'll do if they get the blade first.
As he stepped into the moonlit clearing, the air shimmered—slightly distorted, like reality itself was warping in places. That was happening more often now. The timelines were starting to bleed into one another.
If she keeps running, she's not just putting herself at risk—she's tearing through time itself.Kai clenched his jaw, eyes scanning the terrain as he reached the forest's edge.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his senses stretch outward, feeling the faint thread of energy from the shard Anna held."You're leaving a trail, Princess," he whispered, almost like a promise. "And I'm coming for you."
Then he vanished into the trees, moving swiftly, silently, like a shadow slipping through time.
Kai moved like a phantom through the trees, each step calculated, his senses finely tuned to the trace of power radiating from the shard Anna carried. The forest was thick with fog, unnaturally cold, like time itself was starting to fracture at its edges.
He was gaining on her—he could feel it. Her energy was vibrant, distinct. But something else pressed at the edge of his awareness. Another presence. Familiar… and unwelcome.
A sharp crack echoed through the trees—a twig snapping, but not under Anna's foot.
Kai spun, hand already on the hilt of his dagger.
"Easy, brother," came a cool voice from the shadows. "I'm not here to fight you… unless you make me."
From the mist stepped a figure with short black hair and piercing emerald eyes—his mirror image, save for the intensity in his gaze and the smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Alex," Kai growled, stepping back cautiously. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Alex circled him slowly, hands casually behind his back. "Funny, I could ask you the same. Chasing after a girl who just jumped out your window? How dramatic." He tilted his head. "She's the one, isn't she? The Blade of Time's bearer."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Don't get involved in this. She's not yours to chase."
Alex chuckled, low and bitter. "Oh, I'm not here for her, Kai. I'm here because the timelines are crumbling—and unlike you, I don't let emotions blind me to what needs to be done."
Kai stiffened. "Don't touch her, Alex."
Alex raised a brow. "Touch her? Please. She's a walking crack in reality. And if she doesn't find the rest of the blade before someone else does..." He leaned in slightly, voice dropping. "We all burn. You know that. But you're too busy playing hero-husband to see it."
Kai's grip on his dagger tightened. "She's not the problem. The ones hunting her are."
Alex shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe she's the spark that sets the whole timeline war ablaze. And you? You're just the fool holding the match too close."
For a moment, neither moved. Then Alex gave a slow smile.
"I'll give you a head start, brother. Because next time we meet…" His eyes glinted. "I won't be talking."
He vanished into the fog, leaving Kai staring into the darkness—rage, fear, and urgency battling within him.
Kai clenched his fists, turned back toward Anna's trail, and ran.
There was no more time to waste.
Back to Anna:
The wind hit my face the moment I landed, the cool air biting against my skin as I sprinted across the clearing and into the thick woods. My heart thundered in my chest, not from fear—but from the weight of everything that was now mine to carry.
The shard of the Blade of Time pulsed in my grip, guiding me, pulling me forward. It was almost as if it could sense the other pieces, like they were calling to one another across the folds of time.
I didn't look back.
Every step took me deeper into unfamiliar terrain, but it didn't matter. I had one goal now: Find the rest of the blade before anyone else does. Before time tears itself apart. Before Kai—or worse, the ones hunting me—could interfere.
I slowed only when I reached the edge of a broken, mist-covered stream. I knelt to take a breath, fingers brushing the cool surface of the water, and looked down.
My reflection stared back at me—disheveled, eyes hard, but something else stirred there.Am I ready for this? Or am I still just running?
A twig snapped behind me.
I froze, every muscle in my body going still. I slowly rose, turning my head toward the sound. The mist was thick, curling around the trees like it had a will of its own.
"Kai?" I whispered cautiously. But deep down, I knew it wasn't him.
No response. Just silence… then another sound—closer this time.
I slid the shard into a leather strap at my waist and reached for the small dagger I had taken from his closet before I jumped. My fingers tightened around the hilt, my breath quiet, sharp.
Then a figure stepped from the fog. Not Kai.
Someone else was tracking me.
And they weren't coming to talk.
The figure stepped closer, silent as a shadow slipping between the trees. Cloaked, hooded, and tall—too tall to be Kai. I gripped the dagger tighter, shifting my stance.
The mist curled around the stranger's boots as they paused just a few steps away, as if they were waiting… watching.
"I don't want to hurt you," I said firmly, trying to keep my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest. "But I will if I have to."
Still, no response.
They took another step forward.
My heart raced. The shard at my side grew warmer—vibrating faintly, like it was responding to them. That made me nervous. Why would it react like that? Was this someone tied to the blade? Or to the danger Kai warned me about?
"Who are you?" I demanded, taking a small step back. "Speak. Now."
A low chuckle echoed from beneath the hood—cold, unfamiliar, and entirely wrong.
"You're brave, Princess," the stranger finally said, voice smooth like oil and laced with amusement. "But bravery without understanding… gets people killed."
In one swift movement, they raised a hand—and the air around us shimmered. The trees behind them blurred, flickered, like time itself was warping.
I stumbled back, eyes wide. "You're not just someone tracking me..."
The stranger stepped into the light, the hood still obscuring their face. "No," they said calmly. "I'm someone trying to stop you before you bring it all down."
And then they rushed toward me.
My instincts kicked in before my fear could freeze me.
I ducked just as the figure lunged, their movement almost too fast to follow. A sharp blade missed my shoulder by inches, slicing through the air where my neck had been. I twisted low and drove my dagger forward, aiming for their side, but they moved like smoke—fast, fluid, inhuman.
They spun, catching my wrist with iron-like strength, and shoved me back. I stumbled, boots skidding against the damp forest floor. The shard at my waist throbbed violently now, reacting to the proximity of the threat—whoever this was, they weren't just after me. They were drawn to the blade.
I darted to the side and slashed out again, this time grazing the edge of their cloak. The fabric tore, revealing a flash of strange, ancient-looking armor underneath—etched with runes I didn't recognize.
"Why are you doing this?" I shouted, breathless, eyes searching beneath their hood. "What do you want from me?"
The figure circled, slowly now, like a predator enjoying the chase.
"Not you," they said coldly. "The blade."
They struck again. I blocked, sparks flying as our weapons clashed. Pain shot through my arm, but I didn't back down. Every strike was faster than the last, more aggressive—testing my limits. They weren't trying to kill me outright.
They were trying to wear me down.
I feinted left, then rolled right, ducking behind a mossy stone and hurling a handful of dirt toward their face. It bought me a second—just enough.
I grabbed the shard, now glowing so brightly it was hard to look at, and pressed it to my chest.
"If you want it," I hissed, "you're going to have to do a lot more than swing a blade."
Then I let the energy flow.
A wave of force erupted from the shard, slamming into the stranger and sending them flying backward through the trees. They hit the ground hard and rolled into the brush—but when I looked again… they were gone.
Vanished.
The forest was silent. The only sound was my breathing—uneven, ragged—and the pulse of the shard, slowing back to a soft, steady glow.
I stayed still, dagger ready, every muscle trembling. But the threat had passed… for now.