The guardian moved.
Not charging.
Not leaping.
Not clawing.
It blinked.
And in that blink, the creature crossed half the chamber.
Owain shoved Kanah behind him with a snarl so savage it echoed against the stone.
"STAY BACK!"
The guardian didn't flinch.
It lowered its head to Owain's shoulder height—
a slow, deliberate movement—
as if acknowledging a challenge.
Kanah's breath stuttered.
"It's not… attacking."
Owain growled without looking back.
"It sure as hell LOOKS like it's attacking."
Kanah felt it again—
that tug, that recognition, that instinct woven into her bones since the bite.
Her father watched with cold fascination.
"The guardian approaches the strongest resonance source. That is her."
Owain snapped, "She's not going ANYWHERE with it."
The guardian inhaled deeply—
a long, slow breath that drew Kanah's scent through the air.
Kanah felt it.
Like something brushing inside her ribcage.
Her hunger stirred—
but not in a wild, devouring way.
It moved as if answering a question.
A call.
She grabbed Owain's arm.
"Owain… it's reading me."
"Then shut it out."
"I can't," she whispered. "It's like… instinct recognizes instinct."
Her father murmured,
"Of course. A Devourer guardian does not obey words. It obeys nature."
The guardian turned its head slightly, its molten eyes locking onto Kanah's.
Owain's entire body tensed.
"You look at her again," he snarled, "and I tear your throat out."
The guardian blinked slowly—
unimpressed.
But not aggressive.
Ilai whispered, breath shaking:
"It's not here to kill… It's here to claim."
Owain stiffened.
Kanah's breath stopped.
Claim.
That word churned something deep inside her chest.
And the guardian reacted.
It lifted its massive hand—
claws like obsidian—
and extended it toward Kanah.
Owain lunged.
"BACK—!!"
He slammed into the guardian's arm, claws digging deep—
But the creature didn't budge.
It didn't shove him.
Didn't strike.
Didn't even snarl.
It gently lowered Owain back to the ground like a cub.
Owain's eyes widened.
"What the—?!"
Kanah's father spoke quietly:
"Guardians do not harm pack-bonded beasts. You are tagged by her bite."
Owain snarled, shaking with rage.
"Then why is it going for her?"
The guardian extended its hand again—
Not to grab.
Not to strike.
To offer.
A gesture older than language.
Ilai whispered in awe:
"It's a summoning gesture… beasts use this to call kin."
Owain stiffened.
"Kana. Don't you DARE move."
Kanah didn't want to.
Her entire body trembled.
But the guardian's eyes…
They weren't violent.
Or hungry.
They were reverent.
Like seeing a long-lost star.
She whispered,
"I think it thinks I'm… like it."
Owain grabbed her hand tightly.
"You're NOT."
Kanah swallowed hard.
"But what if part of me is?"
Her father finally stepped forward.
"That creature recognizes the Devourer lineage. It is seeking her final bond."
Owain's blood went cold.
"Final WHAT?"
"Final bond."
Her father extended a hand toward Kanah as well.
"Her bond with you is incomplete. Her bite is unfinished. This guardian answers unfinished resonance. If she does not stabilize with you…"
He gestured toward the beast.
"…it will take her."
Kanah's stomach twisted.
Owain pulled her behind him again.
"She's not going ANYWHERE."
The guardian leaned closer, inhaling Kanah's scent.
Then—
With shocking gentleness—
It reached out—
And placed one claw against her chest.
Kanah gasped—
A rush of black-gold energy shot through her.
Owain roared, lunging—
But Kanah grabbed his arm.
"Owain— WAIT—!"
The guardian's resonance wasn't attacking.
It was communicating.
Kanah felt it.
Images.
Instincts.
Echoes.
Flashes of endless plains.
Ancient beasts running under a dark sky.
Devourers—
but not like her father.
Not cruel.
Not twisted.
Predators.
Guardians.
Protectors of resonance-bearers.
She whispered, voice trembling.
"It's… showing me things…"
Owain's breath came out harshly.
"Kana. Pull back."
She couldn't.
Her feet rooted to the stone.
Her hunger settled.
Her pulse synced with the beast's rhythm—
And then—
Another presence surged through the bond.
Owain's.
His heartbeat slammed into hers.
"Kana. COME BACK."
His voice cut through everything.
The guardian's resonance flickered—
dimmed—
like a candle hit by a gust of wind.
Kanah staggered backward.
The guardian blinked.
Owain pulled her behind him again, chest heaving.
"Stay. Back."
The guardian stared at Owain.
And for the first time—
The massive creature lowered itself fully, placing both hands on the floor.
Bowing.
Kanah's father frowned.
"…that's not normal."
Ilai whispered,
"It's… submitting?"
Owain's claws flexed.
"To ME?"
Kanah felt the truth like a jolt.
"No," she whispered.
Owain stiffened.
"It's bowing… to the bond."
Silence fell.
A heavy, instinct-thick silence.
Owain's voice went very still.
"Kana… what does that mean?"
Kanah gulped.
"It means… the guardian recognizes you. As my chosen."
Owain went rigid.
Her father murmured, amused:
"Remarkable. Even the ancient beasts obey the bond."
Ilai stared in disbelief.
"Which means…"
Kanah breathed out, shaking.
"It won't take me."
Owain exhaled slowly—
shoulders unclenching, claws retracting—
relief so intense it nearly buckled him.
But the guardian wasn't done.
It turned slowly.
Positioned itself between Kanah and her father.
And released a sound that made the fortress vibrate—
A growl.
Low.
Warning.
Possessive.
Kanah's father narrowed his eyes.
"…Ah. So that is how this will be."
Owain moved in front of Kanah again.
"Enough games."
Ilai grabbed Kanah's arm.
"Kanah, sweetheart— we have to move now. Guardian or not, Veylor is waking the fortress wards."
Kanah nodded.
"Owain—?"
His voice was steady.
"We run."
The guardian crouched, offering its arm—
as if offering to carry her.
Owain growled,
"She rides with ME."
The guardian blinked.
Then nodded.
Kanah didn't have time to process that.
Because as they turned toward the corridor—
A roar shook the far wall.
Not the guardian's.
Not Kanah's father's.
Not any beast inside the fortress.
A fiery crack split the stone.
Owain and Kanah turned—
At the same time.
A blast of blue-white flame split open the corridor.
And a familiar, furious voice thundered:
"KANAH—!!"
Kanah's heart stopped.
Owain's breath caught.
The guardian stood aside.
And from the smoke—
Wings unfurled.
Blue fire burned.
Eyes blazed with cold fury.
YLLAS.
The dragon.
Behind him, two more silhouettes emerged—
Gerrin's silver glow.
Helion's golden eyes.
They found her.
They came.
Owain exhaled, voice low.
"…Finally."
Kanah whispered, breath trembling:
"My mates."