Night fell slowly, as if the sky was watching them closely.
Raya sat between tree roots, staring at her trembling hands.
Eren kept pacing, refusing to rest, blade in hand.
The Watcher had vanished the moment Raya released it—vanished with the same bow of submission.
"Eren…" Raya whispered.
His head snapped toward her.
"Yes?"
"Is it true?"
Her voice shook.
"Did you really hide me from the Sovereign? Centuries ago?"
Eren turned away.
Silence.
"Eren," she whispered again.
"Please. I need the truth."
He stood still for a long moment, then finally turned.
His eyes were tired—older than she ever realized.
"Yes," he said softly.
"I stole you."
Raya's breath caught.
"Why?"
"Because you weren't meant to be a weapon or a bride or a possession. You were… just a child. A crying, terrified child in the Sovereign's throne hall."
Her vision blurred.
"You saved me," she whispered.
Eren shook his head.
"No. I doomed you."
"How?"
"By taking you from him." His voice cracked.
"I have made you the center of a war you never asked for."
Raya's voice trembled.
"Then why didn't you leave me behind? Hide me somewhere else?"
Eren's eyes softened in a way that broke her heart.
"I tried."
"Then why did you come back?"
He took a step closer.
Then another.
Until he was standing directly in front of her, breathing her air.
"Because," Eren whispered,
"no matter how far I ran… I always came back to you."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"And now?" she whispered.
"Now," he said, kneeling in front of her,
"I will protect you until the Sovereign tears me apart."
Raya lifted a shaking hand, touching his cheek gently.
"Don't say that."
"It's the truth," he said softly.
She leaned forward, forehead against his.
"Eren…"
Her voice broke.
"I don't want to lose you."
His breath caught.
"You won't."
But she heard the lie under his words.
The sky trembled again—
a distant rumble like the low growl of something massive waking up.
Eren stiffened.
"He's calling your mark again," he whispered.
Raya clutched her wrist.
"It's burning…"
"That means he's angry."
"Why?! I didn't do anything!"
"You defied a Watcher. You released forbidden power. And worst of all…" Eren swallowed.
"You resisted him."
The wind turned icy.
Raya's heart hammered.
"Eren… what happens when he gets angry?"
Eren looked at her with haunted eyes.
"He comes."