The forest was still, too still. Only the crunch of leaves under Adrielle’s boots and the faint echo of Alex’s breath filled the silence as they hurried away from the meadow.

Her hand was still in his—warm, steady—but her mind spun with questions. Who were they? What did he mean, ‘they’ve found us’?

Finally, when the trees thickened and the moonlight thinned, she pulled at his arm.

“Alex, stop. Tell me what’s going on. Who was watching us?”

Alex’s jaw tightened. For a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer. Then, in a voice low and raw, he said:

“They are the Keepers of the Veil. Guardians of the curse that binds us. Their task is simple—make sure we never break free.”

Adrielle’s breath hitched. “Guardians? You mean they… they want us apart?”

He nodded slowly. “To them, our love was a defiance that threatened the balance of the stars. Every lifetime we find each other, they rise again to stop us. And if we get too close…” He looked away, as if the words themselves burned. “…the curse uses them to tear us apart.”

Her chest tightened, but she forced herself closer to him. “Then let them come. I won’t lose you again.”

Alex’s eyes softened—silver glowing faintly beneath the shadows. “You’re braver than you know.”

Before he could say more, the forest groaned. The wind rose sharply, scattering branches. Out of the darkness, three figures emerged, cloaked in black, faces hidden beneath hoods. Their presence chilled the very air, as if the night itself bent to them.

One of them spoke, a voice like ice scraping over stone:

“Adrielle. You are bound. Step away from him, and the pain will cease.”

Her knees weakened, a sudden ache tearing through her chest. She gasped, clutching Alex’s arm. The Keepers raised their hands—threads of shadow stretching toward her, pulling like invisible chains.

“Don’t let go,” Alex whispered fiercely. His hand tightened around hers. “Fight it.”

Tears burned her eyes, but she clung to him with every ounce of strength she had. “I won’t… I won’t let you go!”

The shadows struck. The forest erupted with silver light as their bond flared, pushing back against the chains. Adrielle screamed—but beneath the pain, she felt something else.

The curse was not only a prison. It was also a memory—of love strong enough to bend fate itself.

And in that moment, as the light roared between them, Adrielle realized the truth:

The curse wanted to break them.

But it was also proof that they had once broken destiny itself.