Ava stood in the ruins of the temple, the weight of the god's presence still lingering in the air like a thick fog. His words echoed in her mind, the temptation of his touch still alive in every pulse of her heartbeat. The fire within her had flared, and for a moment, she'd almost let herself give in. But now, as the echo of his voice faded into the distance, reality began to settle back in.
She couldn't let him win. Not like this. Not with the Heartstone. Not with her.
She turned, her steps quick as she moved through the temple's ruined halls. Each step felt heavier than the last, as though the very ground was pulling her down. She had to keep moving. She had to—
"Ava."
The voice came out of nowhere, a whisper that was somehow loud enough to make her heart skip a beat. Ava froze, her body tensing as she spun around.
It was Alexander.
He stood at the end of the corridor, his figure outlined in the faint light from the Heartstone. His eyes were intense, searching, as if he knew exactly what she had been through.
"You're here," Ava whispered, relief flooding her for a brief second. But it didn't last. The burning question in her chest remained unanswered. "What the hell was that? Who was he?"
Alexander's jaw clenched, his gaze hardening. "That was Veyron. The god of desire and chaos."
Ava felt a chill crawl up her spine. "Desire and chaos," she repeated, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. "Why is he here?"
Alexander took a cautious step toward her, his expression filled with something dark, something Ava hadn't seen before. "Veyron is one of the most dangerous gods you'll face. He feeds on temptation, on the things that make people weak. His power lies in turning desire into control. He doesn't just want to kill you. He wants to break you. Make you think that giving in is the only way to survive."
Ava swallowed hard. "But I didn't give in. I'm still standing."
Alexander's eyes softened, though the intensity never left his voice. "You're strong, Ava. But not everyone is. Veyron's power doesn't just take the body—it takes the mind. And once he has control over your desires, your fears… you're lost."
The weight of his words hit her like a slap. She had been close. She'd felt the temptation. The pull of his power had been so overwhelming, so intoxicating, she hadn't known if she would survive it. But she had. For now.
Ava shook her head, pushing the fear deep down into the pit of her stomach. "I won't let him win. Not like this. I have to keep going. I have to stop them."
"You're not alone in this," Alexander said, stepping closer. His voice was low and steady, filled with an intensity that mirrored her own. "I'm with you. You don't have to fight them alone."
For a moment, Ava felt a rush of something—something she couldn't quite identify. It was more than relief. It was connection. His presence, his unwavering loyalty, it was a comfort she hadn't realized she needed. But as soon as it came, the realization hit her like a wave crashing over the shore. She couldn't lean on him. Not entirely. She couldn't let herself get distracted.
"I appreciate it, Alex. But this… this is my fight. I can't drag you into it."
He frowned, his jaw tight. "Ava—"
"I need to do this myself," she interrupted, her voice stronger than she felt. "The gods have been ruling for too long. I can't let them win. I won't be their puppet. I have the Heartstone for a reason, and I won't let them take it from me."
For a moment, Alexander's eyes flickered with something—pain? Regret? But then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by determination. "I know you will. But promise me one thing, Ava."
Ava raised an eyebrow, still trying to piece together the strange emotions swirling around them. "What?"
"Promise me you'll trust me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "If things get too much, if you start losing yourself to the darkness… promise me you'll come to me."
Her chest tightened at the vulnerability in his eyes, but she shook her head, taking a step back. "I can't. I won't. I can't afford to trust anyone but myself."
The silence between them stretched, thick and heavy, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, from deep within the temple, the ground began to shake again, the air thickening with an ominous energy.
The gods weren't far behind. Veyron wasn't the only one who would come for her.
Ava turned her gaze back to Alexander, the weight of her mission pressing down on her once more. "Stay close," she said, her voice a bit more fragile than she wanted to admit.
"I always will," he replied, stepping forward to stand by her side.
Together, they stepped deeper into the ruins of the temple, the unknown waiting around every corner. Ava couldn't deny the magnetic pull between them, the connection that seemed to grow stronger with every passing moment. But she couldn't afford distractions—not with everything on the line. She had to stay focused.
And yet, as they walked side by side, there was an undeniable tension between them. An unspoken bond, a shared understanding of what lay ahead. The fire that had sparked earlier—when the god of desire had touched her, had whispered his temptations—was still burning. But this time, Ava knew better. She had to control the fire. Control herself.
She wasn't sure how long she could keep that control. But she had no choice. The gods were coming. And they would stop at nothing to break her.