Page 57 of Bound to the Marak

She turned.

Nuak.

The head servant stood at the edge of the chamber, still and silent as ever—except her usual placid expression was gone. Her eyes were too wide. Fixed. Unblinking. Her lips were parted slightly, her breath harsh.

And in her hand…

A dagger. Long, glinting, black as volcanic glass.

“Nuak?” Leonie barely got the name out.

Nuak didn’t answer.

She lunged.

Leonie’s instincts kicked in. She dropped backward, rolling off the bed just as the dagger pierced the pillows where her chest had been. A scream ripped from her throat as she hit the floor, scrambled back—bare feet slipping on the smooth tile.

Nuak turned, fast. Too fast.

She came at her again.

Leonie kicked out, wild and desperate. Her foot connected with Nuak’s torso—hard. The servant stumbled back with a grunt, crashing into the low table. Glass shattered.

Leonie bolted to her feet, heart pounding, body trembling with adrenaline. She had no weapon. No shield. She backed away toward the open arch of the hallway.

But Nuak recovered.

“I will not allow the Marak to fall,” the servant hissed suddenly, her voice trembling, cracking with emotion. “He is unmade by you. You will bring ruin to Luxar.”

“W-What are you talking about?!”

But there was no answer.

Nuak lunged again.

And then?—

Athunderous soundcracked through the chamber. Awave of pressurelike an invisible storm ripped through the air.

Nuak froze mid-strike, the dagger suspended inches from Leonie’s face.

Karian.

He stood in the entrance, larger than life, tentacles already extended, his eyes glowing like obsidian stars. His aura was molten with fury—so intense it made the walls hum.

One motion of his hand—and Nuak’s body jerked violently backward, pinned against the far wall. The dagger clattered to the floor.

She choked on her breath, stunned.

Leonie collapsed to her knees, gasping.

Karian crossed the room in three strides, crouching beside her, his arms and limbs encircling her protectively. His voice was low, ragged.

“She will not touch you again.”

“What—what just happened?” she managed. “Why would she?—”

“She is not Yerak anymore,” he said. “She was compromised.”

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