In the depths of my subconscious, a figure emerged from the darkness, illuminated by the fiery glow of his golden eyes. Every intricate detail of his face etched itself vividly into my memory as I began to paint the scene in front of me. His strong features emitted an enigmatic aura, complemented by his disheveled, jet-black hair that fell into his captivating eyes. However, it was the pulsating rune engraved on his chest that stole my breath away.

It shimmered in a deep black and emitted a supernatural radiance that cut through the abyss like a guiding light. My focus was fixated on the glowing rune, and a searing, excruciating pain pulsated through my temples. Hidden within the shadows of the intricate rune was the outline of a moon. It was subtle, almost imperceptible at first, but as my eyes adjusted to the darkness of the shadows, I saw it more clearly. The way it was hidden within the shadows of the rune made it appear as though it was a secret, something that only those who knew where to look could find. The rune seemed to pulse with a life of its own, emanating a sense of raw power that hummed through the very air around us.

The air crackled with a palpable urgency as the man stepped into the room. Deep down, I could sense that he was destined to be my evermate; it resonated to the very depths of my being. When I saw visions of this man, his abilities danced around me, electricity dancing across my skin at the proximity of our souls.

Shadows danced and whispered mournfully, their voices rising to a painful crescendo that made me flinch. His piercing golden gaze locked onto mine, delving into the depths of my soul with unwavering intensity.

He opened his mouth to speak, yet no words escaped his lips. The atmosphere thickened with anticipation, as waves of frustration melded with a silent yearning.

The pain intensified, forming an orchestra of torment that reverberated through my entire being, yet I couldn't tear my gaze away.

And then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, he was gone, leaving me breathless and yearning for more of him. The shadows whispered, but I couldn't hear their words over the thundering of my own heart. It was clear to me that this man was more than just a vision; he was my destiny, my evermate.

Startled, I opened my eyes, my gaze fixated on the canvas perched above me. As I became aware of my surroundings, I realized that I must have lost consciousness. My back ached from the uncomfortable pressure of the hardwood flooring, and my muscles protested painfully as I struggled to sit up. With a groan, I rubbed the back of my neck, stretching and massaging the tension knots until they dissipated.

I was struck by how much the canvas resembled the enigmatic stranger that had left such a powerful impression on my soul. The painting seemed to almost come alive, with his intense eyes gazing out at me with all the passion and fire that I had felt at that moment.

The rune on his chest practically glowed from the canvas, pulsating with a power so tangible that I could feel it radiating off the painting. Every detail was painstakingly perfect, from the subtle crescent moon to the deep black shadows that surrounded the rune.

It wasn't the first I had drawn of the golden-eyed man, and I was sure it wouldn't be the last. I believed it was a sign from the Goddesses that I needed to find him, but after this last vision, I was sure he wanted to find me, too. He had never tried to speak to me before, never noticed me. But this time was different.

I knew the Goddesses were showing me my evermate for a reason, but I had bigger, more personal priorities on my plate that needed to come first before finding the man that I seemed to be soul-bound to. As I gazed at my collection of old canvases, I couldn't help but notice the recurring themes in some of my paintings. It was as though my visions were on a loop, endlessly repeating themselves, and as a result, my artwork often bore striking similarities. The memory of my most recent never-ending vision came flooding back to me - it was while I was delicately painting the intricate swirls of a willow tree. My mother had once told me that the same willow tree I was painting existed in the Sun and Moon realm, where we went to offer our prayers to the Goddesses.

While the understanding that my visions were directly influenced by the Goddesses should have provided me with a sense of purpose, it instead burdened me with a daunting sense of powerlessness over my own destiny. The weight of this realization pressed heavily upon me, leaving me with a conflicting mix of emotions. I quietly questioned whether my creative path was truly mine or if it was merely a vessel for the desires of the Sun and Moon Goddesses. It was as though I had become a conduit for their visions, my artistic journey dictated by forces larger than myself. The notion of losing control over my artistic expression and being reduced to a mere executor of their will was disconcerting.

I heard a light knock on my bedroom door followed by my mother's voice calling out to me. Immediately, I panicked, realizing that the painting of the golden-eyed man was still in full view on my easel. I jumped up from my spot on the floor, frantically searching for a cover. My eyes darted around my room, looking for anything to hide my painting from view. Quickly, I grabbed my comforter, hoping she wouldn't question it.

As I struggled to drape the comforter over my painting, the door swung open and my mother walked into the room. "Aurora, what is going on?" she asked, her concerned eyes scanning the room.

My mother had a variety of masks she wore depending on the situation, and I could never predict which one she would choose to display with me. Sometimes, she would put on her concerned mother persona, while other times, she would use a threatening tone if she thought my stepdad, King Hedrick, might be listening. But there were also moments when she would become angry and lash out, blaming her problems on me.

It was a blessing that I shared no DNA with Hedrick. I had much to thank the Goddesses for that. Being raised by him was challenging, and I had always longed to have a father who would love and support me. But I knew that he was not capable of that kind of love. Hedrick had saved my life, or so I was repeatedly told by him. My mother and him, believe it or not, were evermates. As rare as they were, she ended up getting the evilest man to exist as her soul-bound mate. It made them both very powerful, and Hedrick was already the most powerful spell-caster Alyanthi had ever seen. If he got other Alyanthians weak enough, he was able to absorb their power. It would exit his system quickly, but the stronger the power, the longer it stayed inside him.

My mother had kept the identity of my biological father a mystery to me. As far back as I could remember, she had refused to whisper a word about him. Every time I asked, Mother would explode with rage, and the hurt emanating from her was palpable. It was a subject that was off-limits, and I didn't want to upset her more by asking again. I couldn't help but wonder if she had been lucky enough to find two evermates in one lifetime. The bond was supposed to be a gift from the Goddesses, but with all the discord revolving around them in recent years, it was more like a curse.

Besides, not everyone found their evermate, nor wanted to. It was well known the target it would put on your back since it only made you more powerful. But I wondered how many evermates were hidden in plain sight. It was a comforting thought to know that my other half was out there, someone the Goddesses believed would make me a better person than I was. But I wasn't a fool, and I was just fine on my own. Seeing how Hedrick and my mother's bond worked, I didn't believe it was all it was cracked up to be.

Despite the mystery surrounding my father's identity, I was grateful that I didn't share any genetic link with Hedrick. His coldness, his controlling nature, and his lack of empathy towards others made me wonder if he was even capable of feeling love for anyone at all. As much as I yearned to know where I came from, I knew that I was better off without him in my life. I had to be.

Trying to look as normal as possible, I forced a smile and replied, "Yes, Mom, I'm fine." I quickly straightened my posture, hoping to hide the covered easel behind me.

However, my mother's eyes flickered directly behind me to where the comforter partially covered the painting. My heart began to race as I watched her eyebrow raise in concern. "I have to tell Hedrick." she hissed out following an annoyed grunt.

"Tell him what?" I demanded.

Her round green eyes froze on me. "Don't play dumb, my dear. We both know this is a vision from the Goddesses." Another downside of the two being bonded, Hedrick always knew when she was keeping something from him. She used to have the most brilliant blue eyes, but ever since I had woken up from Hedrick's spell, her eyes matched her evermates. He was controlling her, and I was sure many others noticed the change but were too afraid to confront Hedrick.

Running a hand through my hair, I shook my head. "It was a painting that I wanted to draw, that was all!" Taking a few steps towards her, I pleaded. "Don't tell him, mother. Please." I knew if she did, he would try to force the visions upon me like he used to do. Now, he is under the impression that the Goddesses have taken back their gift, and it was a secret I needed to keep.

After what felt like an eternity, my mother finally nodded, the blue back in her eyes. "I won't tell him," she said, her voice stern but reassuring. "But you must be careful. Hedrick is not a forgiving man."

I nodded, feeling relieved, but I was stupid to think that it would last. A piece of her would come through on rare occasions, his spell weakening. It was in those times that he would find another innocent to kill to get more power to be able to keep the control he had over my mother.

As she turned to leave, I called out after her. "Mother, do you believe in the Goddesses and their visions?"

She paused, her hand on the door. "I believe in what gives me strength," she said simply, before disappearing out of the room. It was a cryptic answer, but it was enough for me, and I decided to focus on what I knew to be true - my strength and my ability to protect myself was all that I needed.