He is your Soul-Tie. This is not the end.
I pulled away, and my throat burned from holding in my tears.
“I have to leave. I’m not sure when I can come to see you again…with everything happening."
“I understand.” He gave me a sad smile. “I will miss you every second.”
This is not the end.
“As will I.” I pulled him close and hugged him tightly again. It took every fiber in my being not to break. I was going to hurt him so deeply, and all I wanted was for him to know I would be okay. That I would still be alive. To know that I wanted nothing more than to stay here with him.
“I love you more than anything,” I whispered. “Always.”
“Always, Lena.” He rocked me in his arms. “I will love you, always.”
I brought my lips to his one last time, the kiss slow yet intense. I savored every second of his tongue around mine, his arms around my body, the feeling of his face against my hands. When we broke our kiss, I studied his face, memorizing every line, every detail.
This is not the end.
I retreated towards the balcony, and Silas opened the door for me.
“Please, be careful,” he begged, just as he had the day prior.
“I will be just fine,” I said softly, wishing he would remember these words come tomorrow, hoping that somehow, he would know I had lived. Unable to say goodbye without falling apart, I whispered, “Until I see you again.”
Silas smiled, and I took a mental picture of him before turning away. I made it around the balcony and down the path before Torrin caught my arms. I stared at him with tears falling out of my eyes.
“You did good, Lena.”
I nodded and fished into my bag, pulling out two elixirs and handing Torrin one. We sipped, and we both became invisible.
The walk home was a mental and visual blur as tears kept silently welling and pouring from my eyes.
I’m leaving him. I’m leaving him for who knows how long…
As we entered my house, we sipped a reversal elixir. Mother was packing a bag and froze as she saw us walk in. Torrin ambled forward, and I slowly shut the door behind me before leaning against it, sliding to the ground, and finally releasing my sob.
“Lena…” Mother rushed to me, attempting to comfort me, but it would never be enough. I supposed she knew the feeling, but she didn’t trick my father into thinking she was dead.
I was gasping for air with how hard I was crying. I had never felt this much sorrow. “I…I can’t be without him,” I cried. “Gods, he is going to be so heartbroken.”
“Shh…shh…” Mother pulled me in close.
“I love him…” I wept as she rocked me. “I love him.” I felt my body getting cold, colder than I had ever felt before, even when I once ran for my life barefoot in the snow.
Mother held me, continuing to hush me as she swayed me back and forth. My body began to tremble.
Fuck. I am freezing.
“Gods, Lena—” Torrin began, and then Mother shrieked and tumbled back. My head shot up, and when I glanced down at my lap, I choked.
My hands and forearms were covered in ice. The ground beneath me, where my hands were resting, was covered, too, freezing my arms and legs to the floor.
Torrin hurried over and knelt beside me.
“Thank the Gods this didn’t happen earlier,” he mumbled as he held his palms near both of my arms, a light flame emitting out of both.
I gasped. “You wield fire,” I breathed, my teeth chattering from the cold.
