“Don’t be all profound this early in the morning. I can’t—” My voice cracks. “I can’t handle it, K.”
He’s quiet for a moment. Then: “What do you need me to be?”
“Scared. Like me. Instead of all… calm and resigned.”
“Iamscared.”
“You don’t look it.”
“Hundreds of years of practice hiding fear.” His hand finds mine. “But I am terrified. Of losing this thing we’ve built.”
“But you’re still letting them do it.”
“Because you deserve the truth.”
A knock at the door.
My heart stops.
They’re early.
“Mara?” Elena’s voice. Soft. Careful. “Can we come in?”
I look at Kael. He nods.
“Yeah,” I call out. “Come in.”
The door opens. Elena enters first, Lila behind her. Both dressed in comfortable clothes—leggings, loose shirts. Hair pulled back. Ready to work.
Elena’s eyes go to where Kael and I are still tangled together on the bed. Something flickers across her face. Concern, maybe. Or sympathy.
“You don’t have to do this,” she says. “We can wait. Give you more time.”
“No.” I force myself to sit up. Kael’s arm falls away. The loss is immediate. “If we wait, I’ll just keep second-guessing. Let’s do this.”
“You’re good with this, too?” Elena fixes her eyes on Kael.
“Yes.” He nods. “It is what is best for her. And this time I’ll be here, in case…” He glances at me.
“You don’t need to be afraid for her,” Lila says reassuringly.
“You don’t know what I brought her back from.” Kael’s jaw tightens. “The damage…” He shakes his head. “If your healing isn’t strong enough, she will need me.”
“Fine. Do whatever makes you feel better about this.” Lila sets a bag on the table. Starts pulling out supplies. Candles. Crystals. Herbs I don’t recognize. A small silver knife that makes my stomach flip.
“It’s not for you,” she says, noticing my expression. “The knife is symbolic. For cutting ties, not flesh.”
“Oh. Cool. Very reassuring.”
Elena sits on the edge of the bed. “As I told you yesterday, the ritual takes about thirty minutes.” She looks at Kael. “We’ll need to break the bond in stages—severing the magical connection first, then healing the underlying injuries completely.” She looks back at me. “You’ll feel disoriented. Like losing a sense you didn’t know you had.”
“And him?” I glance at Kael. He’s moved to stand near the window. Giving space. “What does he feel?”
“The same.” Lila lights the first candle. “The bond connects both of you. Breaking it affects you equally.”
“But he won’t be harmed.”
“No. Just…” Elena searches for words. “Empty. Where the bond was.”
