The bond frays. Strand by strand. Each one tearing loose with a sensation like—
Like losing gravity.
Like falling and having nothing to catch me.
I’m vaguely aware of making a sound. Not quite a scream. Just a broken noise that shouldn’t come from a human throat.
Across the room, Kael surges to his feet.
“Don’t,” Elena snaps. “If you touch her now, you’ll undo everything.”
He freezes. Fists clenched. Every muscle locked. But he doesn’t move closer.
The bond is almost gone. Just a few strands left. Gossamer thin. Barely holding.
“Last one,” Elena murmurs. “Brace yourself.”
The final strand snaps.
The world goes silent.
Not actually silent. I can still hear breathing. Candles flickering. The facility’s ventilation buzzing.
But inside—
Inside, where the bond used to hum, there’s nothing.
Just vast, empty quiet.
I press my hand to my chest. As if I could physically feel the absence.
Gone.
The bond is gone.
Elena and Lila lower their hands. The witch-fire dissipates. The candles keep burning, but the magic is done.
“How do you feel?” Elena asks carefully.
How do I feel?
I take inventory. My shoulder doesn’t hurt. My ribs don’t ache. The exhaustion that’s been dragging at me for days—
Gone. Completely gone.
I’m healed. Truly, completely healed.
And I feel—
Empty.
“Mara?” Elena prompts.
“I’m okay.” My voice sounds flat. Monotone. “I’m fine.”
Liar.
I’m not fine.
