He was terrified I’d never forgive him.
He thought he’d ruined everything beyond repair. And then, trying to convince himself otherwise, I’d hear the faintest whisper:
“It’s fine. I have an eternity to make it right.”
He was in a constant state of determination and quiet devotion.
Even without saying the words, I felt them—his love pulsing beside mine like a second heartbeat. Every action, every conjured comfort or distraction, came with a purpose.
He spent entire days trying to discover what made me smile—even dedicating one afternoon to terrifying me because he remembered I loved horror.
And every time I cracked, even just a little, his eyes lit up like the blood moon.
We spentmonthslike that. Me, clinging to my distance. He, chipping away at it.
And eventually, I wore myself out. The effort it took to keep him at arm’s length rivaled his own effort to stay close.
Still, when I looked at him, I couldn’t quite reach out.
Couldn’t take his hand, even when Iwantedto. I could not climb into his lap—the place IknewI belonged—because something inside me held back.
Like loving him was still…a betrayal.
I didn’t understand it. Not until one morning when I startled awake, gasping as something pierced straight through me.
The connections. Oh gods, theconnections.
I clutched my chest, laughing through sudden tears just as Luke stormed into the room. His horns smacked the doorframe in his rush to reach me.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded, eyes wild.
“I can feel them.” My voice broke in a breathless giggle. “My family—I canfeelthem again. That means they’ll be able to feel me too. They’ll know I’m okay.”
The sensation was overwhelming—like the warmth of the sun after years in shadow. I could sense all six of my siblings. And my mother. A full, glowing tether between us.
But I didn’t dare reach for my father…
I didn’t dare go further.
Even thethoughtof sensing nothing sliced through me like a blade.
The guilt carved deep—because it was Luke who had set it all in motion.
Luke, who had allowed Harvest to open the vortex. All just to break the spell my father had cast to keep us apart.
Luke’s gaze lingered on me, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.
Then stillness. A quiet drop of energy, like something inside him just…settled.
His shoulders sagged.
“That’s it?” he asked softly.
Before I could ask what he meant, he slipped out the door.
He didn’t come back for hours.
When he finally returned, I was sprawled on the couch, blowing on my freshly painted nails—a bright, bold red that reminded me too much of his eyes.
