Through the bond, I felt everything he was feeling. Love for me. Duty to his people. I couldn’t help but wonder… Was I about to lose him to a world I’d never even seen?
17
— • —
Malachar
My mind was racing. A thousand thoughts per second, none of them settling long enough to form a coherent plan.
Aurion was here. In the human realm. In Wen’s bookstore. Which meant he had crossed through an unstable portal to find me. Which meant the situation in Ravenor was dire enough that my brother had risked his life.
I had a decision to make. And I knew Wen would not like it.
Hell, I did not like it either.
But if I was to move permanently to the human realm with her - if that was what she chose - then leaving my kingdom in order first was essential. Andreas could not be allowed to steal the throne through manipulation and lies. A worthy successor had to be secured.
And if time moved differently between realms, as Aurion suggested, I could not afford to waste days or weeks here while my kingdom fell apart.
But I could not leave Wen behind either. Would not. The thought of being separated from her, of the portal closing with us on different sides, made my chest constrict with panic.
I was not willing to find out what would happen if we were divided.
“Wen,” I said quietly. “Call your friends. Tell them to watch the bookstore for a few days.”
She looked up at me, confused. “What? Why?”
“Please. Trust me. Just call them.”
Her fingers moved on her phone - her glowing brick, as I still thought of it. She typed quickly, her brow furrowed.
Aurion was watching the device with open curiosity. “What is that contraption?”
“Later,” I told him. “First, show me where the portal deposited you. Has it moved?”
“This way.”
He led us deeper into the archive room, to a large chest against the back wall. The kind used to store old documents or inventory. He opened it, and I saw the bottom was not wood but pure, glinting light. Swirling and unstable but present.
The portal.
Wen and I had discovered it weeks ago. Had looked at it, discussed it, but neither of us had wanted to attempt crossing. I was still injured. She was frightened. We had been content to let it be.
But now we had no choice.
“My friends said they’ll handle it,” Wen said, walking up beside me. “Krystin was confused but she said yes. Mal, what’s going on? Why do I need them to watch the store?”
I looked at her. At my mate.
“I am sorry,” I said quietly.
“Sorry for what?”
I turned to Aurion. “After you, brother.”
Aurion gave me a knowing look. Nodded. And stepped into the chest, disappearing into the light without hesitation.
“Mal?” Wen’s voice had gone uncertain. “What are you-”
