You’re exhausted.
“Stay with me, human,” you hear a distant voice say.
Then the darkness takes over.
…for about half a second.
Next thing you know, bright-hot strength pours into you with all the energy of a thousand suns, the dark and heavy weight evaporating from your lungs. Finally, you can breathe fully again.
And not a second too late.
“Ziros,” you whisper, gazing into his eyes.
“You did it!” he says triumphantly, kissing your forehead as the darkness fades away into a wall of bright orange light.
Moments later, you find yourself standing on the rooftop, wrapped in Ziros’ arms as the enchanted book disintegrates to ashes in Sy’s hand, a few loose pages falling out and scattering to the wind.
For a split-second after, everything is calm.
There’s only the light breeze wrapping around you and Ziros.
Then Ziros lets go, stepping between you and his twin.
“Youbastard,” he snarls, eyes flashing. “You nearly killed her!”
“Collateral damage,” Sy says, shooting you an apologetic look. “That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“Wasn’t supposed to!?” Ziros takes two strides, pulling his arm back and preparing to swing. To your shock, Sy doesn’t even try to dodge.
Just lets Ziros punch him right in the face.
Sy groans, shaking it off as he straightens up. “I admit, I may have deserved that.”
“At least you’re self-aware. Now hold still while I beat the shit out of you, you stupid bastard.”
“Sorry, bro,” Sy says, dodging Ziros’ next punch. “I let you have that one, but it’s time we end this. You’re still a menace. I can’t just let you roam free.”
“Oh? Andyou’renot a menace?” Ziros swings again, this time with more force, and wind rushes up around the rooftop, scattering dust and the remains of the book pages where the last few flutter across the deck.
“Wait!” you protest, stepping between the battling demigods. Holding up your left hand, you reveal the glowing line connecting you to Ziros. “We’re tethered. If you hurt him, you’llhurt me. And you don’t want to hurt innocent people, right? Isn’t that the whole reason you set out to stop Ziros in the first place?”
Sy frowns, shooting you a glare. “What do you mean, ‘you’re tethered’?”
“She means we’re soulbound,” Ziros says smugly, wrapping an arm tightly around your shoulders.
Sy gives his twin a disbelieving look. “You mean to tell me you willingly bound yourself to a mortal?”
Ziros just shrugs.
“It’s your fault, really. It was the only way to save her in that damn void. Didn’t have a choice.”
The happy little tether of light linking you glows as you lift your hand higher, and Sy pokes it with one finger, muttering under his breath. Shaking his head, he takes a step back.
“Damn,” he mutters, still shaking his head. “God. Damn. I never thought I’d see the day. But it’s real. It’s really real.”
“What?” You glance at Ziros. “Is it really that big of a deal?”
Ziros turns his head away slightly, coughing softly. And is it just your imagination, or is heblushing?
