Nightmare quietly says,She didn't tell me directly. But I heard her thoughts. When I was inside her mind. She's afraid of marriage—thinks it means being taken advantage of. Joyless.
A sharp pull tugs just under my collarbone. She never said that out loud to me. No. But I felt it. The fear underneath everything—that marriage means losing herself.
And now she's chosen us anyway,Nightmare murmurs.
That she did, and just thinking it makes warmth spread over my chest.Yes, she chose us.
I stare at the dust for a moment, trying to figure out how to move forward without taking any steps back, and for the life of me, I can’t figure it out.
The dust worries me.
Normal magic damages. Strong magic destroys.
But this? This is beyond destruction. We didn't just break stone—we unmade it. Reduced it to its component parts.
That's not power. That's something else entirely.
A small knock comes from the door. I look up and see Chelsea standing there, wearing an oversize gold sweater, jeans, and those sparkly sneakers.
She grins. “You ready?”
She's glowing. Not literally this time, but there's something different about her. Brighter. More alive.
We bonded last night. Something shifted. Something permanent. And I'm not afraid of it.
“Yes.” I brush the dust from my hands. “Let’s eat.”
“It’s the lovebirds,” Darla announces when we enter.
I sneak a glance at Chelsea to see if she’s embarrassed, but she only smiles at my cook.
Our cook,Nightmare corrects.
Yes, that.
“You’re here just in time for lunch. I’ve just made stew and bread. How does that sound?”
“Perfect,” Chelsea says, and I squeeze her hand.
Darla starts to serve, and I shoo her away. “I’ll serve. Don’t let us bother you.”
“Nonsense. Bother me. The only company I ever get is Nancy, and she’s always in a bad mood.”
“I heard that,” Nancy yells from down the hall.
Darla dismisses her with a wave. “Don’t worry about that one—her bark’s worse than her bite.”
Chelsea laughs. “I know. She helped me get ready for the party the other night.”
“Did she? Well, looks like Nancy might like you more than she likes the rest of us.”
“I heard that, too,” Nancy shouts.
I grab bowls and start to pour up the soup, beating Darla to it. She shrugs and wipes down the counter. “Do you two have a big day planned? Shopping? Meeting people?”
I grimace. “No, we’re taking it easy.”
Darla’s expression falls. “Oh, right. Stave told me about that.”
