So I just hold her tighter and let her hope.
Because one of us should.
My chest caves in.It won’t get better.
There’s a long moment before Nightmare finally says,No.
She only just walked into this power, claimed herself.
Became our beautiful fucking monster,it reminds me.
A sob rips out of me before I can stop it. Chelsea’s eyes flick up. I kiss her forehead and pull her to me. “I love you,” I tell her like it’s the last time I’ll get to say it.
When she still loves me.
Before that changes.
“I love you back.”
There’s only one thing you can do, Eryx.
Don’t.
You already know.
No.
Unbind from her.
My blood goes cold. That would mean severing the bond. Ripping out what we built together. The magic. The connection. Everything. And I don't even know if I'd survive it.
Unbind or she won’t survive you. She won’t survive us.
I look down at Chelsea in my arms. Her eyes are closed now, exhausted from crying.
She chose this bond. Welcomed it. Said yes to Nightmare.
And now I have to choose: Keep the bond and watch it kill her slowly. Or rip it out and lose her anyway.
There's no good choice.
Only which way to break her heart.
Chelsea
Eryx won’t look at me.
Ever since he tried to open the dream world this morning and the magic hurt me, he’s been quiet, thinking.
All day, and it’s killing me.
“Would you like more potatoes?” I ask at dinner.
He’s staring down at his plate.
“Eryx?”
He lifts his head and looks at me as if he’s forgotten I’m sitting there. “Yes?”
