She was back in Thorne’s burial grounds.
No–
Her hands clawed at the dirt. But there was none. There was only grass. No freshly turned earth, no stone bearing his name. A burning sensation crawled up her arm as she moved. She ignored it.
The ancient voice spoke once more.
It is done, Karalynna Hale.
The Warrior lives.
A sob broke out of her. Her hand flew to her chest, trembling, hardly daring to believe. The bond hit her like lightning. Fierce. Alive. A blaze inside her so bright she nearly collapsed under it. His presence where there had been only emptiness. Joy replacing the crushing sorrow.
“Sebastian!” she screamed desperately. “Sebastian!”
She stumbled to her feet – and ran.
She tripped over her dress, threw open keep doors, ignored startled cries. Servants gasped as she stormed past – wide-eyed at the sight of her. Kara knew how she looked, dressed in black, hands red with Draken blood. Some darted away from her, backs against the walls. Some whispered. But she didn’t care. She only had one thought:
I need to find him.
She shoved them aside, screaming his name until it hurt.“Sebastian! Where are you?”
She tore through hallways, corridors blurring, panic and wild hope surging through her. He was here. She could feel him. But she couldn’t believe it, not truly, not until he was in her arms. The bond thrummed harder – pulling her forward. She followed it blindly, her heart racing. She searched the library, the kitchens, every room she passed, until she found herself in the western corridor.
The door opened at the other end. A dark-haired figure rushed through – tall, strong, and achingly familiar.
There he was.
Sebastian.
Sebastian saw her the moment he burst into the corridor. Kara standing just a few steps away. She was pale. So pale. Andexhausted.She clearly hadn’t slept in days. Her dark hair was wild. And her hands were covered in blood.
Why–
Those green eyes found his.
Her scream tore through the Keep and then–
She was in his arms.
She’d thrown herself so forcefully at him that he stumbled. He took a step to steady himself, catching her instinctively. He threaded his arms around her waist. She was warm. Real. His. But thinner, much thinner than he remembered. And she was sobbing. Broken apart instantly in his hold.
No, please don’t cry.
“Kara–”
But she wasn’t listening.
Her hands were pulling desperately at his tunic. Then they were on his face. His shoulders, his chest – like she couldn’t decide where to touch first. Or like she was terrified he would disappear at any moment.
“Thank you,” she gasped against his throat. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“Kara, what–”
“You–” Her voice broke. She kissed his cheek and he could feel her shaking. Her lips found his jaw, his throat, every movement frantic. “Youdied. I saw you–Iheldyou–” The words tumbled out between gasps, between kisses. Incoherent with grief. She kissed his chest, again and again, right over his heart. “There was nothing – no heartbeat. I couldn’t – I tried–”
Her words dissolved into tears; her whole body convulsing under it. She crushed herself to him. So tight there was not an inch of space between them. And through the bond he felt it. Her need for him. Like she wanted to push them into one body – one soul. Anything to make sure they would never be apart again.
