Fear of failing the Shields.Of Vargrún taking all Kailorien would claim to love.And the worst—fear of losing Auryn.
Yet, despite all he'd done to stop it, he’d lost her anyway, her body torn apart by those who called her Sokâr, her power barely kept hidden from their prying, greedy eyes. It was all he could do to interfere with the Council’s true wishes—their plans to turn her into a martyr, an experiment, or worse. He’d paid for her protection in blood, in pride, in living memory.
He would have given more – much more – to see her safe.
He’d returned prepared to fight. Whatever she needed, he would give. When the Bond between them faded into silence, he could no longer feel her, hear her,know her,and that unknowing had broken every bone in his body as surely as a warhammer.
Last night, she’d given him everything. Without question. Without hesitation. As though she, too, was broken and needed mending.
The Bond had returned, her presence filling him in ways that made himwhole. His breath caught at the flash of memory. Of her scent, her sighs, her sweet moans. Of the way her body had welcomed his. Her tears, luminous and salty against his tongue. Her soft thighs against his waist. Her lovely lips, pliant and daring beneath his own.
As more memories surfaced of soft skin, silver eyes, and starlit hair, he reached out blindly to pull Auryn closer to him.
Come back to me…
…you’ll come back…
…won’t you?
His eyes opened. Half-lidded. Heavy.
His hands skimmed over silken black sheets and fluffed golden pillows.
The place beside him was empty. Cold. As though Auryn had never been there.
Confused, he sat up and ran a hand through his hair. He stretched and stood, thinking she’d left to bathe. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought—at how they’d been so tangled in each other’s bodies and souls that they hadn’t wanted to do anything other than collapse in bed and fold into each other.
As he stood, he donned one of his casual black undershirts and stepped into some loose pants. Tying a silk sash around his waist, he went to the bathing chamber.
The pool lay still and silent.
Towels scattered all over the floor like they’d been last night.
A vial of fragrant oil was left open near the edge of the basin.
“Auryn?” he called, but only silence answered.
They say you won’t come.
They say…forgotten me.
But I will believe.
…will keep believing…
The voice wasn’t part of his own thoughts and dreams. It washers,and it sounded distant, confused, lost.
Auryn…where are you?
Kailorien…
…come back to me…
…you’re here…if I just walk a little farther…
Each time he heard her voice, it sounded more and more disjointed.As though fading.Unraveling.
He went back to the main chamber. Her sandals lay discarded at the foot of the bed. Her glowshawl was draped over a chair, abandoned. All possible. All plausible.
