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I knew Bryn had entered Delirium when I felt our bond break.

It had woken me in the middle of the night from a fitful sleep and sounded all the alarms in my head.

Why would she begin her trials in the middle of the night when most entered at first light?

It had killed me not to go to her, to find out what the hell was going on. But there was nothing I could do.

I couldn’t reach her where she had gone.

I’d spent most of the day pacing around the castle, snarling at anyone who attempted to speak with me, terrifying the majority of my staff.

I would apologize later for my behavior. I would tell them I was a man crazed over a woman who was gone from me. A powerful woman, even without a lick of magic in her veins.

Just like in her past life, Bryn captivated me.

When evening had come, I’d finally felt our bond click back into place.

The hum of her in my chest feeling warmer, with a slight friction.

Sandpaper.

The same sensation I felt beneath my own skin. Which meant she’d gotten her day powers back . . . and earth.

She was now the light to my shadow. My equal in every way.

Pride had swelled through me when I’d stepped up to the portal, heavily guarded by not only my men, but men from the courts of the other realms. There to make sure I didn’t pass through to intervene in Bryn’s quest.

Little did they know, they could’ve never stopped me from going to her. I could go where I liked, whenever I liked, no excessive amount of guards was ever going to change that.

I’d almost portaled to her from my office the second I had felt her return, but instead, I’d made a show of going to the opening at Stafford’s Portal, letting the other courts see that I needed to use the gateway the same as them. The Nine didn’t need to know I could portal from anywhere I wished. I had already divulged too much information that wasn’t theirs to know.

When I’d spoken to the guards stationed in front of the portal entrance, I’d let a touch of my power slip through my fingers. A not-so-subtle hint I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries, and they’d let me pass through easily enough. But two of Raphael’s guards had insisted on accompanying me to make sure I was getting the princess and bringing her straight back to One for the midnight council meeting.

That’s how I ended up here, in Bryn’s parents’ home, with two lackeys sitting next to me at the dining room table.

I bobbed my knee up and down, my nerves eating me alive, screaming at me to go and find Bryn. But her parents assured me she would be okay. So, I waited impatiently for her and Adrian to return.

When the front door finally swung open, I was on my feet, running to her.

Her hair and clothes were filthy, but there was no mistaking the new aura around her.

She gave me a shy smile before I brought her in close, the perfume of her hair rebalancing me after the days without her. A light scent of cinder lingered on her. Recognizable, but I couldn’t place it.

I looked behind her, expecting to find Adrian, but she was alone.

Her father’s voice came from behind me. “Where’s Adrian?”

She pulled back, looking timidly at me. “We need to talk,” she whispered, her eyes darting past me to where her parents and Raphael’s men stood. “Privately.”

I looked past her at the open doorway, confused, but nodded, taking her hand in mine. “We need a moment,” I announced, and led her to the stairs.

One of the guards spoke up. “We were instructed to bring the princess immediately back to One.”

My shadows filled the room. “It can wait.”

Everyone was smart to take a step back as we walked up the stairs to the guest room beyond.

When I opened the door, nostalgia hit me.