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I kiss him.

Softly at first.

Then harder, because I’ve spent the last several hours terrified of losing him, and I need to feel his mouth against mine.

His hands settle at my waist.

He draws me closer, and the familiar heat between us flares.

“Careful, little flower,” he murmurs against my lips.

“Why?”

“Because I’m finding it increasingly difficult to remember my good intentions.”

I smile.

“Maybe I like testing them.”

His eyes darken.

“An exceptionally dangerous hobby.”

I kiss him again.

And the ground begins to tremble.

“Oh, come on,” I whisper. “Not the pavement again.”

But this time, nothing cracks.

Instead, the obsidian fragments surrounding us begin to glow.

Deep crimson light spills through their dark surfaces, spreading across the courtyard like fire beneath glass.

Vidar pulls back.

His eyes widen.

“What is happening?”

“I was hoping you knew!”

The fragments rise from the ground.

They circle us slowly, glittering beneath the moonlight.

Then a brilliant flash of magenta light bursts through the courtyard.

Vidar throws his arms around me.

The light washes over us.

Warm.

Powerful.

Almost unbearably beautiful.