Page 111 of Twisted Bonds

Sunder’s gaze remains fixed on the space between us as he gently takes Bobble’s hand and gives it a firm squeeze. Only then does he lift his gaze to meet mine, where I stand with Mira in my arms, and speaks. “Tell us what to do. I trust you.”

The impact of those three words hit me hard, catching me off guard. Mira breaks free from my embrace, leaving me with a sense of loss that is almost unbearable.

She moves to Sunder, still with soft pleading on her lips to reconsider. He wraps his arms around her and whispers into her ear with a sad smile on his lips, “I’ll still be with you. Every time Dan’thiel is a thoughtless asshole, you’ll know it’s me knocking at the doors of the bond asking to be seen.”

She muffles a half laugh with a sob, pressing her face against his chest. Bobble moves in behind her, wrapping both her and Sunder into a hug. “And whenever you feel the comfort of his love, just remember that it’s me. I’ll always be there with you. In this life and every life after, guiding his love like a cozy blanket and your favorite fuzzy socks.”

Callum pulls himself to his feet with great effort. The bloodstained floor beneath speaks volumes to how much time he has left. Sunder and Bobble release their group hug with Mira, and she goes to him. Half holding him up, half hugging. “When he sees the beauty in mundane things, or spends hours pursuing knowledge that seems meaningless or benign. That’s when you’ll see me.”

Cor’than puts an arm around Callum, keeping him upright as she finally turns to me. My hand trembles as it reaches to gently cup her flushed cheek, feeling the heat radiating from her skin like a raging inferno. I am consumed by the intensity of my longing for her, unable to control the tumultuous emotions swirling within me. “When he’s so handsome, you just can’t look away.”

Mira releases a sudden laugh, and I mirror her smile as I pull her against me one last time. “I love you, Mira. I wish we’d had more time. I wish things had been different.”

“I know,” she whispers against me. “I love you too.”

I slowly close my eyes, savoring the sensation of her presence as it washes over me and fills me with a sense of peace. The warmth of her touch and the acceptance in her gaze provide the closure I need. Yet at the same time, she stirs a fire within me, igniting a spark of courage that I had forgotten existed. And amidst all these emotions, there is an overwhelming longing, coursing through every fiber of my being, for more moments like this with her.

I inhale deeply, savoring her scent one last time as I kiss the top of her head

“Mira, it’s time,” Cor’than tells her. She nods, pulling away from me with teary eyes.

“Ok,” I say, my voice recovering some of its earlier steady command. “Stand as the four corners of a square. This won’t take long.”

I take one last look at Mira as she goes to assist Cor’than in helping Callum into place. My heart is at ease knowing that even if I can’t be with her, she will be taken care of. The four of us cherish her above all else, and as Dan’thiel, I am confident that we will ensure her safety and well-being.

No matter what may come.

The four of us join hands, exchanging glances of trepidation. Yet a calm settles over us. An acceptance. I hold Callum’s gaze for the space of eternity. As I begin the incantation to start the ritual, I hear Bobble whisper, “I’m glad to have met you. All of you. I’m glad it ends like this. Together.”

fifty-eight

Dan’thiel

I furiously pace the floors of my cell, straining to hear any noises in the hallway beyond. I hold on to hope that Rynlin finds a way to release me. Let me know join the fight against the Underworld creatures. To fight alongside the Guardians. Somehow.

My fingers twitch at the idea, a yearning pulling at my stomach. I’ve never wanted anything more than to be out there. Fighting. Protecting. Not just rotting here in this godsforsaken cell.

My steps falter and I am brought to a sudden halt, my feet seemingly rooted in place, as if held by an invisible force. A tingling sensation spreads through my entire being. It’s as if my very soul is being enveloped in a mysterious energy.

I stare at my hands in awe, slowly lifting them up before me. They glisten with a translucent light, almost ethereal in appearance. Delicate wisps of smoke floating away on a gentle breeze.

My eyes widen to the point of pain. This is it. The Vessel and the Shards, our last hope, have failed. My heart plummets into a bottomless pit, knowing that Yurghen has emerged victorious. Eyveriel, Mira, Cor’than - all doomed to an eternal slumber.

In my last moments of consciousness, a haunting thought lingers in my mind - The fate of the entire world is lost in the hands of our enemy.

I take a deep breath.

Breath. Life.

Musky dirt and distant smoke tangles with the metallic scent of blood heavy in the air. The sound of chaos ring distantly in my ear. My eyes open on instinct in a dimly lit room.

Mira stands hand in hand with Cor’than, their fingers intertwined tightly as if drawing strength from one another. Their backs are against an empty stone hearth in a humble peasant home. Mira’s cheeks are streaked with tears and dirt, her expression twisted in a combination of grief and anger. My confusion gives way to horror as I notice the four lifeless bodies lying on the ground around them, their eyes glazed with peaceful acceptance.

The Shards lie around what looks like a hastily drawn ritual summoning circle where I now stand in the center. Two of the Shards, Sunder and Bobble, are still holding hands with glazed eyes, staring but not seeing.

“They did it.”

I let out a gasp of disbelief as my mind tries to comprehend the situation. Despite the awe and excitement bubbling inside me, Cor’than’s presence beside me brings a sense of unease as he steps forward. As Mira weeps into her own embrace, her gut-wrenching sobs drown out any thoughts of celebration or hope that I may have had. Part of me wants to rejoice in victory, but another part is filled with guilt and sorrow for what it has cost her.

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