Page 50 of Chains of Love

"Come." I gesture to the circle's center. "Kneel here."

He moves with fluid grace, dropping to one knee before me. His expression remains carefully neutral, but the bond betrays his turmoil – anger, hurt, confusion all swirling together.

Kaelor's claws scrape against stone as he paces the circle's perimeter. His amber eyes never leave Darak, muscles coiled tight beneath his dark fur. Seth mirrors him on the opposite side, his tail swishing in agitation.

"Whatever happens," I say, forcing steadiness into my voice, "stay outside the circle."

"We know the rules, pet," Seth replies, but his golden eyes betray his unease.

I focus on Darak, still kneeling before me. His dark hair falls loose around his shoulders, and my fingers itch to run through it one last time. The bond thrums between us, stronger than ever despite everything.

"Look at me," I whisper.

He raises his head, and for a moment I see past the warrior's mask – see the man who held me through stormy nights, who kissed my scars, who made me believe that he could truly love me.

I close my eyes against the sight. I can't falter now. The Day of Valentia only comes once a year, and the breaking must be done.

I raise my hands, feeling the magic pulse through the circle. "The Day of Valentia is upon us."

The candlelight catches in Darak's crimson eyes as he kneels before me. My throat tightens, but I force the words out.

"It is a day of love, devotion, and sacrifice, as Valentia sacrificed herself to spare the ones she loved, and they sacrificed themselves in devotion to her."

A petal drifts between us, carried by an unseen breeze. My fingers tremble as I trace the next rune in the air. The magic burns beneath my skin, eager to be released.

"But this year, today is about forgiveness." My voice cracks. Behind me, I hear Kaelor's low whine. "Valentia, I beg for your forgiveness for wasting this perfect, generous blessing you bestowed upon me. And Darak..."

Our bond trembles and I catch my breath at the intensity of his emotions – anger, betrayal, and underneath it all, a tenderness that breaks my heart.

"I beg your forgiveness for deceiving you. Even one lie is one too many, despite the truth we've shared."

Seth's scales rasp against stone as he shifts. The sound steadies me, reminds me why I must do this. I spread my arms wide, letting the magic flow freely.

"On this Day of Valentia, I sacrifice my love in turn for your freedom, Darak. So that you might find true happiness elsewhere, untainted by my heart."

Green light erupts from the circle, whipping my hair around my face. Flower petals spiral through the air, caught in the magical current. The breaking has begun.

Pain rips through me like molten steel, tearing a scream from my throat before I can stop it. My knees buckle, but I force myself to stay upright, digging my nails into my palms until they draw blood. The magic burns as it peels away layers of our connection, each strand feeling like a knife dragging through my soul.

The agony is worse than I imagined - worse than when Darak's blade scarred my cheek, worse than any spell gone wrong. Each severed thread between us feels like losing a piece of myself, but I endure it, knowing this sacrifice is the only way to set things right. My vision blurs, dark spots dancing at the edges, but I can still make out his shadowy form through the spinning petals.

Kaelor's roar echoes through the chamber. Through blurred vision, I see his massive form surge forward, claws extended.

"Stay back!" Seth's tail whips out, blocking his path. "The circle must remain unbroken. Interfering could destroy your own bonding."

"She's hurting!" Kaelor's growl reverberates off the stone walls.

"Liri?" Seth's voice carries a tremor I've never heard before. "We can stop?—"

"No!" I grit my teeth tighter, steadying myself. "I won't... won't waste this chance." The words come out between gasps as another wave of agony courses through me.

I won't let him be miserable, stuck with me for an entire year.

The bond stretches thin between Darak and me, each severed thread leaving an emptiness worse than the pain. It's like watching pieces of my soul unravel, one excruciating strand at a time. Tears stream down my face, but I keep my eyes locked on his. His crimson gaze burns with something I can't bear to name - an emotion too raw, too honest for what we are.

"I will still love you," I whisper, the words catching in my throat.

The truth of them cuts deeper than the magic ever could. Even now, with everything falling apart, I know it's not a lie. The realization terrifies me more than the ritual itself.

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