Page 182 of What Blooms from Death

I didn’twantto be connected to him.

And now that he’d drained my magic and left these scars on my body…just how deep did our bond go?

Could he feel me at this very moment?

Could I have felthim, if I’d tried to?

As if he could sense my distress, Bastian added, “I suppose it gives us some hope, that your connection to Aleks seems at least as strong as any connection you share with Lorien. Maybe the amount of magic he retained from Lorien’s attempt to overtake his body will give us the edge we need to tip things in our favor.”

“Hopefully.” I tried to sound optimistic, even as a voice in the back of my mind whispered—but at what cost?

I couldn’t imagine any scenario where Aleks and me being so connected to Lorien didn’t end poorly.

Tragically.

My brother’s voice remained solemn, his eyes troubled, as he said, “Anyway, my point is the end was coming soon, either way. So there’s no sense in wasting your time apologizing about it.”

I forced myself to talk a step back from the wall, to stop obsessing over the breaking ground. We were quiet for a few moments before Bastian spoke again.

“Although, as long as we’re apologizing…”

I glanced over and saw him studying the scars along my face and neck.

“That wasn’t supposed to happen,” he said. “I should have stayed closer to you the other night. I should have kept you safe.”

I waved the apology away, same as he’d done with mine. “You’ve kept this palace and everything around it safe for nearly twenty-five years,” I pointed out. “For what it’s worth, I think it’s time you gave yourself a break.”

He chuckled softly. “You think we have time for breaks?”

I grimaced. “No, I guess not.” I tilted my face toward his. In a quieter, more serious tone, I added, “But I’m here, now, atleast—so it isn’t all on you anymore. You don’t have to do things alone.”

He exhaled a long, slow breath, his gaze fixed on the cloudy sky, before acquiescing with a slight nod.

I elbowed him in the side and added, “But youdohave to stop bossing me around—and stop trying to protect me so damn much.”

He rubbed at the spot where my elbow had jabbed him, his mouth curving in one corner. “I’ll try.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

We stood for a while longer, watching the lighting shift under the strange sky, discussing potential plans and battle strategies. It was growing darker. Quieter. The air itself seemed to be pulling in around us, like the world was inhaling one last time before a deep, dark plunge.

I yawned, and—just like that—the concerned demeanor overtook my brother once more as he nodded me toward the palace. “Go get some rest.”

I arched a brow.

“Or don’t,” he amended, grinning as he held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry. Old habits.”

I laughed, declaring him a hopeless cause before bidding him goodnight and making my way down through the gatehouse and heading into the palace.

There was onlyone place I would be able to rest, I knew—and it wasn’t my own room. I risked drawing attention to Aleks if Iwent to his makeshift prison, but I didn’t care; I needed to be near him.

The guards outside that prison tensed as I approached, their breathing quickening, their eyes narrowing.

I drew my shoulders back and fixed them with the most queenly stare I could manage. “I’ll be staying in here tonight. You won’t disturb us unless I summon you.”

They exchanged a quick look. The tension in their limbs held for only an instant longer before they bowed and stepped aside.

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