Page 40 of Kael

Just how many steps are there?

I swallow hard, my mouth dry. “And how many are there? What’s the last one?”

Kael’s expression shifts—serious, unreadable. He hesitates for just a second before he says, “Sharing a heartbeat.”

I blink. “The fuck does that mean?”

“It is… a synchronisation,” he says, as if that actually explains anything. “A way to align ourselves permanently.”

I stare at him, waiting for something horrifying about how exactly we do that.

Like sex.

Because if it’s sex, I swear to God?—

“It doesn’t involve mating,” he says quickly, cutting off my impending breakdown.

I exhale. “Oh. Well. Good.” I don’t trust the relief rolling through me, because none of this should matter. None of thisdoesmatter. I force myself to meet his gaze. “I have to do the same?” I ask. “All three things?”

“Yes.”

I hate the way something inside me yearns. The deep, painful ache in my chest that screams at me to give in. To take what’s mine.

But I can’t. Because he didn’t want me. Not at first. Not when it mattered.

I straighten, locking my jaw. “No.”

Kael stills.

“I don’t want it,” I say, the words like glass in my throat.

He watches me, silent.

I clench my fists, digging my nails into my palms just to keep my voice even. “I don’t give a shit about fate or anything else,” I tell him. “You don’t deserve me.”

Kael flinches like I just stabbed him in the gut. His markings go wild, flashing in chaotic bursts, his skin vibrating with unspoken emotion.

He has no words.

The pain in my chest nearly doubles me over, but I don’t let it show. I inhale sharply. “Let’s get moving.”

His jaw ticks. “Son?—”

I hold up a hand.No.

“We need to find the doctor,” I say firmly. “We need to get back to Dathanor. Save Dawson.” I force myself to swallow the lump in my throat. “And then we can go our separate ways.”

Kael doesn’t respond. But he doesn’t need to. Because the look in his eyes? It says he heard every single word.

And it fucking destroyed him.

Good.

It should.

Even if it’s destroying me too.

With the darkness drawing in,it’s almost time to rest. We’ve been lucky so far—no beasties with too many teeth trying to take a bite out of us. But travelling at night? Yeah, that’s a shit idea. Not to mention, I’m starving.

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