Page 32 of Second

“You scare me sometimes,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “Not because of who you are, but because of what you make me feel. It’s like… I’m not just me anymore. I’m us.”

Zar’Ryn’s expression softened, and he reached up to cup her face, his touch firm but gentle. “You are you, Elara. Strong. Brilliant. Unyielding. The bond does not define that. It only amplifies what is already there.”

Her throat tightened, and she blinked back the sting of tears. “Then why does it feel like I’ll fall apart if I lose you?”

“You will not,” he said, his voice low and fierce. “You are stronger than you know. But you will not lose me. This I promise.”

Before she could respond, he leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was both tender and consuming. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was a promise, avow etched into the bond that linked them. His hand tangled in her hair, holding her close as if letting her go was unthinkable.

When they finally broke apart, her breath came in shallow gasps, her heart pounding against her ribs. Zar’Ryn’s gaze remained steady, unwavering, and his next words settled over her like a shield.

“You said you hate the danger, the running, the not knowing. So do I,” he said quietly. “But I do not hate this. Ido not hate us. And I will do everything in my power to make sure we have a chance to figure out what this is—what we can be.”

She pressed her forehead to his, her fingers curling into his hair. “I want that, too. Iwant it so much it scares me.”

“Good,” he said, afaint smile tugging at his lips. “Fear keeps us sharp. But do not let it take what lies between us away from you. From us.”

The bond flared delicately, not with the chaos or confusion it so often brought, but with a quiet sense of unity. Elara felt it settle into her chest, warm and steady, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—they could find their way through the storm.

Zar’Ryn shifted, rolling them so that she lay beneath him, his weight pressing her into the mattress in a way that made her feel grounded, safe. His lips brushed against her temple, and his voice came as a low murmur against herskin.

“You are not alone in this,” he said. “No matter what comes, you will always have me.”

Her arms tightened around him as he wrapped his arms around her, her eyes slipping closed as she let his words wash over her. Whatever dangers awaited them, whatever challenges they would face, she knew one thing for certain. With Zar’Ryn beside her, she could face themall.

The silence that followed their conversation remained soft, comforting. Elara lay nestled against Zar’Ryn, her fingers absently tracing the lines of his ribs as his hand rested lightly on her hip. The warmth of his body seeped into her, grounding her in a way that felt both foreign and natural. She could feel his steady breathing, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, and the faint vibration of the bond that tied them together.

For the first time in days, the fear that had been a constant companion seemed to ease, replaced by a fragile sense of hope. She didn’t know what the future held, but lying here with him, she dared to believe they could faceit.

Zar’Ryn’s hand slid up her back, his touch firm yet tender as he pulled her closer. “You are quiet,” he murmured, his voice a delicious, low rumble.

“I’m thinking,” she replied, echoing his earlier words with a faint smile.

He turned his head to look at her, his amethyst gaze catching the faint glow of the bracelet on her wrist. “About what?”

She hesitated, her fingers stilling against his skin. “About you,” she admitted softly. “About us. About… what happens next.”

Zar’Ryn’s hand moved to cup her face, his thumb brushing gently across her cheek. “We take it one step at a time,” he said, his voice steady. “Whatever comes, we will face it.”

His words were simple, but the conviction in them made her chest tighten. She nodded, her throat too tight to speak, and leaned into his touch.

“I meant what I said earlier,” he continued, his tone softer now. “You are not just someone I am bonded to. You are more than that. Ido not know what the bond will bring, but I know this—what I feel for you is real. And I will fight for that. For you.”

Her breath hitched, and she felt a surge of emotion rise in her chest. “You make it sound so easy,” she said, her voice trembling. “But what if—what if it all falls apart? What if—”

“It will not,” he interrupted firmly. “Because we will not let it. We will make mistakes. We will face challenges. But we will not fall apart, Elara. Not if we choose to fight for this. For us.”

She closed her eyes, her forehead pressing against his chest as his words washed over her. The bond between thempulsed faintly, awarm, steady rhythm that echoed the unspoken promise in his voice.

“I choose this,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I choose you.”

Zar’Ryn’s arms tightened around her, and she felt his lips brush against her hair. “And I choose you,” he murmured. “Every time.”

They lay like that for a while, the quiet wrapping around them like a cocoon. Elara’s mind drifted, the tension in her body slowly unwinding as she let herself believe in the possibility of a future with him. Afuture where they weren’t just surviving, but living with one another.

“We should rest,” he informed her, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Tomorrow will bring its own challenges.”

She nodded, though the thought of sleep felt distant. “Zar’Ryn?”

---