Page 31 of Second

Her heart swelled at his words, the honesty and conviction in his voice stealing her breath. She leaned down, pressing her lips to his in a soft, lingering kiss. When she pulled back, her voice was steady despite the storm of emotions swirling insideher.

“Then let’s figure out the rest,” she said. “One step at a time.”

Zar’Ryn nodded, his thumb brushing against her cheek. “Affirmative,” he agreed.

The silence that followed felt warm, comfortable, but it didn’t last. Couldn’t last. Elara shifted, resting her chin on his chest as she broke the quiet.

“What about Selyr?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern. “He’s not going to stop coming after us. You know that, right?”

Zar’Ryn’s expression darkened, his gaze sharpening. “I know.”

She struggled to keep the cascade of fear from swamping him through their connection. “He’s dangerous, Zar’Ryn. Brilliant, obsessive, and completely unhinged. If he catches us—”

“He will not,” Zar’Ryn interrupted, his voice firm. “I will not let him.”

Elara sighed, her fingers absently tracing the edge of his bracelet. “We can’t just keep running, though. We need a plan.”

Zar’Ryn shifted, sweeping her onto her back and propping himself up on one elbow as he stared down at her. “We will not run forever,” he said, his tone resolute. “If Selyr pursues us, we will face him. Defeat him.”

“Face him how?” she pressed. “Defeat him how? He’s not like the Marauders. He’s not going to charge at us with a sword. He’s going to outthink us. Outmaneuver us. He’ll use the bond against us if he can.”

His jaw tightened, his gaze flicking to her bracelet before returning to her eyes. “Then we outthink him first. Whatever he wants, whatever he is trying to achieve with these bracelets, we take it away from him. We make sure he has nothing to use against us.”

Elara frowned, her mind racing. “That’s easier said than done. He’s a scientist, Zar’Ryn. Like Tor’Vek. He has resources, technology, people working for him. All we have is each other.”

“AndTor’Vek. That is all we need,” he said simply, his voice steady. “You are the cleverest mind I have encountered, Elara. And I have been alive a long time. If you and Tor’Vek join forces…”

She blinked at the unexpected compliment, her cheeks warming. “I—thank you,” she stammered, caught off guard. “But I’m not sure cleverness is enough to outsmart someone like Selyr.”

“It will be,” he said with quiet confidence. “Because you are not alone in this. You have me. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

His words sent a shiver down her spine, the bond pulsing faintly in response. She wanted to believe him—to believe they could outmaneuver Selyr and whatever forces he commanded. But doubt lingered, ashadow she couldn’t quite shake.

“What if we can’t stop him?” she asked quietly. “What if he—”

“We will stop him,” Zar’Ryn interrupted, his voice fierce. “I will not let him hurt you, Elara. Not now. Not ever. He managed it once. But never again.”

The certainty in his voice left no room for argument, and Elara found herself nodding, the weight of her fear easing slightly under the warmth of his conviction. If Zar’Ryn believed they could win, then maybe—just maybe—they could.

As she settled back against him, her head resting on his chest, she closed her eyes and let the steady rhythm of hisheartbeat soothe her. The future was uncertain, the path ahead fraught with danger, but for now, in this moment, she feltsafe.

The weight of their conversation lingered between them, thick and heavy in the stillness of the room. Her fingers idly traced the smooth lines of his bracelet as her mind churned. She wanted to believe him, to trust in the strength of his words, but the fear of what lay ahead gnawed at her resolve.

Selyr wasn’t just a threat—he was a predator, relentless and cunning, and the bond they shared only painted a larger target on their backs.

“I hate this,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. “Not… us. Not you. Just… this. The danger. The running. The not knowing.”

Zar’Ryn’s hand stilled against her back, his fingers tightening slightly as if to anchor her. “I know,” he said softly. “And I hate that you have been pulled into it. If I could shield you from all of it, Iwould.”

She shook her head, her hair brushing against his chest. “It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault.”

“Maybe not,” he admitted, his voice low. “But it is my responsibility now. You are my responsibility.”

Her head shot up at that, her eyes narrowing as she met his gaze in the dim light. “I’m not some fragile thing you have to protect, Zar’Ryn. Ican take care of myself.”

“I know you can,” he said, his voice steady. “You have proven that over and over. But that does not change the fact that I want to protect you. That I need to protect you.”

The intensity in his voice stole her breath, and she found herself unable to look away from him. The bond between themthrummed faintly, asteady rhythm that matched the quiet resolve in hisgaze.

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