The family council happened on day forty-five with one week remaining until Eirlys's unbinding attempt, and we were—we were broken in ways therapy couldn't fix. Thorne was damaged from consciousness surgery. Hope was oscillating between exhaustion and manic work spurts. Selene was barely holding together. The four mates were terrified of Fae infiltration. Everyone was dying by degrees waiting for apocalypse.
"We need to make final decision." Kael's voice carried weight of everything unsaid. "About dimensional pressure regulation. About pressure anchor. About how we survive unbinding if we can't prevent it. About what we're willing to sacrifice. We need to decide right now while we're all still conscious enough to choose."
Right now while conscious. Right. Before Fae corrupted someone else. Before catastrophe gave us no time for deliberation.
