Elira woke in a room she did not recognise.
Stone walls. Black glass windows. A ceiling too high to feel safe.
And a presence.
Not beside her.
Everywhere.
She sat up too fast—and pain snapped through her chest.
She froze.
The pain wasn't hers alone.
Somewhere else, something else reacted.
A door opened.
Kael Dravenhart stepped in.
He looked… worse.
Not injured.
Affected.
"You feel it," he said.
It wasn't a question.
Elira pressed a hand to her chest. "What is this?"
Kael's gaze darkened.
"The curse bound us."
Silence.
Then—
"You're lying."
"I do not lie," he said simply.
A lie would require emotion. He had none in his voice.
He stepped closer.
Elira felt it again—pressure, pulling between them.
"If I harm you," he said, "I suffer."
Elira stared at him.
"And if I die?"
Kael's silence answered too quickly.
Neither of them liked the answer.