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Taking his face in my hands, I make him look at me. “I want to do this so I can stay withyou.”

It’s the truth, I realize, plain and wonderful and terrifying all at once.

“You do?”

“Of course I do,” I whisper. “No matter what else happens, I have to believe the Goddess brought us together for a reason. And besides, we’re married, you’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”

“I’m not going to get rid of you ever.” His embrace is fierce when he pulls me back against him, breath still coming fast and shallow, tone booking absolutely no argument. Not that I intend to give him any.

“Good,” I say.

Melting into the strong circle of his arms, I inhale him deeply. Woods and smoke and a hint of spice. It calms me more than any of my own deep breathing ever could.

“We still have time to search for the answer here,” he says, stroking my hair. “We don’t have to jump to any rash action.”

I shake my head. “How much time do we have, really, before people start getting hurt? Or dying? Eren, disasters like this are going to keep happening until we can find out why the bargain is failing.”

“There’s no reason to believe—”

“There’severyreason to believe. I can… I can feel it. Or taste it? I’m not sure. Anyway, it was the same thing I felt when I first got here on the night of the Tithe. Only now it’s… different somehow. Stronger.”

I shudder a little, remembering the bitter taste of the magick when we arrived here, the way it washed over me just as the mountain shook.

“You’re certain?” he asks.

“Yes.”

Eren falls silent for a few moments, thinking. “Where would you go when you return to your realm?”

“To the coven hall, to speak with my mother. And also to see my friend Joan.”

Eren looks down at me questioningly.

“Partly because I want to see her,” I say, a little sheepishly. “But also because she owns a teashop that’s popular with witches, and she always seems to have a pulse on what’s happening in the community outside the coven.”

He nods. “If you believe it will help, we can arrange for you to travel back through the Veil. When do you want to go?”

“Sooner rather than later,” I tell him, laying my head back against his chest.

His tail curls around my midsection, keeping me pinned in place. Strangely, I don’t mind the feeling of restraint, don’t mind being held close to him when I can tell it makes him feel better.

“How about tomorrow?”

“Alright,” I say, letting out a tense breath. “Alright. I can go back through the Veil tomorrow and—”

“Wecan go back through the Veil tomorrow,” he gently corrects me. “You’re mad if you think I’d let you go back alone.”

“Aren’t you needed here?”

His lips press to the top of my head. “I’m always needed here, but this is more important.”

I want to argue the point, but I hold back. He’s made a concession, an enormous one, and I can only guess how much it must cost him. It’s enough for tonight. Enough of a victory and enough of a compromise.

“We should get some sleep,” I say, a little reluctantly.

“We should,” Eren agrees.

Surprised a bit at his easy agreement, I tip my head back to look up at him and find him gazing at me with a mix of tenderness and fear in his eyes. My heart aches in response, and I reach back to run my hand along his jaw.