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Yet the star shone.

Brighter than before.

Words failing, I acted.

I wound my essence tight.

And then, I followed the light.

Ayla

Abruptly, the labyrinth ended in nothing.

I scrambled for footing, nearly falling off a ledge.

A vast, thick black fog filled everything beyond.

In the distance, my dim star shone.

I focused upon it.

I fueled it as Ninti fueled me.

Like when we failed on the beach.

We powered it, and light grew again.

“Zayne!”Stars sang through my voice.

Ninti’s howl echoed across the chasm.

The power felt right, our souls aligned.

But this time, we did not burn out.

Attuned, we burned brighter still.

A figure formed from the mists.

Our star shed it with light.

Texture gathered next.

And then color.

Becoming…

“Zayne.”

Zayne

We slammed back into our bodies, and I claimed myself. Air, free from mists, filled my lungs. The sweet evidence of life brought water to my eyes, and I rushed to clear it, desperate to see the world I had almost lost.

Ayla loomed over me, looking down, her chest heaving, a curtain of her red hair tickling my chin. Her green eyes glinted with relief.

Wasting no time, I sat up and kissed her.

“My mate,”I declared, my tongue entering her mouth and hungry for more.