Page 46 of Crossing Between

I woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains and Elias's warmth pressed against my back. For a moment, I just lay there, savoring the feeling of his arm draped over my waist and his steady breathing against my neck. Last night had been incredible and that didn't even begin to cover it.

My stomach growled, interrupting my blissful recollection. Elias stirred behind me, his arm tightening slightly around my waist.

"Good morning, kaerasta," his voice deep and raspy with sleep.

I rolled over to face him, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face. "Morning." I leaned in for a kiss, morning breath be damned.

"Hungry?" He smiled when we pulled apart.

"Starving," I admitted. "Last night was quite the workout."

A hint of pink colored his cheeks, which I found absolutely adorable on someone as normally stoic as Elias. "Oh, it was ."

We didn't rush getting dressed. I borrowed one of his t-shirts, which hung almost to my knees, and paired it with my underwear from yesterday.

Elias pulled on sweatpants and a fitted t-shirt that showed off every delicious muscle in his torso.

The domesticity of it all, getting ready together, stealing kisses between putting on clothes, made my heart swell.

As we made our way downstairs, the smell of bacon and pancakes filled the air, making my stomach growl even louder.

We entered the kitchen to find Kenji at the stove, flipping pancakes with expert precision while Varon leaned against the counter nearby, sipping from a mug of what I assumed was coffee.

The scene was so cozy, it made my chest ache. Kenji wore an apron over his clothes that read "Kiss the Cook" in bright red letters and there was a small stack of slightly charred bacon on a plate beside him.

"Good morning, lovebirds," Kenji's voice was cheerful and he didn't turn around. "Hope you worked up an appetite last night. I heard some interesting noises."

I felt my face heat up, but before I could respond, Varon rolled his eyes. "Leave them be, Kenji. Not everyone is as shameless as you."

Kenji just laughed, finally turning to face us. His eyes widened slightly as they roved over me, then Elias, his gaze lingering on the places where we had probably left marks on each other. Rather than looking jealous or upset, a brilliant smile spread across his face.

"The thread is strong now between all of us," now his voice was filled with genuine joy.

I blinked, looking between the three men. Varon and Elias looked confused.

"Thread?" Varon raised an eyebrow.

Kenji set down his spatula and turned fully toward us, his expression animated. "The red thread of fate. In Japanese mythology, it's an invisible red string around those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break."

I moved to the plate of bacon, picking up a slightly burned piece and taking a bite. Despite being a bit crispy, it was delicious.

"So you think we're all connected by this thread?" Varon looked at him warily.

"I know we are," Kenji replied with absolute certainty. "I've been seeing it in my visions for years, but last night, something shifted. Something strengthened."

Elias shifted beside me, his posture suddenly uncertain. It was rare to see him look so vulnerable.

"All of us?" he asked quietly. "Or just through sharing Zoey?"

The question hung in the air. I froze mid-chew, suddenly realizing what he was asking.

Kenji set down his spatula, crossed the kitchen in three long strides, and stopped directly in front of Elias. Without warning, he tangled his fingers in Elias's blonde hair, yanked his head back, and crushed their lips together in a fierce, passionate kiss.

My jaw dropped, bacon forgotten in my hand. Beside me, Varon made a choking sound that might have been surprise.

The kiss was not gentle or questioning. It was demanding, powerful, and unmistakably sexual.

I could see Kenji's tongue slide against Elias's, could hear the soft, involuntary groan that escaped Elias's throat.

Far from pushing Kenji away, Elias's hands had come up to grip Kenji's arms, holding on as if for dear life.

When Kenji finally pulled back, he looked utterly smug as he stared into Elias's dazed face.

"It's ALL of us," Kenji's voice was rough with emotion. He turned his gaze to Varon, raising an eyebrow in challenge. "Every. Single. One."

Varon stood frozen for a long moment, his expression unreadable. I held my breath, not sure what to expect. Finally, he sighed, set down his coffee mug, and gave a small, almost resigned nod.

"It was inevitable with how annoying you are, Kenji," he seemed grumpy but the words lacked any real heat. There was something almost fond in the way he looked at the oni instead.

A giddy happiness bubbled up inside me.

Kenji was already opening his mouth to reply, his expression triumphant, when the air in the middle of the kitchen suddenly shimmered and warped. We all jumped back as a swirling portal materialized, pulsing with teal and gold energy.

Quilith stepped through, their flowing black silk garments billowing around their slender form. The portal snapped shut behind them with a soft pop.

My initial happiness at seeing them faded quickly when I took in their appearance. Quilith looked exhausted, their normally perfect hair tangled and disheveled. Dark circles shadowed their eyes, and there was a tightness to their mouth that spoke of worry and strain.

"I have more information," they announced, obviously worn down, their gaze settling on me. "And Zoey, you probably won't like it."

I watched as Quilith staggered slightly, their normally graceful movements now stiff with exhaustion. The tray of half-burnt bacon and fluffy pancakes sat forgotten as the tension in the room thickened.

"Let's move somewhere more comfortable," Varon suggested, his body coiled tightly with concern.

We migrated to one of Varon's sitting rooms. I settled between Varon and Kenji on one of the larger couches, drawing comfort from their warmth on either side of me.

Elias moved to Quilith, guiding them to an armchair. " You look terrible," he was blunt, but his touch was gentle. "Let me get you some tea."

"That would be appreciated," Quilith's melodic voice strained.

While Elias disappeared to the kitchen, I studied Quilith more closely. They seemed duller than usual, lacking their typical iridescent gleam. Even the silken fabric of their flowing garments appeared wrinkled and travel-worn.

Elias returned quickly with a steaming mug of tea, which Quilith accepted with trembling hands. The dragon took a careful sip, closing their eyes as if savoring the simple comfort.

The five of us sat in tense silence. I fidgeted with the hem of Elias's borrowed t-shirt, my mind racing with possibilities, each worse than the last. Whatever news Quilith brought had clearly taken a toll on them, and that terrified me.

Five minutes passed with only the sound of the crackling fire and Quilith's occasional sips breaking the silence. The waiting was excruciating.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Quilith," I reached across to place my hand on their knee. "Please, what did you find out? Whatever it is, we need to know."

Quilith's eyes, ancient and knowing, met mine. They took one final sip of tea before setting the empty mug on the side table with care.

"I spoke with several dragons who are on the council that governs magic between us all," they began, their voice stronger now but heavy.

I felt Kenji tense beside me, his hand finding mine and squeezing gently.

"And?" Varon prompted when Quilith paused.

"When I told them of a human soulbinder, all the dragons were outraged," Quilith continued. "They said it was not possible. That such power could not exist outside dragonkind."

My stomach twisted with anxiety. "But I am one. We've seen what I can do."

"Yes," Quilith nodded. "That's why they demanded a piece of you to test for your magic."

"A piece of me?" I echoed, my voice rising slightly.

Quilith held up a placating hand. "Nothing invasive. I took your spare brush from your purse and took some of your hair. I hope you don't mind the intrusion, but I needed something that only you used."

I relaxed slightly, nodding for them to continue.

"The dragons ran magical tests. Complex, ancient magic that I don't fully understand myself. And at the end," they paused, looking at me with an expression I couldn't quite read. "Every one of them was shocked."

The room fell silent again. I could hear my own heartbeat thundering in my ears.

"Why?" Elias was kind but firm despite the tension radiating from him.

Quilith's eyes never left mine as they spoke. "Zoey has dragon blood within her bloodline."

My mouth fell open. "I'm sorry, what now?"

"Dragon blood," Quilith repeated. "It's happened in the past, but it's extremely rare. A hybrid is never able to take dragon form but gains their line's magic. And yours, Zoey, is that of a Soulbinder."

I felt like I couldn't breathe. Dragon blood? In me? I looked down at my hands, trying to reconcile this revelation with everything I knew about myself.

"That's not all," Quilith continued, their voice dropping even lower.

The heaviness in their tone made my head snap up. Whatever was coming next was the real reason for their distress.

"If Zoey were to become corrupted somehow, for example, if hatred filled her soul, she could become an Essencefeaster."

The word hung in the air like a death sentence. From the corner of my eye, I saw Varon go completely still, his face paling even more than it already was.

"What do you mean?" I whispered, though a part of me already knew, already feared the answer.

"Essencefeasters were originally failed Soulbinders. Dragons," Quilith' each word was careful and measured. "Ones who let grief, pain, or trauma twist their magic inward."

The room spun around me. I felt Kenji's arm tighten around my shoulders, anchoring me.

"Dragons of the soul line walk closest to the Veil," Quilith took my hand. "Your magic, Zoey, can create life , but if bent the wrong way, it consumes it instead. That's the path of an Essencefeaster."