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“So,” I said after a while with my elbows on my knees. “I know you wish you could leave, and that the bond is keeping you here, but do you miss Earth? Will you go back once . . . once we figure out how to give me my bond back?”

He rested his head against the meteor and tilted his eyes to the swirling galaxies above. “After seeing a sky like this, who could ever go back?”

“That’s one thing we agree on.”

He kept his gaze on the heavens. “My parents cared more about the family business than anything else. Everything we did was to maintain the perfect image. It was exhausting. And it was a lie. My whole life was mapped out before I was even born. Even my engagement was arranged.”

My heart lurched.

When Maddock possessed my body, he’d glimpsed into my memories, but I had seen his too, and I remembered flashing through his revolving door of women .

“That’s awful, and I know you were in pain. I felt it. But that’s no excuse for how you treated her. You slept with other women,” I said, revulsion creeping up my throat.

“She wasn’t exactly faithful herself, and I know that’s not a good excuse,” he replied with a sigh.

“When I was in the crevice, I was in never-ending agony, but I didn’t regret.

I longed . Now, I regret almost everything I’ve ever done.

I died a disappointment to my friends, parents, and fiancée.

I never cared about the family business as much as they did.

Even when I tried—really tried—it was never enough. ”

A lump rose in my throat when I realized how much we had in common, how deeply our stories reflected each other’s. “I know the feeling. My parents had a company with an image to protect as well. I was a stain upon that image. One they tried to scrub clean no matter how much it rubbed me raw.”

“Your parents weren’t kind to you,” Maddock said, his eyes shifting from the heavens to me, his gaze piercing. “Even in your memories I could see that. They stole your life from you.”

A pang hit me in my chest. “If your life was all preplanned, they stole yours too.”

He nodded. “I tried to follow the path my father laid out for me, but I even failed at that, and it felt like my life was over. It was then I realized how much I had lost myself along the way. That’s when I got on my bike. I knew it wasn’t smart, but I was broken.”

The lump in my throat grew.

“I thought my life was over, and I had such little regard for it anyway. My time in the crevice showed me just how alive I was. How everything I thought was important in life really wasn’t. I had it all backwards. Was it like that for you?”

I hesitated, unsure how much I wanted to divulge to Maddock, but something in his eyes made me want to open up.

“ No. It was the opposite. I knew there was more to life, more to love. I just didn’t know how to reach it.

It all felt so far beyond my grasp, that to even hope for it felt like a form of self-torture. ”

“We’re two sides of the same coin,” he said, a look of shared understanding on his face. “Yet somehow, we both ended up here. Despite everything, and I’m so damn thankful for that. Thankful for you.”

I hadn’t realized he was holding my hand, his thumb gently tracing circles on my skin. My chest fluttered with warmth, but I immediately jolted away.

I had wanted to open up, but not like this—not enough for him to slip through my cracks and use our connection against me.

My sacred bond felt ripped out of my chest, and suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to be wrapped in my soul flame’s arms.

I took what I felt and pushed it down my bond to Rowen, letting him know I was thinking about him.

I stood up quickly and dusted off my pants. “We better get back to the village.”

We returned to the Wyn village in a swift, silent journey, taking no time to marvel at the shimmering strands of life. I kept my gaze forward, ready for this night to be over.

I sure as hell didn’t want to spend any more time with my bond stealer.

Weary from how much energy I’d expended and nervous that Rowen hadn’t made it back yet, I picked at my nails.

Our connection told me he was alive, his flame flickering strong and steady within my chest. It was a quiet comfort, yet I still found myself biting my nails down to the quick, tearing until they bled .

Maddock grabbed my wrist, his touch stalling my breath.

“Easy,” he murmured, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

“He’s all right, Keira. If you bite down on those anymore, you won’t have any fingers left.

And that worries me greatly. Rowen said whatever happens to you happens to me.

And I would really like to keep my hands in one piece. So cool it. He’s fine.”

His eyes perused my face, and his intense stare caused unwanted heat to rise in my cheeks. I cleared my throat and ripped my hand away, annoyed that Madds could feel Rowen in any capacity. “I know, I feel him too,” I retorted, sending Rowen another wave of warmth down the bond.

Suddenly, Nepta appeared at the edge of the clearing, her arms welcoming and her face anxious yet hopeful.

I let out a relieved breath.

“What news?” she asked, her senses telling her where we stood.

“The blades worked,” I said, patting Mithrion at my thigh. “And we brought the Ever-burn star back to life. She glows. Beautifully.”

“Thank the spirits,” Nepta exhaled, a breath that felt years in the making. “And the warriors?”

“Returned to the heavens,” I said solemnly, the heaviness in my heart reflected in the tone of my voice.

Nepta’s eyes closed, her head dipping in pained understanding. A moment of silence followed for the slain warriors. “What else?” she asked, sensing the tension that rippled off my body like smoke.

“Erovos is watching through his demons. The Voro-Kai saw everything,” Maddock said, his voice low and filled with respect. He had never spoken directly to Nepta, and it hit me how much this had become his fight as well.

“The Dark Spirit knows we have weapons, yet not enough soldiers to defeat him,” I added, disdain filling my voice. The fact that the Dark Spirit knew anything about our plans enraged me beyond belief.

“What is found out is too late to take back,” Nepta said. “But not all is bleak. We learned the weapons worked against the Voro-Kai.”

“It was only five blades,” Madds said, his voice raising to a heated tone. “We will need more than that to defeat those motherfuckers.” My gaze shot to Madds in shock, and he cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. Please forgive my crude language, your majesty.”

“That’s not her title,” I ground out in embarrassment.

A smirk lifted her wrinkled lips. “No harm. I quite like the sound of it.”

Madds continued unfazed, “We need everyone armed and ready for what’s coming. Those Voro-Kai are nasty beasts.”

My fingers tightened on Mithrion. I’d seen the amount of demons we needed to destroy. “We’re going to need a bigger forge.”

A heaviness sat between us, not one of devastation, but one of silent decision-making. Nepta raised her gaze, a woman capable of turning our plans into action. “I will have Bailon and Leer expand the forge to meet the demand.”

A new wave of hope and determination washed over me. The Voro-Kai may have tasted our metal, but they had yet to taste our ire.

This war was just getting started.

Rowen still hadn’t returned. My nerves were a twisted jumble in my stomach, but the flame belonging to Rowen flickered in my chest. I knew he was safe; I could feel it through our bond.

I sent him another little flare down our connection, smiling as I recalled the groans he’d made while we stripped each other bare with our blades.

To pass the time, I worked on the Phases of the Moon.

This late at night, the training grounds were empty, and I had the place to myself.

Sweat dripped down my face, but I didn’t let it deter me.

With Mithrion in my hand, a renewed sense of purpose fueled me.

Our movements were synchronized and symbiotic, as if we were training for battle together.

She was a new blade, but already, she had tasted blood. Astral demon blood. She was created in a time of war; I couldn’t expect anything less.

The motions became mediative, allowing my mind to sharpen yet flow in time with the blade.

I worked meticulously on the forms, yet with every thrust and slash, I tried to incorporate the fifth and final phase: the New Moon.

But that defeated the purpose entirely. I needed to learn so I could forget.

Suddenly, I sensed eyes on me, a predatory stare that gave me goosebumps.

Rowen was watching.

He appeared impressed by my physical prowess. I also noticed that he was aroused. Very aroused. His thick cock jutted against his pants. “Does this do something for you?” I asked with a smirk, pushing my ass out a little more than necessary on the next move.

His voice turned low and guttural. “It very much does. You’ve been pushing your desire down our bond all night.”

My jaw dropped as if I were surprised. “I thought I was sending you sweet nothings.”

“Definitely not. Do you know how difficult it is to hike with a cock that aches for you?”

“No,” I said, cocking one eyebrow at him, lowering into a very deep and suggestive lunge. “Tell me.”

“It makes me want to take you. Right here and now. ”

I strapped Mithrion to my thigh and stepped up to the incredible man who taught me love and inner strength, hope and belonging. He gazed down at me, and I smirked up at him as I lowered to my knees.

“Keira, what are you doing?” he rasped as I unbuttoned his pants and pulled out his cock.

“I thought it was obvious,” I replied, wrapping my hand around the thick base of his erection. “I’m going to put you in my mouth.”

I parted my lips and flicked my tongue onto the plump head of his erection, and his hips jerked. “Spirits,” he groaned, tilting his head back, his eyes falling closed.

I wrapped my mouth around him and stroked him with my tongue. He threaded his fingers through my tangled waves, guiding my mouth further down his length. My cheeks hollowed out as he hit the back of my throat, my lips nowhere close to meeting my hand.

His grip on my hair tightened as I sucked him in leisurely pulls, taking my time.

I worked my wrist and mouth together, pumping him deeper into my throat. I gagged but didn’t stop, loving the hard, velvety texture of him in my mouth.

His ragged groan made me smile around his girth.

His hips picked up speed, and my free hand shot to his hip to keep me steady as he thrust into me, and I gagged again.

“Breathe through your nose, Copeland. It will help you take more of me.” I did as he said and braced my other hand on his hip, trying to open my throat even more. “That’s it. Take me.”

I sucked him harder and deeper.

“Fuck,” he grunted as he pumped into my mouth, and my eyes watered. “I won’t last much longer.”

My nails dug into his ass, letting him know I was ready for him. His cock twitched against my tongue as his earthy taste spilled into my mouth, and I hungrily took everything he gave me.

His spasms eventually slowed, and his grip on my hair loosened. He gently cradled my face and tilted my head up, bringing me to my feet. He claimed my mouth and kept me steady as my knees went weak.

He pulled back and gazed into my eyes. “Keira, you are perfect.”

Rowen and I stood under the cover of darkness, little rays of moonlight shooting through the leaves and reflecting on our skin.

Rowen’s hand played with mine, his face one of sated bliss. Suddenly, his brow darkened. “You’re bleeding,” he said as he inspected my fingers.

“It wasn’t Madds,” I replied quickly, then my face flushed with shame. My self-inflicted wounds had tried to heal, but the constant picking kept them raw and sore. “I . . . I did that.”

He kissed the tender flesh around my nails and thumb. “Please don’t hurt yourself. These hands are far too precious.”

“Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m doing it.”

“Then I will just have to find ways to keep your hands busy,” Rowen murmured, taking my thumb in his mouth.

Heat blazed through my blood and shot to my core as his tongue pressed against the pad of my finger.

I slipped my thumb free, gently pulling down his bottom lip.

His mouth softened open with a groan, and I closed the distance between us, capturing his lips in a soul-deep kiss.

Rowen pulled me closer and squeezed me tight. His scent enveloped me, and his taste fed a hunger that could never be satisfied.

Such moments of simple bliss were few and far between, but I drank in every second, savoring the reprieve from the darkness. We held onto each other as if our lives depended on it, unwilling to let shadows find us.

And just for a few moments, nothing could pierce our stolen bubble of peace.