Page 62 of Little Wing (Shades of Fairhaven #1)

I t took eight months for me to feel the taut cord that connected me to Luca snap.

It happened suddenly while Silas and I enjoyed a late afternoon in Seattle.

It felt like a brief sting of a rubber band snapping against skin.

It happened without warning, like a nudge that aimed to knock me off-balance.

But I barely moved, only shifted my weight to my other foot before leaning down to select a bouquet of fresh flowers from a vendor at the market.

Every day since the sentencing, I wondered when it would happen and what it would feel like. Would I fear the severance? Would I squeal in joy? Would I miss the connection we had? Would I miss him ?

No—it was none of that.

One moment, I was tied to Luca, and the next, I wasn’t.

It was that simple.

I understood that the pain that I'd endured over the last few centuries would not disappear as quickly as the tether did. It would take time to heal, but I knew it would be possible. After all, I had a tether that remained a source of so much of my joy.

When my tether to Luca snapped, I paid for my flowers and walked back over to Silas who was waiting for me. He studied my face and allowed his smile to widen even more when I gave him a slow nod. That was all I needed to communicate for him to know that there was a shift in my being.

I was still there; I was finally free.

The world didn’t shatter when Luca’s leash on me was removed.

“You ready for the next stop?” Silas asked, pressing a quick kiss against my temple.

With a small nod, I tucked my flowers under my arm and laced my fingers with his before moving on from the market—ready for whatever would come next.