Kael’s hand never left mine as we walked down the stairs, his thumb brushing slow circles over my skin, a silent reassurance. When we reached the living room, voices drifted toward us—and then Malrik was there.
He froze when he saw me.
For half a second, none of us moved. Then Elira was suddenly in my arms, clinging to me like she was afraid I’d vanish again, her face buried against my shoulder.
“You’re here, and you’re real,” she whispered.
“I’m real,” I promised, holding her tight.
“And I’m right here.”
Malrik stepped closer, slower, his eyes shining with emotions he clearly didn’t know how to voice yet. He wrapped his arms around us both, and for the first time since that night that I had been pulled away from the human world, I felt something inside my chest settle.
Kael staye
