Kora’s POV
The silence after the ritual was unbearable. It didn’t just hang in the air—it lived inside me. Every sound felt distant, as if I were underwater. I could see Edward standing there, his mouth moving, his hand reaching for mine, but the warmth, the pulse, the bond that used to hum quietly beneath my skin… was gone.
I had thought I was ready for this. I had convinced myself that breaking—or sealing—the bond was the right thing. But as the last spark of magic faded, it felt like someone had ripped half of me away and left the wound open.
Edward repeated something, his voice a soft rumble that I had to listen to now. Before, I used to feel it inside my chest. Now it was just sound.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
His eyes searched mine, the silver in them dimmer than usual. “You’re not.”
