The castle walls rose around them, cold stone pressing against the mist that clung to the morning. Alina followed Kael in silence, the tether at her wrist pulsing faintly, a reminder of his presence, of the Veil, of the balance between them.
Her curiosity broke the quiet. “Why do you hold control so tightly?” she asked, voice steady though her pulse beat faster. “With the Veil, I understand. But everything else… why is it important to you?”
Kael’s gaze swept over her, sharp and steady, letting her feel the weight behind his words. “Control keeps chaos at bay,” he said, low, deliberate. “It protects you and me. It protects everything. Letting go recklessly threatens stability. You are part of the balance I maintain. That mark connects us. It reminds you. It steadies you. It keeps the Veil
