Ella's POV
We walked in silence.
The dungeons faded behind us, but the weight of Dean's words clung to me like smoke. My parents hadn't died for nothing. They died for me. Because of me. And now... the Guardian, the Hollow King—these weren't stories anymore. They were buried truths, clawing their way into the light.
I didn't realize I was shaking until we stepped outside and Remo caught my wrist.
"Ella."
I stopped, chest tight. His eyes were on me—dark, unreadable, but burning. Always burning.
"I'm fine," I whispered, even though I wasn't. "I just... I need a minute."
But I didn't pull away. I never really could with him. Not since he'd marked me. Not since we'd given into the bond in every way that mattered.
He studied me for a moment, jaw tight. "You're not fine."
"I said I'm—"
