Chapter 13
786 Words
He exhaled slowly. "Bonding changes everything. It links us. For good. It could backfire. It could make you a target in ways you’re not ready for.”
“Pretty sure I’m already a target,” she said, dry.
“I mean worse,” he said. “They want us because of what we could be. Bonding might make us stronger, yeah. Or it might light us up like a beacon and bring every dark thing crawling out to find us.”
The silence that followed was heavy.
But Eve still looked at him, eyes steady. “Then let’s not give them time to get here.”
“Eve, this—” Caelum stopped.
His words trailed off the second he saw her eyes.
They were glowing a bright, electric celestial blue, like lightning wrapped in storm clouds, like something divine remembered its power and decided to show up in her face.
“Cal?” she whispered, blinking fast. “What’s happening?”
She held up her hands, and even in the dim light, they shimmered faintly, light clinging to her fingers like static. Her whole body buzzed like she’d touched something she wasn’t supposed to.
Caelum didn’t hesitate. His voice dropped, calm but urgent. “Your eyes… Eve, hold my hand. Close your eyes.”
She didn’t ask why.
She just reached out—one hand to his—and let her eyes fall shut.
For a moment, everything was still.
The air was too quiet. Like the world was holding its breath.
And then it hit.
The ground trembled beneath them, a low shudder that rattled through the floor. The chains binding Caelum clanked hard against the wall. Sparks flicked at their fingertips.
Eve’s heart pounded. Her bones felt like they were being rewritten. Her chest pulled tight like her soul was splitting—
And then—
It stopped. But not in a bad way.
She didn’t feel broken. She felt whole.
Like something inside her that had always been searching… finally stopped.
She opened her eyes.
Caelum’s eyes were glowing now too. That same celestial blue.
For a second, they just looked at each other.
And then Caelum blinked.
“My chains,” he said.
The cuffs had snapped open. Quietly. Without force. As if they’d simply decided to stop holding him.
Eve spun around.
Naomi was sitting up, rubbing her wrists. Jonathan, Jayden, and Elias were too—wincing and murmuring, pulling at broken chain links now scattered on the ground.
“What the hell?” Elias muttered, wide-eyed.
“What just happened?”
Eve walked up to them, urgency in every step.
“Look, there’s no time to explain everything—but we need to get out of here. Now.”
She glanced at each of their faces, all confused and wide-eyed, and gave a small, reassuring smile.
“I promise I’ll tell you everything. Just… not here.”
She turned back to Caelum, who was already standing. He looked stronger and more grounded, like the bond had breathed life back into him.
“Can you take them home?” she asked quietly.
He nodded, but there was hesitation in his eyes.
“Yeah… but I can’t take everyone at once. One of us has to stay behind.”
“I’ll stay.”
“What?” His voice sharpened. “No.”
“Cal—”
“No, Eve. Absolutely not. Are you hearing yourself?”
“I am. And I’m thinking clearly.” Her tone softened, but her resolve didn’t. “They don’t have powers. They can’t fight back. But me? They want me alive. They won’t kill me. Not physically, anyway.”
His jaw clenched. “That’s not the point.”
“You know I’m right.” She stepped closer, voice firm but low. “You’re wasting time arguing with me. Get them out. Then come back for me. I’ll be okay.”
He didn’t respond. Just stared at her like he was trying to memorize her face.
“Please,” she added. “Trust me.”
For a long beat, he didn’t move.
Then, finally, he exhaled and turned to the others. “Everyone, hold hands. Stay close to me—tight. First time teleporting can mess with your head.”
They followed his instructions quickly, forming a shaky chain around him.
Before he disappeared, he looked back at Eve one more time.
And then they were gone.
The moment they vanished, a sharp pain cracked through her chest—like something had been ripped out of place. She stumbled back a step, gasping.
She was alone again. But not for long.
Because the door opened… and the last person she ever expected was standing on the other side.
- Writer
