I made it to my assigned room before my legs gave out. The moment the door closed, I collapsed against it, shaking.
“Breathe,” Maya commanded, kneeling beside me. “Just breathe, Aria.”
“I felt everything,” I gasped. “Through the bond. His pain. His regret. It was so strong.”
“But you stayed firm. You didn’t cave.” Maya gripped my shoulders. “I’m proud of you.”
Dax stood by the window, keeping watch. “He’s still down there. Standing in the same spot. Just staring at where you left.”
“Don’t tell me that,” I begged. “I can’t think about him right now.”
A knock on the door made us all tense. Maya checked through the peephole and relaxed slightly.
“It’s Elder Thorne.”
I let him in. He took one look at me and nodded knowingly. “You saw him.”
“He tried to talk to me. I said no.” I moved
