Updated Nov 20, 2025 • ~7 min read
Kaelen was unconscious for eighteen hours.
Liana stayed by his bed in the medical wing, watching his chest rise and fall, feeling the bond between them flickering weak and unstable. The healers said he’d absorbed too much power. That his body was shutting down non-essential functions to repair the damage.
That he might not wake up.
“He will,” Maya said, sitting beside her. “He’s stubborn. Like you.”
But Liana couldn’t stop replaying it. The moment she’d channeled all that power through him. The way she’d felt him breaking, sacrificing himself to keep her safe. The absolute certainty that if she hadn’t stopped when she did, he would have died.
And it would have been her fault.
“This is wrong,” Liana whispered.
“What is?”
“The bond. Us.” She looked at her hands—they were shaking. “I almost killed him, Maya. Because he won’t let me take damage. Won’t let me bear the cost.”
“That’s what the bond does. You protect each other.”
“No. He protects me. Over and over, he throws himself between me and danger, and one of these times, it’s going to kill him.”
Maya’s expression softened. “So you’re going to push him away instead?”
“I’m going to break the bond.”
The words hung in the air, terrible and final. Maya stared at her like she’d lost her mind.
“You can’t.”
“The Codex mentioned a ritual. A way to sever the connection between mates.” Liana had spent the night researching, desperate for options. “It’s dangerous, but possible.”
“Liana, if you break the bond after it’s this developed, it could kill you both.”
“Or it could save him.” Liana stood, pacing. “Don’t you see? As long as we’re connected, he’ll keep sacrificing himself. But if I cut the link, he can’t protect me anymore. He’ll be free.”
“He’ll be devastated.”
“He’ll be alive.”
Maya caught her arm, forcing Liana to stop. “Listen to me. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. The way you look at him. Breaking the bond won’t change how you feel. It’ll just hurt you both.”
“Better hurt than dead.”
“You don’t get to make that choice for him.”
“He didn’t give me a choice when he nearly died for me!” Liana’s voice broke. “I felt it, Maya. Through the bond. I felt him dying. And I can’t—I can’t go through that again.”
Understanding dawned in Maya’s eyes. “You’re afraid.”
“Of course I’m afraid. I’m terrified.” Liana sank back into her chair, burying her face in her hands. “My mother spent her whole life loving someone who wasn’t there. Who left her. And I swore I’d never be like that. Never let anyone have that kind of power over me. But Kaelen—”
She couldn’t finish. Couldn’t say out loud what she’d been trying not to admit to herself.
She was falling in love with him. Maybe already had fallen. And the thought of losing him was unbearable.
Which was exactly why she needed to break the bond before it destroyed them both.
“Where’s the ritual?” Maya asked quietly.
“In the restricted archives. I’d need Council clearance to access it.”
“So you’d have to tell them what you’re planning.”
Liana nodded. “I was going to wait until he woke up. Say goodbye.”
“What if he tries to stop you?”
“Then I don’t give him the chance.”
Maya looked at her for a long moment. Then she stood. “I can’t support this. I think you’re making a mistake. But I won’t stop you either.”
She left, and Liana was alone with Kaelen’s unconscious form and the weight of her decision.
She dozed off sometime around dawn, her head on the edge of his bed, her hand wrapped around his. When she woke, silver eyes were watching her.
“Kaelen.” Relief crashed through her so intensely she almost sobbed. “You’re awake.”
“How long?” His voice was rough, barely above a whisper.
“Eighteen hours. The healers said—” She stopped. It didn’t matter what they’d said. He was alive. That was all that mattered.
“You’re planning something.” It wasn’t a question. Through the bond—still there, still connecting them—he could feel her turmoil. “What is it?”
Liana pulled her hand back. “We need to talk.”
“That’s never good.”
“Kaelen, I can’t do this anymore.”
Something flickered in his expression. Hurt, quickly masked. “Do what?”
“Watch you sacrifice yourself for me. Feel you dying through the bond.” Her voice shook. “Yesterday, you almost—if I hadn’t pulled back—”
“But you did. We survived.”
“This time. What about next time? Or the time after that?” Liana stood, needing distance. “You said yourself—we’re more vulnerable when we’re bonded. If you die, I feel it. And apparently, you’re determined to die protecting me.”
Kaelen tried to sit up, winced, settled for propping himself on his elbows. “So what are you saying?”
“I’m saying we break the bond.”
The words landed like a bomb. Kaelen went very still, his eyes locked on hers.
“No.”
“It’s not up for debate—”
“No.” He said it louder this time, power creeping into his voice. “You don’t get to make this decision alone.”
“You made the decision to nearly die alone.”
“That’s different.”
“How?” Liana demanded. “How is it different?”
“Because I’m supposed to protect you!” Kaelen finally managed to sit up fully, ignoring whatever pain it caused him. “That’s what the bond means. That’s what being your mate means. I keep you safe.”
“At the cost of your own life?”
“If necessary, yes.”
“Well I don’t accept that.” Liana’s hands were fists at her sides. “I won’t be the reason you die, Kaelen. I won’t be my mother, loving someone and losing them and never recovering.”
Understanding flashed across his face. “This is about your father.”
“This is about me refusing to repeat her mistakes.”
“I’m not your father. I’m not leaving.” Kaelen swung his legs off the bed, standing despite how unsteady he was. “And you’re not breaking the bond.”
“You can’t stop me.”
“Try me.” He moved closer, and Liana felt the bond flare between them—weakened, but still there. Still powerful. “Liana, I understand you’re scared. But running won’t fix this.”
“I’m not running. I’m choosing survival.”
“You’re choosing fear.” His hand found her face, gentle despite the intensity in his eyes. “I know you don’t want to need anyone. Don’t want to risk your heart. But it’s too late. We’re already bonded. Breaking the connection won’t change how you feel.”
“It’ll keep you alive.”
“Will it?” His thumb brushed her cheekbone. “You think I’ll just accept losing you? Walk away and be fine? If you break the bond, it breaks me too, Liana. The damage goes both ways.”
She hadn’t thought of that. Hadn’t let herself consider that severing the bond might hurt him as badly as it hurt her.
“I can’t lose you,” she whispered.
“Then don’t.” Kaelen pressed his forehead to hers, and the bond flooded with warmth. “Stop trying to protect me by pushing me away. Trust that we’re strong enough to survive this together.”
“What if we’re not?”
“Then we fail together. But at least we try.”
Liana closed her eyes, tears finally spilling over. “I’m so afraid.”
“I know. So am I.” His arms wrapped around her, and she let herself collapse into him. “But I’d rather be afraid with you than safe without you.”
They stayed like that for a long time, holding each other, the bond settling back into its rhythm. And slowly, Liana felt her resolve crumbling.
Maybe Maya was right. Maybe she was making a mistake. Because the thought of breaking the bond, of losing this connection to Kaelen—
It hurt worse than the thought of losing him.
“Don’t break the bond,” Kaelen murmured into her hair. “Please. Whatever else happens, don’t take this away from us.”
Liana pulled back enough to see his face. “Then you have to promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“Stop trying to die for me. Let me share the burden. Let me protect you too.”
Something in his expression softened. “I can try.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
He kissed her forehead, and the bond sang with relief. “We’re in this together. Equal partners. I promise.”
Liana nodded, knowing it wouldn’t be easy. Knowing they’d both struggle to let go of their protective instincts. But at least they’d struggle together.
The bond stayed intact.
And so did they.
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