The evening air was thick with that strange combination of calm and anticipation. The estate's golden light faded to amber, and shadows stretched long across the garden, where scorch marks from the previous night still shimmered faintly. Samantha lingered near the window, feeling the faint tremor of magical energy in the air—the same pulse that had alerted her to the watcher outside.
Marcus came up behind her, silent as a shadow. "You sense it too," he said softly. His hand brushed against hers, not in a casual touch but in the subtle tether of the bond, grounding both of them.
Samantha nodded. "Small… but deliberate. Whatever it is, it's watching us." She turned, meeting his gaze. The bond pulsed with shared determination and just a hint of amusement. There was no denying it: despite the dangers, being with him like this—connected, aligned, and utterly in sync—sent a thrill through her.
