Kael kissed her.
Not to manipulate her.
To anchor her.
To remind her she wasn't alone.
The Ether responded—violently. The room lit up. Her soul surged into his, her magic flooding his veins like hot wine.
Mina gasped, cried, begged.
He held her tighter.
Their bodies met again—rougher this time, desperate. No finesse. Just emotion and fire.
When it ended, Mina collapsed on his chest, sobbing softly.
Kael stroked her hair and whispered nothing. Just breathed.
Outside, the Matriarch Council noted a surge of Ether from his quarters.
Inside, Kael realized the truth:
The more he bonded, the less he could control them…
And the less he could control himself.