Owain didn't realize he'd sunk to his knees until Kanah's weight settled fully into his arms.
Her breath trembled against his neck, her fingers fisted in the fabric of his shirt, clinging as if the world still threatened to tear them apart.
He tightened his hold.
"Kanah… Kanah, I've got you."
She only cried harder.
Not in panic.
Not in fear.
In release.
Like every fragile thread inside her finally let go.
Owain pressed his cheek against her hair, exhaling shakily.
"I'm here," he murmured.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Her fingers curled tighter.
"You came back," she whispered.
"Always," he breathed.
He didn't realize the realm was dissolving until silver dust began drifting upward, like stars returning home.
It washed over them, warm and soft.
Kanah inhaled sharply.
"Owain… the light—it's—"
He felt it too.
Deep in his chest.
Something tugged.
Something reconnected.
Something clicked into place like the final piece of a lock.
A pulse of amber light burst out of his chest—
and into hers.
Kanah gasped.
Owain's eyes widened.
The bond flared—
whole.
Warm.
Complete.
For the first time since the unbonding…
he felt her.
Every feeling.
Every fear.
Every breath.
Every trembling heartbeat.
Owain cupped her face with both hands, overwhelmed.
"Kanah…"
Tears filled her eyes again.
"Owain—do you—do you feel it—?"
He nodded, breath shaking.
"I feel—everything."
He pressed his forehead to hers.
The bond vibrated warmly, a gentle hum beneath their skin.
Kanah sobbed.
"I thought I lost you forever…"
Owain wiped her tears with his thumbs.
"You didn't."
"You forgot me—"
"I remember now."
"You almost died—"
"I'm here."
"You promised—"
Owain leaned closer, voice soft and steady.
"And I kept it."
Kanah shut her eyes, relief washing over her so powerfully she nearly collapsed again.
Owain caught her instantly.
"I've got you," he whispered.
"Let yourself rest. I'll hold you."
Kanah lifted her face to his shoulder and cried for a long time.
Not from fear.
From relief.
From love.
From surviving something no human should have had to face.
Owain let her sob until her body grew too tired to shake.
He rubbed slow circles along her back, grounding her in warmth.
"Kanah," he murmured, "it's over."
She swallowed.
"Is it… really?"
Owain nodded and touched her forehead with his.
"It is."
The Realm Clears
The other three reached them once the last of the silver dust faded.
Helion stood with arms crossed, but his expression softened despite himself.
"About time."
Yllas smiled faintly, exhaustion in his golden eyes.
"Welcome back, wolf."
Gerrin approached last, staff glowing softly.
"The bond's resonance is stable," he announced with relief.
"Strong. Whole. More balanced than before."
Owain tightened his arms around Kanah.
She didn't move.
Her face was buried in his chest, breath slow and uneven.
Gerrin smiled gently.
"She's exhausted. The emotional strain was too much."
Owain lifted her carefully, cradling her against him.
Kanah shifted in his hold—barely awake—but she looped her arms around his neck instinctively.
Helion snorted.
"Well, at least one of you is conscious."
Owain shot him a glare.
Yllas approached, offering quiet reassurance.
"She'll be fine, Owain. She's stronger than you think."
Owain's throat tightened.
"She shouldn't have needed to be."
Yllas placed a steady hand on Owain's shoulder.
"But she is."
Owain looked down at her.
Kanah's eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks.
Her breathing steadied.
Her cheek rested over his heart.
And for the first time in a long time—
he wasn't afraid she'd vanish.
Not from magic.
Not from a trial.
Not from memory.
Not from him.
Owain's Confession
As the realm shimmered, Owain whispered to Kanah, even though she was half-asleep:
"I was so scared."
Yllas and Gerrin stepped back, giving him quiet space.
Helion pretended not to listen—but he absolutely listened.
Owain stroked Kanah's hair.
"I thought the unbonding broke me forever.
I thought I'd never remember you.
Thought I'd never hold you again."
Kanah stirred.
"Owain…?"
He brushed his thumb along her cheek.
"Sleep. It's okay."
She blinked slowly.
"Say it again…"
Owain smiled softly.
"That I'm here?"
She nodded faintly, eyes drifting closed.
"I'm here," he whispered.
"And I'm not leaving."
She relaxed instantly.
Owain breathed in her scent.
Gentle.
Warm.
His.
His heart softened.
"I love you," he whispered, voice trembling with sincerity.
"And I remember saying it the first time."
Kanah's lips curved into a tiny sleepy smile.
Owain froze.
She… remembered hearing it.
Even half-conscious.
He swallowed hard against the knot in his throat.
"You're everything," he whispered.
The Beast King Awakens
But the warmth didn't last.
Because the faintest tremor crawled through the dissolving realm.
Helion stiffened.
Yllas' wings flinched.
Gerrin raised his staff sharply.
Owain pulled Kanah closer.
"What now?" he snarled.
Gerrin's eyes narrowed.
"Someone else is entering."
Helion muttered darkly:
"If it's the First King again, I swear—"
But it wasn't.
A deep rumble filled the air.
Gold seeped into the cracks of the dissolving realm.
Owain's pupils narrowed sharply.
Kanah stirred with a faint whimper, sensing danger even in sleep.
Owain shielded her.
"That's—"
The voice that rose was unmistakable:
"So the wolf survives."
Owain growled.
"The Beast King."
The light coalesced into a tall figure—
black armor, glowing crown, eyes burning gold.
Helion swore violently.
Yllas drew a blade.
Gerrin readied his staff.
Owain tightened his hold, stepping back.
"Stay. Away. From her."
The Beast King smiled.
Slow.
Sharp.
Knowing.
"Oh, wolf."
He lifted his hand.
And the realm around them shifted—
darkening
thickening
changing.
He whispered:
"Your trials may be finished…
but mine with her
have only begun."
Owain's eyes flashed.
"You touch her—"
The Beast King interrupted, amused:
"Then catch her."
Owain froze.
Kanah gasped.
The ground beneath her feet vanished—
And she fell.
Owain dove after her instantly.
"KANA—!!"
The Beast King's laughter echoed as they plunged into the next realm—