Evelina's POV
I wake up to pain.
Not the dull ache of my cut hand or my bruised body. This is different. Deeper. Like something is being carved into my soul with a burning knife.
My eyes snap open. I'm still in the ruins, lying on cold stone. The sky above is dark now—full night has fallen while I was unconscious.
And the god is standing over me.
Kyroth looks worse than before. His form flickers like a candle in wind. The shadows covering him seem thinner, less solid. Even his silver eyes have dimmed slightly.
"You're awake," he says. His voice sounds strained. "Good. We need to talk."
I try to sit up, but my body won't cooperate. "What happened? Why do I feel like I'm being torn apart?"
"The bond is settling." He crouches beside me, studying my face with an intensity that makes me uncomfortable. "Your magic recognized mine. My power tried to consume yours. The collision nearly killed us both."
"My magic?" I shake my head. "I don't have magic. I'm just—"
