Chapter 126

Dante's pov

“She’ll be gone before the next full moon,” the healer mumbled.

I glanced at Elora. She barely looked alive... her chest barely rising, breaths so shallow it freaked me out. Like she was already halfway gone.

True love’s mark.

Yeah, that little phrase wouldn’t get out of my head. Just kept echoing, bouncing around in my skull after the healer tiptoed off.

Dominic stood there, silent as a grave, staring at her like he could memorize her face and maybe keep her here just by wanting it enough.

“She loves you,” I muttered, voice all scratchy.

He didn’t even blink. “She loves you too.”

Great. Just great. That’s the brick wall, isn’t it? We both loved her. She loved us back. Only one love gets to save her, though, that’s the catch.

My throat burned. I took a step back, feeling like I’d swallowed glass or something. Couldn’t even name what was clawing at my chest.

“Well, whichever one she picks,” I choked out, “they'd better get on with it. We’re almost outta time.”

Dominic finally looked at me. No anger left, just fear. I recognized it; it matched the one gnawing at me.

We both got it then. Even if she picked one of us, it might not matter. We could both lose her anyway.

Walking out into the hallway, I felt those words press down on me.

Elora's pov

When I finally cracked my eyes open, everywhere felt quiet. Why was I slipping in and out of consciousness?

The first thing I noticed was this pounding headache. My limbs felt like those of someone else. Even breathing was a chore. My throat felt sore, my lips split and stinging when I tried to talk.

And then Dante. There he was, slouched next to my bed. He looked rough, honestly. Like he’d been camping here for ages, head bowed, shoulders hunched.

I shifted a little, which took more effort than it should have, and he jerked his head up. Relief just washed over his face. “Elora,” he breathed, voice all shaky. “Thank the goddess.”

Tried to smile, failed. My lips barely twitched. “How long… was I out?”

“Two days.” He winced, like even saying it stung. “You scared us.”

Us.

That meant him and Dominic. My heart twisted, not guilt, but confusion. Every time I tried to untangle my feelings, they just came back.

I tried to turn my head, and pain shot through my neck. “What… happened?”

Dante paused. Eyes moved to the healer’s bag, then back to me. “You are just slipping in and out of consciousness. The healer checked you out.”

“And?” I croaked.

He took a shaky breath, looked like he was thinking of what to say. When he finally spoke, it was almost a whisper. “She says something’s draining you. Not a sickness. A bond. Or maybe a curse.”

My heart just dropped, cold and slow. “A curse?”

He nodded. “She called it a tether. Something’s feeding off your life. But… there’s a way to break it.” He hesitated, eyes darting away. Like he hated what came next.

“Dante,” I said, voice gone wobbly, fingers reaching for his just to anchor myself. “What did she say?”

He swallowed, hard. “She said… only true love’s mark can break it.”

For a second, the whole room spun. Those words echoed in my head. True love’s mark. It sounded like something from one of those bedtime stories my mom used to tell me.

I let out this weird, broken laugh. “True love… what does that even mean anymore?”

Dante’s face softened, but his jaw stayed set. “It means love strong enough to burn through whatever’s hurting you.”

I turned away, staring at the faded lines in the sheets. “I don’t even know what love is anymore, Dante. I care about you. I...” My voice cracked. “But I just feel… lost. Between you and Dominic, it’s all a blur.”

“Don’t say his name,” Dante murmured, no bite in it. Just hurt. Raw and open.

I looked at him again... really looked. He seemed haunted. Eyes darker than I remembered, rimmed with sleeplessness and something more desperate than devotion. Like he’d break in half if I disappeared.

“Dante,” I whispered.

He grabbed my hand, squeezed it like he could make me rethink. “You don’t have to figure it out right now,” he said, his voice shaking. “Just live. I don’t care what the healer says. I’m not letting you go.”

His words came out sharp, but his hands were gentle. My chest hurt. “You can’t promise that,” I said.

He just leaned in. “Yeah, I can,” he shot back, closer now. “Because I’m not letting you go. Not like this, Elora. Not happening.”

I could see the mess in his eyes... looked just like the one swirling around in my own head. Love, guilt, jealousy, hope... all of it clawing at each other, tearing him up inside.

He reached up, brushed the strand of hair from my face, and then his thumb was on my cheek. “You’ve always been mine,” he said. “Since day one. Even if you didn’t see it yet.”

My throat went tight. I wanted to argue, fight him off, say nobody owns me. But the way he stared at me? Like he could see straight through my skin? The words just… died. Nothing left but the pounding in my chest.

“Dante…” My voice wobbled, shaky as hell. “Please, don’t...”

He shook his head, soft but stubborn, cutting me off. “Nope. You need strength. If love’s what’ll save you, then damn it, I’m giving you everything I got. No holding back.”

And before I could move or even think, he bent down and pressed his lips to my forehead. It was just a little kiss, but I could feel him shaking.

Then his lips started drifting, temple, cheek, down to that hollow spot at my throat. Each kiss left me breathless, heart hammering way too fast. “Dante...”

He paused, lips barely touching my skin. “Trust me,” he whispered.

His breath was warm on my neck, right where his last mark had faded. And then... pain, sharp and deep. His teeth broke my skin, deeper this time, not holding back.

I gasped and grabbed at his shirt, almost yelling. Heat spread from the bite, wild and bright, taking over my whole body. My heart skipped, then thundered so loud.

The mark burned hot and bright, like it was alive.

But then… it sputtered out..

Dante jerked back, eyes huge, panic all over his face. “Elora?” he breathed, voice barely there. “Did you feel that?”