Chapter 35

The hallway was quieter away from the main hall.

Too quiet.

Like the world they had just left behind didn’t quite follow them here.

Eli didn’t stop walking until they reached a smaller side room.

Only then did he turn.

“…You okay?”

Charlotte nodded too quickly.

“I’m fine.”

Eli frowned.

“…You’re not.”

She tried to smile.

Failed.

“…I just didn’t like that.”

Eli leaned lightly against the wall, watching her carefully.

“…Seraphina?”

Charlotte hesitated.

“…Not just her.”

A pause.

Then softer:

“…Everything.”

That made Eli go quiet.

Charlotte stepped closer.

Her voice dropped slightly.

“…This place… these people… him…”

She didn’t say Kieran’s name.

But she didn’t need to.

Eli sighed.

“…Yeah. I get that.”

Charlotte shook her head.

“…No, Eli… I don’t think you do.”

That caught him off guard.

“…What do you mean?”

She looked up at him.

Really looked.

“…You’re… adjusting.”

Eli frowned.

“…Adjusting to what?”

Charlotte’s chest tightened slightly.

“…To him.”

Silence.

That word landed heavier than it should have.

Eli let out a small, disbelieving laugh.

“…We talked about this.”

Charlotte didn’t smile.

“…I know.”

“…Then why are you saying it again?”

Because this time—

It felt different.

Charlotte’s voice softened.

“…Because I can feel it.”

Eli shook his head.

“…There’s nothing to feel.”

Charlotte stepped closer again.

“…You don’t see the way you look at him sometimes?”

Eli blinked.

“…I don’t look at him any way.”

“That’s the problem.”

Silence.

Eli stared at her.

Confused now.

“…What?”

Charlotte swallowed.

“…It’s not conscious.”

Her hand lifted—

Resting lightly against his chest.

“…But something is pulling you.”

Eli exhaled slowly.

“…That’s the bond.”

“…I know.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“…But what if one day… you stop fighting it?”

That question—

That possibility—

Hung between them.

Unanswered.

Eli didn’t speak immediately.

Because for the first time—

He didn’t have a quick answer.

Charlotte noticed.

And that hurt more than anything.

“…See?” she whispered.

Eli shook his head quickly.

“No—no, that’s not—”

He stepped forward.

Caught her hands.

“…Hey. Look at me.”

She did.

Barely holding herself together now.

“I’m here.”

His voice was firm.

Grounded.

“…With you.”

A pause.

Then more quietly:

“…That’s not changing.”

Charlotte searched his face.

“…You said that yesterday too.”

Eli nodded.

“…And I meant it.”

Her eyes softened slightly.

But the fear didn’t fully leave.

“…Then why does it feel like something is already changing?”

That question hit deeper than the others.

Because Eli couldn’t fully deny it anymore.

Not after everything.

Not after the pull.

Not after the way his body reacted sometimes—

Without his permission.

He looked away for a second.

And that was enough.

Charlotte saw it.

Her heart dropped.

“…Eli…”

He immediately looked back.

“…It doesn’t mean anything.”

Charlotte’s voice was small now.

“…Not yet.”

That word—

Yet—

Made something inside Eli tighten.

He stepped closer again.

Pulled her into him.

“…Hey. Stop.”

She resisted slightly.

“…I’m serious.”

“I know.”

His arms tightened around her.

“…And I’m telling you—you’re overthinking this.”

She shook her head against his chest.

“…I don’t think I am.”

Eli closed his eyes briefly.

Frustration flickering.

Not at her—

At the situation.

“…What do you want me to say?”

Charlotte pulled back slightly.

Looked at him.

“…Tell me I’m not going to lose you.”

Eli didn’t hesitate this time.

“…You’re not.”

A pause.

Then more firmly:

“…You won’t.”

Charlotte held his gaze.

Searching.

Then slowly—

She nodded.

Not fully convinced.

But choosing to believe him.

Because she wanted to.

KIERAN__

Kieran didn’t mean to listen.

But he did.

Every word.

Every pause.

Every hesitation.

And the one thing that stayed with him—

Was not Charlotte’s fear.

Not Eli’s denial.

It was that one moment.

That one second—

Where Eli didn’t answer immediately.

Where doubt existed.

Even if just a little.

Kieran’s gaze darkened slightly.

“…So there is a crack.”

His voice was low.

Almost thoughtful.

Not angry.

Not yet.

But calculating.

For the first time—

Kieran didn’t feel like waiting.

Not the way he had been.

Not watching from a distance.

Not letting Eli choose freely.

Because clearly—

Left alone—

Eli would keep choosing her.

And that—

Was no longer acceptable.

“…Then I change the pace.”

BACK TO ELI & CHARLOTTE__

The tension eased slightly between them.

But not fully.

It lingered.

Quiet.

Unspoken.

Eli brushed his hand lightly against her arm.

“…You hungry?”

Charlotte blinked slightly at the sudden shift.

“…A little.”

Eli nodded.

“…Come on.”

He took her hand again.

Simple.

Natural.

But this time—

There was something different behind it.

Not just comfort.

Something closer to—

Reassurance.

Like he was trying to prove something.

Not just to her.

But to himself.

IN THE DISTANT — SERAPHINA__

Seraphina watched from afar.

Again.

Always watching.

“…They’re holding on tightly,” she murmured.

A small smile formed.

“…That makes it easier.”

Because the tighter something is held—

The more painful it is when it breaks.

That night—

Eli couldn’t sleep immediately.

Charlotte rested beside him.

Peaceful.

Trusting.

But his mind—

Wasn’t quiet.

Because her words stayed.

What if one day… you stop fighting it?

Eli exhaled slowly.

“…That’s not happening.”

He said it out loud.

Like saying it would make it true.

But somewhere—

Deep down—

That certainty wasn’t as strong as it used to be.