Chapter 3

"You're back."

When I pushed open the door to our cottage, Victor was sitting by the fire.

The firelight danced on his face, but it couldn't hide the exhaustion in his eyes.

"This isn't my home anymore," I said, dropping my pack by the door. "I'm just here to get the rest of my things."

"Don't say that." He stood, holding a piece of parchment. "Look at this."

I stepped closer.

It was an exquisite rune design.

Two crescent moons, intertwined, with the ancient symbol for eternal bonding in the center.

"Our bonding mark," he said, his voice brimming with hope. "I had the silver forged by the dwarves and sourced the moon-opal myself, just like we planned."

I stared at the design.

Two months ago, this would have made me ecstatic.

Now, it just felt like a cruel joke.

"It's beautiful," I said, my voice flat.

"Just beautiful?" Victor frowned. "Elara, this is our future. In three days, Seraphina's bond expires. Then—"

"Then you'll have another excuse."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I turned toward the bedroom. "Nothing."

"Elara, I understand you're angry, but—"

The bedroom door opened.

Seraphina emerged from the bedroom wearing nothing but one of Victor’s shirts, her blonde hair tousled, her eyes heavy with sleep.

What stung most was the faint golden light shimmering on her chest—the calming rune I had personally drawn for Victor.

My rune.

On her. Again.

"Oh, Elara." She yawned, stretching shamelessly. "You're back. I thought you'd be spending the night at the cemetery."

The air froze.

I looked from my rune on her skin to Victor. "Explain."

"Her energy is unstable," Victor said, his words rushing out. "A side effect of the bond. She needed a calming rune to sleep."

"On her."

"You're the best healer—" he explained, flustered.

"In our bed."

Seraphina giggled. "Don't be so possessive, Elara. It's not like you're officially bonded yet. Sharing a rune is no big deal."

I looked at the scene before me and felt a strange sense of calm.

"You're right." I walked to the wardrobe and started grabbing my personal belongings. "Since we're not officially bonded, there's no reason for me to stay here."

"What?" Victor looked at me, stunned. "You're moving out?"

"Of course." I shoved a few tunics into my pack. "Seraphina needs her calming runes. She needs your care. I'd only be in the way."

"Elara, you can't—"

"Can't I?" I dragged my bag toward the door. "Or should I not be a gracious host to your... guest?"

Victor rushed over and grabbed my arm. "You can't leave!"

"Why not?"

"Because you're my..." He trailed off, the word "mate" dying on his lips.

We hadn't completed the marking.

We had no blood pact.

We had nothing.

Seraphina leaned against the doorframe, watching the drama with amusement.

"Victor, just let her go. It's only for three more days. Once our temporary bond is over—"

"Shut up!" Victor roared.

Then he turned to me, a desperate fire in his eyes.

"Elara, I swear. Tomorrow. As soon as the bond ends, we'll go to the Moon Goddess altar. We will complete the marking, and then we will go to your father's grave together and tell him the good news."

I looked at his hand on my arm, the plea in his eyes, the disdain in Seraphina's.

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow," he swore, his grip tightening. "On my blood and before the Goddess, I swear it."

Seraphina scoffed behind him. "Victor, don't forget you have border patrol tomorrow—"

"Nothing is more important than this," he cut her off, his eyes locked on mine. "Elara, trust me one last time."

I looked at him, the man I once thought I would spend my life with.

As Seraphina watched impatiently, he held my hand, his voice low and firm.

"Tomorrow, we complete the ceremony and go to your father's grave. I swear it."