Rafe entered his office in a rush. His heart pounded so violently it hurt his chest, throwing his steps off balance. The door slammed shut behind him as he leaned back against it, trembling, his face flushed.
The act felt like an attempt to seal himself away—from the matter pressing down on him, from the guilt gnawing at his conscience, and from the fear that he had already made an unforgivable mistake.
The room was silent, giving away a sense of serenity, yet his thoughts were a tangled haze, clouded by everything that had been said in Elis's chamber. The conclusion bore down on him deeply.
He had to perform the soulmate magic… and he had to reclaim Callis.
It was the only way to save Elis and her child, and to reunite Kyren and Anna. The demand felt like a weight he could not lift.
The healer had already sent his wife back to her people, in the harshest way, believing it was for the best. That resolve itself had hardened into something immovable.
