My breath caught. I'd imagined this moment in a hundred ways—his return, his embrace—but none of them felt like this.
The mate bond flared, pulling at my heart like a hook. I felt everything—his exhaustion, his pain, his rage, his love.
"Kaelos…" My voice trembled.
He met my gaze, his lips curling faintly despite the blood running down his jaw. "You didn't think I'd let him have all the fun, did you?"
Even Ryker froze at the sight of him.
"Impossible," Ryker hissed, his red eyes narrowing. "You should've been torn apart by the Vein energies in that pocket dimension!"
Kaelos cracked his neck, silver energy pulsing around him. "Guess it didn't like your company."
He walked toward me, his eyes set confidently. When he got to my side, I felt complete.
I thought I was going to face this alone. But with him by my side now?
The air distorted around us—my violet aura intertwining with his silver one until the entire throne room glowed like dawn breaking through darkness.
