White.
White everywhere.
White exploding through the valley, blinding out snow, sky, breath.
White swallowing Kanah's scream as the trial-bound sigil dragged her into the center of its power.
Owain saw her silhouette arch in agony—
—then saw it collapse.
A soft sound.
Barely audible.
Her body hitting the snow.
The light vanished.
The valley went silent.
Unnaturally silent.
Owain didn't hear his own heartbeat.
He didn't hear the others shouting.
He didn't hear the wind.
He only saw her.
Kanah.
Not moving.
Not breathing.
Collapsed in the center of the sigil, her hair spread across the snow like ink.
Owain's world narrowed to a pinpoint.
"Kanah…?"
No answer.
"Kanah!"
Still nothing.
Owain slammed his entire body against the shimmering barrier around her.
It didn't move.
He struck again.
Then again.
His claws ripped across it, sparks flying.
Blood dripped from his palms where the barrier burned him.
But he didn't stop.
"Owain—!" Gerrin shouted, limping toward him.
"Owain, STOP—your hands—"
Owain snarled like a cornered beast.
"OPEN IT!"
Gerrin raised his hands helplessly.
"I can't—this is First King magic—only she can—"
Owain slammed both his bloodied fists against the barrier, screaming:
"OPEN IT!"
The Barrier Shatters
The First King's voice echoed through the mountains.
Cold.
Pleased.
Absolute.
"Bond initiation: complete."
Owain froze.
His breath stopped.
His insides twisted painfully.
"No…" he whispered.
"No, no, no, she didn't choose—she didn't choose—"
Yllas staggered forward, clutching his bleeding torso.
"Owain—listen—she didn't anchor the bond. The trial forced the opening but she didn't seal it. That means—"
Gerrin finished quietly:
"That means her heart… doesn't know who to bond with."
Owain's blood turned cold.
Helion leaned, panting, on his knee.
"And an unanchored bond breaks the vessel."
Owain looked down at Kanah—
And something inside him ruptured.
"BREAK!"
He slammed his body once more into the barrier—
And the barrier cracked.
Gerrin's eyes widened.
"Owain—no—NO—you're tearing your own life force—STOP—"
Owain roared and struck again.
The barrier shattered like glass.
Magic whipped out in violent waves, throwing Gerrin backward and knocking Yllas to one knee.
Owain stumbled through the collapsing sigil—
And fell to his knees beside Kanah.
Kanah's Body Fails
"Kanah…"
His voice broke.
He lifted her gently.
Her head fell limp against his arm.
Her skin was ice-cold.
Her lips pale.
Her pulse—
Nothing.
"Owain…" Gerrin whispered from a distance.
"Is she—?"
Owain pressed his ear to her chest.
No beat.
Not even a faint flutter.
His world collapsed.
"No…"
He shook her shoulders gently.
"Kanah… wake up."
Nothing.
He tried again.
"Wake up—please wake up—please—"
His voice cracked.
He lifted her higher, pressed her body against his chest.
"You promised," he whispered, shaking.
"You promised you'd stay with me…"
A soft glow pulsed at her collarbone.
The white rune.
Gerrin stumbled forward, fear exploding in his voice.
"Owain—DON'T touch it—!"
Owain ignored him.
He pressed his forehead to Kanah's.
"Come back."
A shockwave jolted through his body, sending a violent pain up his spine.
Helion screamed, "OWAIN—STOP—YOU'LL KILL YOURSELF—"
Owain gritted through his teeth.
"I don't care."
He pressed harder.
His heart hammered in his chest—
—and then faltered.
Blood trickled from his nose.
Yllas yelled hoarsely, "OWAIN—LET GO—LET GO—RIGHT NOW—"
Owain didn't.
He held her tighter.
"Come back," he whispered again.
His pulse stuttered.
Gerrin screamed, "HE'S TRYING TO TAKE HER PLACE—SOMEBODY PULL HIM BACK!"
Helion launched himself forward, curse marks blazing like wildfire.
He grabbed Owain's arm and yanked him away—
Owain roared like a wounded beast as the magic tore apart.
He collapsed in the snow, coughing blood.
The white rune dimmed.
Kanah didn't move.
Owain tried to crawl back to her, dragging himself through the snow, fingers clawing, breaths sharp and broken.
Yllas grabbed him, holding him down despite his own blood loss.
"Owain—stop—STOP—if you touch her again it'll kill you both!"
Owain fought like a man possessed.
"LET ME GO—LET—ME—GO—"
His voice cracked violently.
"LET ME GET TO HER—LET ME—LET ME—"
Helion grabbed his other arm, pinning him down.
"Owain—you're BLEEDING from your chest—you idiot—if you reach for her again the bond will latch onto you and rip your heart out!"
Gerrin's hands shook uncontrollably.
"Owain… listen…"
Owain froze.
Gerrin whispered the words he never wanted to hear:
"A forced bond kills both partners unless they both agree to it."
Owain's expression shattered.
"What…?"
Gerrin continued, voice breaking.
"She didn't agree… and neither did you. The trial tried to force a double-bind. She rejected it on the inside. You rejected it when you broke through the barrier."
Helion muttered hoarsely:
"She's caught between two choices she didn't make."
Yllas looked toward Kanah, agony on his face.
"If she doesn't anchor soon… she'll die."
Owain's breath left him.
He looked down at Kanah—
Collapsed.
Pale.
Cold.
Barely clinging to life.
He choked on a sob.
"I'll do it," he whispered.
Gerrin blinked.
"Owain—what—"
Owain closed his eyes.
Tears slipped down his face—
real tears, shaking, painful.
"I'll anchor the bond.
I'll take the mark.
I don't care if it kills me."
Kanah's fingers twitched faintly.
Owain's throat tightened.
"No—please—not like this—Kanah—please—look at me—"
Yllas grabbed Owain's shoulder roughly.
"Owain—if YOU anchor the bond and she doesn't choose you—your heart will stop."
Owain looked at Kanah—
And something inside him broke open.
"I don't care," he whispered.
Helion stared at him, stunned.
"Owain… that's suicide."
Owain swallowed.
His voice was barely audible.
"Then I'll die for her."
Kanah's eyebrow twitched—just slightly.
Owain saw it.
His breath caught.
Gerrin looked at Kanah sharply.
"Owain… she's hearing you."
Owain leaned in, voice trembling.
"Kanah… listen to me. If you choose me… I'll fight whatever you need. If you don't choose me… I'll still stay. Always."
Her fingers moved again.
Yllas whispered, "She's responding…"
Helion knelt beside them.
"Say it again, wolf."
Owain cupped Kanah's cheek gently, thumb trembling.
"Kanah…"
His voice cracked painfully.
"You don't have to choose me."
The wind trembled.
"Just… choose something.
Please."
The First King's voice thundered through the air.
"Her hour is ending."
Owain snarled, lifting his head.
"SHUT UP!"
"The heir must anchor her heart."
Gerrin's voice cracked.
"Owain—she only has minutes—"
Owain pressed his forehead to Kanah's again.
"Kanah… choose life.
Choose to stay.
Choose THEM.
Choose anyone but me if it means you'll live."
Silence.
Owain's heartbeat thundered painfully.
He closed his eyes.
A tear slipped down his cheek and fell onto her lips.
"Please… stay."
Kanah's chest rose—
once.
Yllas gasped.
Gerrin grabbed Helion.
"Something's happening—"
Her rune pulsed.
Once.
Then again.
Owain froze.
"Kanah…?"
Her eyelashes fluttered.
Her lips parted.
In a broken whisper—
she said one word.
A name.