Zara's POV
I ran.
Away from the explosion. Away from Dante. Away from the truth that was crashing down around me.
He'd been using me. The whole time. The curse, the bond, his pretty words about working together—all lies to get what he wanted.
"Zara, wait!"
Dante's voice chased me through the smoke-filled street. But I didn't stop. Couldn't stop.
My feet pounded against pavement as I turned corner after corner, weaving through crowds. I'd lost people before. I was good at disappearing.
Except something was wrong.
No matter how far I ran, I could feel him. Like a compass in my chest pointing straight at him. His determination. His frustration. His... worry?
I shook my head. That didn't matter. He'd lied. Used me. Just like Marcus. Just like everyone else in my pathetic life.
I ducked into a subway station, jumping the turnstile. A train was just arriving. Perfect.
I squeezed through the closing doors and collapsed into a seat, gasping for breath.
Safe.
Except the feeling in my chest didn't fade. It grew stronger. Pulling. Tugging. Like an invisible rope wrapped around my ribs, dragging me back.
I looked out the window—and there he was.
Dante, on the platform. Those dark eyes locked onto mine through the glass. He didn't run. Didn't chase. Just stood there as the train pulled away.
Because he didn't need to chase me.
He could feel exactly where I was.
Horror washed over me. The curse. The bond. It wasn't just emotions we shared—it was location. I could run to the other side of the world, and he'd still find me.
The train picked up speed. I watched Dante disappear into the distance, but the pull in my chest didn't lessen. If anything, it got worse. Like my body was protesting the distance between us.
"This is insane," I muttered.
"You talking to yourself, honey?" An old woman across from me smiled kindly. "Rough day?"
"You have no idea."
The train rumbled through the tunnel. I had maybe fifteen minutes before Dante figured out where I was going. Fifteen minutes to come up with a plan.
Except I had no plan. No money beyond what was in Viktor's backpack. No friends. Nowhere to go.
And Marcus and Lila—despite everything they'd done—were being held hostage because of me.
My phone buzzed. Another message from the masked figure.
A new video. This time, Marcus was screaming. Blood ran down his face.
"Twelve hours, Princess. Ruby for their lives. Don't test me."
I stared at the message, my hands shaking.
I hated Marcus. Hated what he'd done to me. Part of me wanted to let him rot.
But I wasn't a killer. I couldn't let someone die because of me.
Even if that someone had destroyed my life.
The train screeched to a stop. I got off at the next station, climbed the stairs to street level, and immediately felt Dante getting closer.
He was on a train too. Two stops behind me. Moving fast.
I ran again.
Through back alleys. Over fences. Down streets I'd known since childhood when I'd been a pickpocket just trying to survive. The old skills came back like breathing.
But it didn't matter.
I felt him behind me. Always behind me. That steady, relentless determination pushing through our bond.
I climbed a fire escape, hoping height would help. It didn't.
I stole a bike and pedaled until my lungs burned. He just kept coming.
Finally, exhausted, I collapsed in an abandoned parking garage. Pressed my back against cold concrete and tried to catch my breath.
The pull in my chest told me he was three blocks away. Then two. Then one.
Footsteps echoed through the garage.
"You can't run from me, Zara."
Dante's voice came from somewhere in the shadows. Calm. Patient.
"Stay away from me!" I shouted.
"I'm not the enemy."
"You lied! You said you wanted to break the curse, but really you just wanted a weapon!"
"That was before." He stepped into view. "Before I felt what you felt. Before I saw your memories in that vision. Before I understood—"
"Understood what? That I'm useful?"
"That you're innocent!" His voice cracked, and through the bond, I felt his anguish. Real. Raw. "You've been hurt by everyone you've ever trusted. Your stepmother. Your boyfriend. Your best friend. Even your own father chose his new family over you. And now I'm just another person using you, aren't I?"
Tears burned my eyes. "Yes."
"You're right." He moved closer, hands raised like I was a wild animal. "I did plan to use the ruby as a weapon. But Zara, I never planned on you. Never planned on feeling everything you feel. Never planned on..." He stopped, jaw clenching. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that masked figure has Marcus and Lila. And whether you hate them or not, I know you. Through this bond, I know your heart. You won't let them die."
He was right. I hated that he was right.
"So what do we do?" I asked quietly.
"We work together. For real this time. No lies. No secrets." He held out his hand. "Partners?"
I stared at his hand. Through the bond, I felt his sincerity. His fear that I'd say no. His desperate hope that I'd say yes.
Maybe I was an idiot. Maybe I'd regret this.
But I took his hand anyway.
The spark that shot through us was different this time. Warmer. Like the curse was... approving?
"Partners," I whispered.
Dante pulled me to my feet—and suddenly tensed. "Someone's coming. Multiple people. Armed."
"How do you know?"
"I can feel them through the bond. Their intent to harm." His eyes widened. "Zara, can you feel it too?"
I concentrated. And yes—there it was. Danger approaching from all sides.
"We're surrounded," I breathed.
Red laser sights appeared on the walls around us. Then our chests.
A voice boomed from speakers: "Zara Moretti. Dante Ashcroft. You're both under arrest for theft, terrorism, and conspiracy against the Crown. Surrender the Blood Moon Ruby, or we open fire."
Dante and I looked at each other.
"On three?" he said.
"On three."
We ran in opposite directions—and that's when it happened.
Pain exploded in my chest. Not my pain. His.
I looked back and saw Dante collapse, blood spreading across his shirt.
They'd shot him.
And through the bond, I felt every second of his dying.