The engine was silent. The only sound was the rhythmic, distant roar of the waves and the heavy, synchronized breathing of two people who had just survived an apocalypse of the soul. We sat in the armored SUV, the interior dimly lit by the dashboard's soft glow. The scent of salt, wet sand, and the sweet, metallic tang of the "Deep-Bind" filled the small space, creating a world that belonged only to us.
Kaelen didn't reach for the ignition. Instead, he turned in his seat, his massive frame shifting with a new kind of grace. The narcotics were mostly gone, but the high of the Sovereign's nectar had left him in a state of pure, raw adoration.
He reached out, his large, scarred hand trembling slightly as he brushed a stray, salt-crusted lock of hair from my face. His touch was so light, so cautious, as if he were afraid I might shatter if he pressed too hard. His emerald eyes, now clear and brimming with a soft, watery light, searched my face.
